Delhi, the capital of India, is a destination of every traveler's dreams with its abundance of amazing forts and temples. This city is a mixture of traditional and modern, with its old marketplaces like Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi and new malls like Connaught Place in New Delhi.
Delhi offers a lot of attractions that are rich in culture and history such as the Jama Masjid and Lotus Temple. From temples to gardens and museums, here are some of the must-visit places in India's capital.
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- Claimed to be the oldest and busiest market in Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk is a shopping paradise for antiques, clothes, and electronics.
- Qutab Minar is a soaring 73-meter high tower that was built in 1193 to celebrate Muslim dominance in Delhi after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu ruler.
- Gandhi Smriti is one of the biggest museums about Mahatma Gandhi with a library of around 60,000 books.
- Connaught Place is the largest commercial center of Delhi containing many famous international chain stores, food chains, restaurants, and bars.
- The Lotus Temple is a Bahāʾī faith house of worship and is famous for its award-winning design that resembles a floating lotus flower.
The Difference Between Old Delhi and New Delhi
India's capital city of Delhi can be split into two different areas, New Delhi and Old Delhi. While they continue to grow side by side, each area of the city retains its distinct charm.
Old Delhi was founded by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 and was originally named 'Shahjahanabad'. This part of the city is filled with narrow lanes and crowded streets and is where you can find traditional experiences and taste authentic Indian delicacies and snacks.
Old Delhi is home to many famous Mughal structures including the Red Fort and one of India's biggest mosques, Jama Masjid. You can also find the bustling market of Chandni Chowk here.
New Delhi, on the other hand, is a symbol of modernity and progress. This part of the city has an excellent metro, wide roads, skyscrapers, and great infrastructure. You can find many air-conditioned shopping centers, pubs, and restaurants here.
Many streets of New Delhi are lined with impressive Colonial-era government buildings. Here, you can find the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, Secretariat Building, Parliament, Connaught Place, Lodhi Gardens, Jantar Mantar, and India Gate.
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Top Delhi Attractions on the Map
Top Delhi Attractions on the Map1. Jama Masjid
Across the road from the Red Fort and at the end of Chandni Chowk is the Jama Masjid which is the biggest and best-known mosque in India.
Some notable features of the mosque include its three entrance gates and two tall minarets made of red sandstone and white marble. There is also an open courtyard in front of the mosque with a pool made of marble where the devotees wash themselves before entering for prayer.
Jama MasjidJama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan in 1658 to be used as the emperor's main worship site. It is a beautiful example of Mughal architecture with Islamic, Indian, and Persian influences which can be seen in the structure's sandstone and white marble walls that are adorned with floral motifs.
Location: Jama Masjid Rd, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi
Hours: 7 am to 12 pm and 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm
2. Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. It is considered to be the heart of the city and is an iconic shopping area.
The narrow lanes of this street are filled with shops selling clothes, perfumes, electronic items, jewelry, candles, idols of deities, and lifestyle goods. There are also many outlets offering Delhi's famous street food such as sweet jalebis and savory samosas. Travelers can take a rickshaw ride to explore the market and weave their way through the busy streets.
Street foodChandni Chowk was built in 1650 amd is also a religious hub that has different places of worship for different faiths. Some of these religious sites include the Sis Ganj Sahib Gurudwara, Christian Central Baptist Church, and Digambar Jain Temple.
Location: Central Delhi
Hours: 9:30 am to 8 pm
3. Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb is a splendid mausoleum that was built to commemorate Emperor Humayun, the second Mughal ruler to ascend to the throne. It was built in the mid-16th century by the emperor's Persian-born first wife, Haji Begum.
The building complex contains several buildings including tombs and mosques. Some of the most popular buildings include the tomb of Afghan noble Isla Khan, the brilliant blue-tiled dome Nila Gumbad, and Chillah Nizamuddin Aulia which served as the residence of Delhi's patron saint Nizamuddin Auliya.
Humayun's TombHumayan's Tomb is an example of Mughal architecture with a mix of Islamic and Persian influences. It was the first-ever garden-style tomb to be constructed in India. The structure is made of red sandstone and white marble and was built in an octagonal shape with a high central arch.
Location: Mathura Road Opposite, Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, Nizamuddin, New Delhi
Hours: 6 am to 6 pm
4. Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar is a soaring 73-meter tall tower that was built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in 1193 to celebrate the Muslim control of Delhi after the defeat of the city's last Hindu ruler.
The tower is made of sandstone and marble with five tapering stories. Each story has a balcony that is surrounded by exclusive artwork. Visitors can also find the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque at the foot of the monument.
Humayun's TombThe construction of the Qutub Minar was started by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the first Islamic ruler of North India. Aibak built only the basement and then his successor, Iltutmish, added three more stories. The last two stories were completed by Firoz Shah Tuglak.
Location: Mehrauli, New Delhi
Hours: 7 am to 5 pm
5. The Red Fort
Located in the center of Delhi, the Red Fort was home to emperors of the Mughal dynasty for almost 200 years until 1857 when the British took over the city.
Covering 254 acres of land, the Red Fort is an octagonal red sandstone fort that is decorated with marble. Travelers can visit some of the popular structures inside the fort including the Hall of Public Audience, the Hall of Private Audience, and the Pearl Mosque.
Red FortThe fort was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and served as his royal residence. The structure is decorated with white marble, impressive domes, and flower engravings. The Red Fort is a great example of Mughal architecture with a combination of Indian, Persian, and Timurid features.
Location: Netaji Subhash Marg, Lal Qila, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi
Hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, closed on Mondays
6. Gandhi Smriti and Raj Ghat
Gandhi Smriti and Raj Ghat are both buildings in Delhi that are dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi Smriti is a museum whereas Raj Ghat is a memorial.
Gandhi Smriti is one of the world's largest museums that is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi with a library of around 60,000 books about the Father of the Nation. Built in 1928 by Ghanshyam Das Birla, Gandhi Smriti is the site where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life and where he was assassinated on January 30th, 1948.
Located on the banks of the River Yamuna, Raj Ghat is the memorial of many of India's leaders including Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi. Raj Ghat is where Mahatma Gandhi's last rites were performed on January 31st, 1948.
Location: Gandhi Smriti - Near Birla House, 5, Tees January Marg, Tees January Road Area, Motilal Nehru Marg Area, New Delhi
Hours: Gandhi Smriti – 10 am to 5:30 pm
7. India Gate
The India Gate is one of the largest war memorials in India. It is located in the heart of Delhi and stands at a height of 42 meters (138 feet).
The India Gate was originally called the All India War Memorial and is a memorial that was constructed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1931 to honor the 82,000 Indian and British soldiers who died during World War I.
India GateHere, visitors can see the names of 13,300 Indian servicemen inscribed on the surface of the monument. This is also a great location to enjoy a picnic or an early morning walk.
Location: Rajpath, India Gate, New Delhi
Hours: All-day
8. Connaught Place
Connaught Place is the largest commercial center in Delhi and the ninth most expensive office location in the world.
Connaught Place was built with Georgian-style architecture and was named after Prince Arthur, the first Duke of Connaught. This immense circular structure was built by the British in 1929 as part of their project to relocate the seat of governance from Civil Lines to Lutyen's Delhi.
Commonly known as 'CP', this market complex houses many famous international chain stores, fast food chains, restaurants, and bars. It is also regarded as one of the top heritage buildings in the city and contains many contemporary art galleries.
Location: G-22 Marina Arcade, New Delhi
Hours: 10 am to 8:30 pm, closed on Sunday
9. National Museum
The National Museum in New Delhi is one of the largest museums in India and is devoted to showcasing Indian art history as well as Buddhist studies.
Visitors to the museum can enjoy the 200,000 pieces of art from both Indian and foreign origins that cover around 5,000 years of cultural heritage. The artwork in the museum includes old manuscripts, temple hangings, lavish saris, weapons inlaid with precious stones, murals, and painted pottery.
The National Museum was established on August 15th, 1949. In 1955, it was moved from Rashtrapati Bhawan to its current location and was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India in 1960. The museum is currently maintained and managed by the Ministry of Culture.
Location: Janpath Rd, Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat, New Delhi
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm
10. Lodi Gardens
Located near the India International Center and three kilometers from Humayan's Tomb, Lodi Gardens is a beautiful park that covers an area of 80 acres.
The gardens get their name from the four monuments of the Lodi dynasty that are located there including the tomb of Mohammed Shah, the Bara Gumbad, the Sheesh Gumbad, and the tomb of Sikander Lodi. Despite being a great place to view historical monuments, the Lodi Gardens is also a famous picnic spot for college students and families.
Lodi Gardens was built by Delhi's Islamic rulers and was previously known as 'Lady Willingdon Park'. The gardens are a blend of natural and manmade beauty. Here you can also see the remains of a waterway that connects the Yamuna River to the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi.
Location: Lodhi Rd, Lodhi Gardens, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi
Hours: 5 am to 8 pm
11. The Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple is a Bahāʾī house of worship that is visited by around 10,000 people every day. Baha'i is a faith that believes in the value of all religions and unifies every world religion into one belief system.
The Lotus Temple was built to resemble a giant floating lotus flower and is made from 27 marble "petals" that are organized in clusters of three to form nine sides. The lotus design was chosen because of its symbolic importance to many world religions including Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam.
Many visitors come to this temple to admire its geometric structure. The building exterior is especially beautiful at sunset when it changes color with the fading light. There are also educational exhibits at the Information Center for visitors that are interested in learning about the Baha'i faith and the temple itself.
Location: Lotus Temple Rd, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Bahapur, Kalkaji, New Delhi
Hours: 9 am to 7 pm
12. Akshardham Temple
The Akshardham Temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, a famous yoga master who revived certain Hindu beliefs, and is known as the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple.
The Akshardham Temple was built in 2005 and the term 'Akshardham' means the eternal abode. No iron or steel was used during the temple's construction and all of its buildings are made of stone or marble.
The main attraction at this complex is the Akshardham Mandir Temple which is made of Rajasthani sandstone and Italian Carrara marble. The walls and ceiling of the temple interior are decorated with images of different deities, musicians, dancers, flowers, and animals.
Here, visitors can also enjoy a water show, a theme garden, and a relaxing boat ride.
Location: Noida Mor, New Delhi
Hours: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
13. Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is one of the five observatories built to calculate planetary positions and alignment by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who was a keen astronomer. The primary purpose of this observatory was to compile astronomical tables in order to perform sacred rituals at auspicious times.
The Samrat Yantra is a right-angled triangle with its longest side is parallel to the Earth's axis. It helps form a gigantic sundial along with two brick quadrants used to measure the sun's shadow and indicate the hour and minute of the day.
The Ram Yantra is a cylindrical structure that reads the height of the sun and is used to measure the position of the stars. Another wonderful instrument at the observatory is the Jaya Prakash Yantra which was invented by Jai Singh II himself and is used to verify the time of the spring equinox.
Though Jantar Mantar has decayed considerably, the observatory's large and fixed instruments are resistant to vibrations and are still able to give exact measurements.
Location: Sansad Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi
Hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, daily
14. The National Gallery of Modern Art
The National Gallery of Modern Art is one of India's largest museums displaying artwork from the mid-19th century to present day. This premier art gallery was located inside the Jaipur House, a butterfly-shaped building with a central dome that served as the former residence of the maharajas of Jaipur.
The National Gallery of Modern Art has an excellent collection of paintings, sculptures, and photographs including works by modern Indian painters like Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, and Raja Ravi Varma. The museum also displays work from artists such as Ram Kumar and Anjolie Ela Menon and renowned sculptors like D.P. Roy Choudhury and Ram Kinkar Baij.
The gallery contains more than 17,000 works of art and some collections of the work of various European artists including British artist, Thomas Daniell. It takes around 2 hours to explore the entire museum and take in each individual piece.
Location: Shershah Road near India Gate Jaipur House, New Delhi
Hours: 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays.
15. The National Crafts Museum
Popularly known as the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy, this museum was founded in 1956 by a unique project that aimed to promote the influence of indigenous artisans by giving them a place to display their work.
By the early 1980s, over 20,000 objects had been collected and at present the museum contains a collection of more than 33,000 pieces. These pieces include a variety of traditional artifacts like pottery, brass, wooden figures, clay and terracotta statues, folk paintings, tribal textiles, handmade jewelry, and cane and bamboo crafts.
The museum's exhibits are spread over two floors with a large open area used for displaying live art. Artisans set up workshops here each month (except during the rainy season) and perform the live creation of artwork in front of visitors.
Travelers can also check out the souvenir shop that sells a fine collection of art items from household objects and decorative pieces to ornate textiles. If you want to relax, Café Lota is a good place to be as it serves regional Indian food, tea, and coffee.
Location: Bhairon Marg, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
Hours: 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Monday and Public Holidays.
16. Rashtrapati Bhavan
Situated on top of Raisina Hill, Rashtrapati Bhavan was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens to be the Palace of the British Viceroy. Covering an area of 5 acres, this elegant brown and red sandstone building is now the official residence of the President of India.
The building's design was mostly done in the Neo-Baroque architectural style by applying heavy classical motifs and various Indian elements. The Durbar Hall, also known as the "Throne Room", is the most prominent hall and where all important state ceremonies and functions are held.
Mughal gardenOriginally built as the state ballroom, Ashoka Hall is the most beautiful hall in the building. It is accented with rich wooden flooring and decorated with Persian paintings on the ceiling and frescos on the walls.
The beautifully landscaped grounds surrounding Rashtrapati Bhawan contain a Mughal garden with a large variety of flowers and beautiful fountains. These gardens are open to the public in February every year.
Location: Rashtrapati Bhawan, President's Estate, New Delhi
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm, Friday to Sunday. Mughal Gardens are open from February to March, Tuesday to Sunday.
17. Khan Market
Established in 1951, the Khan Market was named in honor of the prominent nationalist and social reformer, Dr Khan Sahib, who was also the brother of Khan Abdul Gaffar, known as the Frontier Gandhi. Both men were revered for their contributions during the Indian Independence Movement.
This popular market, frequented by locals and tourists alike, has grown to be one of the most expensive commercial real estate locations in Delhi. It offers a wide range of Indian and Western merchandise including some of the most well-known brands. The market also includes boutique shops selling exquisite jewelry and designer clothes.
Wandering through the market, you'll see traditional sari shops and fabric stores, kitchen ware, and electronics. Visitors also have a choice of bookshops, stationery shops, grocery stores, flower shops, and restaurants and bakeries that serve local specialties.
Location: Humayun Road, India Gate, New Delhi
Hours: 10 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday
Explore the Best of Delhi with a Two-day Itinerary
All the contrasts of India are particularly visible in Delhi. Here you'll see every aspect of India from the 16th and 17th century Mughal monuments in Old Delhi to the wide avenues and colonial mansions of New Delhi. Below is a sample itinerary to provide travelers with insights on things to do in this constantly developing metropolis.
Spend the first day soaking up the atmosphere of Old Delhi. Start off by exploring the magnificent Red Fort where the national flag of India was first raised after the country became independent. Afterwards, visit the nearby Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk market. The Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque and is surrounded by the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk and all of its chaotic beauty.
Then, head east towards Humayun's Tomb which is the earliest example of a Mughal garden tomb. Finally, visit Qutb Minar which stands tall within the city's Mehrauli Archaeological Park.
Start your second day exploring New Delhi at Victory Square where you'll find Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's residence), classical Secretariat buildings, and the India Gate. From here, walk east to Connaught Place which provides some of the city's best shopping opportunities.
Afterwards, you can choose to spend the whole afternoon taking in the art collections at the National Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art. Then end your day at Khan Market where you can try some authentic local dishes.
Explore India with Asia Highlights
There are countless attractions in Delhi that are just waiting to be discovered. If you would like to see all Delhi has to offer, then Asia Highlights can help
At Asia Highlights, our professional travel advisors can help you tailor-make the perfect trip so that you can make the most of your time in this city. To get started, contact us here.
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