The sights of Delhi are famous all over the world. This is the huge Chandi Chook market, the old Hauz Kas district, and Qutb Minar. If you have only a few days to explore the Indian capital, in our article you will find a list of the main attractions of Delhi with photos and descriptions.
New Delhi is the capital of India with a population of 14 million people. It is the second largest city after Mumbai. The official language is Hindi, but many locals also know English, Punjabi and Urdu.
Delhi covers an area of 42.7 km2, and is famous for its wide roads, boulevards, numerous parks and historical attractions. Interestingly, the layout of Delhi is similar in many ways to British cities. For example, there is an area where 19 foreign embassies are located (this is typical for European countries), as well as 2 central esplanades.
India Gate
India Gate is a memorial dedicated to all Indian soldiers who died during the First World War and the Anglo-Afghan War. According to historians, there are at least 80 thousand of them. The names of 13,000 Indian soldiers are carved on the walls of India Gate.
There is an eternal flame burning at the foot of the India Gate, and a park was laid out a few meters away. New Delhi authorities are also planning to erect a National War Memorial nearby.
Experienced travelers are advised to come to this attraction in New Delhi in the evening – from 19.00 to 21.30 they turn on the lights.
Location: Near Connaught Place New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India.
Qutb Minar
What is definitely worth seeing in Delhi is Qutb Minar – the world’s first tallest minaret built of brick. This is a unique monument of Indo-Islamic culture, the construction of which began in 1193, and was completed in 1368. Interestingly, as many as 5 generations of rulers were engaged in the construction of this landmark.
According to legend, the Rajput prince Prithviraja Chauhan began building a tower for his daughter, who could climb up before prayer and be inspired by the surrounding nature. However, the idea was not fully implemented – already in 1190, the power in the city changed (a Muslim came to power), and the first floor was redone.
Qutb Minar is a unique attraction for many reasons. In addition to its venerable age and height, there are hundreds of Sanskrit inscriptions on its walls (their meaning is not fully understood), figures of saints, and, the most important element – an iron column, which, according to historians, is more than 3000 years old.
Interestingly, when one of the Persian emperors wanted to take this column, he ordered it to be fired with cannonballs, but this did not help – only minor depressions remained on the surface.
Qutb Minar is also close to other attractions of New Delhi in India: Kuwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Ala-i-Minar Minaret and Imam Zamin’s Tomb.
- Location: Qutb Minar, Mehrauli, Delhi 110030, India.
- Opening hours: 9.00-19.00.
- Cost: $ 5.
Akshardham
Akshardham is one of the grandest temples in Delhi, made entirely of pink marble. Its main feature is thousands of figures carved into the walls and entrance arches.
The temple complex, in addition to the sanctuary, also includes several parks, sculptural compositions, a lake, a light fountain and an artificial rowing canal. Locals refer to this place as ” God’s residence on Earth that cannot be moved””
The main attraction inside the sanctuary is the statue of Swaminarayan, which is erected in honor of the Indian reformer and preacher.
More detailed information about the attraction is collected in this article.
Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s Tomb is a mausoleum commissioned by Hamida Banu Begum’s widow for her husband. This landmark is so beautiful and grandiose that it is often confused with the Taj Mahal.
As always in India, the mausoleum is located in the middle of a picturesque park, the name of which translates as “four gardens”. Here you can see large flower beds, river channels and decorative gazebos. In the center of the territory is a mausoleum-its walls of pink sandstone and white marble are visible from afar.
The building itself looks like many palaces in India: one large dome and many small ones, on the facade – elegant stone lace and arches.
Inside the mausoleum looks like this:
- lower (basement) floor – burial rooms where the remains of members of the Timurid dynasty are buried;
- the middle and upper floors are huge halls where services used to take place.
Practical information:
- Location of the attraction: Mathura Road | Opp Nizamuddin Mosque, New Delhi 110013, India.
- Opening hours: 9.00-18.00 (you can also come at other times, but the cashier may not be available).
- Cost: $ 5 for adults, free of charge for children and teenagers under 15. An audio guide will cost $ 2, and a regular guide will cost $ 5.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
If you are still undecided about what to see in New Delhi, check out the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib-one of the city’s many temples, which became widely known among the faithful after the eighth Sikh guru settled here in 1664.
Externally, the building is different from other Indian shrines. First, the dome has a rather unusual shape for India, and, in addition, it is gilded. Secondly, there are a lot of golden elements inside the sanctuary (pillars, walls, arches), so many tourists talk about the similarity with Orthodox and Buddhist temples.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is surrounded on all sides by a picturesque park, on the territory of which there is a pond, the water of which has long been considered sacred.
Here are some tips from tourists:
- Come to the sanctuary in the evening – when the sun goes down, this place looks even more magical and mysterious.
- In the dining room at the temple, anyone can have lunch for free.
- Take a look at the tourist center, which is located next to the attraction, where you can borrow a small book about the sanctuary for free, as well as a brochure on Sikhism.
- This is one of the few temples where tourists are received very friendly, and do not try to extort money.
Practical information:
- Location: Ashoka Road / Connaught Place, next to Grand Post Office, Delhi 110001, India.
- Opening hours: 08.00-19.00.
Chandni Chowk Market
Chandni Chook is the largest and most famous market not only in Delhi, but also in all of India, where you can find absolutely everything. There are a lot of people here.
The market can be divided into the following parts::
- Food market. This is a huge territory where you can buy food: vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices and cereals. There are also hundreds of fast food stalls, which cost incredibly low. The food prepared here is really high-quality-sellers and buyers know each other well, and chefs are simply ashamed to cook from bad products.
- Fatehpuri is a mosque located in the center of the market, which serves as a wonderful landmark for tourists. We can say that this is a real corner of tranquility, because it is very quiet and sparsely populated.
- After the mosque, a more civilized part of the market begins, consisting of hundreds of small shops. Here you can buy fabrics, women’s sarees, various hats and accessories.
- Old alleys are also a very important part of the market, which creates a unique flavor of the eastern city. Since the market was built in the 17th century, but was constantly rebuilt, this place is a real guide to history, where you can trace how the lives of ordinary Indians changed.
Please note that in India, one seller always sells only one type of product. That is, if you bought a flatbread in a shop, it is unlikely that you can buy a bottle of water here. Asians say that it would be unfair to take a penny from other sellers while selling several types of things at the same time.
Even if you don’t want to buy anything, come and see these places anyway-it’s unlikely that you’ll see something like this in other cities.
- Where to find: Near Red Fort, New Delhi 110006, India.
- Opening hours: from early morning to 18.00-19.00.
Baha’i Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple is one of the most unusual shrines in India, built at the expense of followers of the Baha’i religion. The building has no straight lines, and its doors are open to all people, regardless of gender, nationality or religion.
There are no priests in the temple, and locals often come here to meditate and listen to the singing of prayers.
A detailed description of the temple with a photo is presented on this page.
Red Fort
The Red Fort or Lal Qila is a Mughal citadel built in the mid-17th century as a palace. For almost 200 years, the building was the main residence of Indian emperors and a place of making fateful decisions for the country.
The Lal Qila complex includes one large and several small palaces, baths, covered canals, and a mosque. The most famous room on the territory of the residence is the Public Auditorium Hall, where meetings of top officials of the state were held. In terms of design, it is also a unique space. The flat ceiling is “supported” by 60 red sandstone columns, and a large oak table stands in the center.
The motto of the former imperial residence is as follows:: “If there is a heaven in the world, it is here.”
To visit this attraction in Delhi, India, tourists are advised to set aside at least 3 hours. There are a lot of interesting places here, and you won’t be able to see them quickly.
- Location: Netaji Subhash Marg, Delhi 110002, India.
- Opening hours: 09.30-16.30.
- Cost: 40 rupees.
Lodhi Gardens
What you should definitely see in Delhi in 2 days is Lodi Gardens – a city park in the central part of Goa, created in 1936. Located between Khan Market and Lodi Road. The garden is named after the Afghan dynasty that ruled Delhi in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Despite the relatively small area occupied by the garden (0.36 sq. km), there are a number of interesting attractions here. First, these are the ancient tombs of Muhammad Shah, Sikander Lodi, Shish Gumbad and Bar Gumbad. These people were the last sultans of Delhi from the Said and Lodi families. Their remains rest in large stone mausoleums scattered across different parts of the park.
Secondly, in the garden there are many picturesque reservoirs, near which locals like to relax after a working day.
Location: Lodhi Road, Delhi 110003, India.
Presidential Palace (Rashtrapati Bhavan)
Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the current President of India. The complex began to be built in the 1910s, but due to lack of funds, construction was completed only in 1930. Externally, the building resembles a Roman pantheon, and the interior decoration is incredibly lush and rich.
For obvious reasons, you can only enter the building with a guide, having previously signed up for a tour on the official website of the residence. This can be done on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. During the tour, tourists will be able to see only a small part of the premises.
Be sure to visit the palace park. Check out the “Herb Garden”,” Spiritual Garden ” and Bonsai Garden, where hundreds of exotic flower species are planted every year.
- Where is it: Rajpath, Delhi 110004, India.
- Opening hours: 10.00-16.00 (Friday and weekend).
- Cost: Adults – Rs 25, children-free of charge.
- Official website: http://presidentofindia.nic.in.
ISKCON Temple
ISKCON or Radhi-Parthasarathi is one of the most unusual temple complexes in Delhi. It was built in 1998 at the expense of followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism movement. The architectural style is Hindu, and the author of the project is Achyut Kanvinde.
ISKCON is an international society for Krishna consciousness founded in 1966 by a Bengali monk. ISKCON is a branch of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, the most influential branch of Vaishnavism.
The building has three domes of unusual shape and structure that are difficult to compare with anything else. Inside there are more than 20 halls and rooms for priests. Tourists can only enter a few rooms:
- Library. It is one of the largest libraries in New Delhi, with more than 2,000 books written by both world-renowned authors and local priests. There is also a multimedia screen where you can watch movies dedicated to other ISKCON temples.
- The main hall. This is the largest room of the temple, interesting from the point of view of architecture and design.
- Museum of Vedic Culture. This is a small room where you can get acquainted with the philosophical and Vedic heritage of India.
- The Vedic Research Center is intended for students of neighboring universities and teachers, who can conduct seminars, conferences and meetings with scientists here.
If we talk about the most religious current of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, it is worth noting that believers have a strict daily schedule, so you should not come to the temple from 13.00 to 16.00. At this time, they pray.
- Location: Sant Nagar Main Road | Hare Krishna Hill, East of Kailash, Delhi 110065, India.
- Opening hours: 4.00-13.00, 16.15-21.00.
Hauz Khas Village
What is worth seeing in Delhi on your own is Hauz Kas – a small part of the ancient city that used to exist on the site of Delhi in the 12th and 13th centuries. The district got its name due to the proximity of the reservoir, and from Farsi it translates as “royal reservoir”.
In the middle of the last century, the area was rebuilt, but many authentic parts of the city of Siri still managed to be preserved. For example, there is still a network of ancient cenotaphs and a city seminary, which are now the center of Islamic education in New Delhi.
However, the main attraction of Delhi in the Hauz Kas district is the royal reservoir. After reconstruction, it was reduced in size and became like a lake, but the authorities preserved the beautiful local landscape and planted a huge number of trees.
Also be sure to visit the deer park, which includes:
- rose garden;
- territory where deer live;
- long alleys;
- recreation area near the reservoir.
The little-known part of the Hauz Kas district is a pedestrian street that is home to well-known brand boutiques, bookstores, nightclubs, art galleries, and unusual restaurants. Such areas are not typical of India, so this place is often called the “National Capital of Ethnic chic”. Here you can also find 5* hotels and look at the wealthy Indians.
Be sure to visit the local Khan’s market as well. It is quite small, and there are not many people here.
The sights of Delhi are incredibly diverse, and every tourist will find something interesting for themselves in this city.
