The Red Fort The red stone walls of Lal Qila, the Red Fort, extend for two km and vary in height from 18m on the river side to 33 m on city Side. Shah Jahan started construction of the massive fort in 1638and it was completed in 1648. He never completely moved his capital from Agra to his new city of Shahjahanbad in Delhi because he was deposed and imprisoned in Agra Fort by his son Aurangzeb. The Red Fort dates from the very peak of Mughal power. When the emperor rode out the elephants back into the streets of Old Delhi it was a display of pomp and power at its most magnificent. You can also visit Lahore Gate, Diwan-I-Aam, Diwan-I-Khas, Royal Baths, Shahi Burj, Moti Masjid, Gardens and The Rang Mahal Palace of Colour.

The great mosque OLD Delhi is both the largest in India and final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan. Begun in 1644, the mosque was not completed until 1658. It has three gateways, four angle towers and two minarets standing 40 m high and constructed of alternating vertical strips of redstone and white marble. Broad flights of steps lead upto the imposing gateways. The eastern gateway was originally only open on Fridays and Muslim festival days. The general public can enter by either the north or south gate. Shoes should be removed, and those people considered insuitably dressed (bare legs for either men or women can hire robes at northern gate. The courtyard of the mosque can hold 25000 people.

The main streets Old Delhi is the colourful shopping bazaar known as Chandni Chowk. It is a congested place, a very sharp contrast to the open, spacious New Delhi. In 1912, a bomb was thrown at the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge, as he passed down Chandni Chowk on his elephant. At the east end of Chandni Chowk, there is a Digambar Jain Temple with small marble courtyard surrounded by a colonnade.

The Buildings in this complex, 15 km south of Delhi date from the onset of Muslim rule in India and are fine examples of early Afgan architecture. It is nearly 73 m high and tapers from a 15 m diameter base to just2.5 m at the top. The tower has five distinct storeys each marked with a projecting balcony. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone, the fourth and fifth of marble and sandstone. Qutb-ud-din Aibak,the first ruler of salve dynasty began the construction of Qutub Minar, the highest stone tower in India, in 1209. The Tower was completed after Qutub-ud-din’s death, by his successor, Itutmish, Feroz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt the top stroreys and added a cupola. An earthquake brought the cupola down in 1803, and an Englishman replaced it with another in 1829. However, that dome was deemed inappropriate and was removed some years later.

Built in mid 16th century by Haji Begum, senior wife of Humayun, the second Mughal Emperor, This is an early example of Mughal architecture, The elements in its design, a Squat building, lighted by high arched entrances, topped by bulbous dome and surrounded by formal gardens- were to be refined over the years to the magnificence of Taj Mahal in Agra. This earlier tomb is thus of great interest for its relation to the later Taj. Humayun's wife is also burred in the red and white sandstone, black and yellow marble tomb. Other tombs in the garden include that of Humayun's barber and Tomb of Isa Khan, a good example of Lodi architecture. An excellent view can be obtained over the surrounding country from terraces of the tomb.

This 42 m high stone arch of triumph stands at the eastern end of Rajpath. It bears the names of 85000 Indian Army Soldiers who died in the campaigns of World War I, The North-west Frontier operation of the same time and 1919 Afgan fiasco. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and its foundation was laid in 1921.

the Bahai Temple, also known as the Lotus Temple (closed Mondays) Lying to the east of Siri is this building shaped like a lotus flower. Completed in 1986, it is set amongst pool and gardens, and adherents of an faith are free to visit the temple and pray or meditate silently according to their own religion. This temple in Kalkaji was designed with the help of computers.