holidays points blog

The Commonwealth Games 2010 are being held in Delhi, India. Scheduled between 3 October and 14 October 2010 the Games will draw a large number of sports enthusiasts from around the world. Delhi will be buzzing with tourists wishing to discover the capital city. To facilitate this and make your journey interesting Holidays Points helps you explore Delhi with a difference.

In a unique customized itinerary you get to see the capital from three historic perspectives.

• Delhi of the Mughals

Discover the Delhi of the Mughals. The Delhi that was steep in valour, colour and glamour. Starting with the Qutb Minar and the 4th century iron pillar Holidays Points takes you to the spiritual realms of Hazrat Nizamuddin. Then across the road to Humayun’s tomb. A Mughal relic that will mesmerize you with its splendid architecture and well-manicured lawns. From here we move on to the Purana Qila also built by Humayun. The ruins of the fort are still are eloquent with stories of the Mughal era. Next we stop at the Lodhi Gardens-the most beautiful garden of Delhi. Here you can discover the tomb of Muhammad Shah, the Bara Gumbad and the tomb of Sikandar Lodi. Our journey ends at the Red Fort. Standing tall for centuries it guards many treasures of Mughal art and architecture within its walls. At the end of the day we take you shopping to Chandni Chowk. The oldest and largest commercial centre of Delhi. Must visits are the Ghantewala sweetmeat shop for goodies, Gulab Perfumes for exotic scents, Dariba Kalan for jewellery, Khari Baoli for spices, Kinari bazar for tinsels, Nai Sadak for books. You can also refer Delhi City Guide for more information on Delhi.

• Lutyens’s Delhi

Next Holidays Points takes you on a tour of Lutyens’ Delhi- the planned New Delhi that you see today. It is a fine showcase of the grandness of Victorian architecture giving way to openness. Planned landscape, wide roads lined with beautiful trees, sprawling lawns around magnificent buildings like the Rahstrapati Bhawan, India Gate, North and South Blocks and the Parliament House are simply breathtaking. Named after the leading British architect Edwin Lutyen this luxuriously planned region of imperial Delhi houses the administrative centers of the present Government of India. Stand in these open vistas and take a deep breath. It will fill you with aromas of excellence and national pride.

• Delhi on the Footprints of Gandhi

The experience of Delhi is incomplete without paying homage to the father of the nation. We take you to Rajghat where the mortal remains of Mahatma Gandhi were cremated. His last words ‘Hey Ram’ still inspire us to follow the honest and righteous path. Located at Rajghat are the Gandhi Smriti and Gandhi Darshan. The former houses one of the biggest museums of Gandhi with a library of about 60,000 books on him. Gandhi Darshan on 36 acres of land offers a film auditorium, conference facilities for national and international camps, a children’s corner and a library. Next on the Gandhi trail is the National Gandhi Museum that has a rich collection of relics, books, journals and documents, photographs, audio-visual materials, exhibitions, art pieces and other memorabilia closely connected with Mahatma Gandhi. There is more. For you to carry back a piece on India with you we take you shopping to Khadi Gram Udyog at Connaught Place. An initiative by Mahatma Gandhi who popularized the hand-made ‘khadi’- today Khadi Gram Udyog endorses Indian art and handicraft globally.

Lots to explore. Lots to know. Many memories to collect. All this and more is in store for you at Delhi when you come for the Commonwealth Games 2010. Just contact Holidays Points.