It’s that time of the year when the stretch from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan, known as Rajpath, becomes the most important area in the Capital. On January 26, the Republic Day parade will take place here and at the moment it is buzzing with the parade rehearsals and security personnels manning the area. This area surrounded by majestic buildings, was designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens.
India Gate (11.30am)
Not many know that it is also known as the All India War Memorial. Take a round of this 42 meter tall building that is built in red stone and granite and has the names of many war soldiers engraved on it. Don’t miss the Amar Jawan Jyoti that burns all day and night, in the memory of Indian soldiers. India Gate is also a favourite of many to relax in its lawns. Also, it is one spot in the country that records the highest sale of ice creams annually. So don’t miss out on having one.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) (12.30pm)
Before heading to NGMA, take a halt at a small road side vendor outside the Gate No. 2 of the Gallery. The shop is famous for its kachoris and samosas, priced at R10 and R6 respectively. A new entry in its menu is the balushahi, an Indian sweet, priced at R10. Your next stop has to be NGMA, as the gallery is running a show by Anish Kapoor, a world renowned artist of Indian origin. While you check out his exceptional pieces in the new wing of the Gallery, you must not forget to check the small dummies of his art installations around the world, put up at Jaipur house. Next, visit the gallery’s Art Shop. Portfolios of Rabindranath Tagore, paper weights with Subodh Gupta’s paintings and greeting cards with Nicolas Roerich’s impressions, are few things that will catch your eye. All these products are priced from Rs 15 to Rs 1500.
Timings: 10am to 5pm, Monday closed.
Ticket: Indian: Rs 10/
Child: Rs1/
Foreign National: Rs 150
Pandara Road (2.30pm)
A true foodie’s delight, this is one of the few places in the city that will give you food even at 1am. It is full of restaurants serving various cuisines. Restaurants such as Gulati’s and Chicken Inn are some of the popular ones over here. You can end your meal with hot chocolate fudge at Giani Ice cream.
National Museum of India (4.00pm)
The museum has over 2,00,000 works of art, both from India and abroad, covering more than 5,000 years of our cultural heritage. The place is filled with pre-historic archaeology, jewellery, paintings, decorative arts, manuscripts, antiquities and arms. There is so much to check out at this museum, we recommend buying an audio tour to guide you through the museum. It’s available in languages like English, French, German, Japenese and Hindi and is priced at R150. The souvenir shop is stocked with craft work from different parts of the country, such as papier mache works from Kashmir and bidri ware from Bidar, Karnataka. There are paperweights resembling Harappan seals, cushions and tote bags with Mughal motifs and pietra dura works in white marble that reminds one of the Taj Mahal.
Timings: 10am to 5pm, Monday closed
Ticket: Indian: Rs10/
Child: Rs 1/
Foreign National: Rs 300 (inclusive of audio tour charges)
National Museum of India (4.00pm)
The museum has over 2,00,000 works of art, both from India and abroad, covering more than 5,000 years of our cultural heritage. The place is filled with pre-historic archaeology, jewellery, paintings, decorative arts, manuscripts, antiquities and arms. There is so much to check out at this museum, we recommend buying an audio tour to guide you through the museum. It’s available in languages like English, French, German, Japenese and Hindi and is priced at R150. The souvenir shop is stocked with craft work from different parts of the country, such as papier mache works from Kashmir and bidri ware from Bidar, Karnataka. There are paperweights resembling Harappan seals, cushions and tote bags with Mughal motifs and pietra dura works in white marble that reminds one of the Taj Mahal.
Timings: 10am to 5pm, Monday closed
Ticket: Indian: Rs10/
Child: Rs 1/
Foreign National: Rs 300 (inclusive of audio tour charges)
Sansad Bhawan Lawns (5.30pm)
The lush lawns at Sansad Bhawan would make for a perfect evening with friends and family. Halt here, to relax and enjoy the beautiful sunset while you sip on hot tea and coffee available here, for Rs 5 and Rs 10 respectively.