Delhi boasts of a rich history which has gone through ascents and descents of various empires. It is today an administrative and commercial center, and one of the most advanced cities of the country. Its unique heritage attracts tourists from all over the world.

Delhi History

With so many emperors having ruled over Delhi, it has a rich history. It was ruled by Mughals who succeeded Khiljis and Tughlaqs. It was in 1803 that the city came under British rule and in 1911 that the British shifted their capital from Calcutta to Delhi to once again become the center of governing activities.

However Delhi is known for throwing those sitting on the throne and this includes the British and the current political parties leading free India. It was after independence in 1947 that New Delhi was declared the seat of the Government of India.

It was during the partition that thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab had migrated to Delhi; this is what led to the city’s varied cultures. The diversity of the city is its beauty. There are beautiful parks in some places while some places are heavy with traffic.

To bring about its metropolitan characteristics, skyscrapers, residential colonies and bustling commercial complexes have been added to the skyline of Delhi. You can find traditional and contemporary art and crafts from the country in boutiques and shopping arcades of Delhi.

In addition to all this, Delhi is the center of political activities of the country where you find government, administrative and judiciary buildings. It is from Delhi that the future of millions of Indians is determined by the leaders of India.

Delhi Location and Weather

Delhi is situated on the banks of river Yamuna with the Himalayas to its north and land on its other sides. As it is positioned inland, away from sea, it has extreme continental form of climate with scorching summers and chilling dry winters.

The scorching heat of the sun makes summer days unbearable where day temperatures can reach 48 degrees C. this is why tourists have to be careful in summers and drink lots of water before facing heat waves. Wear comfortable cotton clothes to avoid inconvenience.

In contrast, the winters in Delhi bring temperatures as low as 2 degrees C, where a typical winter day comprises of misty mornings, mid-sunny afternoons and foggy evenings. The monsoons in Delhi bring an average rainfall of 714mm, which usually starts on 29 June.

The best time to visit Delhi for a vacation is in the spring season, from February to April or the autumn season, between August to November. The blooming seasons of February and March bring colorful spring festivals like Vasant Panchmi and Holi.

Delhi Cuisine

Delhi offers spicy Indian food and sweets from different states of India which is why Delhi cuisine is famous for spice and variety. As the people of Delhi have a strong sweet tooth, Delhi is the home of famous sweets like Sandesh and Roshogullahs. You also find the Punjabi Chhole Bhature, Pinni and Mughlai and Tandoori cuisine found in Delhi difficult to resist. There are also many roadside dhabas, snack counters, eateries and restaurants in Delhi that offer variable cuisines you have to try.

Delhi Festivals

Being the capital of India, you find people of all religions and communities, from all parts of India in Delhi. This is why all religious and state festivals are celebrated with pomp and show in Delhi. Durga Puja, Holi, Diwali, Eid, Bakrid, Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti are all celebrated in Delhi with zeal and enthusiasm.

The Punjabi festival Lohri is celebrated here every year on 13^th January to mark the end of winter. This is when people arrange bonfire parties to dance and sing all night. Hindus celebrate Makar Sankranti the next day while the Kite Festival is also arranged every year on this day, on the green lawns above Palika Bazaar of Connaught Place.

Delhi Tourist Attractions

Being the capital of many empires for centuries, Delhi has numerous forts and monuments to boast of. There is a beautiful blend of the past and present in Delhi with strong citadels like Red Fort, Old Fort, Jantar Mantar, tombs of royal personages and Qutub Minar worth visiting in Delhi.

There are also many beautiful tombs, buildings and mosques with interesting history, worth visiting in the city. Jantar Mantar is one of the five observatories built by Maharaja Sawal Jai Singh II, the ruler and founder of Jaipur.

The India Gate was built by the British in honor of the unknown martyrs who had lost their lives in First World War and the Second Afghan War. One of the most visited tourist spots of Delhi is Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

In addition to this, Delhi has numerous beautiful and well planned parks like the regal Mughal Gardens, the stretches of Lodi Gardens which is frequented by morning joggers and picnickers and numerous imperial tombs of yore.

If you love fun and frolic, you have to visit the amusement parks of New Delhi while Appu Ghar and Fun N Food Village are frequently visited spots of tourists. The National Zoological Park is one of the best zoos of Asia, found near Purana Qila or Old Fort.

Delhi Shopping

There is a lot of shopping to do in Delhi; you find the arts and crafts of different states of India in the Baba Khadag Singh Marg found near Parliament while the Crafts Museum of Mathura Road offers beautiful paintings, pottery and shawls. There are also many antique shops found in Sunder Nagar and jewelry shops in Dariba Kalan selling intricate jewellery.

You can find the latest items for sale in Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar and Janpath. Basically, Delhi offers everything to the shopper ranging from simple Indian handicrafts to international designer labels.

Today Jaipur, the city painted in pink, is an important business center for the natives of Rajasthan. The ancient testimonials like Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort remind you of the history of Jaipur. The artistic temples and gardens are worth a visit here while you get an idea of the ethnicity of the city on looking at the various festivals of the city like elephant festival and Kite festival. All of this makes Jaipur a number one tourist destination of Rajasthan.

History of Jaipur

It was Maharaja Jai Singh II, a Kachwaha Rajput who founded the pink city of Jaipur in 1727. His capital was Amber, a city about 11 km from Jaipur. It was the increasing population and scarcity of water that made him shift his capital city to Jaipur. He had taken lots of interest in designing this city to make it the first planned city of India.

The location and climate of Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and found in the north of India. The Aravalli Hills separates Jaipur from the Thar Desert while protecting it. The city is 200.4 km large, and situated at an altitude of 431 m above sea level. It is well connected to major cities of India by rail, air and road.

Jaipur is hot, and dominated by three seasons. Summer is from mid March till June, monsoon is form July to September while winter is from October to March. It is not preferable to visit Jaipur in summer when the maximum temperature is 45 degrees and minimum, 22- 5 degrees Celsius.

You enjoy Jaipur the most in winter with its spectacular views. The evenings are beautiful when covered with jog. The food of Jaipur is served with butter and ghee, and is best eaten in winter.

Traveling to Jaipur

As Jaipur is accessible to the major cities of India, it is not difficult to reach this rail, road and air connected city. The wonderful networking of roads makes it easier for travel here. The railway station here provides wonderful services to passengers where Jaipur Railway station is the main station of Rajasthan.

If you intend to fly by air, you can use Jaipur airport at Sanganer, 13km from Jaipur. It is both a domestic and international airport connecting to foreign cities. Reaching Jaipur is not difficult; you have to choose your mode of travel according to your preference and budget

Jaipur Excursions

There are many excursions to tourist attractions you can take from Jaipur like the small town Abhaneri which is famous for its steep wells and the Harshad Mata temple. As Rajasthan is famous for its traditions and culture, you have to make a trip to Bagru to take a look at traditional block printing that has no modern adulterations to its processing.

If you are the adventurous type, you have to make a trip to the Ranthambore or Sariska National Park. You can also visit the Sambhar Lake to take a look at salt making. The Heritage Palace of Samode is also worth visiting.

Tourists from far and near wait to visit the Tonk Bairath where you find Persian and Arabian manuscripts. The Ramgarh Lake is a large, artificial lake while its hunting lodge and polo grounds are all destinations worth taking an excursion to.

Fairs & Festivals of Jaipur

Like most parts of India, Jaipur celebrates numerous festivals with gusto and zeal. Some special festivals of Jaipur are the Elephant festival, Kite festival, Teei festival and Gangaur festival.

During festival time, the city looks more vibrant where people enjoy their festivals while forgetting all tensions and worries. So if you want to learn more about the customs and traditions of Jaipur, festive season is the best time to visit the city.

Jaipur Monuments

A visit to Jaipur lets you take a look at the bygone era of Jaipur royalty. There are numerous forts and monuments in Jaipur to visit like Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort and Jaigarh Fort. The stunning City Palace is found at the heart of the city while the Hawa Mahal is a monument worth visiting. The Statue Circle is a favorite hang-out of Jaipur which celebrates the founder of the city.

The beautifully carved cenotaphs of the Gaitore are worth a visit when in Jaipur while the Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is still the astronomical dream of Raja Sawal Jai Singh, the king of Jaipur. The government of Rajasthan is working at preserving these monuments so that many more tourists can get to see it in the future.

Jaipur Nightlife

Nightlife is not as active like other global locations. The nightlife here comprises of quiet evenings where people listen to music, puppet shows and traditional dances. The Raj Mandir is a famous theater of India that offers night shows worth visiting. In addition to this, you can watch Kalbelia Dancers, Puppeteers and Bhopa-Bhopi at the Welcomgroup Rajputana Palace Sheraton every evening. You can also watch shows of classical Indian arts and plays at the Ravindra Manch and Jawahar Kala Kendra.

Jaipur Restaurants

Being a city of royalty that served rich food to Kings and queens, you find the best delicacies served to its residents and tourists. So on a visit to Jaipur, your taste buds get to taste a myriad of dishes in numerous restaurants, serving different types of cuisine.

Jaipur is famous for its Mawa Kachori, Dal Batti, Mirchi Bada, Rajasthani Subji, Ghewar and various types of chapattis. If you are not interested in trying out Rajasthani food, you can find restaurants serving Chinese, Thai, Intercontinental and Italian food. Of course, there are many outlets serving fast food like sandwiches, pizzas and Indian chat to satisfy your appetite too.

Shopping in Jaipur

Shopping is a must when in Jaipur with the many markets it offers. This is the best place to visit for handicrafts, jewelry, gems, pottery, textiles, leatherwear, antiques, metal works and carpets.

The markets you have to visit to buy the art and craft of Rajasthan are Haldiyon Ka Rasta, Jauhari Bazar, Bapu Bazar and Nehru Bazaar. There are so many things for you to buy here that a visit here is the only way to experience the pleasure of shopping in Jaipur.