At a glance Discover the inner peace of a city Delhi rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep with history and totally addictive to epicureans. About the city Once a part of the Aravalies, today Delhi has only the Ridge area to tell the story of the greenery this place once had. Delhi is actually a land locked area with the Himalayas to the North, Haryana on two sides and to the east, across the river Yamuna lies Uttar Pradesh. The river Yamuna runs through the centre of Delhi. Both Old and New Delhi exert a beguiling charm on visitors. Lose yourself unwinding the secrets of the city's Mughal past in the labyrinthine streets of Old Delhi before emerging into the wide open spaces of imperial New Delhi, with its ordered governmental vistas and generous leafy avenues. Religious Places Lotus temple This is one sight you may see from the window of some high rise building. It is a pleasure to watch it from the distance. And close up holds you spell bound. The spectacular and colourful sight, its no wonder that 4 million people come here annually, which incidentally is more visitors than the Taj Mahal gets. It is the main temple of the Bahai's in Delhi, located in Kalkaji south Delhi. Shaped like a half opened lotus flower, this temple is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. People of all faiths are welcome here as the founding principle of the Bahai faith is the unity of mankind. This temple is interesting from an architectural point of view as it brings together ancient Indian construction methods with the most advanced Western engineering principles and design. Do walk into the meditation space in this temple. Experience peace profound wash over you. The temple is open 9.00 am-7 pm, all days. Birla Mandir Also known as Laxminarayana Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Narayan (Vishnu) and his consort Lakshmi. There are other small shrines dedicated to Shiva, Ganesha and Hanuman. Beautifully detailed relief carvings are the high point of this temple for which 101 skilled artisans from Benares were commissioned. It is open all days. AkshardhamBuilt under the anchor of the Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), it is a modern-day marvel that stands testimony to India's unique religious and cultural beliefs. A 100-acre complex on the banks of the Yamuna, there is a stunning array of 20,000 statues, floral motifs, arches and beautifully carved pillars. It is believed that the construction of the temple cost a whopping Rs. 2 billion. It is open till 8 pm all days, except Mondays. Festivals Being the Capital city, people of Delhi celebrate all possible religious festivals. The city observes Idul Fitr, Makar Sankranti, Diwali, Dussehra and Christmas with religious fervour. They solemnly participate in the parades and prayer meets for the Republic Day and the Independence Day. March ushers in the season of colours for Delhiites with Holi. The streets come alive with fun and colour; even the corporate offices celebrate Holi with a lot of masti! Entertainment Although clubs and bars are multiplying in Delhi, but still, it is safer to head back home before it gets too late. Whenever you feel like dancing, the best option probably is to go to one of the big hotels. It is quite likely that you end up watching a Hindi film or a traditional dance performance, finished off with a beer or lassi and an early night of sleep so be ready for that option too. For catching the latest blockbusters, head to the many multiplexes and stand-alone theatres. Be warned that tickets on weekends cost over Rs. 100. Check the local dailies for show details. The culture hub of Delhi is the Mandi House circle. Most music, dance and theatre shows are held in the auditoriums here. Sample the best of music and dance by checking out Sangeet Natak Academy (Tel: 23387246). Another good venue is Triveni Kala Sangam (Tel: 23718833), which is devoted to the fine arts and is equipped with a fine open air theatre. Its art galleries have the best shows and the canteen serves simple yet lip smacking lunches. Nightlife If you want to enjoy sheeshas head to Shalom Bar & Cafe, they also offer Italian, Moroccon, Spanish and Lebanese cuisines. But if loud music gets you hooked Djinns is the place for you this is the place to be seen at. Make sure you head there on a Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays. The earlier you come in on weekends the better are you chances of having a great time. This is one of the expensive places, so make sure your credit card has ample of credit on it. For those of you into hip hop, the Taj is a good place to visit on Friday nights. You could also give the latest hotspot Climax (Tavern on the Greens, near Lado Sarai Golf Course) a try. Anpther great place to party is Steel, the bar and disc at Hotel Ashok has great ambience, good music and a decent dance floor. Kidding around Charity Birds Hospital inside the Digambara Jain Temple compound is where birds are treated for free from everything from pigeon pox to the common cold. One thing is for sure this is the only hospital of its kind where patients never admit themselves! It's situated just opposite the Red Fort and is three-storey tall. A building that treats nearly 30,000 birds each year. The birds are first held in the intensive care unit and eventually transferred to the general ward, where they regain wing power and eventually take flight. Fed a vegetarian diet of bread and cheese, treatments are free of cost and funded by Jain donations. You must read this out; this hospital separates its vegetarian patients from their non-vegetarian counterparts! Carnivorous predators such as eagles, hawks and falcons are housed exclusively on the first floor. Appu Ghar It has the distinction of being the first amusement park of India. The most popular rides are the Toofan roller coaster, Big Splash, Dodgem Cars, Eerie Tunnel, Giant Wheel and Columbus Jhoola. Timings are 10.30 am-6 pm, all days. Oyster's Water Park This one if for those who love the water, just a stones throw away from appu ghar is Oyster's. They offer a full day's access to water slides, wave pools and other water-based activities. Bathing suits, towels and lockers are available for rent. But make sure you get here only when and if you have an entire day to spare, pulling the kids out of the place is simply impossible. The park is open 10.30 am-6 pm, all days. Rail Museum You may be left wondering why we included this in the kidding around categories, most often it is the grown up child in every one, who wants to come here and play with the real-size engines, wagons, and coaches that display the glory of the bygone era, the kids become just an excuse! But yes this one is for the kids only, the toy train that will take them for a joyride. The museum is open 9.30 am to 7.30 pm, all days except Mondays. Garden of Five Senses Stretching over 20 acres of land, it makes for a refreshing change from the usual 'do not touch' dictum that children face everywhere; let your kids touch the plants, rocks and displays. The fragrant flowers, the sheer beauty of the landscaped gardens, the ceramic bells and the cascading waterfalls soothe all the five senses. It is a must visit for the experience and ambience.The park is open 10 am to 8 pm. Delhi Zoo Next to the Purana Qila, Delhi Zoo is recognised as one of the better zoos in Asia. It is open 9 am-5 pm, all days except Fridays. No eatables are allowed inside. How to reach Road: Delhi probably has the best roads India has to offer, but that's only in proper New Delhi, so do not let that carry you away. The rest of the drive, from where you are coming in from may not be a song. The capital is well connected by road to almost all parts of India. Rail: The headquarters of the Northern Railway Delhi is the most well connected railhead in the country. It's four stations - New Delhi, Old Delhi, Delhi Cantonment and Hazrat Nizamuddin - are serviced by trains to all corners of India. All the Rajdhanis no matter which part of the country they originate from come here. The luxury trains Palace on Wheels and Royal Orient, which, chug off from Delhi, offer unforgettable experiences. Air: Delhi is a major gateway to the country and well-connected by air to all metros and as well to most cities with an airport. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is also busy with flights taking off to various corners of the globe. Distances 200 km from Agra 269 km from Mussoorie 357 km from Shimla Best Seasons September to March Summer in Delhi is no joke - from April the temperature climbs relentlessly to more than 45°C (113°F) in May and June and the heat doesn't really abate until October. Dust storms called loo sweep in from Rajasthan with considerable fury. The arrival of the monsoon, at the end of June, brings intense humidity - the murder rate usually peaks in this month. From November to March is the best time to visit, with cool but sunny weather. Also, Holi, one of the most exuberant Hindu festivals, takes place around this time, in February or March. October sees the end of the monsoon, but is reasonably pleasant, although the days can still be pretty hot. Nights can be quite chilly in December and January. Places in and around Gandhi National Museum Old Delhi The National Gandhi Museum has an interesting display of paintings and photos Humayun's Tomb Central Delhi Mughal Gem Built in the mid-16th century by the senior wife of the second Mughal emperor, Jama Masjid Old Delhi The great mosque of 'Old' Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyard Jantar Mantar central New Delhi Only a short stroll down Sansad Marg from Connaught Place, National Museum Central Delhi On Janpath, the National Museum has a varied and interesting collection of Indian bronze, Nehru Memorial Museum & Planetarium Central Delhi Near Chanakyapuri, Teen Murti Bhavan, the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru. Nizam-ud-din's Shrine Central Delhi Across the road from Humayun's Tomb is the shrine (with its large tank) of the Muslim Sufi saint. Qutb Minar The superb buildings in this complex date from the onset of Islamic rule in India.