New Delhi

Delhi, the second largest metropolis in India, is two cities in one. New Delhi, the spacious modern capital of India was built by the British, while Old Delhi has served for centuries as the capital of Islamic India. Notable sites of that period include the Jama Masjid, and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Qutab Minar, Humayun's Tomb, and the Red Fort.

Qutab Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world, was started in 1193 to commemorate the defeat of the last Hindu kingdom in Delhi. The soaring tower of victory, 73m high, is the tallest brick minaret in the world. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, such as the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311), and Quwwatu'l-Islam, the oldest mosque in northern India. Humayun's Tomb, built in 1570, was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort, built from 1638 to 1648 during the peak of Mughal power, was the palace for Emperor Shah Jahan, who also commissioned Jama Masjid, India's largest and most important mosque.