Delhi is one of the oldest cities in the world with more than 25,000 years of history. Walking around the city, visiting some of the most emblematic places such as Humayun's Tomb, Jama Masjid, the Red Fort, visiting its bazaars and enjoying the chaos of the city, is one of the best things to do in Bharat (India). The city is beautiful and to visit it I recommend that you dedicate at least 2 days to it.
In this post I tell you about the 25 essential things to see and do in New Delhi, and I also add several links to other posts that can help you organize your trip to Bharat (India).
25 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN NEW DELHI, BHARAT (INDIA)
1. Take a free tour of Delhi
One of the best visits to see some of the most emblematic places in Delhi, and also learn about the legends and secrets of the city, is by taking this free tour. With this free tour you visit some places in the city such as the Digambar Jain Lal temple, Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort, the Golden Mosque, the Delhi City Hall, the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and the Jama Masjid Mosque.
It is a walking tour of approximately 2 hours with a guide in English. Remember to tip the guide at the end of the tour, he surely deserves it.
2. Humayun's Tomb, an essential thing to see and do in New Delhi
Humayun's Tomb is a complex of several buildings that are essential to see in New Delhi. It was built in the 16th century in a Mughal style, by order of Empress Hamida Banu Vegum, Humayun's widow. The complex houses the main tomb of Emperor Humayun, as well as other tombs, several mosques and other buildings. Humayun's Tomb is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The tomb is built of white and red marble with a symmetrical design. The main tomb is located in the middle of a Persian garden. The tomb is decorated with floral and geometric motifs, without a doubt, it is the most beautiful building in the complex.
It is advisable to buy the ticket online to avoid queues.
3. Gurudwara Shri Bangla Sahib
This temple is a Sikh place of worship and is one of the most important Sikh temples in the world. This temple was built in the 17th century to commemorate the sighting of the eighth Sikh guru, Guru Har Skrishan.
The temple stands out for its beautiful architecture, the golden dome, its large library with a collection of Sikh texts and manuscripts and the “Sarovar”, its sacred pool. Entry to the temple is free and it is an essential visit to see and do in New Delhi.
4. Visit the Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple is one of the most modern religious buildings in New Delhi. This temple was built in 1986. This lotus flower-shaped structure was designed by Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba. The temple is enormous, it has a capacity to accommodate 2,500 people and stands out mainly for its beautiful shape that resembles the lotus flower and for being built in pristine white. Is beautiful.
5. India Gate, a must see in New Delhi
India Gate is a huge triumphal arch 42 meters high, a must-see in New Delhi. This arch was built between 1921 and 1931 to commemorate the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War and the Afghan Wars of 1919.
The gate was originally named the “Memorial of All Indian Wars” and is a beautiful building constructed of red sandstone with a symmetrical design, designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens.
6. Birla House
Birla House is a house museum, also known as Gandhi Smriti. It is a British colonial style house built in the 1930s. It was built by the Birla family, one of the most influential and richest families in India. It was also the residence of the Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi in the last months of his life, where he was assassinated on January 30, 1948.
Currently, it is a house museum where you can see Gandhi's personal objects, photographs, documents... The garden is one of the most beautiful places in the house, and, as a curiosity, it was in this garden where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
7. Safdarjung's Tomb, one of the most beautiful places to see in New Delhi
Safdarjung's Tomb is one of the most beautiful places to see in the city. It is a Muslim mausoleum built in the year 1754 by order of Nawab Shuja-ud-daulah in honor of his father, Mirza Abul Mansur Khan. It stands out for its white marble dome and symmetrical design.
The tomb is a late Mughal style complex, built of red sandstone and white marble. The complex also has beautiful gardens.
8. Visit the Jama Masjid Mosque
The Jama Masjid Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Bharat (India) and a must-see in New Delhi. This mosque was built between 1644 and 1656 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
This Mughal-style mosque is built of red sandstone and white marble, with an asymmetrical design. It stands out for having a beautiful main door, its domes and its equal minarets on each side. It is a very important place of worship for Muslims and has a capacity of 25,000 people.
9. Visit the Red Fort of Delhi, an essential thing to do in New Delhi
The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is an essential visit to do in New Delhi. It is a fort built by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between the years 1638 and 1648. It is built with red sandstone in a Mughal style. It has a wall 6.5 meters long and 33 meters high. The complex houses several important buildings, including palaces, mosques and gardens.
It is one of the largest forts in the world. It extends for 1 and a half kilometers. This place was the capital of the Mughal empire for 20 years and many important ceremonies were held there.
10. Tour the Paharganj neighborhood, one of the best things to do in New Delhi
This is one of the most atmospheric neighborhoods in New Delhi. It is known for being the backpacker neighborhood, but beyond this term, the neighborhood maintains the chaos so characteristic of Bharat, that chaos that is loved and hated at the same time. It is a good option to stay at a low cost, but you can also eat at some of its stalls or restaurants, it has a very lively atmosphere, its streets are always full of people, there are shops and souvenir stalls... In the neighborhood you will find the Paharganj market, a market with narrow, labyrinthine streets, with hundreds of stalls selling clothes, accessories, food...
11. Lodhi Garden
The Lodhi Gardens are beautiful gardens that are essential to see in New Delhi. The huge park covers 90 hectares and contains several historic tombs and mosques that were built during the reign of the Lodhi dynasty in the 15th century.
Some of the most essential tombs to visit in the Lodhi Gardens are the tomb of Mohammed Shah, the Tomb of Sikandar Lodhi, the Sheesh Gumbad Tomb, the Bada Gumbad and the Athpula Bridge, a beautiful 8-arch bridge of Lodhi architecture.
12. Chandni Chowk Market
Chandni Chowk market is one of the main markets to visit in New Delhi. It is a historic market built in the 17th century by order of Princess Jahanara, the daughter of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
The market is a labyrinthine space of narrow streets, with thousands of stalls selling food, spices, clothing, jewelry, accessories... It is the perfect place to explore aimlessly, marveling at the colors, smells and atmosphere of the market. You can also eat some of the traditional dishes at a very low cost.
13. New Delhi Food Tour
If you are a fan of the gastronomy of the world and you are encouraged to always try new things, one of the most interesting activities to do in New Delhi is a gastronomic tour to introduce you to the real gastronomy of Bharat, India. The country's gastronomy is a mixture of spices, among which curry stands out. Some delicious dishes to try are poori (fried bread) or samosa (a triangular-shaped dumpling filled with spiced meat and some vegetables).
14. Tour the bazaars of New Delhi
I am a big fan of bazaars and in New Delhi you have many options. I have already told you about Chandni Chowk, one of the most important and oldest to see in the city. But there are many more; Dilli Haat, Sarojini Nagar Market, Khan Market or Janpath Market are some of the best.
15. Akshadham, a Buddhist temple complex to see in New Delhi
Akshadham is the main temple in a complex of more temples and buildings. It is a Hindu religious and cultural complex built a few years ago, in 2005 it was inaugurated. This temple is dedicated to Swaminaeayan, an 18th century Hindu saint. The temple stands out for being a building built of white marble 43 meters high. The temple has stone carved decorations depicting scenes from the life of Swaminarayan and Hindu culture. The complex houses other small buildings and gardens.
16. See the Sound and Light Show at Akshardham Temple
At the temple they do an incredible light and sound show every day, except Mondays. The show lasts about 1 hour and in it we can see historical scenes from the ancient Kena Upanishad scriptures. The temple comes alive and is one of the best things to do in New Delhi.
17. Hanuman Mandir Temple
The Hanuman Mandir Temple is a Hindu temple located in the Karol Bagh neighborhood. The temple was built in the 19th century and dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman. The temple is built of red sandstone and stands out for its golden dome and its interior, which houses several stone carvings depicting scenes from the life of Hanuman. At the entrance to the temple you can see a very large bronze statue of Hanuman.
18. Rashtrapati Bhavan
The Rashtrapati Bhavan is a complex of several buildings, including the official residence of the President of India and a museum of art and culture. The museum is divided into several spaces; the History of India, the Indian culture area, another section for traditional Indian art, modern art... It is one of the most interesting museums to visit in New Delhi.
19. The Raj Ghat Memorial
The Raj Ghat memorial is another of the essential places to see in New Delhi. This monument is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation. It is a simple memorial, which you can find on the banks of the Yamura River. It is a black platform that is located in the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated on January 31, 1948. The memorial was inaugurated in the same year and is surrounded by a garden area where you can walk.
20. Visit the Qutab Minar and the ruins of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
Qutab Minar is a red brick minaret built in the 12th century by order of Qutub-ud-din Aibak, who was the first Muslim ruler of Delhi. This minaret was designed as a symbol of the victory of Islam over Hinduism and to be a call to prayer for Muslims.
It is built of red brick, measures 72.5 meters high and is decorated with stone carvings and Arabic calligraphy.
The complex where it is located also has the ruins of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. An ancient mosque that was built in the 12th century in an Indo-Islamic style.
21. Agrasen Ki Baoli
The Agrasen Ki Baoli is a stepwell built in the 14th century by order of King Agrasen. This king was legendary and very loved in the city. This well is 60 feet deep with 105 steps. It has a medieval Indian architecture style and is built in red sandstone, decorated with stone carvings depicting scenes of daily life. Originally, the well was built as a water source to supply the city. Currently, the well no longer has this function, but it is a very popular place to visit in the city.
22. The Mehrauli Archaeological Park
The Mehrauli archaeological park houses several monuments and historical archaeological remains built between the 12th and 19th centuries. Various remains from all dynasties are found here. The most essential places to see in the park are the pre-Islamic monuments among which are the walls of Lal kot, the Monuments of the Delhi Sultanate, the monuments of the Lodi dynasty, the monuments of the Mughal empire...
23. The Connaught Place
This is the financial and commercial district of New Delhi. There is a wide variety of accommodation, restaurants, shops... This neighborhood was built in the early 1930s following the design of the British architect Robert Tor Russel. The district has a circular shape, surrounded by large Georgian buildings, made of brick and sandstone, decorated with arches, columns and domes. The district is beautiful and it is a very good option for where to stay in New Delhi.
24. National Rail Museum
The National Railway Museum of India is located in New Delhi. It is an interesting museum that exhibits more than 100 locomotives, wagons and railway objects. There is also a space dedicated to the history of railway construction in India, technological advances over the years...
25. Hauz Khas Village, an essential thing to see and do in New Delhi
Hauz Khas Village is the artistic neighborhood of New Delhi. There are a wide variety of art galleries, museums, pharmacies, restaurants and accommodations. Some of the essential places to see in Hauz Khas Village are the art galleries La galerie Saravana, La gallery Espace and Gallery Chemould. In addition, there are also archaeological remains, beautiful parks to walk through, some of the best restaurants such as The Fatty Bao or The Olive Bar and Kitchen...
POSTS FROM NEW DELHI THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
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