The capital city of India is one of the happening cities in the country. Delhi is a beautiful amalgamation of ancient heritage sites and remarkable modern architecture and lifestyle. It is one such capital that holds a special place for cultural heritage and as well as keeping up with the current trend, be it food, fashion or entertainment, Delhi doesn’t fall behind when it comes to interesting things to do. Delhi host, quite a few numbers of world heritage sites that are both monumental wonder and cultural marvel that glorifies the Mughal architecture. It is also the place for a gastronomical tour – to experience best of local street food and delicacies.

Delhi is a stunning capital that is divided into Old Delhi and New Delhi. While old Delhi is the place to street food and marvellous red fort, New Delhi is full of wonders such as Humayun’s tomb, India Gate, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and Akshardham etc. People of all age have something to keep them hooked and while there are a number of places to visit in Delhi, one needs to fully understand the place.

Top places to visit in Delhi

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s tomb is one of the iconic monuments in the national capital. This stunning structure happens to be one of the first architectural marvels of Mughals built in the 16th century. Dedicated to the Mughal emperor Humayun, it is the first garden-tomb in Asia. Recognized by UNESCO world heritage site, Humayun tomb complex has many other monuments and tombs to explore. The tomb of Humayun is particularly one of the early constructions that show the Mughal architecture with Persian influence, making it one of the must-see places in Delhi. It is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. For its stunning architecture and glorious history, Humayun’s Tomb is a very popular attraction in Delhi that is visited by tourists from all over.

Entry fee: Indians INR 10/-; Foreigners INR 250/-

Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar is a magnificent structure was a symbol of the beginning of Muslim rule in India. This minaret is the highest stone tower in India, make it one of the UNESCO world heritage site in Delhi. This beautiful structure was started by the founder of Delhi sultanate Qutub-ud-din Aibak in the 12th century. It was later completed by Iltutmish and then Firoz shah Tuglaq in 14th century. Thus one can observe the architectural difference in each floor as it belonged to different period and rulers. The first three floors of Qutub Minar is constructed of red stone, the rest two are made up of marble and sandstone. This Stunning monument is one of the beautiful architectures reminding the glorious past. Qutub Minar is definitely a must-visit tourist attraction in Delhi.

Entry fee: Indians INR 30/-; Foreigners INR 500

Red Fort

Red fort is one of the national icons of India, located in the capital city of Delhi. This magnificent fort is built by the Mughals during Shah Jahan rule, is truly a symbol of glorious past of Mughals in India. This spectacular structure also happens to be the place where India celebrates its Independence day on 15th August. Constructed using red stone that represents most of Mughal architecture, Red Fort or Laal Quila is one of the important tourist attractions in Delhi that is also one of the UNESCO’s world heritage in Delhi. This grandeur structure is one of the prominent architectural masterpieces that are spread across 254 acres of land. You will come across palaces, halls and museums inside the fort.

Entry fee: Indians INR 10/-; Foreigners INR 250/-

Lotus Temple

Lotus temple is a unique temple that is known for its architectural marvel. It is particularly praised for its Lotus like structure, where the temple supports, 27 marble petals clustered together to look like a lotus. This beautiful temple is one of the seven Baha’ I faith worship centres in the world. Their main philosophy is to seek oneness with almighty regardless of their nationality, religion or race and gender. It propagates all religions in the world as one. As you enter the complex you will be welcomed by the enchanting entrance gates and beautiful garden. No religious sermons or chanting or spiritual meetings held in the temple. You will be welcomed to introspective silence and musical instruments playing from time to time. It is definitely one of the must-visit places to encounter peace.

Entry fee: Free of cost

Akshardham Temple

Akshardham is one of the popular tourist temples near Delhi that is located in Noida. This beautiful temple is a Hindu complex, situated on the banks of river Yamuna. Built-in the year 2005, Akshardham is dedicated to Lord Swami Narayan; Akshardham temple is known for its intricate detailing on the temple walls. It also has a world record of being the world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple, where thousands of volunteers worked on intricate marvel and sandstone carvings. This fabulous temple is a great place to appreciate the modern-day architectural temple.

Entry fee: Adults INR 170/-; Child INR 100 (4-11)

Jama Masjid Delhi

Located in the midst of cramped and bustling streets of Old Delhi, Jama Masjid is one of the beautiful places that is must-visit for people coming to Delhi for the first time. It is one of the largest mosques in India, built during the Mughals particularly belonging to the architectural collections of Shah Jahan. This beautiful mosque is built-in red sandstone and marble, it hosts thousands of pilgrims each year during the holy occasion of Eid.

Entry fee: Free of cost

Visiting time For Non-Muslims (7 AM-12 PM and 1:30-6:30 PM), Minaret (9:00AM-5.30PM)

Agrasen ki baoli

Also known as Ugra sen ki Baoli is a popular tourist attraction is one of the serene places to hangout. It is one of the ancient water reservoirs with a fantastic architectural marvel. It is also one of the picturesque structures in the midst of a busy city. Maintained by Archaeological Survey of India, Agrasen ki Baoli is definitely a must-visit attraction in New Delhi.

Entry fee: Free of cost

Other notable tourist attractions might be interested to visit are:

India Gate – This happens to be one of the most popular All India war memorial structure located on Rajpath of New Delhi. Often drawn comparison to Arch de Triomphe in France and Gateway of India in Mumbai, India Gate is dedicated to all the soldiers who fought the First World War. It is one of the beautiful places to drive by in Delhi.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib – Is a prominent Gurudwara, dedicated to the eighth Sikh guru. It is one of the beautiful places to find spirituality.

Lodhi Garden – This beautiful place also happens to be the resting place for Sayyid ruler Mohammed Shah and Lodhi King Sikandar Lodhi. These tombs were built in the 15th century, displaying the architectural style of Sayyid and Lodhi. It is also surrounded by lush greenery, making it a great spot to hangout.

Chandni Chowk – a market place that is popular for street food- such as delicious Chaat and Paranthas.

Hauz Khas village – Once a historical place with Mughal constructions dated back to 14th and 16th century, Hauz Khas village is now one of the posh places in Delhi that is dotted with numerous eateries, cafes and pubs. It is one of the beautiful places to hang out with friends.

Jantar Mantar – This is one of the heritage sites that were built in the 18th century for astronomical observation. Entry fee: Indians INR 10/-; Foreigners INR 150/-

Raj Ghat – This is a resting place or a memorial site that is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. Many eminent personalities were cremated in here and some of the prominent memorial sites in here are Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Nazimuddin Dargah – One of the oldest Dargah built in the year 1526, is dedicated to a Sufi saint Nizamuddin Chisti. This mausoleum is considered to be a sacred place by the locals.

Rashtrapati Bhavan – Residence of President of India.

Weekend places to visit near New Delhi

Shimla – A beautiful Hill station located at a distance of 340 km (8hrs) from Delhi. Shimla is one of the most visited hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. There are a number of Government Buses and Private buses plying from Kashmiri Gate to Shimla.

Manali – Delhi is often an entry point for many domestic travellers who take a flight till Delhi and go by road to Manali. Located at a distance of 530 km (12hrs) from Delhi, there are an ample number of state buses and private buses departing from Kashmiri Gate.

Dehradun – This stunning little hill town is frequently visited weekend destination from Delhi. Located at a distance of 260 km from Delhi, there are overnight trains to Dehradun and there are the state and private buses departing from Delhi every day.

Rishikesh – Rishikesh - the adventure capital of India is a must-visit weekend destination from Delhi. This mystical place is located at a distance from 230 km from Delhi. There are the state and private buses departing every day and there is an overnight train that departs from New Delhi railway station to Haridwar. From here one can take a bus to Rishikesh which is 1-hour ride from Haridwar.

Nainital – This lake hill town is one of the beautiful places to visit in Uttarakhand. Located at a distance of 330 km (7hrs) from Delhi, there are buses leaving every night from Kashmiri Gate. It is a perfect getaway for the weekend.

Agra – This historical city of Agra is located at a distance of 230 km from Delhi. Agra is known for world-famous Taj Mahal that is visited by lakhs of people each day.  There are Trains that depart from New Delhi and Old Delhi railway station with 6-8 trains per day. Likewise, one can hire a taxi or take a bus to Agra. It takes about 4 hrs to reach Agra on the express highway.

Itineraries:

3N/4D

Day 1: Delhi Arrival; India Gate visit

Day 2: Full day city tour: Red fort, Humayun Tomb and Qutub Minar; Dinner near Nizamuddin Dargah

Day 3: Gurudwara Bangla Saheb and Akshardham temple visit or Lotus temple visit

Day 4: Delhi departure

5N/6D

Day 1: Delhi Arrival; India Gate visit

Day 2: Delhi Full day city tour includes – Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun's tomb

Day 3: Delhi to Agra; Taj Mahal visit

Day 4: Agra to Jaipur; evening market visit

Day 5: Jaipur city tour – Forts and Hawa mahal visit

Day 6: Jaipur Departure

5N/6D

Day 1: Delhi Arrival; India Gate visit

Day 2: Delhi city tour; evening take a bus or a train to Dehradun

Day 3: Dehradun sightseeing

Day 4: Dehradun to Rishikesh transfer

Day 5: Rishikesh – white water rafting

Day 6: Rishikesh depart to Delhi

Best time to visit

The capital city is known for its extreme climatic conditions. Summers that starts from March goes on till the end of June, when the first shower graces the burning hot weather. Summers are extremely hot and it can be one of the worst times to visit the capital. Rains are welcomed every year after a tiresome summer. The weather becomes pleasant but pleasant enough to travel. If you are looking to travel to New Delhi, the best time would be from October to February. It is during this time, the weather gets pleasant and cold. It is a perfect time to take out your winter clothes and explore the capital city with a lot of opportunities. Although in recent times, Delhi is experiencing a huge pollution crisis especially during the winters, making it difficult to breathe. This happens especially in the month of November and continues until December. It is during this time weather in here gets extremely cold, where the temperature drops to 2 degrees at night and 11 degrees during the day.

What to eat?

 Delhi – the national capital is one of the few cities in India that is known for its lip-smacking street food. Some of the must-try street food is:

Chole Bhature and Chole Kulche: Chole Bhature and Chole Kulche are two tasty snacks and also a meal that one must try. Chole Bhature is a special snack that is served best on the Delhi University North Campus. It is made up of spiced Chole and Bhature similar to Puri is a soft yet crispy outer layer. Chole Kulche is a simply a matar ki Chaat is served with soft Kulche which is maida based bread. It is definitely one of the best breakfasts one could ask for in Delhi.

Alu Tikki Chaat: Delhi is one of the best places to taste spicy chaat. Alu Tikki chaat and Golgappe are must try in Chandni Chowk.

Kulfi: Kulfi is a frozen delight one must try in Delhi to beat the heat. One must try Kulfis in Roshan ki Kulfi in Karol Bagh.

Dahi Balle: Dahi Balle is a north- Indian version of Dahi vada. This is must try in Chandni Chowk and Rajouri Market.

Paranthe in Paranthe wali Gali: This is probably one of the best places for food lovers where the whole street is dedicated to food. This ‘Parantha Street’ serves some great variety of Paranthas with pickled salad and chutney. It is a great place to spend an afternoon along with a glass of Lassi or Buttermilk.

What to shop?

There is nothing like shopping in Delhi. This beautiful capital city is absolutely a Shoppers paradise. There are a number of local markets in the city from where one can buy best of Carpets and woollen products coming from Jammu and Kashmir. One can buy colourful shawls and stoles, jewellery and lehengas, and beautiful suits are absolutely eye-dazzling. Some of these markets are Sarojini Market, Chandni Chowk, Khan Market and Rajouri bazaar. Make sure you have a full day planned only for shopping.s

Where to stay?

Delhi like all the capital cities are visited by thousands and lakhs of people throughout the year. The city is well equipped with infrastructures such as hotels, restaurants and public transportation. There are a plethora of hotel categories one gets to choose from. Right from 5-star hotels to guesthouses and Hostels, the capital of the country is accessible and well equipped with infrastructure. These 5 stars and 4-star hotels are known for world-class service of luxury, while the homestays and guest houses are known for the homely environment with basic facilities. The 3 and 2-star hotels in the city are often occupied with tourist throughout the year, as the tariff is affordable and are located in the city centre.

Some of the popular hotels one can think of staying are:

The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa (5 stars) – located in Connaught Place in New Delhi

Tariff: 7000 per night

Taj Palace (5 star) – Located in Sardar Patel Road in Delhi

Tariff: 10,000 per night

Ibis New Delhi Aero city (3 stars) – Located in Hospitality district, Aerocity in New Delhi

Tariff: 5000 per night

Zostel Delhi – is a Travellers hostel, is a beautiful place for solo-travellers for an affordable stay. It is also a great way of meeting fellow travellers.

Tariff: 600 per night

How to reach?

New Delhi happens to be the coolest city and a capital city of the country. It is also very well connected with the rest of the states in India.

Air: The capital city is very well connected by air with almost all the major cities in the country and across the world. Most of the state capitals cities in the country, be it metropolitan cities or tow tiered cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and tow tiered cities such as Indore, Nagpur, Bagdogra etc. There are about three terminals in New Delhi. Terminal 1 is connected by domestic airlines such as Indigo, Spicejet and Goair. Terminal 2 is used for Haj pilgrimage and Terminal 3 is used for international travel.

Rail: Rail network to the capital city is also very well connected with superfast trains and express trains to all corner of the country; To Kashmir, Kanyakumari, Trivandrum, Jaisalmer or Guwahati. There are two railway stations in the city – The New Delhi railway station and the Old Delhi railway station. Both these stations are well connected with major trains departing to various destinations in the country.

Road: Road connectivity within the city and to the neighbouring states is well maintained by government buses and private buses. Within the city, there are eco-friendly buses that are running with great frequency. There are many state buses and private buses running to Himachal and Uttarakhand and Jammu from the capital city. There are three bus terminuses in the city - Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Kashmiri Gate, Sarai Kale-Khan Bus Terminus and Anand Vihar Bus Terminus that operate buses for several routes.