Parent’s Resources

First Aid Guide for Kids

Most small cuts don’t present any danger to your child. But bleeding from large cuts may require immediate medical treatment. Depending on the type of wound and its location, there can be damage to tendons and nerves. What to do: For Minor Bleeding From a Small Cut or Abrasion (Scrape): Rinse the wound thoroughly with water to clean out dirt and debris. Then wash the wound with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly. (For minor wounds, it isn’t necessary to use an antiseptic solution to prevent infection, and some can cause allergic skin reactions.) Cover the wound with a sterile adhesive bandage or sterile gauze and adhesive tape. Examine the wound daily. If the bandage gets wet, remove it and apply a new one. After the wound forms a scab, a bandage is no longer necessary. For Bleeding From a Large Cut or Laceration: Wash the wound thoroughly with water. This will allow you to see the wound clearly and assess its size. Place a piece of sterile gauze or a clean cloth over the entire wound. If available, use clean latex or rubber gloves to protect yourself from exposure to possible infection from the blood of a child who isn’t your own. If you can, raise the bleeding body part above the level of your child’s heart. Do not apply a tourniquet. Using the palm of your hand on the gauze or cloth, apply steady, direct pressure to the wound for 5 minutes. (During the 5 minutes, do not stop to check the wound or remove blood clots that may form on the gauze.) If blood soaks through the gauze, do not remove it. Apply another gauze pad on top and continue applying pressure. Call your child’s doctor or seek immediate medical attention for all large cuts or lacerations, or if: you’re unable to stop the bleeding after 5 minutes of pressure, or if the wound begins bleeding again (continue applying pressure until help arrives) you’re unable to clean out dirt and debris thoroughly, or there’ s something else stuck in the wound the wound is on your child’s face or neck the injury was caused by an animal or human bite, burn, electrical injury, or puncture wound (e.g., a nail) the cut is more than half an inch long or appears to be deep – large or deep wounds can result in nerve or tendon damage. Broken Bones, Sprains, and Strains A broken (fractured) bone requires emergency care. Suspect a possible broken bone if your child heard or felt a bone snap, if your child has difficulty moving the injured part, or if the injured part moves in an unnatural way or is very painful to the touch. A sprain occurs when the ligaments, which hold bones together, are overstretched and partially torn. Simply overstretching any part of the musculature is called a strain. Sprains and strains generally cause swelling and pain, and there may be bruises around the injured area. Most sprains, after proper medical evaluation, can be treated at home. What to Do: For a Suspected Broken Bone: If the injury involves your child’s neck or back, do not move him unless the child is in imminent danger. Movement can cause serious nerve damage. Phone for emergency medical help. If your child must be moved, the neck and back must be completely immobilized first. Keeping your child’s head, neck, and back in alignment, move the child as a unit. If your child has an open break (bone protrudes through the skin) and there is severe bleeding, apply pressure on the bleeding area with a gauze pad or a clean piece of clothing or other material. Do not wash the wound or try to push back any part of the bone that may be sticking out. If your child must be moved, apply splints around the injured limb to prevent further injury. Leave the limb in the position you find it. The splints should be applied in that position. Splints can be made by using boards, brooms, a stack of newspapers, cardboard, or anything firm, and can be padded with pillows, shirts, towels, or anything soft. Splints must be long enough to extend beyond the joints above and below the fracture. Place cold packs or a bag of ice wrapped in cloth on the injured area. Keep your child lying down until medical help arrives. For a Suspected Sprain or Strain: If the injury involves your child’s neck or back, do not move him unless the child is in imminent danger. Movement can cause serious nerve damage. Phone for emergency medical help. If your child must be moved, the neck and back must be completely immobilized first. Keeping the head, neck, and back in alignment, move your child as a unit. It may be difficult to tell the difference between a sprain and a break. If there is any doubt whatsoever, phone your child’s doctor or take your child to the nearest hospital emergency department. An X-ray can determine whether a bone is broken. First aid for sprains and strains includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as RICE). Rest the injured part of the body. Apply ice packs or cold compresses for up to 10 or 15 minutes at a time every few hours for the first 2 days to prevent swelling. Wearing an elastic compression bandage (such as an ACE bandage) for at least 2 days will reduce swelling. Keep the injured part elevated above the level of the heart as much as possible to reduce swelling. Do not apply heat in any form for at least 24 hours. Heat increases swelling and pain. Your child’s doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Dehydration Under normal conditions, we all lose some body water every day in our sweat, tears, urine, and stools. Water also evaporates from our skin and leaves the body as vapor when we breathe. We usually replace this body fluid and the salts it contains with

First Aid Guide for Kids Read More »

Healthy Recipe for Kids

APPLE COOKIES 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cloves 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 2 cups enriched flour 1 teaspoon soda 1 cup chopped and pared apples 1/4 cup apple juice or milk 1 egg 1/2 cup golden raisins (optional) 1. Combine margarine, sugars, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. 2. Sift flour with soda. 3. Add 1/2 of flour mixture to margarine mixture and blend. 4. Stir in apples, raisins, apple juice or milk, and egg. 5. Add the remaining flour; mix. 6. Drop by teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheet. 7. Bake at 400 degrees for 11 to 14 minutes. 8. Remove from cookie sheet while hot. Optional: Spread with a thin glaze of powdered sugar and vanilla. Yield: 30 servings Serving size: 1 cookie Snack Suggestion: One apple cookie and 1/2 cup of chocolate milk (A child can help measure ingredients and drop dough by teaspoonful onto the baking sheet.) APPLE PUDDING 1 cup leftover cooked rice 1 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt 1 cup applesauce 1 teaspoon cinnamon Mix rice and applesauce together in a large bowl. Add cinnamon and yogurt. Stir well. Spoon into dishes and serve. Makes six 1/2-cup servings. BAKED APPLES One-half cooking apple per child, and for each half apple: 1 t. honey 1 T. orange juice 1 t. sunflower seeds or nuts Wash apples, cut in half, and help children remove cores (using a melon baller is easiest). Place apples in a baking dish. Spread honey, juice, and nuts in center and over top. Bake in microwave on high for three to five minutes or until tender. Allow additional time for more than two apple halves. These may be baked at 500 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, but remember to add enough water to cover the bottom of the baking dish. Try using brown sugar, a dot of margarine, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and several raisins in centers. BANANA SMOOTHIE Make up your own variations using other fruits and juices. 1 small frozen banana, cut into chunks 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt 1/4 cup orange juice Put all ingredients into the blender and whirl until smooth. These are fairly thick. Add more liquid if you want them thinner. Makes 2 servings, each having 125 calories, 213 mg calcium, 10 mg vitamin C, 7 grams protein, and 160 mg sodium. BANANA ROLLS 6 bananas 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup coconut 1/4 cup rice cereal Peel and cut bananas in quarters crosswise. Spread with peanut butter. Roll in coconut and rice cereal. Serve immediately or chill until served. CARROT RAISIN ROUNDS 1 carrot, grated 1/4 cup raisins 1/4 cup walnuts 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons plain yogurt 1 teaspoon lemon juice 4 slices raisin English muffins (could be toasted) Clean carrot and shred into small pieces. Mix all ingredients except bread. Spread on English muffin halves. Serve. CHEESY MEATBALLS This recipe lends itself to lots of small hands helping to roll balls. You may even want to double it to have it on hand for another lunch. Children do a great job crushing the cereal in a plastic bag with a rolling pin and rolling and shaping the meatballs. (Perfectly shaped meatballs should not be the goal in this recipe!) 1 lb. hamburger, preferably lean ground 1/2 t. salt Pepper 1 c. grated cheese, (preferably lowfat cheddar, American, or Swiss) 1 egg 1/2 c. crushed high-iron cereal (Total, Kix, Corn Bran, Product 19) 1 small can or jar of spaghetti sauce Combine all ingredients except spaghetti sauce and mix lightly. Form into small balls and brown in pan or bake at 400 degrees until brown. Pour spaghetti sauce over meatballs. Cook slowly for 20 minutes until meatballs are done. Makes about 16 meatballs. FRUIT JUICE POPS 1 (6 ounce) can frozen juice concentrate (100% juice) 2 cups plain yogurt 2 teaspoons vanilla 6 (5 ounce) paper cups 6 wooden sticks 1. Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl. 2. Pour the mixture into six (5 ounce) paper cups (generous 1/3 cup mixture per paper cup). 3. Insert a wooden stick for a handle. 4. Cover and freeze until firm. NOTE: To remove a pop, hold the paper cup under tap water for a few seconds. Yield: 6 servings Serving size: 1 fruit juice pop Snack Suggestion: One fruit juice pop and four vanilla wafers (A child can help measure ingredients, insert wooden sticks and arrange paper cups.) See Healthful Snacks for Children Two to Five Years of Age for reference HOT CHEESE FUNNIES Making sesame seed-covered pretzels shaped like letters or numerals can be especially exciting. Inexpensive ingredients provide a tactile experience as children work with the soft, rubbery dough. A step saver is to start with frozen yeast dough. 1 package dry yeast 1 1/2 c. warm water (105 to 115°F) 3 1/2 c. flour 1 c. grated cheese, preferably lowfat 1 egg Sesame seeds Dissolve yeast in water; stir in flour and cheese. Knead dough until smooth. Add more flour, a teaspoon at a time, if it’s too sticky. Break off walnut-sized pieces and roll into 12-inch long ropes. Twist into pretzel shapes. Let children make their own and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Brush with beaten egg and roll in sesame seeds. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 or 20 minutes. JUICY FINGER BLOCKS 3 envelopes unflavored gelatin 3/4 cup boiling water 1 12-oz. can frozen apple, orange, grape, or other juice concentrate Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add juice and stir until mixed. Pour into a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Chill in the refrigerator about 2 hours until firm. Cut into squares or use cookie cutters to make shapes. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. MELTED CHEESE CHEWS For the beginning cook, these can be a successful learning experience. Everybody raves because they taste so good. You’ll need: Whole-wheat bread (for variety, use taco shells or pita pockets) Cheddar cheese, preferably lowfat, grated Corn oil

Healthy Recipe for Kids Read More »

Immunization and Vaccination for Kids

From birth to 2 weeks B.C.G. Polio ( Polio) – zero polio Hepatitis B – first 1.5 months D.P.T. – 1st dose Polio ( 1st dose ) Hepatitis B- 2nd HIB Meningitis – Brain Fever – 1st dose 2.5 months DPT – 2nd dose Polio – 2nd dose HIB Meningitis – 2nd dose 3.5 months DPT – 3rd dose Polio – 3rd dose HIB Meningitis – 3rd dose 6 months Hepatitis-B – 3rd dose 9 months Measles Polio – 5th dose 15 months M M R 1 year Chickenpox 1.5 years DPT Booster Polio – Booster HIB Meningitis – Booster dose 2 years Typhoid Hepatitis A 5 years D T 10 years TT (Tetanus Toxoid)

Immunization and Vaccination for Kids Read More »

Height and Weight Chart for Kids

Growth Monitoring is a screening tool to diagnose nutritional, chronic systemic and endocrine disease at an early stage. It has been suggested that growth monitoring has the potential for significant impact on mortality even in the absence of nutrition supplementation or education(1). Experience in Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and other states in India indicates that individual growth monitoring of children is both feasible and extremely useful(2-4). Monitoring the growth of a child requires taking the same measurements at regular intervals, approximately at the same time of the day, and seeing how they change. A single measurement only indicates the child’s size at that moment. Currently, the Government policies for growth monitoring focus on children less than 5 years of age. Growth monitoring is one of the basic activities of the under 5 clinics where the child is weighed periodically at monthly intervals during the 1st year, every 2 months during the 2nd year and every 3 months thereafter up to the age of 5 to 6 years(5). Growth monitoring is viewed in most programs as an activity for weighing children regularly and plotting weight on growth charts to identify undernutrition (mostly severe Protein Energy Malnutrition) for feeding programs or to provide data on nutritional status(6). There are no national policies for growth monitoring beyond the age of 6 years. Growth monitoring differs greatly among pediatricians and often is not based on evidence. Hence, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics has made these consensus guidelines for growth monitoring as per IAP Action Plan 2006(members listed in Annexure I).

Height and Weight Chart for Kids Read More »

Cultural and Entertainment Centres

Sahitya Kala Akademi The Akademi was inaugurated on 12th March 1954. It was described as a national organisation which would be dedicated to working actively for the progress of Indian culture and raise the literary standards among all the Indian languages and for the promotion of cultural unity across the country. Now, the Akademi functions as an autonomous organisation. The organisation has made numerous contributions to the linguistic sphere through seminars, readings, performances, symposia and discussions. It has made a serious effort to promote the literary culture through publication of periodicals, monographs and creative works of various genre and compilations of encyclopaedias and bibliographies. The cultural establishment has brought out more than four thousand and two hundred books. The Akademi is famous for holding numerous seminars at regional, national and international levels. Lalit Kala Akademi The Lalit Kala Akademi is one of the very few national agencies which functions towards the promotion of visual arts including paintings, sculptures, graphics, photography, ceramics and the field of fine arts. It is a government-run institution and is funded by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. The Akademi promotes research in the field of creative arts. Many national and international level seminars are conducted every year. The purpose of the Lalit Kala Akademi is to promote and preserve the traditional Indian art forms. It awards many scholarships to the artists for outstanding contributions in the field of art. The place is an excellent visit for those who are artistically inclined. Sangeet Natak Akademi This establishment was inaugurated on January 28, 1953 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Sangeet Natak Akademi became the first national level academy of art to have direct patronage from the Indian government. It has made a consistent progress in the endeavour of preserving India’s cultural heritage through the promotion of music, dance and drama. The Akademi works in association with numerous state governments and other art organizations in the country. It has created many institutions across the country. Some of the prestigious institutions include: · National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi · Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance, Academy in Imphal. · Kathak Kendra or the National Institute of Kathak Dance in New Delhi. Sangeet Natak Akademi organizes seminars and conferences on art-related topics. The archives section has numerous audio/video tapes and photographs which are rare. The library has over 22,000 books. It houses a museum-cum-gallery displaying many musical instruments. Pragati Maidan This place is famous for hosting numerous tourism-based culinary, artistic, scholarly and culinary fairs and exhibitions throughout the year. It is imperative for anyone in Delhi to visit any of the national or international fairs that are held here. Even in the absence of any particular theme-based event, some permanent stalls can always be found there. These are usually occupied by the artisans and small-scale industries from the SAARC nations and a large number of Indian state pavilions. The state pavilions exhibit products manufactured by cottage industries as well as big companies which showcase products from various categories including: · Apparel and Clothing · Architecture and Designing · Business Services · Computer and IT · Cosmetics · Education and Training · Electronics and Electricals · Fabrics and Textiles · Furniture · Gems and Jewellery · Gifts and Handicrafts

Cultural and Entertainment Centres Read More »

Parks and Gardens

The Delhi Ridge This is the oldest mountain chain in the country and is an integral part of the national capital territory. The ridge is an extension of the Aravalli mountain range and has a strategic importance. It functions as the ‘green zone’ of the capital city. It shields the city from the hot winds of Rajasthan and helps to retains moisture in the region. It has been divided into four zones, namely the southern ridge, south-central ridge, central or the new ridge and northern or the Old Delhi ridge. The ridge is a haven for migratory birds. Mughal Gardens The western extension of the Rashtrapati Bhawan overlooks the famous Mughal Gardens that were designed by Lutyens. Here the principles of floral symmetry and natural harmony are extended into a beautiful landscape complete with a huge range of exotic flowers. Many ornamental fountains, gazebos and screens combine with multiple trees, flowers and shrubs to create a natural paradise. This is why the Mughal Garden is also called as ‘God’s own Heaven’. The garden was planted in such a manner that the flora has developed in a tropical profusion forming wonderful patterns of numerous lawns and waterways. The Mughal Garden is open to public every spring season of the year. Buddha Jayanti Park The Buddha Jayanti Smarak Park was founded to honour the 2500th anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha’s attaining nirvana. The park covers a major portion of the Southern Ridge of Delhi. The sprawling lush, green Buddha Jayanti Park has been a favoured haunt among Delhites for years. Its attraction lies in the manicured lawns, sloping terrains and the mammoth trees. The park is known for its sapling of the Bodhi tree which was brought from Sri Lanka. It is extremely picturesque with its colourful flowers, bright green grass and paved pathways. Lodi Gardens These gardens were earlier called the Lady Willington Park. The garden has been brilliantly landscaped and is very well laid out with small water bodies and a jogging track. The gardens house the National Bonsai Park that has a fine selection of bonsais. The Lodi Gardens has many species of trees including a Rose Garden and a Green House. The garden is at its best during the months of February through March. Many species of birds like the babblers, parakeets, kites, owls and kingfishers also throng this area. The Lodi Gardens are a popular picnic spot among the people. The Lodi Gardens houses Muhammad Shah’s Tomb. It is an octagonal tomb with a central chamber surrounded by a veranda having three arched openings. There are eight graves inside the tomb of which the central one is most probably the grave of Muhammad Shah. The gardens are also home to the Bara Gumbad and Masjid. The Bara Gumbad is a square tomb situated 300 meters northeast of Muhammad Shah’s tomb. The Bara Mosque has facades and turrets and was built during the reign of Sultan Lodi. This masjid is a situated on the western side of the tomb. The gardens also enclose the Sheesh Gumbad which is a few meters north of the Bara-Gumbad mosque which lies near another Lodi tomb, the Sheesh Gumbad. The most famous of tombs in the Lodi Gardens is Sikandar Lodi’s Tomb. Nehru Park The Nehru Park is located in one of the plushest localities of the capital. It is next to the Chanakyapuri Diplomatic Enclave. The park was named after India’s first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru. The park is spread over an area of more than 80 acres. It is striking beautiful with floral collections and picturesque little mounds and rocks which are inscribed with the sayings of Nehru. Due to the pleasant and peaceful ambience of the park, it has recently become quite popular with picnickers and young couples of the capital. Fitness enthusiasts can be regularly seen during the mornings and evenings. The major attraction of the Park is Morning Ragas – the musical concerts and the art events that are conducted every Sunday morning. World-famous musicians and vocalists of India perform in these concerts that are usually held for two hours amidst the landscaped lush gardens of the Nehru Park. The park is thronged by people looking forward to the free yoga classes which are conducted by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corp as a part of Delhi government’s initiative to keep the residents of Delhi fit. The Garden of Five Senses This famous park is located in Said-Ul-Azaib village in the vicinity of the Mehrauli heritage area. The park was developed by the Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation. It was inaugurated in February 2003. The garden has been designed with a view to stimulate all the five senses. Visitors can be often seeing relaxing or enjoying themselves as they seek to take a break from their daily lives. The garden is a prominent cultural venue of the capital. The garden has held tourism festivals, food festivals and Dandiya festivals. The 20-acre landscape has numerous attractions including Khas Bagh, Neel Bagh, Colour Gardens, the Courts of Specimen Plants and the Solar Energy Park. Khas Bagh has been developed on the pattern of Mughal Gardens with a series of water channels and fountains. Neel Bagh is basically a pool of water lilies which is surrounded by a bower-like. Roshnara Gardens This garden is among the most famous of Mughal gardens in India. Princess Roshanara — the daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan had laid this garden in the year 1650. The central and most impressive component of the Roshanara Park is the Baradari or the Tomb of Roshanara. It is situated in the middle of the garden. Four pathways can be used to approach the main pavilion. The tomb is noted for its Mughal Naqqashi or designing. The interior is decorated with paintings and there are Mughal-style fountains from each side of the main building. In 1923, an addition was made to the original layout of the garden and a club was established with a distinct Victorian

Parks and Gardens Read More »

War Memorials and Ghats

India Gate It is essential for children to visit this war memorial dedicated to the Indian soldiers who had lost their lives in the First World War. A visit here, invariably, helps to develop a sense of patriotism among young children. This war memorial commemorates the 90,000 soldiers who had died during the 1st World War. The 42m high gateway was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Since 1971, the Amar Jawan Jyoti or the flame of the immortal warrior has been burning ceaselessly. This flame reminds the nation of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Indian-Pakistan War of December 1971. The lawns surrounding the enormous structure are a popular recreation area during the evenings where children can play games after visiting the memorial. It also offers boating facilities and there are numerous ice-cream vendors speckled all over the place. To the northwest of India Gate are two ancient buildings, the Baroda House and the Hyderabad House. The Hyderabad House still stands proudly as being the former residence of the Nizam of Hyderabad, who was the richest person in the world during the peak of his kingdom, which was as big as the nation of France. Raj Ghat Raj Ghat is the cremation site of the ‘father’ of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi. It is still one of the most visited memorial sites in Delhi. It consists of a simple square black-marble podium which stands on the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Nearby, the cremation sites of Jawaharlal Nehru – the first Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri are found. The black marble tomb is inscribed with the words ‘Hey Ram!’ — the last words which were spoken by Mahatma Gandhi, as he fell down after being shot by Nathuram Godse. It is customary to circumambulate the tomb three times. This place has a very powerful spiritual aura. This national shrine has an eternal flame and the sandstone walls enclosing it are inscribed with various passages written by Gandhi. In the proximity of Raj Ghat are Vijay Ghat — the memorial of Prime Minister Lal Bhadur Shastri, Shakti Sthal — cremation site of Indira Gandhi and Veer Bhoomi — Rajeev Gandhi’s site of cremation.

War Memorials and Ghats Read More »

Museums and Libraries in Delhi

Field Museum This museum is located within the main gate of the Purana Qila complex. It is a small archaeological museum that is rich in historical artefacts. The museum contains articles that were excavated in 1955 in the southern periphery of Purana Qila and then during the 1969-1973 excavations. The chief attractions include the grey ware pottery and relics that date back to 1000 B.C. The museum also houses objects dating back to the Mauryan dynasty. Terracotta figures from the Mauryan period of 300 B.C. and coins belonging to the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq, stone figurines, seals and glazed ware and 16th century Chinese porcelain is also put on display. Air Force Museum The Indian Air Force Museum is located in the lush green environments of Palam, New Delhi. The IAF Museum attempts to offer an insight into the history of the Indian Air Force. It provides a complete portrait of the military aviation in India. It traces back the Indian aviators of the Royal Flying Corps who had fought during the First World War. The visitors can see real-life pictures, souvenirs, models and even actual aircrafts. The Museum has an Indoor Gallery which showcases and traces a pictorial history of the Indian Air Force. It also exhibits uniforms and personal weapons used during different decades. Other equipment like anti-aircraft guns and aircraft vehicles can be seen. There is a gallery that exhibits trophies, radar equipment and a few enemy vehicles that were captured. International Dolls Museum Shankar’s International Dolls Museum was set up by the eminent cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai in 1965. The Doll’s Museum is famous for having one of the largest collections of costume dolls in the world. The Museum’s collection of dolls was inspired by a gifted doll to Shankar which he had received from the Hungarian ambassador. The museum houses a collection of 6,500 exhibits from eighty-nine countries. There are also some colourful motifs that embellish the outer walls of the museum. Nehru Memorial and Museum Library (NMML) The Nehru Memorial and Museum Library is a unique repository of memorabilia of the first Prime Minister of India, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. It was founded by the initiative of the government of India under the Ministry of Culture as a gesture to pay tribute to the country’s first Prime Minister in the year 1964. The museum showcases personal documents of the whole Nehru family. The library has a treasure of books, photographs and periodicals dating back to the period of struggle for Indian independence. The library has ventured into publishing suggested progressive policies of Nehru which were largely unknown. NMML is located at Teen Murti Bhavan as this was the residence of Prime Minister Pt. Nehru. The library boasts of some of the rarest collections of newspapers and photographs of the Indian independence movement. Books of various languages, including Urdu, Hindi and other regional Indian languages can be found here. National Museum This colossal archive is at a short distance from the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The National Museum has over 200,000 works of exquisite art, both Indian and foreign. The circular-shaped building has three floors and is painted in red and yellow. The National Museum building was opened to the public in 1960. It has huge sculptures and exotic specimens of art and crafts. The museum also has lectures and training programmes, reserve collections, a library and a conservation laboratory. The sculptural section houses more than 9000 objects of archaeological importance. The museum is famous for its collection on exquisite terracotta and stucco figures. One can also see some rare items from various states and cities. The armoury section houses a collection of impassive arms and armours. Museum of Natural History The National Museum of Natural History was inaugurated on 5th June 1978, i.e. on the World Environment Day. This is the best resource in the country regarding the natural and, to a certain extent, historical heritage of India. It also promotes knowledge about the country’s fauna and flora. It has a motto of ‘Educating while entertaining’. The museum has been divided into theme-based galleries and activity areas. The Museum of Natural History is divided into four main galleries. The first section is fundamental and addresses the evolution of life and an introduction to the fauna and flora of India. This gallery provides information about the natural habitat of animals and the threat to the various animals and plants. The second gallery provides a peek into various ecosystems and hazards they face. The third gallery enlightens about the endangered species of plant and animal kingdom. The museum’s theme is very much conservation-based. The last section of the gallery is labelled as ‘Cells and Tissues’. It describes the structure and functions of various plant and animal cells. National Rail Museum The bygone era of the colonial India and the development of the Indian Railways can be traced through a visit to the Rail Transport Museum. It offers a collection of exotic Indian railway coaches. The museum houses a blend of vintage rail coaches and the latest, modern engines. It has many of the modern trains driven around as toy trains which gives the kids a memorable ride through the museum. The outer terrain is dotted with lavish carriages that were used by the British. The Maharaja of Mysore’s carriage is also showcased. This carriage has a rosewood bed and is embellished with teak, gold and ivory. It also houses the Fairy Queen that was built in 1855 and is one of the best-preserved locomotive steam engines. Craft Museum This museum was established in 1956 with an aim to promote the works of native handicrafts and artisans. The Crafts Museum is located in the Pragati Maidan complex of New Delhi. The museum is famous for its collection of Indian handicrafts. It exhibits some of rarest pieces of art and craft which have been collected selectively from all over India. Maximum articles on display belong to artisans from small Indian villages and folk art and tribal creations are also promoted

Museums and Libraries in Delhi Read More »

Historical Monuments in Delhi

Red Fort This magnificent fort is also known as the Lal Qila. The Red Fort has witnessed many historic battles for the nation’s independence. Inside the fort, the main structure includes the Diwan – E- Aam or the hall for public audience, Diwan – E – Khas or the hall of private audience, Mumtaz Mahal — the residence of Shah Jahan’s daughter, Khas Mahal — the private room of the Emperor and the Moti Mahal which was built by Aurangzeb. The fort was built by Shah Jahan when he shifted his capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad — now Old Delhi and it took nine years to build the enormous fort complex. The fort is almost octagonal in shape, like most of the Islamic buildings in India. Every year on the 15th of August, the national flag of India is hoisted at the Red Fort by the Prime Minister. The fort also has the Naubat or Naqqar Khana which is famous for its collection of musical instruments. People throng to catch The Light and Sound Show which is held every evening inside the complex the fort. A visit to the Fort gives the children a sense of the nation’s rich historical past. Qutab Minar An overwhelming tower made of bricks called the Qutab Minar has become synonymous with the history of Delhi. This majestic sandstone tower is nestled in the southern quarters of Delhi. It is 237.8 ft in height and is an exquisite example of the Indo-Islamic and Afghan architecture. This architectural site is surrounded by lush green manicured gardens, which are a favoured picnic and recreational spot for people. This tower has become a distinguished member of the World Heritage Site community and it mysteriously leans to almost 60 cm off the vertical. The Minar has a colossal entrance called the Alai Darwaza, the main entrance to the whole complex. There are richly-decorated facades of white marble that are engraved with geometric patterns and Arabic inscriptions. Just at the foot of the Qutab Minar stands India’s first mosque — the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid. Humayun’s Tomb Humayun’s Tomb is regarded as the first garden tomb of the Indian subcontinent. It dates back to 1570. Humayun’s Tomb was built by Hamida Banu Begum, wife of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. This monument exemplifies the grandeur of the Mughal style of architecture. One of the main attractions of the tomb is the garden or the Char Bagh. The garden surrounding the tomb is divided into 36 squares by small water channels and stoned paths. The square garden is surrounded by a high wall made of rubble of stones that is further divided into four large squares separated by channels and each square is divided into smaller squares by pathways which create the Char Bagh. The tomb is octagonal in shape. A great central chamber has four offsets and is double-storied in height. The central room contains the cenotaph of Emperor Humayun and his Queen. Old Fort The Old Fort is also called the Purana Qila. It was built in the 16th century. The architecture pattern is basically a blended format of Mughal/Hindu/Afghan architecture. The fort was built in red sandstone and the fort walls are octagonal in shape. At some points, the fort extends to 33.5m in height. Many archaeologists believe that the fort is actually standing on the ancient site of Indraprasta — the capital of Pandavas. Inside the fort is Humayun’s Library. This octagonal building is called Sher Mandal as it was built by Sher Shah. The Talaqi Darwaza is known as the ‘Forbidden Gate’. Inside the fort is a mosque called Quila Kuhna Masjid. A bit beyond the fort is the Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid or the mosque of Sher Shah. This mosque is the epitome of Delhi’s heritage of the Lodi style of architecture. The prayer hall leads to staircases which further lead to the second storey from where a splendid panorama of the fort can be seen with the greenery of Delhi as its backdrop. Jantar Mantar This monument was basically built as a scientific observatory by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1710 A.D. The structure encloses a sun dial or the Samrat Yantra that signifies the scientific heritage of the past centuries. The structure corroborates observable astronomical facts and can be used, even today, to determine the position of different astral bodies. A perfect amalgamation of religion and science, the observatory is looked upon as a historical site by the people. The Jantar Mantar has instruments that are used to calculate the longest and shortest days. These yantras or instruments are built of brick rubble and are plastered with lime. The site is thronged by tourists who stand awestruck by the scientific advancement India had made hundreds of years ago.

Historical Monuments in Delhi Read More »