Delhi is the capital of India and one of the largest cities in the world. It has a population of over 21 million and is one of the most multicultural places on earth. It’s also home to many important institutions of national importance, including the Parliament and the Supreme Court. In addition, Delhi is a major transportation hub and an economic center. Every country on earth has some sort of reference to Delhi, as it’s famous to be a good city for both business and pleasure. In this article we will share with you what to do in Delhi out of our experience.
Delhi is a hub for culture and religion. Many famous artists have taken inspiration from Delhi’s rich cultural heritage to create new works- including Rajesh Khanna, Anwar Sadat and Feroz Shah Kotla. Let’s see why is that popular and inspiring.
What to expect from Delhi
Delhi is a massive city with many attractions. However it is also the capital of chaos indeed. Either Old or New Delhi is overcrowded, dirty and polluted. The first thing you realize when you are in is that smells are strong, the good and the bad ones. Species, flowers, parfumes, the tuk-tuk gas smoke, the fried food stuff all around, the shit on the pavement, and some dead animals around. Everything is intense there, like if going to the extreme was part of the local culture.
And then, you are lost in the middle of it. This huge city doesn’t look like a city in many of its parts from inside. Looking around you can sometimes feel like you’re in the countryside. Even being close to Connaught Place, one of the main financial, commercial and business centers in New Delhi. Indian people build in the center of big fenced parcels of land and the unstoppable jungle hides the buildings from the sight of strangers. So Delhi is barely enjoyable to walk, except in some parts like Khan Market and some streets of Old Delhi.
Nevertheless, Delhi stands out due to its rich history and cultural significance as well as its architectural wonders. Many call Delhi the world’s largest sacred city because of the number of prominent religious structures in the Old Delhi Area. Old Delhi is probably one of the world’s oldest cities due to its massive structures built centuries ago. These include a marketplace, a hospital and an army barracks, among many others.
Overall, Delhi is an intriguing city with countless cultural and religious attractions. It’s also becoming increasingly popular among travelers thanks to its favorable climate and accessibility to key sites of national importance. Other than that, there are numerous heritage spots worthy of attention such as Jama Masjid and Red Fort that add a personal element to any experience in Delhi.
What to do in Delhi
Jama Masjid
One of Delhi’s most popular sites for tourists is Jama Masjid. This landmark mosque stands at 51 feet tall with a main dome 102 feet in diameter- making it one of the world’s largest mosques by volume.
The Red Fort
Red Fort stands out due to its significant historical significance as well as its jaw-dropping architecture. Built in 1556 by Emperor Bahadur Shah I, Red Fort has eight layers of mighty walls and ten barbican gates.
A visit to the Red Fort is a must-do when you are in Delhi. The Red Fort is one of the largest and most popular tourist attractions in Delhi. It is an excellent example of Mughal architecture and the best way to explore it is on a guided tour. It was a military headquarters until 1947 when India became independent from Britain. More recently, Red Fort was an assembly point during India’s independence movement and then served as a government building for many years. Today, you can take guided tours of the fort, which will show you its impressive architecture and rich history.
- Entrance fee: The entrance fee to the Red Fort of Delhi is INR 35 for Nationals and INR 500 for foreigners.
- Schedule: Every day from 9:30 am. to 4:30 pm.
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
The Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is a Sikh temple on the banks of the Yamuna River near Connaught Place. The Gurdwara temple dates back to 1664 by Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru of Sikhs, who visited Delhi as part of his religious and spiritual journey. The gurdwara commemorates the spot where he halted for three days to preach about equality for all religions and castigated those who discriminated against other religions.
There are four entrances to the Gurdwara that are Chaurasi, Bhora Sahib, Deori and Kirpan. The main entrance is from Bhora Sahib which leads to a courtyard with two rows of shops on either side. To enter the shrine one has to remove their shoes and cover their head with a scarf available at a stall outside. The pool is the main attraction of the spot.
Qutab Minar
Qutab Minar is a tower of victory. It dates back to 1193 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi. The Qutab Minar is one of the tallest buildings in India and the world with its height of 72 meters (236 ft).
The tower has five distinct stories, each marked by a projecting balcony carried on muqarnas corbel and recessed archway. The lowest storey is decorated with bands of inscriptions and geometric patterns; the second story contains an inscription from the Quran; the third has elaborate inscriptions from verses from the Quran and so on. The topmost storey contains an iron pillar that once supported a Hindu temple, which was destroyed by lightning in 1368.
In addition, in the Qutb complex you can see the Quwwat Mosque and the ruins of the first Islamic city built in Delhi.
- Schedule: Every day from 7 am. to 5 pm.
- Entrance fee: The entrance fee to Qutab Minar is INR 35 for Indian visitors and INR 550 for foreign visitors.
Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple is located on the Bahai Holy Places in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on January 2, 1986. Lotus Temple is an example of Bahai architecture and a symbol of world peace. The temple is made up of 27 free-standing marble petals which are supported by 18 columns and each column has a height of 28 feet.
- Schedule: From Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am. to 6 pm.
- Entrance fee: There is no no entry fee at all for Lotus Temple
Raj Ghat
Raj Ghat is a memorial site in Delhi, India. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Delhi. It was built to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes. Raj Ghat is located at the banks of Yamuna River, which was his last resting place.
- Schedule: Every day from 6:30 am. to 6:00 pm.
- Entrance fee: There is no no entry fee at all at Raj Ghat
Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi. It’s a place where you can find anything from a set of clothes to a mobile phone. The market is divided into two sections, the wholesale and retail. The wholesale section is mostly for local people who want to buy goods in bulk, while the retail section caters to tourists and locals who want to buy smaller quantities of goods.
The market has been around since 1690, when it was known as Shahi Bazar (the royal bazaar). It became Chandni Chowk after Emperor Shah Jahan renamed it during his reign.
Connaught Place
Connaught Place is the center of Delhi. It is a popular tourist destination because of its rich history and architecture. Connaught Place was originally designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1912 and is one of the most prominent examples of British colonial architecture. It was constructed for commercial purposes and to be an attractive shopping destination for the elite class.
The area has been home to a number of national institutions like the Central Bureau of Investigation, Reserve Bank, All India Radio, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, National Council for Educational Research and Training, National Film Archives, National Library etc.
The Connaught Place houses some of India’s finest hotels like Clarks Shiraz Hotel & Suites and Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel New Delhi. It is also famous for its food options that are available at all times, from street food to five-star restaurants!
Humayun tomb
Humayun tomb is an architectural marvel. The tomb is the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and dates back to the Mughal Emperor Humayun in 1565. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
The Humayun’s Tomb Complex consists of a mosque, the main gateway, and two smaller gateways. The complex also includes gardens with fountains and walkways with cypress trees, as well as other buildings such as a guest house and a library. The tomb has an enclosure wall with four entrances that face the cardinal directions. The south entrance leads to an open courtyard that contains the white marble tomb of Humayun under a large dome at its center.
- Entrance fee: The entrance fee to Humayun tomb is INR 35 for Nationals and INR 550 for foreigners.
- Schedule: Every day from 7:00 am. to 5:00 pm.
Paharganj main bazaar
Paharganj main bazaar is one of the most popular markets in Delhi. It is a great place to go shopping, eat delicious food and explore the culture. The market has a wide variety of shops that sell clothes, jewelry and many other items. You will also find plenty of restaurants where you can have traditional Indian food for lunch or dinner.
The Paharganj market is open every day from 09:00 am to 09:00 pm and it’s easy to get there from Delhi’s main railway station by taking the metro line which stops at Paharganj metro station.
Khan Market
Khan Market is a shopping hub in Delhi. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. It houses some of the best shops in Delhi like FabIndia, The Bookworm, and many more.
- Schedule: The market is open on all days of the week from 9 am to 8 pm.
Enjoy our discounts in the place
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