Indian Metros
Delhi
Delhi, the capital of India, is an amalgam of the old and the new. The ancient and the modern times are in juxtaposition here, not only in the remains of a succession of empires, but equally in present social structure and lifestyles. The name Delhi, Dehali, or Dilli is derived from Dhillika, the name of the first medieval township of Delhi, located on the southwestern border of the present Delhi, in Mehrauli. This was the first in the series of seven medieval cities. It is also known as Yoginipura, that is, the fortress of the yoginis (female divinities).
There was, however, an ancient urban settlement in Delhi known as Indraprastha on the banks of the Yamuna which is traditionally believed to have been founded by the Pandava brothers, the mythical heroes of Mahabharata, the national epic of India. Excavations at the site of the township inside Purana Kila or the Old Fort show that the date of the oldest habitation in Delhi is around the 3rd or 4th century B.C.
Delhi is divided into two parts. The old Delhi or Delhi was one of the capitals of Muslim India between the 12th and 19th centuries. Old forts, mosques and monuments related to India's Muslim history are located here. New Delhi is the imperial city which was created as the capital by the British. It is spread over a wide area and is lined with imposing boulevards.
Delhi is a major travel gateway into India. It is one of India's busiest entry points for overseas airlines and is on the overland route access across Asia.
Kolkata
As one enters the city of Kolkata,the impressive Howrah Bridge across the Hooghly river,a huge cantilever structure,supported by two 270 feet high piers,greets the eye. Forming the green heart of the city is the great stretch of lawns called the Maidan, fringed on one side by the river,and on the other by an elegant boulevard,the Chowringhee. The Maidan is the venue for an assortment of events,ranging from football matches to political rallies. The grounds are also aptly,referred to as the 'lungs of the city.'
Surrounding the lawns are a number of famous landmarks. At the southern end is the Victoria Memorial,an imposing white marble edifice,a museum housing the relics of the British Empire . The Memorial which took 15 years to build,also has an Art Gallery within. At the northern end is the Ochterlony Monument,a 48 metre high column,now known as the Shahid Minar. Just adjacent to it,are the Eden Gardens,with a picturesque lake and a quaint Burmese pagoda. The world - renown Eden Gardens Stadium is also located in this area. The Birla Planetarium,one of the largest in the world,is placed at the southern end of the vast Maidan,alongwith the Zoological Gardens.
The many museums in the city,pay testimony to the cultural richness of India's heritage. The Indian Museum,one of the largest of its kind in India,housing relics of ancient civilizations,and an art gallery is located in Chowringhee.
Kolkata also has shrines and sites of worship belonging to all faiths. The Armenian Church (1650),at Brabourne Road,is one of the oldest churches in the city. The massive Nakhoda Mosque or Rabindra Sarani,modelled after Akbar's mausoleum in Sikandra,is said to accomodate 10,000 people at a time. 10 kms from the city is Belur Math,the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission which propagates the neo-Vedantic movement. It has been built to resemble a temple,a church and mosque.
Mumbai
Mumbai,the capital of Maharashtra,is the fastest moving,most affluent and industrialised city in India. It is also called the finance capital of India. Mumbai is part of India's beautiful west coast,that runs down from Gujarat,through Mumbai to Goa,Karnataka and Kerala. The city has a natural harbour,which was developed by the British. It is one of the most busy ports of India,handling approximately 40 percent of India's maritime trade.
Mumbai (till recently known as 'Bombay'),derives its name from the local deity Mumba Devi, whose temple is still there. The Portuguese predecessors of the British preferred to think of the name as Bom Baim,the Good Bay. Mumbai is a group of seven islands which are today known as Colaba,Mahim,Mazgaon,Parel,Worli,Girgaun and Dongri. Large expanses of open sea have been filled in,and tidal swamps have been reclaimed for furthering the land area. These reclaimed areas include Churchgate and Nariman Point.
Mumbai is home to people of all Indian creeds and cultures. It is a fascinating city,throbbing with life,and,for many people,the gateway to India.
Gateway of India,the principal landmark of Mumbai,was the principal port when the visitors came to India by ship. The gateway was conceived,following the visit of King George V to India in 1911,and was officially opened in 1924. Its architecture is akin to the conventional Arch of Triumph,with elements derived from Muslim styles of 16th century Gujarat. Near the gateway is the Colaba Causeway,which extends to the end of Colaba promontory, the southern end of Mumbai Island. Sassoon dock is always interesting to visit at dawn,when the fishing boats come in and unload their catch.
Chennai
Chennai,also known as Madras,the capital of Tamil Nadu,is the country's fourth largest city. Compared to the other major metros of India,it is far less congested and polluted. Chennai was the site of the first settlement of the East India Company. It was founded in 1639,on a piece of land given by the Raja of Chandragiri,the last representative of the Vijayanagar rulers of Hampi.
On an organisational level,the city boasts of reasonably efficient public services,public buses,and commuter trains run smoothly.
A great deal of industrial expansion has taken place in Chennai recently,with the mushrooming of engineering plants,car-assembly plants,educational institutions,and textile manufacturing units. Though there are no major attractions as such,it does have the second biggest beach in the world,the Marina Beach. Though a popular tourist spot,the beach is not really a favourite with swimmers,as the sea is known to house a sizeable population of sharks.
Chennai is a vibrant city that has managed to strike a beautiful balance between the modern and the traditional,a metropolis with a distinct old - world charm. Click here to know about the local festivals celebrated in Chennai city.
The National Deer Park is the only place in the world,where one can still find a sizeable number of the endangered species of Indian antelope (the black buck). The Deer Park,alongwith the Madras Snake Park,which is supported by the World Wildlife Fund,are located in the Raj Bhavan premises,at Guindy.
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