Delhi reverberates with its unique mix of brash modernity and old-world charm. They say Dilli dillwalon ki (Delhi is full of people with big hearts) and the city lives up to that adage with its large heart and an equally large soul.
Delhi is full of history and choc-a-bloc with breath-taking monuments - there is Safdarjung Tomb, Lodhi's Tomb, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Rastrapati Bhawan, India Gate, Jantar Mantar and Akshardham Temple. If you have time to take in only a few,
put the lotus-shaped Bahai Temple on top of your list.
The temple was completed in 1986 and is the place of worhsip of the Bahái faith. The temple is set in an oasis of
lush green lawns right next to the bustling Nehru Place market (which is also a great place to get DVDs and computer software).
National pride
A tourist shouldn't leave Delhi without visiting the India Gate and the Red Fort. The Red Fort was built by the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and on August 15, 1947, the national flag of independent India was hoisted there. The red colour might have faded from the rambling walls of the fort, but in terms of visual beauty it still packs a punch.
A great way to spend an evening in Delhi is to watch the hour-long Son et Lumière, a stunning sound and light show that recreates events of India's 330-year history, particularly those linked with the fort.
Great bargains
For some affordable retail therapy, head out to Janpath in Connaught Place (closed on Sundays) or Sarojini Nagar market (closed on Mondays) for great bargains in clothes
and junk jewellery.
All the export rejects of major fashion houses end up in these markets, so you are sure to find a great pair of GAP trousers or a slinky Zara chiffon shirt for a quarter of the price. Don't forget to haggle, you will end up paying almost half the price of what is being asked for.
It's party time
The young and the hip crowd of Delhi party religiously on the weekends, though most of the city's nightlife is restricted
to the five-star hotels.
Friday and Saturday are the best nights to let loose at watering holes such as Aqua at the Park hotel which
is the ‘it' place of the season. Set by the hotel's enormous swimming pool, Aqua has plush sofas and cool blue accents will put you instantly in a relaxed mood.
Another Delhi favourite is the 24-hour coffee shop, Machan at the Taj Mansingh hotel. It is a classic Delhi tradition to dine at Machan and its tables set by the gorgeous wooden shutters that look out into emereld green lawns are hard to come by.
Another new spot is the F Bar and Lounge at the Ashoka Hotel, with LCD screens blaring out non-stop fashion shows straight from international runways and chic purple and
silver interiors.
Delhi truly has it all - from history to shopping to a great nightlife - a holiday in Delhi is something that you won't forget
in a hurry.
