Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Ph.: 26881816, 26880939
Timing : 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Closed : Monday

This unique museum has a fascinating and exotic collection of over 100 real size exhibits of Indian Railways. Static and working models, signaling equipments, antique furnitures, historical photographs and related literature etc. are displayed in the museum. The line-up of old coaches includes the handsome Prince of Wales Saloon, built in 1875. Not to be outdone is the Maharaja of Mysore’s Saloon built in 1899 with its brocade covered chairs and an elegant rosewood bed; one can peer in through the windows for a good look. National Rail Museum . The star attraction here is the Fairy Queen, built in 1855 and considered to be one of the best preserved steam locomotive engines of her age. A ride in joy train and mono rail (PSMT) is the most exciting experience besides boating. Do not miss the handsome Fire Engine on your way out.

Set amidst a sprawling park, this museum is a must visit, not just for the train buff. A compact but informative indoor museum displays a range of interesting objects, but the main attractions are old steam engines parked outside. The star attraction is the Fairy Queen, made in 1855 and considered to be one of the best preserved steam locomotive engines of her age. The line-up of other old coaches include Prince of Wales Saloon, built in 1875, Maharaja of Mysore Saloon, built in 1899, and the Nilgiri coach, built in 1914 for the the local travelers. Children can take a ride on the toy train, which circles the museum yard. On your way out, don’t miss the handsome Fire Engine, built in 1914 for the Nizam of Hyderabad

National Science Centre Museum, situated at Pragati Maidan, is a fascinating place that houses a collection of scientific instruments and models from various countries. It is one of the largest science museums of the country and was established with the prime purpose of developing an interest among school children for science. Inside the museum, the Human Biology Gallery and the Dinosaur Gallery are the most frequented corners. Some other displays include a section on India’s contribution in the field of science and technology. The museum holds regular science exhibitions and workshops. Admission is free.

The National Science Centre, Delhi is a unit of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), which is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India. It is a pioneering institute engaged in the popularisation of science among the people of the northern part of India in general and among the students in particular. It was inaugurated on the 9th of January 1992 by the then Prime Minister of India . Since opening, the Centre has rendered yeoman service to the cause of science popularisation.

OBJECTIVES

Pragati Maidan is much more than the country’s premier exhibition complex. It is a melting pot of visitors from all walks of life and interests. It is a huge complex with a contemporary design, surrounded by greenery. It is divided into smaller buildings and compounds, which play hosts to a plethora of national and international exhibitions of all kinds. The place is forever busy throughout the year with art, book, trade, home accessories, technology, motor fairs. The complex houses five permanent exhibitions, which include the Mehru Pavilion, The Son of India -Sanjay Gandhi, Atomic Energy an Defense Pavilion.

India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) is the nodal agency of the Government of India for promoting the country’s external trade. ITPO, during its existence of nearly three decades, in the form of Trade Fair Authority of India and Trade Development Authority, has played a proactive role in catalysing trade, investment and technology transfer processes. Its promotional tools include organizing of fairs and exhibitions in India and abroad, Buyer-Seller Meets, Contact Promotion Programmes, Product Promotion Programmes, Promotion through Overseas Department Stores, Market Surveys and Information Dissemination.

 

Purana Qila or Old Fort, on the banks of the river Yamuna, is one of the most gorgeous exponents of Mughal architecture. This imposing structure was built by Emperor Humayun in 1533 on the site of Indraprastha (capital of the Pandavas in Mahabharata) and was named “Dina-panah”. The structure was later renovated by Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri and renamed “Shergarh” in 1545. The fort, built of red sandstone has two towering gates, “Talaqi Darwaza” on the northern side and “Humayun Darwaza” on the southern side that are intricately carved. The Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid and the Sher Mandal are important monuments inside the fort. Old Fort truly adds to the vintage charm of Delhi!

When the second Mughal emperor Humayun decided to make a city of his own he decided on the site of the ancient city of Indraprastha. Humayun was quite a scholar with a fine grasp on such matters and so it is certain that the site was chosen deliberately. When his Sher Shah Suri overthrew him, he destroyed most of Dinpanah (refuge of the faithful) as the city of Humayun was called to make way for his own Dilli Sher Shahi or Shergarh. Incidentally, Humayun was probably the only emperor in history who built a city in Delhi and did not give it his own name – this was typical of Humayun’s rather sophisticated and dreamy character. The Layout of The Massive Colossal

In plan the Old fort, now simply called Purana Qila by Delhites, is irregularly orbital. The walls of the immense Qila tower down on the road that takes one to Pragati Maidan from the height of 18m, and run on for about 2km. It has three main gates – the Humayun darwaza, Talaqi darwaza and Bara darwaza (which one uses to enter the fort today). The double-storeyed gates are quite huge and are built with red sandstone. of all the gates entry was forbidden from Talaqi (forbidden) darwaza, the northern gate. It is not clear why this was so. Other Attractions of The Fort

Sher Shah Suri and his successor could not complete the city, and when Humayun defeated Sher Shah’s son to take back his city, he did not deal with Dilli Sher shahi as the latter had done with Dinpanah. In fact the Mughal emperor very handsomely completed the city and even used several of the buildings like the Sher Mandal, a rather pretty two-storeyed octagonal building. Humayun used this as his library and, then tripped to his death from its steps.

¤ Excavation of Grey Ware Pottery

Several excavations have taken place in the Purana Qila in an attempt to prove, or disprove as the case may be, whether it is indeed the site of Indraprastha or not. Diggings have yielded Painted Grey Ware pottery which has been dated to 1000BC. Similar stuff has been noticed in other sites associated with the epic Mahabharata as well, which seem to conclusively prove that this indeed was the place where Indraprastha once flourished. These excavation have also thrown up material, like coins, associated with the Gupta (about 4-5th century AD) and post-Gupta ages (700-800AD) of Indian history as well.

¤ Qila-i-kuhna Masjid

One of the most fascinating buildings, and also one of the few that still survive, in the Purana Qila is the Qila-i-kuhna masjid. Sher Shah Suri built it in 1541 (also see History) and he was obviously out to make a definite style statement. The mosque is quite a place; its prayer hall measures 51.20m by 14.90m and has five doorways with the ‘true’ horseshoe-shaped arches. Apparently the idea was the build the whole mosque in marble, but the supply ran out and red sandstone had to be used instead. But the builder used the material at hand very skillfully and the result is quite spectacular – the red sandstone and the marble contrast beautifully with each other to give the mosque a very distinctive air. The mihrabs (prayer niches) inside the mosque are richly decorated with concentric arches. From the prayer hall, staircases lead you to the second storey where a narrow passage runs along the rectangular hall. The central alcove is topped by a beautifully worked dome. In the courtyard at one time there was a shallow tank, which had a fountain. The mosque has an inscription which says ‘As long as there are people on this earth, may this edifice be frequented, and people be happy in it.’ A noble thought – amen to it.

 

Razia Sultan’s Tomb was built in memory of the first Muslim woman ruler of the Turkish dynasty. Razia Sultan was an able administrator, who had the courage and the determination to rule over the Indian capital of Delhi during the medieval times. In spite of strong opposition from the Muslim nobility, this princess was a daughter of destiny and controlled the regal throne for a really long time. However, while subduing a rebellion against the kingdom, Razia Sultan lost her life. Today, her tomb is open for tourists to witness the power and courage that the lady possessed. Although, the grave has suffered the ravages of time, it is an important tourist attraction.

You must have heard Razia Sultan? She was the only woman who managed to rule over the capital of India in the medieval era. In a city like Delhi, which has been treaded by a number of Muslim dynasties across centuries leading to an upsurge of tombs, monuments and memorials for homage to kings, queens and scholars—this brave woman has also made her place. Very close to the Sitaram Bazaar and Kalan Masjid, Razia Sultan’s Tomb in Delhi is located in Bulbuli Khane locale.

Amidst the cramming alleys and crowdy lanes, you will spot Razia Sultan’s Tomb, erected on a raised platform within the premises of an open courtyard. While Razia Sultan’s Life unravels tale of courage and determination, that of her sister remained shrouded in mystery. Ironically, her tomb was constructed beside the grave of Saziya, Razia’s sister. One hand, you will find a serene center for prayer on the western side, on the other, you will notice two other graves in the southwestern side. Incidentally, the detail of these two graves still remains a mystery.

History says that Razia’s tomb was constructed by Behram Shah, Razia’s brother. Though the bustle of the market place, nearby New Delhi Tourist Attractions and street urchins fill up this place throughout the day, the pondering silence of the tomb and the mystery of the courtyard would engulf you as soon as you enter the walled premises of the tomb. Follow us for a further unraveling of the life of this great woman before you visit Razia Sultan’s Tomb in Delhi

 

This was emperor Shah Jahan’s residence, a fort of unimaginable magnitude. Built in 1648 along the banks of the Yamuna river, it is constructed in the reddest of sandstones, and extends up to two kilometers horizontally. Before 1857, the fort was a small city in itself and was home to over 3000 people. Today, it daily welcomes thousands of tourists. Only a part of the full area is accessible to public, the rest is the territory of the Indian army. The daily sound and light show in the evenings is very popular with the visitors and is a must-see.

 historian’s paradise, Delhi is home to a phase of history that speaks out from every nook and corner of the ancient city. The memories of the glorious age of the Mughal rulers is still alive in the city, with most of their architectural glories still standing as mute witnesses of the era gone by.

One of these is the Red Fort or the Laal Quila. Characterizing both, the magnificent past of India as well as the future of her sovereignty, the Red Fort is one of the most symbolic features of the Indian capital. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan around 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort today is a busy market-place called the Meena Bazaar, selling a host of wares.

History states, that the Red Fort was built when Shahjahanabad replaced Agra as the capital of the Mughal rule. Located in the eastern end of Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort is symbolic of not just the pomp and splendor of the Mughals but also their architectural prowess. The Lahori Gate which is the main gate of the fort is in itself a structure that attracts thousands of visitors. The Red Fort is also the site of India’s national functions on the 15th of August, India’s Independence Day.

The fort is also famous from a historic perspective as it gives us an idea of the system of governance. There were separately assigned halls and spaces for the public and the nobility. This is evident from the presence of the two halls, the Diwan-i-aam and the Diwan-i-khaas which were the assemblies meant for the commoners and the aristocracy respectively. Jeweled and marbled at their time of origin, the Red Fort has, however, fallen, in later times prey to the vandalism that has been carried out by the invaders of the country. The famous Peacock Throne, that served as a source of pride in the days of the Mughal supremacy was removed to Iran by Nadir Shah in 1739 after a successful loot in the Indian capital. Known for her prestige and beauty, the Diwan-i-Khas has been the subject of Urdu poetry as well. The poet Amir Khusro once remarked, “If there is Paradise on the face of earth, it is here, it is here, it is here”.
The Rang Mahal or the palace of colors is another of the remarkable attractions of the Red Fort, noted for its beautifully Lotus-shaped fountain.
Though the Red Fort is but a faint image of its former glory today, it still manages to hold its visitors spell-bound with images of its regal charm. Light and sound shows are arranged at the fort that is sure to transport you to the medieval era of the Mughals. Tickets for the show which are organized in Hindi as well as in English can be bought from the Fort.

 

Red Fort
New Delhi India 110006

• Hours: Th to Sa from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM

• Category: General History
  Neighborhood: Old Delhi

• Phone: +91 11 2326 7961
• Web: http://asi.nic.in

This mini museum is located inside the Red Fort and is primarily dedicated to the last Mughal king of India, Bahadur Shah Zafar. Amongst the many items, what catches the eye are the silk robes embedded with pearls and his hookah (smoking pipe) made entirely with silver. Other priceless objects include beautiful 19th century textiles and decorative blue tiles from the 13th century. There are other rare items from the collections of previous kings, such as Babar as well. This place also has small, quaint gift shop.

Mumtaz Mahal Museum, Red Fort

The museum is located in one of the palaces of the Red Fort, Delhi. It is believed that this palace was built by Shah Jahan for his queen Arjumand Banu Begum also famously known as Mumtaz Mahal. The objects are displayed thematically in six galleries belonging to the Mughal period.

The first few showcases have articles belonging to Emperor Akbar and his successors which include miniature paintings, manuscripts, stone inscriptions, farmans (royal orders) etc. One of the showcases has 17th century brass astrolabes which were used for astronomical calculations like measuring the distance between heavenly bodies, day and night times etc. The next gallery has porcelain, celadon and jade objects, textiles and glazed tiles. The most distinctive of the Mughal jade objects are the hilts of swords and daggers, usually plain but beautifully carved and finished. Curtains, carpets, pillows, cushions and costumes are also on display in the museum.

The Bahadur Shah Zafar gallery houses objects belonging to the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah and his queen like costumes, pen holder, ink pot, scissor, gun powder horns, rose water sprinkler, toilet box etc. Two specimens of calligraphy of Bahadur Shah II, an ivory miniature believed to be of Zeenat Mahal and a photograph of the last days of Bahadur Shah in the prison at Rangoon deserve special mention.

One can also find the arms used in the war of 1857 by the then Nawab of Pataudi, arms used by Bahadur Shah and field glass used by General J. Nicholson during the siege of Delhi here. Portraits of the last Mughal rulers and contemporary personalities like Mirza Ghalib, maps and lithographs depicting scenes of Delhi, Bahadur Shah’s letter to Queen Victoria with the thumb impression of his son Jawan Bakht, are some of the other interesting pieces of display in the museum.

Sansad Bhavan (Parliament House) is a circular, sandstone building with mammoth pillars. It is a place where the ministers of the country convene everyday to discuss and approve policies. Sansad Bhavan is divided into three complexes—the Lok Sabha (House of States), the Rajya Sabha (House of Lords), and the library. The design of this structure was inspired by Mughal architecture—evident in the motifs on the wall slabs. Entry is allowed into the Library only, passes are available at the Visitor’s Reception. To obtain a visitors’ pass, foreign nationals should apply though their embassies or high commissions

It is here that bills are passed. It is here that India is shaped and reshaped and foreign relations are talked about. It is here that pains are addressed and measures are taken to achieve a mutual goal. It is here that trespassers are really prosecuted! Welcome to the Parliament House or Sansad Bhawan, as it is commonly known. Although it is large and imposing in its demeanour, the Sansad building stands almost hidden and virtually unnoticed at the end of Sansad Marg (Parliament Street), just north of Rajpath. Despite the humoungous plans for the capital by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Parliament House was actually an afterthought. The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 paved way for a large legislative assembly and, no doubt, a building was needed where legislations would be passed with the thump of the gavel or the noise of ‘ayes’ and ‘nays’. Thus came into being the Parliament House.

Designed by Herbert Baker, the circular colonaded structure was originally known as the Circular House, when it was opened in 1927. In the immense structure, what catches the eye first are the pillars that seem to stand like sentinels. Wander around the voluminous corridor and count the number of sentinels; there are 247 of them supported on the 173 m disc that serves as a substratum. Portraying the typicals ‘jalis’ (screens) of the Mughal era, the boundary walls affords blocks of carved sandstone with exquisite motifs on them. Although it’s an impressive building, its relative physical insignificance in the grand scheme of New Delhi shows how the focus of power has shifted from the viceroy’s residence, which was given pride of place during the time of the British raj when New Delhi was conceived. Get a permit from the reception office on Raisina Road, and you can visit the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and the library ofcourse.

The Sansad Bhawan is situated at the end of Parliament Street, just north of Rajpath. You won’t find buses plying in that section, but you can always hire taxis and autorickshaws from all over the city to reach the Parliament House. Permits to visit the Parliament, so you can sit and view sessions in the public gallery, are available from the reception office on Raisina Road, but you will need a letter of introduction from your embassy.

You guessed it right…it’s a doll house. And there are no less than 6,000 dolls on display, not only from India but from all over the world. There is a huge collection of antique dolls from Britain and Eastern Europe. This place also has a well-stocked children’s library, and films are frequently organized for children every Saturday. Kids are sure to fall in love with this place.

Set up by the renowned political cartoonist, K. Shankar Pillai (1902-1989), Shankar’s International Dolls Museum has one of the largest collection of costume dolls anywhere in the world.

Housed in the building of the Children’s Book Trust on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi, the Museum occupies a floor area of 5184.5 sq. feet-a portion of the first floor. A separate entrance with a stately winding staircase leads up to a foyer. Inside, the Museum is divided into two equal halves. The two sections have over 160 glass cases, 1000 ft. long, mounted on the walls. One section has exhibits from European countries, the U.K., the U.S.A, Australia, New Zealand, Commonwealth of Independent States and the other from Asian countries, the Middle East, Africa and India. There are also special displays besides a representative collection from the over 150 kinds of authentic Indian costume dolls made at the Dolls Workshop attached to the Museum. 

Indian dolls made at the workshop are exchanged for gifts received from abroad as well as sold to collectors and museums in India and abroad. Each doll is handcrafted after meticulous research into the physical attributes, dress and jewellery of individual characters. Little wonder then, the dolls won the First prize-Golden Peacock Feather-at the Dolls Biennale held in Cracow, Poland, in 1980. The Museum’s collection of costume dolls was inspired by a gift of a single doll, which Shankar received from the Hungarian Ambassador in the early fifties, to be given away as a prize in the Shankar’s International Children’s Competition. Shankar fell in love with the doll. With the permission of the Ambassador, he kept the doll for himself. So fascinated was he with this Hungarian doll that Shankar, thereafter, began collecting costume dolls whenever he went abroad. His visits were frequent, he being a part of the group of journalists accompanying the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. 

Soon he had a collection of around 500 dolls which he decided to exhibit in various places in India alongwith the paintings done by children. The frequent packing and unpacking resulted in damage to the dolls much to Shankar’s consternation.

At an exhibition held in Delhi, which was visited by Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi, Shankar voiced his concern for the damaged dolls. Promptly a suggestion came from Indira Gandhi: Why not a permanent museum for the dolls?

So, when the Children’s Book Trust was putting up its building, a portion was set apart and planned as a museum for the dolls

Sheesh Mahal or literally translated ‘Palace of Mirrors’ was built by Nawab Faujdar Khan, in the year 1793. A treasured monument of North India, the Sheesh Mahal displays the architectural beauty of the Mughal period. The palace is named and famed for the intricate mirror work that covers the interior of this edifice. Tourists flock to its gates to soak in the grandeur of this lime and slate structure. The play of light during the changing hours of the day and their resulting effects on this eminent structure mesmerizes all who visit. What further adds to the mystic of the palace is the jail that hides within the palace complex: complete with a torture chamber where prisoners of the time were incarcerated, caged and tortured.

Sheesh Mahal, which was built in 1793 by Nawab Faujdar Khan, is one of the architectural marvels of the Mughal period. Located 21 km away Gurgaon in Farukh Nagar, this place is thronged by tourists year-round. This famous building is a rectangular double storeyed edifice made of stone, slate and lime and is decorated with beautiful mirror work. One of the major attractions of this building is the jail, which was used as a torture chamber in ancient times. Located close to Sheesh Mahal, Ali Gosh Khan Baoli is another popular tourist attraction. The Baoli is connected to the Sheesh Mahal by a tunnel, which was blocked in the early 19th century