Lotus Temple

Taxi Tour of New Delhi - India Travel Guide

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• published: 07 May 2010
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Hop in a taxi and see many historic and modern sides of Delhi. New Delhi is loaded with hundreds of places! Today we are going to put you in a taxi and take you on a whirlwind tour of the whole place with our trusted taxi driver, Mr. Amit Lal. Are we ready Amit Lal ji? Jantar Mantar: Built in the late 18th century by Sawaii Raja Jai Singh, this place is used to conduct experiments in time, space and astronomy. It sheds some light on how scientific thinking had evolved back then. The Lotus Temple: one of the capital's most iconic structures, whose architecture reflects unification, the oneness of all religions, a significant symbol in India, where so many different religions are practiced. Qutab Minar: Behind me is the Qutab Minar, India's largest stone tower. This was built in the 12th century by Qutb-u'd-Din Aibak. The Qutab Minar has been standing through national calamities, all the way from earthquakes to floods, to even strikes of lightning! The top bit, in fact, was struck down by a lightning bolt in the 14th century. Afterwards, it was rebuilt. Rashtrapati Bhavan: This is the residence of India's president, the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In our tradition, the first president of India chose not to stay in the master bedroom, because he thought it was way too grand for his austere taste. Therefore, no president sleeps in the master bedroom. India Gate: another famous monument in India, was built in the memory of soldiers who died in the first World War. Connaught Place: This is Connaught Place, pretty much the commercial hub of Delhi. This is where people come when they want to shop like crazy or even hang out. Right down on the corner there is Janpath, the place to go if you are a tourist and want to pick up some really wonky artifacts. India is a developing country, and it has got its bits of poverty and chaos. But Delhi's future looks bright. Roads are a lot better than they were years ago. Some of these flyovers did not exist until recently. The growing economy has created loads and loads of jobs. Many malls have sprung up around the city. The culinary scene continues to get global. Red Fort: is where independent India first hoisted its flag. Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, also built the Red Fort. Chandni Chowk: Take a turn from Red Fort and you are in Delhi's Old World Market, Chandni Chowk. Rajghat: This is Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's final resting place. Humayun's Tomb: This is Humayun's Tomb, with its architecture eerily similar to the Taj Mahal. Humayun's widow built this for him in the 16th century. Come to the center of Delhi, take the toll road, and all of a sudden you are in Noida. The bustling new suburbs of the city, favored by new businesses, multi-national corporations and super-sized malls. This part of the country defines the new India. And this is where most of the city's glittering new malls and apartment buildings are located. Believe it or not, India is changing. Expect the city to look dramatically different in the following few years, and when you are here, it seems very close to possible. This is Udayan, showing you Delhi.