India Heritage Tour

If you are the type who look beyond the veneer of magnificent Nature, into the past where ancient civilizations thrived,thronged and vanished ....

The following series of articles will arouse your interest as I lead you on a journey into the Past !
Red Fort ( Lal kila): Commissioned by Emperor Shajahan as his seat of power in 1639.It took 9 years to complete this marvel of red stone edifice. Even after several centuries , this imposing fort, still remains the symbol of Power.

DELHI: Whether you call it by its ancient name of "Indraprastha" or by its present name.... It is a city of paradoxes: It boasts of rich varied tradition and magnificent architectural splendour amidst pathetic squalor as seen from a train nearing Delhi. This city had always remained as the seat of power,yet the Delhi administration is powerless to control the mushrooming shanty towns and ever increasing pollution.

Roads in the "power centers " of New Delhi are wider and well maintained whereas in the old Delhi,even main roads are poke marked and littered with everything : from soda cans to sand bags.

The local residents truly reflect the cosmopolitan nature of this expanding metropolis. You see a veritable mixture of different cultures,languages and ethnic origins in the streets of Delhi.And that is the reason we start our journey from here ...

These days you get to see young lovers mouthing inanities nearby,oblivious to their heritage.In the second photo of the Minar, you can see the smaller,black Iron minar of about the same period . Surprisingly, there is little evidence of corrosion in this metallic "pole".

Laid by Qutbuddin Aibak of Mainluk dynasty around 1211. The final structure was completed in 1230. The top portion often suffered lightening damage until last century. This minaret is 14.32 meter (diameter ) wide at the base and rises to a height of 72.5 meter. Has several projecting "balconies" with stalactite and supporting pendative brackets.

Nearby you will see several ruins bearing testimony to ancient Monarchs,Conquerers and the vanquished. Quwwtul- Islam Masjid remains the last abode of Qutbuddin Aibuk.This photo also shows the site of several ruins dating to the period of 1230 AD,near Qutb-Minar. Under the round dome lies the mortal remains of a Turkmenistan king.