DARYAGUNJ SUNDAY BOOK BAZAR
by kmohandas
For book lovers and students, Daryaganj is the most favorite place to spend a Sunday. This biggest secondhand book market in the world starts at 10 AM every Sunday. This old book market is a paradise for book lovers and students. There will be varieties of rare books on all topics such as art, science, commerce, mathematics, cosmology, classics, literature, management, computers, latest and old novels etc. to name a few. The books are available here at very affordable prices, sometimes even at throw-away prices. You must bargain to get the books at affordable price.
The books are displayed on the foot paths of Daryagunj area starting from Delhi Stock Exchange Building extending almost up to Red Fort over a stretch of 3 kilo-meters. Total books on display may be around 80,000 to 100,000. Over 80% of books displayed are in English. If you are a collector of old books, you may come across a few books published over a century ago which may be priced from INR 50/- to 100/-.
Daryagunj is approachable by bus from almost any part of Delhi. Buses proceeding to Red Fort or Old Delhi Railway Station pass through Daryagunj. Bus Stop- Delhi Gate. Nearest Metro station- Pragati Maidan
Many of my best collection of books are purchased from here. Please do visit this place on a Sunday when you are in Delhi.
Auto rickshaws & Tempos
by Willettsworld
Basically an auto rickshaw (a.k.a Tuk Tuk) is a three-wheeled motorised motorcycle with a driver up front and seats for two passengers behind, although I saw many absolutely crammed full with either adults or school children. Tempo's are bigger versions of auto rickshaws. The one's in Delhi have a meter but its never used so you have to negotiate and agree on a price before you start the journey. I look back on my notes over my first few days in India and laugh at how much I was paying for short trips. You can get some idea as to how much things should be if you take a pre-paid autorickshaw (there are stands in Connaught Place and from outside the Toursit Information Office on Janpath). I took one from here to the Qutb Minar some 13km south of the city centre for just Rs70 considering I was paying around this figure for trips of just a few km's when I was negotiating a price up front. Bear this in mind when the driver's quote Rs100 to start with!
The Qutb Complex
by NedHopkins
Three well-preserved structures and many ruins comprise the Qutb complex. The most famous is Qutb Minar, the 250-foot high tower built by Delhi's first Muslim ruler, in 1193, and pictured here.
On our way to the complex, my son and I consulted a locally printed guide. It said the tower was 752 meters high. That would have made it about 2,500 feet -- or about 2.5 times the height of the tallest buildings in the world. We were both dubious and excited. We were disabused of seeing the highest thing mankind has ever erected: a printer had omitted a decimal point. Qutb Minar is 75.2 meters high.
In the complex a splendid gateway and a fine mosque -- in much need of repair -- are also worth one's time.
(Unhappily, the Muslims destroyed a number of Hindu temples in order to get materials for their own buildings -- rather like the popes ripped marble off the Colosseum and other ancient Roman structures to build their churches and palaces.)
India Gate- The Favorite Picnic Spot
by Preetibandooni
Built for commemorating Indian soldiers who died during the First World War, India Gate is a perfect honoring gesture for those who gave away their lives while serving the nation. The best thing about the monument is that unlike other war memorial the place is very alive and over the period of time has become favorite picnic spot in Delhi. At India Gate I was able to see a wide number of people visiting the spot with their families and friends. The cleanliness, green grasslands and wide roads makes it the best place to hang out after a long day of tiring schedule. Children playing with balloons, families joining each other in several parties with home cooked food items and friends singing songs the entire environment at India Gate was that of merrymaking and prosperity. To me this was pure fun if you are also looking for a place to hang out with your friends outside your air-conditioned apartments and that too without paying a single penny then India Gate is the place for you.
National Museum - Indian Textiles
by FruitLover
Textile collection of the National Museum is magnificent and varied in nature containing different types of textiles from diverse regions of sub-continent. Every region has produced its own distinctive style, design and colours on the basis of local traditions, belief and climatic conditions.
Antiquity of Indian textiles goes back to the period of Indus Valley Civilization starting around 3rd millenium BC. The bone and metal needles, terracota spindles and madder dyed cotton fragments have been excavated from Mohen-jo-daro (now in Pakistan), Kalibangan (Gujarat) etc. and silk thread from Nevasa (Deccan), which is Chalcolithic site in India.
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Another view - March 2009
The Lahori gate
A WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENT
Crafts Museum, Delhi
