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Sightseeings in Delhi
Rashtrapati Bhavan
The site chosen for the new British capital was situated in the wilderness of Raisina, south of Shahjahanabad. A team of architects led by Edwin Luteyens and Herbert Baker designed the new city, after visiting several places of architectural interest in India. They felt that the capital should be �neither Indian nor English nor Roman, but imperial�. Even though they claimed to be unimpressed by Indian architecture, their buildings bear evidence to the contrary. New Delhi took 20 years to build and cost 15 million pounds.
The new capital was inaugurated in 1931. The 340-roomed Viceregal Lodge was raised atop Raisina Hill. It is now the presidential palace and known as Rashtrapati Bhawan. Covering an area of over 200,000 sq-feet, it is larger than Versailles. At the center of the main court in front of Rashtrapati Bhawan stands Jaipur Column, a gift from the Maharaja of Jaipur. It rises to a height of 145m. All in this entire monument is an imposing structure and a tourist�s delight.
The Rajpath axis and the symmetry of India Gate, a World War I memorial, accentuate the strength of its location. The Rashtrapati Bhawan also has the enoumous Mughal Gardens and a spacious plaza Vizay Chowk, at the foot of the palace. Lutyen�s city is characterized by wide, tree-lined avenues, parks and palaces built for important Indian princes. Baker designed the North and South Blocks, which flank the palace, and the circular Legislative Assembly, presently known as Parliament House.
Inside The President�s House The most remarkable feature of the House that can be spotted even standing a kilometer away is the huge neo-Buddhist copper dome that rises over a vast colonnaded front. Beneath the dome is the circular Durbar Hall 22.8m in diameter. The colored marbles used in the hall were brought from all parts of India.
The Viceroy�s throne, ceremonially placed in this chamber, faced the main entrance and commanded a view along the great axial vista of �Kingsway�, now known as Rajpath. Presently the hall is the venue of all official ceremonies such as the swearing in of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Members of Parliament. It is in this very chamber that the President annually confers the Arjuna Awards for Excellence.
The columns at the front entrance have bells carved into their capitals. The principal floor comprises a magnificent series of state apartments. The State Drawing Room is barrel-vaulted and plainly treated with domestic fireplaces. The State Ballroom is enriched with old English Mirror glass. The State Library is based on the form of Wren�s St Stephen�s, Walbrook. The State Dining Room is lined with teak paneling enriched with the star of India.
The concept of Imperial order and hierarchy pass through the entire house. Marble staircases flanking the Durbar Hall provide access to the private apartments above. There are 54 bedrooms together with additional accommodation for guests. The Durbar Hall served as a museum for several years till the building that now houses the National Museum was completed.
The Mughal Gardens: To the west of the house overlooks the beautiful Mughal Gardens, terraced at three levels, designed by Lutyens. A series of ornamental fountains, walls, gazebos and screens combined with scores of trees, flowers and shrubs to create a paradise so delightful that Indians called the garden �God�s own Heaven�. It is open to the public during the spring season only.
Pragati Maidan
This huge complex is the venue of the annual India International Trade Fair usually held in November. It has permanent buildings for pavilion of all the states of the country. Many business and industrial organisations from all over the world participate in these fairs, resulting in exchange of industrial collaboration and joint ventures. Worth visiting are Nehru Pavilion, Defense Pavilion, Indira Pavilion, Son of India Pavilion and Village Complex, which brings out a beautiful presentation of diversified India. This was founded in 1982 on the eve of Asian Games and various Trade Fairs are organised throughout the year. States have found their permanent stalls here with their products and merchandises. Four gates at different sides enter this 7-acre village complex offering the states pavilion housing the handcraft skills of Indian artisans.
They visit the India International Trade Fair (IITF), where some 6,000 companies - mostly from India and its Asian neighbors display their products at the country's biggest exhibition complex. The IITF has grown into one of the largest trade fairs in the region. This exhibition complex -- the only one of its kind in India and has 18 halls, 22 permanent pavilions, covered space of 130,000 square meters and an open area of 180,000 square meters. Situated in heart of New Delhi, this is more than just a modern exhibition complex .it is another name for the most cost effective conduit to the vast Indian market through the medium fairs. Pragati Maidan hosts a series of high-quality international trade fairs. Its scientifically designed exhibition hall, complete with a network of infrastructure facilities in a lush green setting, makes it the automatic choice of exhibition organizers from India and abroad. The fair complex offers excellent infrastructure including air-conditioned auditoria and conference room, a press lounge, a business information center, restaurants, banks, post offices etc. Visited by captains of trade and industry from different parts of India, decision makers and top government officials, Pragati Maidan is clearly attuned to the requirements of the vast Indian market. As an exhibition venue par-excellence, Pragati Maidan has been the automatic choice of leading organizers of expositions that invariably cover a wide industrial canvas.
Pragati Maidan has also emerged as the ideal setting for the holding of innumerable fairs by other organizers of the recent run of fairs, the successes stories have included auto expo, Indian engineering trade fair, Information Technology exhibition, IYT Asia and many others. Exhibition of ITPO have focused on a wide range of products that have both a domestic appeal and export connotation. These range from consumer goods and home appliances, garments, shoes, children's ware, handicraft and gift items to power generation, technology and equipment related to petrochemicals, oil and gas industries, hospital and medical equipment, machinery and machine tools related to different industries, agricultural products and engineering goods. It also houses the Crafts Museum, which is having collections of 20,000 specimens of weaving products, metal products - Daru and wooden products- earthen moulds, images and artifice. The state pavilions are a must visit to witness the variance of various Indian states at one place.
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