Escape the noise and mass of humanity by going Ballooning. The Balloon Club of India on 8-B, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, telephone 3317977 is a wonderful way to view the surrounding area. Check it out…you won’t be disappointed. Balloons generally hold from one to ten people and can rise to heights of over 800 feet. The other place to contact regarding this sport is Wanderlust located opposite the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. Contact them on 6875200 for more information.

You cannot visit Delhi and not go to the Chandni Chowk The main street of Old Delhi is the colourful shopping bazaar known as Chandni Chowk. At the East end of the Chandni Chowk and North of the Jama Masjid, there is a Jain Temple with a small marble courtyard surrounded by a colonnade. The West end of Chandni Chowk is marked by the Fatehpuri Mosque which was erected in 1650 by one of Shah Jahan's wives. It is the nerve centre of old Delhi, and is really a huge marketplace. Open since 1654, it begins in front of Red Fort and is one of the largest wholesale centres in Asia. Clusters of shops sell everything from electronic products, watches and clocks to traditional Indian goods and tourist trinkets. Be warned that an afternoon in Chandni Chowk is not for the faint of heart. Come prepared to be jostled around by all manner of shoppers, shopkeepers, panhandlers, rickshaw-riders and the rest of the teeming mass of bodies that crowd the area's lanes and stores. Still, it is a vibrant part of Delhi where you can look up and sense, if only for a moment, how life must have been in Mughal times. The homes open into the narrow alleys, and you can spot old courtyards, stone doorways and filigreed windows. This is Delhi at its most chaotic -- an assault on all your senses. Plan at least half a day to stroll through this perennially packed area.

Meander around the grounds of the Chattarpur Mandir This entire complex of temples is called Chattarpur Mandir and is located beyond the Qutab Minar in Mehrauli. Dedicated to Goddess Durga, built in South Indian style the temple complex is spread over a large area with beautiful lawns and gardens. Though devotees visit these temples through the year, during the navratras, devotees come from near and far.  

Another brilliant way to escape the hum of Delhi is to go Gliding as it is certainly a lot quieter than being on terra firma. For information on this peaceful activity give the Delhi Gliding Club, at Safdarjung Airport a call on 4436052. They have daily flights departing anytime from 1 pm till sunset except Wednesdays. Excellent western air disturbances make it possible to glide as far a field as Calcutta from here, although typically flights are less ambitious. Generally, the best seasons are September to November and March to June.

Pay a visit to Hauz Khas Village This historic village in south Delhi has been encompassed by urban Delhi. It is now considered a green suburb, with an eclectic collection of boutiques, restaurants and art studios. Village tea stalls, stray dogs and the most expensive designer couture all coexist in the same surreal space. It can be found next to the Green Park, Delhi.

If you are travelling with kids or just want to enjoy a pleasant evening with your partner, then pay a visit to the Musical Fountain at Ajmal Khan Park This is spread over an area of five acres and provides a refreshing getaway from the bustle of the city. The musical fountain is in operation for two hours every day after sunset except on Tuesday. For further details, please call 3524834

Check out Old Delhi. It was built by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal. Within this area of enclosed streets, mosques, tombs and bazaars, are the Red Fort and the famous mosque, Jam Masjid. The succession of buildings, palaces, pavillions and halls of public and private audience within, are silent witnesses of a by gone grandeur.  

Explore the Red Fort. The red sandstone walls of Lal Qila, the Red Fort, extend for two km and vary in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side. Shah Jahan started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and it was completed in 1648. The Red Fort dates from the very peak of Mughal power. Enclosed in this glorious Fort is Diwan-i-am, the hall meant for public audiences; Diwan-i-khas, where private audiences were granted; Rang Mahal, the water cooled apartment of the royal ladies; the Pearl Mosque, a lovely, ornate dream in white marble. The Prime Minister of India addresses the nation from this age old Fort, on India’s Independence day.

Another relaxing experience that the whole family can enjoy and is worth every minute of your time spent here is the Sound and Light Show at Purana Quila The historic Purana Qila, which has stood witness to Delhi’s rejuvenation, periods of anarchy and the rise and fall of empires, is the venue for the spectacular sound and light show which brings alive the history of the capital. The viewer is transported back in time to where Delhi, the great empire rose and fell; where citadels of emperors appeared and disappeared; a city of mysterious eternity whose old ruins proclaim a majestic and imperial past and whose present pulsates vibrantly with the ever flowing life force of India. For details about the show contact 4629365, 4603178

Don't miss some of the excellent Museums and Galleries where India's ancient history is revealed.

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