Why travel could change you forever
Holidaying is very different to ‘travelling’. The aim of a holiday is probably to reconnect with friends and loved ones, have some fun and return home fully refreshed and ready to face the daily grind again. Holidays might place in villas and resorts, and we often return to our favourite holiday destinations time and again. We all need a holiday sometimes!
Travel on the other hand, is about taking yourself away from what you know and the spaces you feel safe in, and throwing yourself, sometimes gently, into a whole new place. Travelling isn’t necessarily where you go, it’s more about how you go, and the experiences you gain along the way. Find out why travel could change you, and how to make the most of your experiences.
The official residence of the President of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan is spread over 320 acres, that includes the main building, the beautiful Mughal gardens, the residences of bodyguards and staffs, stables, offices and vast open spaces. An erstwhile residence of the Viceroy of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan is the brainchild of the British architect, Edwin Landseer Lutyens. Quite distinct from other British colonial buildings, one can detect an aesthetic usage of Indian designs and hints of Mughal and European architectural components. Lutyens claimed that the huge central dome was inspired by the Roman Patheon.
The main building itself occupies a 200,000 sq.ft area and has 4 floors encompassing 340 rooms in all. Needless to say, the overall splendour of this place is multi-dimensional. Only a handful of the residential premises of the Heads of State from all over the world can match this building's size and magnificence. Sitting at the Eastern end of the Kingsway or Rajpath, Rashtrapati Bhavan faces India Gate, which lies at the Western end of the road.
Two huge Central Secretariat buildings make up the North and South block on either side of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, comprising of various ministries under the Government of India. Behind the buildings are the Mughal Gardens spread over 250 acres; they are open to the public from 14 February- 14 March. All buildings closed to the public, but discussed features can be seen from Rajpath and the Mughal Gardens.
General Information & How to reach Rashtrapati Bhavan.....!!!!
Instructions for Visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan
1. A request for visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan can be made by online Booking system through a link on the website http://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in/rbtour/
2. The visiting days of Rashtrapati Bhavan are as under:
Circuit 1: Rashtrapati Bhavan Main Building and the Central Lawn will be open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Circuit 2: The Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex(RBMC) comprising the Clock Tower, the Stables and the Garages will be open on all days except Monday.
Circuit 3: The Mughal Garden and other Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan will be open from August to March on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
3. Timings will be from 9 AM to 4 PM.
4. Entry to Rashtrapati Bhavan for visit is through Gate No. 2(Rajpath), Gate No. 37(via Dalhousie Road-Hukmi Mai Marg) and Gate No. 38 (via Church Road-Brassy Avenue) of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
5. Indian citizens are required to carry valid photo ID Cards. In case of foreigners, they should make their request for visit along with photocopies of their passport. On the day of visit, they are required to carry their original passport for identification.
6. Registration charges of Rs. 50 per visitor are introduced w.e.f. 25th July 2016. The registration charges are payable online and will be non-refundable and non-transferable.
7. Visitors below the age of 8 years will be exempted from the payment of registration charges. Visitors individually or in a group of less than 30 persons will be charged Rs. 50 per visitor per visit. Visitors in a group of 30 persons will be charged Rs. 1200 (Rs. 50x30 less 20% discount) per visit. Visitors in a group of more than 30 persons will be charged Rs.1200 plus Rs. 50 per additional visitor.
8. Online booking is subject to confirmation through Email/SMS.
9. For security reasons, the President’s Secretariat reserves the right to approve / reject the permission to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan.
10. The permission to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan Tourist Circuits is subject to cancellation, as and when deemed necessary by the President’s Secretariat.
11. The Change of Guard Ceremony is held on every Saturday and Sunday at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Timings:
On Saturday15 Mar 2019 to 14 Nov 2019 : 0800 hrs – 0840 hrs15 Nov 2019 to 14 Mar 2020 : 1000 hrs – 1040 hrs
On Sunday15 Mar 2019 to 14 Nov 2019 : 1730 hrs – 1810 hrs15 Nov 2019 to 14 Mar 2020 : 1630 hrs – 1710 hrs
"The above schedule is subject to change, as may be notified by Rashtrapati Bhavan."
12. A request to witness the Change of Guard Ceremony can be made online through a link on the website https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/visit_plan.aspx
13. A person with valid photo ID Card would be allowed to witness the Change of Guard Ceremony free of cost subject to availability of seats.
14. Entry will open 40 minutes prior to the Ceremony and close 15 minutes prior to commencement of the Ceremony.
Connaught Place of New Delhi is the largest commercial center of the region. The market place is named after the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The structure is a heritage building of the land, which was constructed in early 20th century. As of 2018, the Connaught Place is tagged as the ninth expensive office location of the world.
Location
The Connaught Place is located near Shivaji Bridge.
History of Connaught Place
Before the construction of this building, the area was filled with kikar trees and were home to wild pigs and jackals. The residents of surrounding regions visited this ridge for hunting. There was a Hanuman temple near the borders of this region. Pilgrims visited this temple during dawn, as dusk is considered very dangerous in this region, in the past. Later, the region was cleared and smaller villages near the ridge were destroyed to make way for Connaught Place. However, the Hanuman temple still remains as a historic religious structure. Jantar Mantar and Jaisingh pura were the other structures, whichwere spared during the clearance.
Tourist Attractions in Connaught Place
Connaught Place is popular for market which is built in Georgian styled architecture. The building forms two concentric circles. Seven roads connect the outer circle and inner circle. 12 roads lead you in and out of this market and most popular of all is Janpath road. You can find many giant cinemas and luxury theaters in this region.
The outer circle holds hotels, shops, restaurants and most importantly, the Regal building (wax museum). The middle circle has banks, exchange houses, offices and other corporates. You can find many entertainment centers in the inner circle. The central park is a large garden region near the market, which hosts cultural events and open for tourists to stroll and enjoy picnic. The Central Park holds the largest India flag.
Top Activities to Enjoy in Connaught Place
Catch a classic movie in 1920 Cinema Theater. You can even catch any old silent films, if lucky.
Visit the ancient Hanuman temple, which is said to be linked with Mahabharata.
Visit Jantar Mantar to spot many astronomical instruments of yesteryear.
Visit ICCR auditorium to catch any cultural activities
Visit the grand stepwell, Agrasen ki Baoli, near the Connaught Palace for sightseeing
How to Reach
There is a metro station right under the market, named Rajiv Chowk. Thus, it is quite easier to reach the market from any part of New Delhi. You can also find many buses, cabs and auto rickshaws from various parts of the region. The Rajiv Chowk is located in the inner circle of Connaught Palace and thus, metro is the most commonly used transportation to reach the market.
Visiting Time and Entry Fee
The market is open from 10 in the morning and closes by 8:30 in the evening. The opening and closing times of individual stalls varies with about the owner’s decision.
No entry fee is required to enter the market.
LocationChawri Bazaar, Delhi, India
Reach ThereMetro (Chawri Bazaar Metro Station)
FeeNo Entry Fee, Camera & Video (each 300), Tower 100
Visiting TimeFor Non-Muslims (7AM-12PM and 1:30-6:30PM), Minaret (9:00AM-5.30PM)
An excursion of Delhi will be incomplete without a walk through the walled city of Old Delhi. It was founded as Shahjahanabad by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and has maintained the Mughal character about it till yet in some forms. You can find Havelis from the yester years, alleyways dotted with traders who have been there for generations, homes in old style construction not renovated to the match with the contemporary Delhi etc.
As you walk through the gullies further and explore the soul of Delhi 6, we suggest that you shouldn’t miss out on an opportunity to visit the Jama Masjid. It is situated in the heart of Old Delhi and is one of the largest mosques in India. It is one holy place deeply revered by the city people and all incoming tourists alike. It is one of the striking features of the walled city and it is here that thousands of people gather to offer their prayers and to conclude their fast during Ramazan days. To be precise with numbers, the courtyard can accommodate 25,000 people at a time and Eid days look like the days of mass merry making! Spectacular, isn’t it?
LocationKalkaji, New Delhi, India
Reach ThereMetro (Kalkaji Metro Station)
Entry FeeNo Charges
Visiting Time9:00AM to 7:00 PM in summer and 9:00AM to 6:00PM in winter (Mondays closed)
Lotus Temple is a notable architectural marvel famous for its unique lotus structure. The temple has won several awards and recognitions for its style of building, the concept of religion and the beauty. It is one of the most visited monuments in the world. This is a modern style non-religion oriented temple.
Tourist Attractions in Lotus Temple
The temple controls 27 marble petals that form clusters to look like lotus. There are nine openings to the temple in regards to the nine anatomical openings of a human body. Lotus temple preaches Baha I Faith, a concept that includes all religions of the world as one. A person of any religion or creed can visit the temple and take part in the rituals. No religious script is allowed inside the temple. No lectures, sermons or spiritual meetings are allowed inside the temple. Musical prayers are conducted by instruments from time to time.
The temple holds no pictures or statues of any worship form. There is no altar or platform inside the temple. The temple can hold more than 2,400 people at the same time. The surface of the temple is made of white marble imported from Greece.
The temple is surrounded by nine ponds and gardens covering 26 acres in total. There is an information center inside the complex, which holds paintings that explains the unity of all religions. The temple hosts several classes from time to time to spread humanity, peace, affection, truth and courage.
A short film explaining the religion is showcased inside the temple in English.
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