15 Best Places to Visit in Delhi: A Complete Sightseeing Guide

Delhi, the melting pot of various cultures, is the modern capital of India. The metropolitan city is located in North-Central India on the west bank of the Yamuna River. The city has a fascinating history and it was destroyed and rebuilt many times. It was chosen to be the capital city in 1947 and it consists of two main components; Old Delhi, in the North, and New Delhi, in the South.

The two parts of Delhi are two different worlds. New Delhi was inaugurated by the British in 1931 to serve as the capital of British India. Nowadays, it is the modern capital and seat of government. On the other hand, Old Delhi is considered the heart of the city’s great cosmopolitan area.

Delhi is one of the most populated cities in the world. Its mix of tradition and modernity makes it a great attraction for visitors.

Places to Visit in Delhi

The city of Delhi offers its visitors many different attractions. However, the city might not be easy to navigate for first-time goers. So, here’s your quick guide to the top 15 places to visit in Delhi!

India Gate

India Gate is officially named Delhi Memorial and was initially called All-India War Memorial. It is one of the most important monuments in Delhi. This memorial symbolizes the sacrifice of around 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives battling against the foreign army during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

The monument, which is situated at Rajpath in Delhi, looks a little like the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It is 138 feet high on a base of red stone and has a shallow domed bowl on top.

The top is usually filled with burning oil on significant anniversaries. Each year, on 26 January, the prestigious India Gate Parade occurs right before India Gate. On this day, India celebrates the day it became a republic.

Many gardens surround India Gate. Locals and tourists alike go on picnics and enjoy the fantastic view. The best time to go there is either in the afternoon in winter or at night in summer. This is to avoid the cold winter nights and hot summer afternoons. However, whether you visit in winter or summer, India Gate is one of the places to visit in Delhi. Don’t miss it!

Lodhi Gardens

Spreading over 90 acres, Lodhi Garden is a park in the city of Delhi. The park has more to offer than its name suggests; it is not just a garden. It has exquisite architectural work from the 15th century by the Sayyid and Lodi Dynasties. The famous garden is visited by many locals as it combines nature and history and offers a peaceful vibe.

Constructed during the Lodhi reign, Lodhi Garden is located in north Delhi between Khan Market and Safdarjung tomb and has many sights to be seen. In the middle of the park, there is Bada Gumband (big dome), Shisha Gumband, a three-domed mosque, and the Tomb Of Mohammad Shah Sayyid, which adorns the cosmopolitan city of Delhi. On the other side of the park lies the tomb of Sikandar Lodi.

History is not the only reason this park is one of the places to visit in Delhi. The park’s magnificent grandeur adorns the diverse city of Delhi. You can see the pond with its beautiful swans at one end of the park, a scene not to be missed. The bridge over the pond offers an even more dazzling sight of seasonal flowerbeds.

When you visit the beautiful Lodhi Garden Park, wear a comfortable outfit and walking shoes, as the park is massive. You can visit on any day, as the park is open daily from 06:00 am to 07:30 pm and has no entrance fees. Even if your visit to Delhi is a short one, make sure to visit the park to get a glimpse of what the city is like.

The Red Fort

Constructed in 1639 by the Mughals, the Red Fort represents Mughal architecture at its best. The fort’s planning and design are a fusion of Mughal, Persian, Hindu, and Timurid traditions. The highlights of this architectural creativity include the peacock throne, step well, imperial bath, Moti Masjid, and Hira Mahal.

It was the primary residence of the Mughal Dynasty for over 200 years. The fort is a symbol of India’s struggle for freedom, making it one of the places to visit in Delhi.

The octagonal-shaped fort is located in Old Delhi, spread over 254 acres. It gets its name from its grand red-coloured sandstone walls and features a museum that displays Mughal artefacts. The Archeological Survey of India managed the fort and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

Despite the fort’s architectural brilliance, it is not the main reason for its fame. The amazing site became famous because of Jawahar Lal Nehru’s midnight speech before India was going to wake up to independence from British rule.

Given its significance in India’s history, the fort hosts the annual celebration of Independence Day. The Red Fort also holds a daily light and sound show for an hour in the evening. The show is bilingual, English and Arabic, and presents the history of Red Fort and the capital city of Delhi.

For your Red Fort visit, avoid Mondays, as the site is closed on Mondays. The official visiting hours on the other days are from 09:30 a.m. to 04:30 p.m., and the entrance fee is INR 150/person ($2.04).

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Bangla Sahib is the most important Sikh Gurudwara (place of worship). It was constructed in 1783 by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh to commemorate the visit of the eighth Sikh guru, Har Krishna, in 1664. The Guru is located in Delhi near Connaught Place.

The shrine, which operates 24 hours a day, all week, is an example of the large-hearted nature of Sikhs. More than a thousand people visit it daily and it is one of the places in Delhi.

The Gurudwara complex comprises a main prayer hall, a holy Sarovar (lake), a school, a hospital, a museum, and a library. The small museum in the complex is dedicated to the history of the Sikh religion.

Visitors of the Gurudwara can get ‘Kada Prasad,’ a vegetarian halwa made with whole wheat flour, and free langar, a community meal at a particular time. Clean your plates and place them after eating, as this is not a restaurant but a place of worship. Also, while the meals are free, you can still make a small donation to the shrine.

When visiting Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, make sure to dress modestly. Wear something that covers you from the shoulders up until down your knees. Head covers are also necessary. However, if you don’t want to bring your headscarf with you, there are free headscarves by the entrance available for visitors.

One last thing is that you must take off your shoes before entering the shrine. You can visit the Gurudwara at any time; just make sure to avoid staying in summer afternoons, as the marble floors are usually hot at that time because of the sun.

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India. It was built between 1650 and 1656 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the same emperor who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.

Over 5,000 labourers completed the grand construction, and it was Shah Jahan’s last architectural extravagance.

The mosque and its yards are so big that they can accommodate up to 25,000 devotees. Jama Masjid is very famous, and you have probably seen a picture showing the Eid prayer in India. The place is so popular that it is one of the places to visit in Delhi.

The mosque’s magnificent construction has three domes. To add to its mesmerizing decoration, its two 4-meter-high minarets are created using vertically alternating red sandstone and white marble. It also comprises three great gates and four angled towers.

The people of Delhi adored this splendid edifice, and they stood against the British decision to destroy it and were able to save their beloved mosque despite rigid opposition and protests.

When you visit the mosque, make sure to dress modestly. You can’t enter if you are wearing shorts or sleeveless attire. You can also look like a local by dressing in the robe you can rent at the northern gate.

ISKCON Temple

ISKCON Temple in Delhi is one of the most popular temples visited by locals and tourists. Located at Hare Krishna Hill in New Delhi, the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. It was designed and built by Achyut Kanvinde and inaugurated in 1998 by the former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The temple complex was built for the followers of Srila Prabhupada and is one of the largest temple complexes in India.

The temple’s outer complex is adorned with entangled carvings and stonework. It also includes various shops, a pretty fountain, a library, and a study center where devotional lectures and addresses are held.

The idols inside the sanctum are dressed in rich clothes and jewellery. The shrine has four broad sections and many rooms for priests and service renders. There are also many halls used for administration purposes and seminars.

As one of the places to visit in Delhi, ISKCON Temple offers many sights and activities for its visitors. Many festivals are celebrated in the temple, such as Ramanavami, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Gaura Purnima, Radhastami, Jagannath Rath Yatra, and Nauka Vihar (Boat Festival).

Other activities held by the temple include Food for Life, Youth Training Programs, Program for Prison Inmates, and Seminars for Corporates. The Museum of Vedic Culture in the temple complex organizes multimedia, light, and sound shows exhibiting great epics.

Qutub Minar

One of India’s most valuable and protected structures is Qutub Minar. It is a minaret that stands at 73 meters high. The minaret construction started around 1192 by Qutab Ud-Din-Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate. However, he only built the basement and didn’t complete the building of the minaret. His successor, Iltumish, completed the structure of this masterpiece in 1220. Then, a decade later, in 1369, lightning destroyed the top of the Minar, and Firoz Shah Tughlaq corrected the damage.

The minar is named after its founder, Qutab Ud-Din-Aibak. It comprises five stories; the first three are embellished with red sandstone, while the other two are constructed in marble and sandstone, respectively. Decorative Quranic texts and the history of Qutub are engraved all over the minaret. A spiral staircase of 379 steps is built within Qutub Minar, and at its foot is Quwwat ul Islam Masjid, the first mosque built in India.

The 73-meter minaret is undisputedly one of the most important places to visit in Delhi. It is part of the Qutub complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The complex also includes other historical monuments, such as the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid, a mosque at the base of the tower; a gateway built in 1310; the tombs of Altamish, Alauddin Khalji, and Imam Zamin; and a 2,000-year-old Iron Pillar, the Alai Minar.

The Qutub Minar, located north of Delhi, is the tallest in India and is visited by many tourists daily. You can climb the minaret for a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. The visiting hours are restricted to the times from the sunrise to the sunset. There’s an entrance fee of INR 500 ($6.79). During your visit to Delhi, make sure to visit this significant landmark. Missing it is like going to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower, travelling to Egypt, and not going to The Pyramids.

The Lotus Temple

The Lotus is a Baha’i temple shaped like a lotus flower. The structure has 27 free-standing marble flower petals in clusters of three to form nine sides. The petals surround little ponds and gardens to make the place inviting to visitors. This architectural beauty was designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba.

Many recognize the brilliance of the design, and the temple has received several architectural awards, including those from the GLOBART Academy, the Institution of Structural Engineers, and others.

Ardishir Rustampur of Hyderabad donated all his life savings in 1953 to buy the land on which the temple was built. However, architect Fariborz Sahba wasn’t approached to design this masterpiece until 1976. While Flint and Neil, a UK-based firm, was given the structural design project, the construction was undertaken by ECC Construction Group. The whole temple is made of white marble from Greece.

The Bahai House of Worship in Delhi is one of seven Baha’i houses of worship worldwide. An interesting fact about the 26-acre temple is that it is one of the first temples in India to use solar power for electricity. Solar power provides 120 KW of the temple’s 500 KW electric use.

The Lotus Temple is one of the most visited places in the world. The shrine welcomes around 6 million visitors each year, which is around 10,000 visitors daily. When you visit the temple, make sure to dress modestly, as it is a place of worship. The temple is open every day except Monday. The official visiting hours are from 09:00 am to 07:00 pm during summer and from 09:00 am to 05:30 pm in winter. There are no entry fees.

Ahimsa Sthal

Looking for a peaceful place away from the madness that’s our world? If so, Ahimsa Sthal should be at the top of your list of places to visit in Delhi. Ahimsa or Ahinsa means peace, and the temple’s name means “Place of non-violence” or “Place of Peace”. It is one of the peaceful, uninterrupted spots in Delhi. Ahimsa Sthal is a Jain Temple established in 1980 and located right across the road from the Qutub Complex. The temple is of great importance to Jain devotees.

Ahimsa Sthal is known to the locals as the Metcalfe Battery House. This “unreal” name became popular because the temple existed during the British era, and one of the British officials, Thomas Metcalfe, put up a small lighthouse in the place. The temple is built on a little hill and has a magnificently massive statue of its main god, Lord Mahavira, in Padmasana (Lotus Position) on the top. The statue adds to the glory of the whole temple.

The statue of Lord Mahavira is engraved out of granite rock and weighs about 30 tons. On each side of the statue, there’s a fierce-looking lion placed right next to it, guarding it. The stone carving and architecture around the statue are excellent. It is enclosed by a vast green area with a stone pathway to walk on, decorated with different boards and a range of little poems preaching Lord Mahavira’s philosophy.

The temple is open for visitors from 10 am up to 5 pm on all seven days of the week. Ahimsa Sthal does not require any entry fee. When you visit this peaceful temple, make sure to keep quiet. While silence is not forced, it is highly appreciated at this place of worship. The place is suitable if you visit alone or in a tiny group, as it’s hard for larger groups to stay quiet. So, if you’re going to Delhi on a group tour, skip Ahimsa Sthal.

The Hauz Khas Complex

Hauz Khas is the place where medieval architecture meets modern consumerism. The complex is an urban village south of New Delhi. The village is named after its ancient water reservoir, which was built by Allauddin Khilji and has the same name. The name Hauz means water tank in Urdu, while Khas means royal, so it is considered the royal tank in the village. Due to its lengthy name, Hauz Khas Complex, the town is often called HKC.

The neighbourhood of Hauz Khas is historically significant because it has remnants of Mughal architecture. It has numerous ancient stone monuments and domed tombs of minor Muslim royalties dating back to the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.

The Hauz Khas Complex comprises the remnants of an ancient college, the tomb of Firoz Shah, who ruled Delhi in the 14th century, and a Ki Masjid, a fine mosque built in the Lodi style.

The place is also known for being artsy and aesthetic. So make sure to visit the various art galleries in the area and admire the delicate artwork. Green Park surrounds the location to the west, and Gulmohar Park towards the north. You can also enjoy the delight offered by the greenery of Deer Park.

To make the most of your visit, turn right after entering and try to get lost in the back alleys to see the most exciting sights. With all its historical sights and importance, this is not what makes this village popular. The Hauz Khas Complex is famous nowadays as one of the places to visit in Delhi for its nightlife.

The village is popular for its swanky clubs, quirky cafes, and fine-dining restaurants. It is the perfect place for couples to have a quiet time together. The Hauz Khas Complex is open every day except Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.; however, the restaurants and bars in the complex are usually open until midnight.

Akshardham

Akshardham is a newly built Hindu temple on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi. Akshardham means the divine sanctuary of God. The temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Even though the temple has only been recently built, the magnificent Hindu mandir looks like it was built centuries ago.

It is built on the principles of the traditional Hindu architectural system, Vastu Shastra. This architectural system defines every tiny detail, such as layout, geometry, measurements, ground preparation,, etc.

Akshardham is acknowledged as an eternal place of devotion, purity, and peace. The highlights of the temple include the stunning 43-meter-high main monument. The monument, made of pink sandstone and marble, has various carvings of animals, plants, gods, dancers, and musicians.

The temple has 234 ornate pillars that support its nine domes. A mesmerizing herd of life-sized, carved elephants is of interest, surrounding the temple’s base. The centrepiece is a massive statue of a 3,000-tone elephant.

The temple was inaugurated by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in 2005. It is the centrepiece of the Akshardham complex, which maintains a well-styled courtyard and 60 acres of lush lawns featuring bronze statues of Indian heroes, including patriots and warriors.

Other attractions in the complex include a theatre showing a movie tracing the building’s construction, a fun 15-minute boat ride depicting India’s rich history and diverse culture, and the spectacular Yagnapurush Kund. This sizeable musical fountain is a particular treat when lit up at night. The complex attracts thousands of visitors for its majestic beauty.

Akshardham is registered as the World’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple in the Guinness World Record. It is one of the key places to visit in Delhi. If you decide to visit, the temple is open for visitors daily from 09:30 a.m. to 06:30 p.m. It’s worth mentioning that cameras and cell phones are not allowed inside Akshardham temple.

Dilli Haat

Experience the magical world of Indian art and heritage through a fascinating panorama of crafts, cuisine, and cultural activities. Overwhelmed by all of the historical information and looking for a place to unwind? Dilli Haat is the perfect destination for you.

Dilli Haat is an outdoor marketplace spread over 6 acres. It features 62 stalls presenting handicrafts and ethnic cuisine from various parts of India. The place offers a real-life experience of the diversity of Indian culture. It organizes many cultural events, including dance and music performances.

Since its inauguration in 1993, the place has been not just a marketplace but also a forum where rural life and folk art are brought closer to urbanism. The complex has been designed in a traditional North Indian style, with grid-like brickwork and stone roofs.

It features a hall that specifically serves as an exhibition of handlooms and handicrafts and another souvenir shop selling attractive ethnic products. Small thatched-roof cottages and kiosks without any concrete structures achieve a village atmosphere.

The shops at Dilli Haart are set up on platforms that act as links in the Bazaar design. The courtyards between the shops are paved in stone and interspaced with grass. Colourful flowering shrubs and trees enrich the landscape to ensure environmental harmony. The complex is not only artistic but also recreational, so everyone, regardless of their age, can enjoy their time there.

For only INR 100 ($1.36), you can visit Dilli Haart and enjoy your time. The marketplace is open daily for visitors from 10 am to 10 pm. You can enjoy the rich flavours of Indian cuisine from various regions, buy incredible handmade crafts at reasonable prices and participate in cultural activities. Dilli Haart is one of the exciting places to visit in Delhi. Try not to miss it!

The National Rail Museum

The National Rail Museum in Delhi showcases the legacy and history of the Indian railways. It is spread across 10 acres and houses more than 30 locomotives and several old carriages, most of which are quite rare. This interesting museum tells the story of more than 140 years of Indian rail, from the first passenger train in 1853 that travelled between Bori Bunder and Thane to all the developments made so the country could have the fourth-biggest railway in the world.

The National Rail Museum was established on 1 February 1977, more than a decade after the country ran its first train. This museum is the first of its kind in India and features the largest collection of life-size railway exhibits. The indoor galleries preserve documents, drawings, books, maps, and other items that take you on a journey through over 160 years of Indian Railway. The trains shown at the museum have played an important role in the country’s development.

The museum has many highlights that make it one of the most magnificent places in Delhi. These highlights include the Patiala State monorail, one of the last working steam monorails in India; the Fairy Queen, which is the oldest working steam engine in the history of the railway; a collection of saloon cars belonging to the country’s once-powerful Maharajas; including the teak carriage of the Maharaja of Mysore, covered with ivory, and the carriage in which Gandhi’s ashes were carried after his assassination in 1948.

Purana Qila

Purana Qila is an Urdu phrase that means the Old Fort. It is one of the oldest and most important forts in Delhi. The current form of the citadel was built by Sher Shah Suri, who is believed to be the founder of the Sur Empire. He constructed the Old Fort in Mehrauli, a spacious area of the city of Delhi. The citadel was still incomplete when the Shah died in 1545, and his son, Islam Shah, carried on the construction.

The complex that contains Purana Qila has three arched gateways: Bara Darwaza, or the Big Gate, facing west, the Humayun Gate facing south, and the Talaqqi Gate, often referred to as the forbidden gate. All of the gates are double-storied and consist of huge semi-circular bastions flanking either side. Other monuments can also be found at the complex, such as the Sher Mandal and the Qila-i-Kuhna mosque.

Purana Qila is roughly rectangular. Its architectural design is inspired by the Islamic style of the Mughal era and Rajasthani, which makes it a heritage site. The citadel’s dazzling aesthetic is complemented by the white and blue marble tiles that decorate its gates and bastions.

The grand structure spreads across a campus of 1.5 km. The eastern and western walls of the Qila are the tallest, explicitly designed to safeguard the Kings residing within the four-walls.

Humayun’s Tomb

Yet another brilliant work of the Mughal emperors is the splendid Humayun’s Tomb. It is a major historical site in India and one of Delhi’s best places to visit.

The amazing mausoleum was constructed in memory of Humayun, the second emperor of the Mughal Empire, by his wife, Bega Begam. Construction of the tomb began in 1565 A.D. and took 7 years to complete. The edifice was the first example of Mughal architecture in India.

The tomb is inspired by Persian architecture. In fact, the architect of the building, Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, was of Persian descent. The Persian inspiration is prevalent in the arched alcoves of the corridors and its high double dome.

The tomb itself is constructed at the centre of a Persian-style garden. The garden, divided into four main parts by walkways or flowing water, is created to resemble the paradise garden described in the Quran. The garden of Humayan’s Tomb is known as the first garden-tomb found on the Indian subcontinent.

Another influence the structure had was Indian traditions. Such inspiration is shown in creating the kiosks, which give the structure a pyramid-like outline from a difference. The tomb also represents Mughal architecture in the best way possible. It displays total symmetry, and the mausoleum has grand gardens and smaller structures surrounding it.

UNESCO recognized the structure’s brilliance and historical significance when it declared Humanyun’s Tomb a World Heritage Site in 1993.

Many don’t know this, but the architectural brilliance of Humayun’s Tomb inspired the structure of the famous Taj Mahal. The mausoleum is open to the general public daily from sunrise to sunset. To avoid the hot weather, try to go either early in the morning or a little before sunset. There is an entry fee of INR 500 ($6.78) per person.

The National Zoological Park

Located near Purana Qila (the Old Fort), the National Zoological Park is a 176-acre zoo that was established in November 1959. The zoo is reputed to be one of the best zoos in the whole of Asia. The Delhi Zoo houses more than 130 different species of animals, birds, and reptiles worldwide. This makes it a habitat for over 1,500 animals and birds. If you are interested in wildlife, this enormous zoo should be one of your places to visit in Delhi.

The Delhi Zoo was established in 1959. Its great variety of animals includes numerous chimpanzees, hippopotamuses, spider monkeys, zebras, hyenas, deer, jaguars, and tigers. The National Zoological Park also features an interesting underground Reptile Complex, which houses a variety of snakes, including the deadly king cobra.

To make your visit even more memorable, you can take small electric vehicles around the zoo and see its different attractions.

The zoo’s construction is recognized as one of the best, and in 1982, it was given the name of the National Zoological Park to make it a model for other zoos in the country to develop. The zoo is a perfect hanging spot for both locals and tourists.

Strolling around the zoo and seeing the different animals is a relaxing activity perfect for any day. The zoo allows you the experience of seeing animals coming from other continents; Asia, Africa, and Australia. One of the significant animals not to miss is the Majestic White Bengal Tiger.

The zoo is one of the places to visit in Delhi that does not allow visitors to bring their food. Instead, you can get food at the canteen situated in the zoo.

These monuments and attractions are not all that Delhi offers to its visitors. However, they are the top places to visit in Delhi. These attractions represent the diversity of this cosmopolitan city. Make sure to visit the monuments and places during your stay to get the Delhi experience.

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