THE CAPITAL OF INDIA, Delhi is a cosmopolitan city with a historic old Delhi and the modern New Delhi. From historical monuments to crowded shopping malls, from an extensive network of the modern metro system to Delhi University campus, Dilli has multiple personalities and is considered to be the city with a heart.

The best time to visit Delhi is winter season which begins from October and continues till March when the temperature is not too extreme and ideal for sightseeing of places like Red Fort, India Gate, Qutub Minar, etc. With the temperature ranging between 9°C to 30°C, the city experiences a mild climate during this period, making it an ideal time to visit Delhi. The monsoon season in Delhi begins in the month of July and continues till September. This is not an ideal time to visit Delhi as one might not enjoy properly during the monsoon season in Delhi as most of the attractions are in open and rain just might hamper your plans. Also, the level of humidity is quite high.

Food culture in Delhi is a mixture of North Indian food, Mughlai Cuisines, Punjabi food and mouth watering street food. The most popular dishes in Delhi: Chole Bhature, Parathas, Butter Chicken, Chaat, Kebabs and Rolls, Biryani, Kulfi, Momos or Dim Sums are one of the most loved evening bites of the Delhiites.

Delhi is one of the most sought after shopping destinations because of its Madhubani paintings, spices, embroidered bags, Kundan jewellery and attar. Delhi houses Asia’s biggest wholesale spice market. Khari Baoli is a market with huge spice stores. Embroidered designer handbags made by skilled craftsmen are very popular among people.

Delhi is a diverse city. So, Delhi has no own proper language. 3 languages which are commonly used in New Delhi are Hindi, English, and Punjabi

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES – (AS OF MARCH 2023)

• Humayun’s Tomb
• Qutub Minar and Its Monuments
• Red Fort Complex

1. THE RED FORT

The Red Fort is a historical fortification in the old Delhi area. Shah Jahan constructed it in the year 1639 as a result of a capital shift from Agra to Delhi. Used as the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty, this imposing piece of architecture derives its name from its impregnable red sandstone walls. In addition to accommodating the emperors and their households, it was the ceremonial and political centre of the Mughal state and the setting for events critically impacting the region. Today, this monument is home to several museums that have an assortment of precious artefacts on display. Every year, the Indian Prime Minister unfurls the national flag here on the Independence Day.

The entire fort complex is said to represent the architectural creativity and brilliance of Mughal architecture. With so much history and heritage associated with it, the Red Fort is one of the most popular monuments in India and a major tourist attraction in Delhi. It became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2007. The Archaeological Survey of India is at present responsible for the security and preservation of this magnificent monument.

2. QUTUB MINAR

Qutub Minar is a minaret or a victory tower located in Qutub complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi’s Mehrauli area. With the height of 72.5 metres (238 ft), Qutub Minar is the second tallest monument of Delhi. Its construction was started in 1192 by Qutb Ud-Din-Aibak, founder of Delhi Sultanate after he defeated the last Hindu Ruler of Delhi. He constructed the basement, after which the construction was taken over by his son-in-law and successor Iltutmish who constructed three additional stories. The fourth and fifth storeys were built by Firoz Shah Tuglak.

3. INDIA GATE

The All India War Memorial, popularly known as the India Gate, is located along the Rajpath in New Delhi. The imposing structure of India Gate is an awe-inspiring sight and is often compared to the Arch de Triomphe in France, the Gateway of India in Mumbai and the Arch of Constantine in Rome. This 42-meter tall historical structure was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and is one of the largest war memorials in the country. India Gate is also famous for hosting the Republic Day Parade every year.

4. HUMAYUN’S TOMB

As the name suggests, Humayun’s tomb is the final resting place of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. Located in the Nizamuddin East area of Delhi, it is the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent. This splendid piece of architecture was commissioned for construction by Humayun’s chief consort Empress Bega Begum in the year 1569-70 and is one of the very few structures that used red sandstone on such a massive scale at that time. The design of Humayun’s tomb is a typical Mughal architecture with Persian influences and was conceptualised by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath. Owing to its magnificent design and illustrious history, Humayun’s Tomb was featured in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in the year 1993.

5. HAUZ KHAS VILLAGE

An affluent neighbourhood in South Delhi, Hauz Khas has been well known since medieval times. Hauz Khas Village retains the old charm of the place with remnants of Islamic architecture roughly coloured by splotches of urbane refurbished upmarket. ‘HKV’ is known for its electric nightlife with countless cafes, bars and pubs along with art galleries, and boutiques.

6. LOTUS TEMPLE

Located in the national capital of New Delhi, the Lotus Temple is an edifice dedicated to the Baha’i faith. The magnificent structure of this building unfolds in the form of a stupendous white petal lotus and is one of the most visited establishments in the world. The design of this shrine was conceptualized by Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba and was completed in the year 1986. This temple seeks to propagate the oneness of the Almighty and is open to all regardless of their nationality, religion, race or gender. The Lotus temple is one of the seven Baha’i House of Worship present around the world.

7. AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE

An epitome of Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture, Akshardham Temple is a famous Hindu temple and a spiritual-cultural complex. Also known as Swaminarayan Akshardham, it is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan. Akshardham has made its way to the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple.

The Akshardham Temple is known for its stunning architecture. It has eight ostentatiously carved mandapams while timeless Hindu teachings and flamboyant devotional traditions find their place on the temple’s walls. The centrepiece, i.e. Lord Swaminarayan’s Murti along with that of 20,000 deities, significant personalities in Indian history and sages showcase the essence of Indian architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual thoughts.

8. GURUDWARA BANGLA SAHIB

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is known as much for its religious significance as for its splendid architecture. The grand edifice is built in the Sikh architecture. While the whole structure is made using white marble, it is topped with a central golden dome which is its distinctive feature.

The complex of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib has a main prayer hall, a holy Sarovar or lake, higher secondary school, a hospital, Baba Baghel Singh Museum and a library within its premises. People visiting here get ‘Kada Prasad’ and free langar or ‘community meals’ are served at a particular time. Head needs to be covered while entering, shoes have to be deposited near the entrances and feet are washed in warm water before entering. It also has a ‘Yatri Niwas’ or House for tourists. The Paath and Shabads (the sacred chants) that go almost for 24 hours connect you directly to the divine power.

9. JAMA MASJID

This great mosque of Old Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. Jama Masjid is situated in the older part of Delhi, now called Chandni Chowk and surrounded by beautiful Mughal structures.  It was begun in 1644 and ended up being the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. The highly decorative mosque has three great gates, four towers and two 40 m-high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble.

10. RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN

Rashtrapati Bhavan, home to the President of the world’s largest democracy, is emblematic of Indian democracy and its secular, plural and inclusive traditions. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and stands on a 330 acre estate. It took seventeen years to build this presidential palace which was completed in the year 1929. Almost seven hundred million bricks and three million cubic feet of stone were used in building this architectural marvel that has 2.5 kilometers of corridors and 190 acres of garden area. The main building covers an area of 5 acres and has 340 rooms spread over four floors. The famous Mughal Gardens of the Rashtrapati Bhavan cover an area of 15 acres and have 159 celebrated varieties of roses, 60 varieties of bougainvillea and many other verities of flowers. The Estate also has a state-of-the-art Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex (RBMC) comprising the Clock Tower, the Stables and the Garages showcasing past as well as current presidencies, the regal ceremonies, and the rich flora and fauna of Rashtrapati Bhavan, amongst other things.

11. PARLIAMENT HOUSE

The Parliament house is a circular colonnaded building. It also houses ministerial offices, numerous committee rooms and an excellent library as well. Conceived in the Imperial Style, the Parliament House consists of an open verandah with 144 columns.

The domed circular central hall with oak panelled walls and the three semi circular buildings are used for the Rajya Shabha and Lok Shabha meetings.

12. RAJGHAT

Rajghat is a memorial in Delhi where Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, was cremated followed by his assassination in the year 1948. The cenotaph commemorating his memory is a simple black marble structure that sits amid a beautiful garden. The place is visited by locals as well as foreigners and various delegates to pay their homage to the Father of the Nation. A prayer is held every Friday, the day he died at Rajghat.

Rajghat also has samadhis or memorials of notable leaders if India Jawaharlal Nehru, Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Choudhary Charan Singh, Giani Zail Singh, Jagjivan Ram, Shankar Dayal Sharma, Devi Lal, Chandra Shekhar and I.K. Gujral. Raj Ghat, translating to King’s Bank is giving reference to its location on the bank of Yamuna River.

In addition to being Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, Rajghat is also a celebration of his illustrious life. Gandhiji’s philosophy is projected through picture, sculpture and photos. At Gandhi memorial Museum at Rajghat, his life and philosophy of Sarvodaya Movement are also shown through a film in English and Hindi between 9:30 AM till 5:30 PM except on Thursday. On Sunday, it is featured in Hindi at 4 PM and at 5 PM in English.

13. SAFDARJUNG TOMB

Safdarjung’s Tomb is the last enclosed garden tomb in Delhi in the tradition of Humayun’s Tomb, though it if far less grand in scale. It was built in 1753- 54 as mausoleum of Safdarjung, the viceroy of Awadh under the Mughal Emperor, Mohammed Shah.

It has several smaller pavilions with evocative names like Jangli Mahal, (Palace in the woods), Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) and Badshah Pasand (King’s favourite).

The complex also has a madarsa. The archaeological Survey of India maintains a library over the main gateway.

14. CONNAUGHT PLACE

Connaught Place or ‘CP’ as it is more commonly known is a massive commercial and financial centre in New Delhi. Named after the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, this confusing market complex houses almost all famous international chain stores, famous food chains, restaurants and bars. Connaught Place has one of the largest national flags in the country. This circular, greying whitewashed structure has two concentric circles; the inner circle which has blocks A to F and the outer circle which has blocks G to N. The Connaught Place is also the ultimate place to experience the vibrant nightlife of Delhi housing some of the most famous bars and restaurants. Being one of the most popular after dark destinations, no visit to Delhi is complete without a visit to the Connaught Place.

15. LODHI GARDEN

The old Lady Willington Park, now known as Lodhi Garden, is dotted with monuments of Sayyid and Lodhi Periods, which include tombs mosques, and bridges.

The tombs of Muhammad Shah and Sikandar Lodhi are the good examples of octagonal tombs. Shish and Bara Gumbad are square tombs with imposing dome, turrets on corners and facades giving false impression of being double storied.

It is a favourite point for early morning walkers from the posh south Delhi colonies.

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