new delhi top attractions

New Delhi and Old Delhi are two distinct worlds in Delhi, a union territory and metropolis in India. The former, launched by the British in 1931 as the imperial capital, is the nation’s contemporary capital and seat of government, whereas Old Delhi is regarded the symbolic core of the metropolitan region.

One of the most populous regions in the world – it boasts a population of nearly 20 million people – Delhi is a heady mix of tradition and modernity, and is important as both a religious center and India’s busiest international gateway. Its history is as old as the ancient Yamuna River, one of the most sacred rivers in Hinduism and a natural dividing line between New Delhi to the west and Old Delhi to the east.

Delhi and New Delhi have numerous attractions, including its rich arts and crafts sector, stunning monuments, and various performing arts venues. The neighborhood is recognized for its delicious Indian food. Delhi has several bazaars and marketplaces, notably Chandni Chowk, India’s most renowned shopping district.

1. The Red Fort

Shah Jahan’s stunning Red Fort (Lal Qila) was the Mughal capital from 1648 until 1857. The crescent-shaped, red sandstone construction is ringed by a moat and occupies more than two square kilometers.

The monarch utilized the far larger Delhi Gate for ceremonial processions, whereas the Lahore Gate facing Pakistan. Chhatta Chowk, a 17th-century covered market, sells silks, jewelry, gems, silverware, souvenirs, and food. Visitors enter via the Lahore Gate.

Kettledrums, gongs, and cymbals are still on display at the Red Fort’s Naubat Khana, where the emperor’s musicians lived. The emperor’s Hall of Public Audiences, Diwan-i-Am, is equally beautiful.

Book a customized full-day tour of Old and New Delhi to visit the Red Fort and other sights. A professional guide and driver will take you to Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, India Gate, and the Lotus Temple during your nine-hour urban excursion. Rickshaw rides and hotel pickup are included.

2. Qutub Minar

India’s highest minaret is the Qutub Minar. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws foreign tourists to ascend to the peak for stunning vistas.

This five-story tower with elaborate carvings depicting Qutub’s history and Koran inscriptions stands over 70 meters. Its red sandstone first three levels and marble and sandstone fourth and fifth stories are especially remarkable.

The complex comprises Altamish, Alauddin Khalji, and Imam Zamin’s graves, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid at the tower’s base, and a 1310 gateway. The Alai Minar, a 2,000-year-old Iron Pillar, is worth viewing.

3. Lodi Gardens

The 90-acre Lodi Gardens, a local favorite, should be on your Delhi agenda. The park has several pre-1600 Lodi period graves and ruins, as well as magnificent gardens.

The Glazed Dome, a magnificent triple-domed mosque with blue tiles, and the remnants of a massive dome from approximately 1490 are architectural highlights. The 16th-century Athpula, an eight-pier bridge with beautiful columns and arches, spans the park’s lake.

Lodi Gardens has around 100 natural trees, 50 butterfly species, and many bird species. It houses the National Bonsai Park.

Walk five minutes to the famed Khan Market. Luxury brands and street sellers selling local specialties coexist in this busy, safe shopping zone.

Address: Lodhi Road, New Delhi, Delhi, India

4. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

The 18th-century Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi’s main Sikh temple, lies nearby. Connaught Place worth visiting. The gold dome, flagpole, and Sarovar, the complex’s central pool, are highlights.

The massive temple structure, art gallery, and Sikh history museum are all noteworthy. The big Gurdwara Kitchen serves free, delicious meals to visitors. Free headscarves and shoe storage are supplied.

Ashoka Road, Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi, India.

5. The Lotus Temple

The magnificent Bahá’í House of Worship, also known as the Lotus Temple due to its nine sides and stunning central dome, is an architectural masterpiece. Constructed of white concrete and marble, the entire structure looks as delicate as the flower it resembles. Rising from the surrounding nine pools of water, it almost appears as if it might burst into bloom at any moment.

The temple, built in 1986, has drawn over 70 million visitors. This amazing temple contains no idols, religious images, or visible markers of religion.

Another modern day temple worthy of a visit is the ISKCON Temple one of India’s largest Krishna temples.

Lotus Temple Road, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Bahapur, New Delhi, India.

6. India Gate

The India Gate, a WWI memorial arch resembling Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, is a stunning stone arch. The huge structure’s walls include the names of more than 90,000 war dead and an everlasting flame.

The structure dominates the parkland around it, which is always busy with tourists and locals picnicking or relaxing. It stands on a red stone base and has a shallow domed bowl on top that is occasionally filled with burning oil on important anniversaries.

One of New Delhi’s best free attractions is the India Gate at night. Floodlit with neighboring fountains, it’s stunning.

Rajpath, India Gate, New Delhi, India.

7. Jama Masjid

Shah Jahan’s last work, the Jama Masjid, is India’s biggest mosque. This stunning 1658 edifice has three entrances, four angled towers, and two 40-meter-high minarets made of red sandstone and white marble alternating in vertical stripes.

Visitors may climb the southern minaret for stunning views of Old Delhi and then bathe in the vast central pool before prayers. Note that non-Muslims aren’t allowed during prayers and must remove their shoes before entering.

Afterwards, be sure to visit Chandni Chowk Old Delhi’s main street and market. Naya Bazaar and Gadodial, famed spice markets, include hundreds of goods, including aniseed, ginger, pomegranate, saffron, lotus seeds, pickles, and chutneys.

Address: Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi, India

8. Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb is a tall white marble and red sandstone monument amid a beautiful square garden. Its Mughal architecture resembles the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Haji Begum, Humayun’s senior widow, built the tomb in the mid-16th century as a memorial to her husband. It is surrounded by lush formal gardens and other tombs, including Humayun’s barber and the octagonal Tomb of Isa Khan, the Taj Mahal’s architect.

Try to see this amazing building lighted at night.

Mathura Road, Nizamuddin, New Delhi, India.

9. Akshardham

The beautiful Hindu Akshardham temple, constructed in 2007, seems centuries old. This beautiful edifice with complex carvings draws many tourists.

The 43-meter-tall main monument’s pink sandstone and marble sculptures of animals, plants, gods, dancers, and musicians are highlights. The 234 elaborate pillars supporting its nine domes and a stone elephant homage with a 3,000-ton statue are notable.

A cinema displaying a video on the building’s construction, a 15-minute boat trip showcasing India’s rich history and culture, and the breathtaking Yagnapurush Kund, a massive melodic fountain that is especially beautiful at night, are all attractions.

Address: Noida Mor, New Delhi, Delhi, India

10. Purana Qila (The Old Fort)

Purana Qila (Old Fort), which most visitors skip in favor of the Red Fort, is worth seeing in Delhi. The spectacular construction dates from the 1500s, although older structures from the 3rd century have been found.

The Qila-i-Kuna Mosque, a 1541 single-dome mosque, shows how the Muslim faith shaped the region’s affairs for centuries. The two-square-kilometer site’s strong walls and three massive gateways are particularly stunning at night.

The 200-acre Mehrauli Archaeological Park has several historic buildings, some of which are over 1,000 years old. The historic Lal Kot ruins and more modern British occupancy during Queen Victoria’s reign are highlights.

Address: Mathura Road, New Delhi, Delhi, India

11. Rajpath and Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi’s ceremonial thoroughfare is Rajpath. It passes Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential house, and other city monuments. Vijay Chowk and India Gate all the way to the National Stadium .

This wide boulevard with trees, grass, and ponds comes alive on January 26th for the Republic Day Parade. Thousands assemble to commemorate the country’s independence anniversary.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President’s Residence, is one of Delhi’s most beautiful structures. Its diverse combination of Mughal and European architectural styles and 340 beautifully adorned apartments make it a great photo spot.

Of particular interest is the new Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum, This shows the structure and intriguing presidential displays. Hot Tip: Visit the neighboring Mughal Gardens, the President’s Residence’s beautiful landscaping.

Gates 30&35, President’s Estate, New Delhi, Delhi, India

12. Gandhi Smriti and the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial

Delhi honors Mahatma Gandhi with many allusions. Gandhi Smriti (Gandhi Remembrance), a museum on the site of his 1948 assassination, is one of the top Gandhi-related attractions.

Highlights include exhibitions and mementos from his life and death, including his room, preserved exactly as it was, and the new Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum had numerous significant accomplishments.

Walking around Gandhi’s gardens (the Martyr’s Column marks the gunshot site) is a pleasure. The also intrigues. Raj Ghat Gandhi’s cremation site has a monument a few minutes away.

5 Tees January Marg, New Delhi, India.

13. The Jantar Mantar Observatory

Located near Connaught Place Jantar Mantar, one of Maharajah Jai Singh I’s five astronomical observatories built in 1725, located in New Delhi’s biggest and most famous commercial sector.

This well-preserved historic location also has numerous other antique apparatus used to monitor celestial bodies and forecast eclipses. The Prince of Dials, a massive sundial, is a highlight of this beautiful edifice.

Sansad Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001, India.

14. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum is situated in her old home (Indira was the daughter of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and a friend of Mahatma Gandhi).

Photos, messages, and her assassination sari are highlights.

The structure is surrounded by a garden with mature trees and floral plants, and its walkway is now a monument marking her assassination site. Her 1991-assassinated son Rajiv Gandhi is honored in many rooms.

Nehru, Indira Gandhi’s father, is similarly intriguing. Nehru Museum and Planetarium (Teen Murti Bhavan). The leader’s bedroom, drawing room, and study showcase his career highlights and noteworthy artefacts from the war for independence.

1 Safdarjung Road, New Delhi 110011, India

15. The National Museum, New Delhi

The National Museum, New Delhi, one of India’s biggest museums, displays all significant eras chronologically. Archeological findings, terra-cotta toys, pictures, pots, jewelry, seals, bronze and copper utensils, sculpture, musical instruments, tapestries, tribal masks, swords, and murals are included.

Central Asian silk banners, wall paintings, sculptures, and items from the old Silk Route between Europe and China make up the most important exhibition. Tours and audio guides are available.

Other museums worth visiting include the National Science Centre , the world’s biggest scientific center, and National Museum of Natural History highlighting the country’s diverse flora and wildlife.

Also notable is the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), which contains the nation’s top art treasures. The 1954 museum has around 14,000 paintings by famous Indian painters from the 1850s.

Janpath Road, Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat, New Delhi 110001, India.

16. Laxminarayan Temple

Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir) is worth adding to your Delhi sightseeing list if you can. One of the city’s newest such locations.

In 1939, Mahatma Gandhi erected this spectacular Hindu temple in Connaught Place to honor Laxmi, the goddess of wealth (Gandhi also required other religions’ temples). The almost eight acres of tropical gardens, fountains, and sculptures are a treat to explore.

Mandir Marg, Near Gole Market, New Delhi, Delhi, India.

17. National Zoological Park

The 1959-founded National Zoological Park has 1,500 animal and bird species. African, Australian, and Asian animals are among the many on show.

The zoo’s chimpanzees, hippopotamuses, spider monkeys, zebras, hyenas, deer, jaguars, and tigers are notable. Kids love the subterranean Reptile Complex, which holds snakes including the dangerous king cobra.

The zoo’s little electric cars are a great way to see the sights.

Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 003, India.

18. The National Crafts Museum

The National Handicrafts & Handlooms Museum, New Delhi, shows several Indian crafts. Its numerous attractions include seeing talented artisans show their centuries-old techniques and viewing enormous textile, woodwork, and pottery collections.

Also of interest are architectural displays of various regional villages, including authentic mud huts and a full-sized wooden haveli (a form of mansion house) from Gujarat decorated with traditional folk art and featuring exquisite woodcarvings, paintings, papier-mâché, and embroidery.

Bhairon Marg, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi 110001, India.

19. The National Rail Museum

The National Rail Museum has around 30 antique locomotives and carriages on 10 acres. This remarkable facility preserves 140 years of Indian railway history, featuring an 1885 engine and the 1855 Fairy Queen steam engine.

The Maharajas’ saloon cars, including the ivory-covered teak carriage of the Maharaja of Mysore, the Prince of Wales’ 1876 cabin, and the carriage that carried Gandhi’s ashes after his 1948 assassination, are other highlights. The 1894 mail train skull of an elephant is also on exhibit.

Kids love riding a great narrow gauge steam train.

Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India.

20. The Hauz Khas Complex

A intriguing urban hamlet south of New Delhi is the Hauz Khas Complex. The settlement is filled with domed graves of minor Muslim rulers from the 14th to 16th century, along with its many antique stone monuments.

The remains of an old college, the mausoleum of 14th-century Delhi ruler Firoz Shah, and Ki Masjid, a Lodi-style mosque, are further attractions.

Explore the area with additional time. Art galleries, trendy restaurants, and boutique stores draw residents and visitors to this secure neighborhood.

Address: Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi, India

21. Sulabh International Museum of Toilets

The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets explores sanitation and social transformation. Toilets from 2,500 BC and historical patterns are on display.

Prives, chamber pots, toilet furniture, bidets, and water closets from 1145 to the present illustrate technology, social conventions, toilet etiquette, and hygienic conditions.

Although unrelated, Tibet House is another little museum with a Dalai Lama collection. A museum containing unique art, religious treasures, ceremonial implements, battle relics, and jewelry displays Tibetan monasteries’ wooden sculptures, paintings, carpets, and ritual items.

Address: Sulabh Bhawan, Palam Dabri Rd, Mahavir Enclave I, Delhi 110046, India.

Where to Stay in New Delhi for Sightseeing

These New Delhi hotels are near Qutub Minar and the Red Fort:

Luxury Hotels :

The 5-star Leela Palace New Delhi in Delhi’s diplomatic enclave has a pillow menu, expensive in-room floral arrangements, and a sumptuous décor.
The Lalit New Delhi is another great option, and features 5-star luxury accommodations with chic décor, a choice of four fine dining restaurants, and 24-hour in-room dining.
Roseate House New Delhi, with its rooftop restaurant, VIP Lounge, and light contemporary rooms and suites, is another fantastic choice.

Mid-Range Hotels :

For a quality mid-range stay, Le Meridien New Delhi delivers contemporary décor, great rooftop dining, an outdoor swimming pool, and a full-service spa.
The Maidens Hotel is a colonial-era historic hotel with a fitness facility and outdoor pool in stunning grounds.
Eros Hotel has contemporary, light rooms, restaurants, and a gym.

Budget Hotels :

Although a budget hotel, Hotel Amax Inn offers great quality accommodations along with friendly staff, modern décor, and a rooftop restaurant.
The 3-star Hotel City Star near New Delhi’s railway station offers clean, comfortable, air-conditioned rooms.
The Hotel Grand Godwin’s “luxury budget” rooms are clean, well-decorated, and cheap.

Best Time to Visit Delhi, India – Historical Climate Averages

Average minimum and maximum temperatures for Delhi, India in °F
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
69 45	74 50	84 59	96 70	102 78	101 82	94 80	92 79	93 76	91 67	82 55	73 47
PlanetWare.com
Delhi’s average monthly rainfall in inches.
0.8	0.8	0.6	0.8	1.0	2.8	9.3	9.3	4.5	0.7	0.4	0.4

Akshardham Temple	Akshardham, New Delhi
Qutub Minar	Qutub Minar metro station, New Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb	Jor Bagh, New Delhi
Lotus Temple	Kalkaji Mandir, New Delhi
Appu Ghar	Huda City Centre, Gurgaon (Delhi-NCR)

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