Places of Attraction - SPIRITUAL
NIZAM-UD-DIN SHRINE
One of the Delhi's major attractions. It is the tomb of the famous Sufi saint Hazrat Nizam-ud-Din Auliya. Inside the premises of the shrine is a tank, which is surrounded by many other historically significant tombs. The shrine also has the tomb of Amir Khusrau and the grave of princess Jahanara, the daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan. Twice during the year i.e. on the death anniversaries of Hazrat Nizam-ud-Din Auliya and Amir Khusrau, a fair is held here and the area comes to life with pilgrims congregating from all over India.
JAMA MASJID
One of the biggest mosques in India, near Red Fort. It is closed for non muslims every Friday for two hours during mid day prayers. It is one of the few mosques where women can enter. Bare feet and suitable attire, which can be hired at the northern gate, is a must. The courtyard has a capacity of 25,000 people. A magnificent architectural gift, by emperor Shah Jahan, completed in 1658, has three gateways, four angle towers and two minarets. The greatest merit of JamaMasjid is that no matter, when, at what point of the day and from which direction you look at it, its grandeur never fails to overwhelm you.
GURUDWARA RAKAB GANJ
Near Parliament House, built in 1732 by Lakkhi Banjara, the man who performed the last rites of the martyred Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadurji. The style is characteristic of Sikh Gurudwaras. With typical arrogance, Edwin Lutyens' team could only describe the building as a 'Sikh shrine impossible to remove'.
GURUDWARA SIS GANJ
Opposite Red Fort, a small walk down the Chandni Chowk lane is Gurudwara Sis Ganj. The gurudwara was built in the memory of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, whose sis (head) was beheaded on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675 A.D. for refusing to convert to Islam. Even today the trunk of the banyan tree under which Guru was martyred and the wall where Guru took his daily bath while being imprisoned can be seen.
THE BAHA'I TEMPLE
East of Nehru Place, this temple is built in the shape of flower lotus and is the last of seven major Baha'i temples
built around the world. Completed in 1986, it is set among lush landscaped gardens. The architect Fariburz Sabha chose the lotus as a symbol common to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. Adherents of any faith are free to visit the temple and pray or meditate. Around the blooming petals there are nine pools of water which light up in natural light. It looks spectacular at dusk when it is flood lit.
Visiting Hours (Sunday closed): 8:30a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:00p.m. to 07:30 p.m.
LAXMI NARAYAN TEMPLE
Also known as Birla Mandir. This is one of Delhi's major temples and tourist attraction. Built by the industrialist G. D. Birla in 1938, this beautiful temple is located in the west of Connaught Place. The temple is dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (the preserver). The temple was inaugurated by MahatmaGandhi on condition that people of all castes be allowed to enter the temple.
AHIMSA STHAL
Just behind Qutub, on top of a small hill is the large statue of Mahavir, which was put up in the 1980s. Area around it has been carefully landscaped and developed into a beautiful park. The spot is called Ahimsa Sthal or area of peace.
GURUDWARA BANGLA SAHIB
Located around ½ km. from Connaught Place. The palace "Haveli", dedicated by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, where the eighth guru of the sikhs, Guru Harkrishan Dev stayed as a royal guest in 1664, became the place of worship of sikhs and is today known as Bangla Sahib. It is said that the water of the tank, inside this temple, which was sanctified and distributed by Guru Harkrishan Dev cured people suffering from small pox and cholera and is still distributed to the people seeking faith healing. A museum depicting sikh history is also within Gurudwara Complex.
ISKCON TEMPLE
The Hare Krishna movement always does a nice line in temples and their ISKCON temple is an amazing must see place. Not only is there a temple but a state-of-theart multimedia show using animatronics, sound and light, painting, dioramas and sculpture to illustrate the story of the Hare Krishna sect and there enigmatic views of Darwinism & Astronomy. Hand made paintings of Radha & Krishna adorn the beautiful temple. One can
enjoy excellent delicious vegetarian food at restaurant
'Govinda' is also in the complex.
ST. JAMES CHURCH
At a short distance from Kashmere Gate is St. James Church built by James Skinner and consecrated in 1836. This is the oldest surviving church in Delhi. St. James Church is built in western classical design with a Greek cross plan. Three of the arms of cross have porticoes, while the eastern arm contains the altar. The central area of the church is covered by a dome which bears some resemblance to the dome of the Florence Cathedral by Brunelleschi.
ST. THOMAS CHURCH
Situated at Mandir Marg, this Church was built in 1930- 32 for Indian converts to Christianity. The church is built in red brick, which was supposed to be the favourite material of the architect Walter George.
THE SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is one of the most magnificent and fascinating Church buildings in Delhi. It is located in Connaught Place, across Gurudwara Bangla Sahib near the Gole Post Office. The Church was conceptualized by father Luke and built by the well known architect of the time Henry Medd. Father Luke acquired the 14 acres land where the Church was built, which now stands between two schools, St Columbia and Convent of Jesus & Mary. The main altar of the Church is made of pure marble and the Church Bells ring melodiously during special occasions such as Christmas. Built in 1930, this Cathedral of the Sacred heart is an architectural landmark in Delhi.
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
This temple is situated at Mandir Marg. Foundation of this temple was laid on 31st October 1936, and was opened by Mahatma Gandhi on 18th March, 1939. HANUMAN TEMPLE (MANDIR) Built by Maharaja Jai Singh at about the same Jantar Mantar was built. Since then, many additions have been made to the original structure. A colourful mela is held in the compound every Tuesday and Saturday. The temple is located at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, two minutes walk from Jantar Mantar.
CHHATARPUR TEMPLE
A popular Hindu temple at Chhatarpur is about 4 kms. from Qutub Minar. The temple complex is divided into three parts. The main temple is dedicated to goddess Durga, second dedicated to Goddess Laxmi & Lord Ganesha while third to Saint Baba Nagpal, founder of the temple. It is set amidst sprawling lawns decorated with well designed sculptures carved out of stones and wood. What modern Hindu Temples have lost in style and grandeur, those have been attempted to recreate through massive structures with copious use of white marble. A large number of devotees gather here during the festival Dushehra (September - October) and the temple remains open round the clock enlivened with music devoted to goddess Durga.
CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF REDEMPTION
This magnificent building is situated near Kendriya Terminal in central Delhi. The foundation-stone of the Church, designed by Henry Medd, was laid in 1927 by lord Irwin. On 15th February 1931, it was consecrated by the Bishop of Lahore. Completed in 1935, the Church is built on a cross-plan with the entry on the west and an altar to the east.
Rama Krishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission is an Indian religious organization which forms the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as the Ramakrishna Movement or the Vedanta Movement. The mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organisation founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Vivekananda on 1 May 1897. The mission conducts extensive work in health care, disaster relief, rural management, tribal welfare, elementary and higher education and culture. It uses the combined efforts of hundreds of ordered monks and thousands of householder disciples. The mission bases its work on the principles of karma yoga.
Digambar Jain Temple
is the oldest and best-known Jain temple in Delhi, India. It is directly across from the Red Fort in the historical Chandni Chowk area.
It is known for an avian veterinary hospital in a second building behind the main temple. It is known as the Jain Birds Hospital.
Located just opposite the massive Red Fort at the intersection of Netaji Subhash Marg and Chandni Chowk, Digambar Jain Temple is the oldest Jain temple in the capital, originally built in 1656. An impressive red sandstone temple today (the temple has undergone many alterations and additions in the past and was enlarged in the early 19th century), Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is popularly known as Lal Mandir "Red Temple".
Ayyappa Temple (Malai Mandir)
The Ayyappa temple at R.K Puram is one of the most important and prominent places of workship in Northern India. A large number of devotees from different parts of the country such as Uttar prades, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan etc. are visiting the temple and participating in all important religious festivals like Mandalam, Makara vilakku, Ulsavam etc. Lord Ayappa’s sublime manifestation and reaching his abode and having his darshan is indeed a transcendental experience. The worship of Lord Ayyappa expresses in practical terms the profound significance of the vedic saying ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ – essentially you are the Transcendental reality. So whenever we chant ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’ we experience an inner transformation. With this chant. We consign our bestiality and depravity to the sacrificial fire that keeps burning in the abode of the Lord.
Mandalam, Makavilakku and Annual Ulsavam are the most important festivals in this temple. The 41 days Mandalam celebrations begin on the 16/17th of November and conclude on 26/27th of December every year. The ten days long annual Ulsavam is celebrated every year during the month of February/March with great enthusiasm and fevour.
Fountain of Oneness
The Sant Nirankari Mission has opened to public its unique architectural structure – Fountain of Oneness, in Nirankari Sarovar Complex at Burari Road, Nirankari Chowk in Delhi (North). Visitors can experience a divine show of music, light and water at 6:30 p.m. on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s really a romance with Nature and Spirituality.
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