Delhi New Delhi, home to an exquisite array of ancient, crumbling Mughal monuments and leafy gardens, is now sprouting ultra-chic 21st-century galleries, boutiques and restaurants, and is hosting some of the region’s biggest sporting events. Many of India’s top artists, fashion designers and musicians are purposefully injecting a ‘cool’ factor into the city’s heart, while luxury hotels are setting new standards (and prices) here, too. Zip around in the convenient Metro and discover the new (and old) treasures of the National Capital Region, especially Gurgaon. This is truly the time for a new, New Delhi. MONUMENTS Qutb Minar It took three generations to build the towering Qutb Minar. Work on the triumphal minaret began in 1193 when Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, decided to make a tower that would rival the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan. His successor continued his work and in 1368, the five-tiered structure was finally completed during the reign of Firuz Shah Tughluq. The surface of Qutb Minar is adorned with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur’an. In the Qutb complex, you can also see the famous Iron Pillar, which was erected in the fourth century and has miraculously not rusted despite being open to the elements for more than a thousand years. The Iron Pillar is said to have originally been part of a Jain temple complex that was destroyed by Muslim invaders. Humayun’s Tomb Humayun was the second Mughal emperor and reigned from 1530-1540, and again briefly in 1556. In his first ten years as emperor, he lost many of his Indian territories to the Pashtun noble Sher Shah Suri but regained them fifteen years later when he returned with a large Persian army. The emperor died as a result of tripping over his robes but you’d never guess how ignominious his death was from the grandeur of his tomb. It’s mostly thanks to Humayun that Persian culture was introduced to India. Humayun’s Tomb, in the heart of central Delhi, was designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set in the middle of the Persian-style Char Bagh (Four Gardens), the red sandstone structure is a wonderful example of early Mughal architecture in India. The Humayun’s Tomb complex is also home to a number of other minor tombs worth exploring. Red Fort In the 17th century, emperor Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to what we today call Lal Qilla or Red Fort. He called the new city that he built, in and around the fortification, Shahjahanabad. It would serve as the seat of power for the Mughals up until 1857 when the British unseated them and exiled the last emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. The Red Fort is another of Delhis famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, boasting sophisticated architecture and fine craftsmanship. It’s an imposing structure that stands on the bank of the Yamuna river in Old Delhi. Inside the fort you can see the Diwan-i-Aam that was used for public audiences, the Diwan-i-Khas with its extensive inlay work using semi-precious stones, which was used for private meetings and the Moti Masjid that was the private mosque of Shah Jahan’s son Aurangzeb. Jama Masjid Built by emperor Shah Jahan, this is India’s largest mosque. Its official name is Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, which means ‘the mosque that reflects the world’. Built over six years in the 17th century, approximately 5,000 labourers were involved in its construction, costing the emperor Rs 10 lakh. Modelled on the Jama Masjid in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, this mosque was built using red sandstone and white marble. It has three domes and the main courtyard can hold 25,000 worshippers. You can spot the pale domes and minarets of the Jama Masjid from afar and the closer you get, the more magnificent it looks. Lotus Temple Designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba and built in 1986, the Lotus Temple is the main shrine of the Bahá’i sect and is one of the most visited buildings in the world. Surprisingly, according to a study conducted in 2003, more people come to see this Bahá’i house of worship than the Taj Mahal in Agra. The Lotus Temple is made of 27 marble ‘petals’ that cluster to create a nine-sided building. According to the Bahá’i faith, all are welcome in this temple, where no rituals or ceremonies are allowed. Standing in the enormous, serene central hall, is an unforgettable experience. Also, no matter what time of the day you visit, the Lotus Temple makes for some spectacular photos. WHAT TO DO One Short Drive A great way to appreciate the capital’s wide boulevards and tree-lined avenues is to settle into the comfort of your own car and whiz around—traffic permitting of course! We recommend you drive down Rajpath, past the colonial edifice of India Gate, the imposing multi-columned Parliament building and that jewel of Lutyens Delhi, Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is home to the President and does not allow visitors. MUSEUMS National Museum Founded in 1949, the National Museum holds India’s incredible collection of over two lakh exhibits that span five millennia of history, culture and tradition. It’s a must-see for all Indophiles. The collection includes prehistoric archaeological finds, Buddhist statues, Chola bronzes, Mughal miniatures, relics from the Indus Valley Civilization, pre-Mughal manuscripts as well as Columbian and Western art. National Museum, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi (+91 11 2301 9272; nationalmuseumindia.gov.in) Open Tue-Sun from 10am to 5pm. Kiran Nadar Museum of Modern Art Located in a mall, this newly opened museum shows a family collection that is mainly managed by Kiran Nadar, wife of industrialist and philanthropist Shiv Nadar. It displays art from the past five decades and includes paintings and sculptures by some of Indian art’s brightest luminaries, like MF Husain, Tyeb Mehta, Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher and Nalini Malani. Kiran Nadar Museum of Modern Art, 145, DLF South Court Mall, Saket, New Delhi (knma.in) Open Tue-Sun from 10am to 6.30pm. National Gallery of Modern Art There are more than 15,000 works in this building and they include paintings and sculptures by Indian and international artists, as well as other works of modern art that date from the mid-19th century to the present. There are some gorgeous paintings by Svetoslav Roerich, the famous Russian painter and political thinker who was nominated for the Nobel Prize numerous times. The NGMA also sells prints, posters and monographs of works in its possession. National Gallery of Modern Art, Jaipur House, India Gate, New Delhi (+91 11 2338 8874; ngmaindia.gov.in) Open Tues-Sun from 10am to 5pm. ART AND THEATRE India Habitat Centre Although some consider Delhi a boring, politically driven city, the capital has actually developed quite a thriving cultural scene over the past few decades. We recommend you head over to the India Habitat Centre, which hosts film screenings, seminars, art exhibitions and plays, as well as public debates and conferences. India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi (+91 11 2468 2001; indiahabitatcentre.org) Epicentre When in Gurgaon you should check out Epicentre, which is run by the same people that put together the India Habitat Centre’s calendar of events. This avant-garde locale is home to a variety of art and theatre events and also boasts the popular restaurant Drift. Epicentre, at Apparel House, Sector 44, Gurgaon (+91 124 271 5000; epicentre.co.in) Kingdom of Dreams At Culture Gully—Indias first multi-platform, concept-based entertainment venue—stroll along a boulevard teeming with arts, crafts, cultural stops and dining options. Book a show at the Nautanki Mahal and experience Bollywood-style theatrics or head to the Showshaa Theatre for a variety of plays. Kingdom of Dreams, Great Indian Nautanki Company Ltd, Auditorium Complex, Sector 29, Gurgaon (+91 124 452 8000; kingdomofdreams.in) Kamani Auditorium One of Delhi’s most prestigious concert venues, the Kamani Auditorium is part of the Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra complex. Some of the most celebrated musicians, dancers and theatre companies from around India and the world perform here. Kamani Auditorium, 1, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi (+91 11 4350 3351; kamaniauditorium.org) Nature Morte Originally founded in New York, collector and curator Peter Nagy brought Nature Morte to New Delhi in 1997. The gallery is renowned for displaying experimental art forms including photographs and installations. Among the celebrated artists who have had shows at Nature Morte are photographer Dayanita Singh and sculptor Subodh Gupta, who has been dubbed the Damien Hirst of Delhi. Nature Morte, A-1 Neeti Bagh, New Delhi (+91 11 4174 0215; naturemorte) Devi Art Foundation Launched by hotelier Anupam Poddar and his mother Lekha, the Devi Art Foundation is a non-profit gallery committed to showcasing cutting edge, experimental contemporary work. The Poddar collection is widely regarded as one of the finest collections of Indian art in the country. Their exhibitions also show artists from Pakistan, Central Asia and the Middle East. Devi Art Foundation, Sirpur House, Plot 39, Sector 44, Gurgaon (+91 11 2651 4529; devifoundation.org) Triveni Kala Sangam This cultural complex, designed by Joseph Allen Stein, houses four art galleries, hosts classes in art, photography, music and dance, as well as provides the perfect setting for artists and students to interact. Triveni Kala Sangam, 295, Tansen Marg, New Delhi (+91 11 2371 8833) Photoink Established in 2001 by Devika Daulet-Singh, this gallery is one of the first to be devoted to displaying art photography in India—it also has a bookshop and a digital studio. Some of the country’s most talented and upcoming photographers have had exhibitions at Photoink and the gallery’s bookshop has many beautiful photo books produced by German publishing house Steidl. Photoink, Hyundai MGF Building, Ground Floor, 1 Jhandewalan, Faiz Road, New Delhi (+91 11 2875 5940; photoink.net)
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 06:15:04 +0000