What to see in Delhi

Delhi is an off-the-beaten-path destination for anyone who wants to dive into a world of diverse cultures, delicious tea, and unusual spices. Here, ancient temples and memorial structures stand alongside modern buildings, and city markets are bustling. In short, after the pristine landscapes of Europe, India will seem vibrant and rich. We invite you to see for yourself with our article on what to see in Delhi.

How to get there

Tickets to Delhi can often be found at very reasonable prices if you book in advance.

And the best part in both cases is direct flights. Recently, there have been many more of them, so you don’t have to worry about delays and can simply enjoy your flight with a favorite book or TV series. By the way, it lasts about six hours. All in all, it’s all positives!

Life hack: if you subscribe to price change notifications for your destination, your friends will surely be shocked by the number of your trips at the absolute lowest fares.

When is the best time to go

It would seem that the best period for any trip is summer. But not in this case (unless you’re a fan of unbearable heat, of course). Therefore, we recommend exploring all sights of Delhi from October to March. During this time, it’s not as humid, and the rainy season won’t interfere with your plans.

Attractions

Attention! Free up space in your phone’s gallery, because there are so many options for what to see in Delhi. You’ll definitely need free space, and also a selection of interesting locations from us.

Lotus Temple

The Lotus Temple is a famous structure inspired by the flower of the same name, as well as the Sydney Opera House. The temple was created as a center for all religions, so people of completely different faiths can come here to pray.

Tourists from other countries are also abundant here. Many travel to the temple from all corners of the world to see its interesting architectural design and capture it in photos.

Chandni Chowk District

The title of Delhi’s most colorful district can rightfully be given to Chandni Chowk. The entire Indian vibe is gathered in one place — from narrow, noisy streets with many passersby to souvenir shops where you can find absolutely everything: carpets, essential oils, perfumes… In short, stock up on money, because the phrase “I’m just looking” won’t work.

Lakshmi Narayan Temple

Against the backdrop of India’s temple structures, Lakshmi Narayan stands out noticeably. Firstly, instead of white marble, it’s surprisingly pink. Secondly, instead of a round dome, it’s oval. No matter how you look at it, you haven’t seen anything like it, even in photos.

The first and most central sanctuary of the temple is dedicated to Lakshmi — the goddess of happiness and abundance. The other tiers are reserved for the worship of Buddha, Shiva, and other Indian gods.

Well, to be the first to impress your friends with cool photos, we recommend packing your bags now. Don’t worry about documents, we’ve already answered the question "Do I need a visa?" in our blog.

National Gallery of Modern Art

A good way to get acquainted with modern Indian art is to visit the National Gallery. For a small admission fee, you will gain access to all exhibits created from the 19th to the 21st century.

We also recommend paying attention to the building’s exterior. A former old palace with unusual carvings and ornaments was converted into a modern art gallery. Isn’t that impressive?

Garden of Five Senses

Judging by the name, it’s easy to guess that the garden’s main task was to awaken the five senses in visitors. For this purpose, flowers of all shades and sizes were brought from Canada, Peru, Argentina, and Australia. So, get ready for vibrant colors and beautiful photos.

By the way, locals love to relax here during particularly hot weather: there are many benches, places to grab a bite, and nearby fountains provide refreshment. One such fountain is the ‘Tree Fountain,’ which is especially popular with everyone who has ever visited India.

Hanuman Temple

A little background: Hanuman is a monkey-like deity, known in India as ‘Lord of Strength.’ His gigantic statue will let you know you’re on the right path. This landmark is visible from anywhere in the city, so getting lost while walking around Delhi will be impossible.

In general, among tourists, this place has earned the reputation of being the most mystical and frightening. This is due to a number of customs that should be observed. For example, when leaving the temple, you must not look back. It is believed that such a movement is interpreted by evil spirits as an invitation into your life.

By the way, photography is prohibited here. And our advice: if a priest asks you (as tourists) to pay him for some ritual — don’t fall for it. If you really want to make a donation — there are special boxes for this at the entrance.

Rajpath Ceremonial Avenue

The name speaks for itself: Rajpath is one of India’s main streets. On weekdays, it functions as a regular road, and on January 26th — Republic Day — a parade takes place here.

In the parks on both sides of the roadway, you can have a picnic or take a leisurely stroll.

Worlds of Wonder Amusement Park

Worlds of Wonder will especially appeal to your inner child. This is because there are many rides and water slides, the mere sight of which lifts your spirits. For adults, there are even areas equipped with complex labyrinths, go-karting, and air hockey.

The plan is simple: turn off all notifications on your phone and spend the whole day enjoying unusual activities, exotic sweets, and gaining new experiences!

Connaught Place

One of Delhi’s modern attractions is Connaught Place. It’s a kind of financial and business center where you can not only eat well but also enjoy shopping. In short, our advice: save your money, you’ll want to buy everything.

Interesting fact: originally, the architects of Connaught Place aimed for a European style. However, during the process, the horseshoe shape turned into a closed circle, and the residents of India added a touch of chaos with frequent traffic jams and crowds.

Main Bazaar

It’s not for nothing that they say: if you haven’t been to Main Bazaar, you haven’t seen India. It’s like a separate culture within the country. Narrow streets, unusual souvenirs at the most pleasant (and not so pleasant) prices, haggling, and an abundance of noise. Many dream of seeing this firsthand, so, besides locals, you can often see travelers just like you here.

In general, Main Bazaar, with all its market stalls and cafes, is one of the main tourist streets. From here, it’s very easy to get to the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, and there are also many hotels here.

What to see in one or two days

It’s hard to imagine, but it’s quite realistic to see Delhi in one or two days. Yes, you’ll have to speed up a bit, but this won’t hinder the overall experience at all.

What to see in one day

Many guidebooks recommend starting your journey in Old Delhi, in other words, the Old City. It’s ideal for a first introduction: many attractions are located here (for example, the spice market where you can find souvenirs, or India Gate with its unusual lighting), and the architecture and local mentality can best be experienced in this very place.

We recommend starting with the Red Fort. Its inspection takes no more than three to four hours. During this time, you’ll have time to visit the royal baths, the mosque, and two large halls where Emperor Shah Jahan received guests.

Next, head to the Jama Masjid mosque. It is in no way inferior to the one located on the Red Fort grounds. Despite regular services being held there, the mosque is open to visitors.

Getting to the Kashmiri Gate will not be difficult: Delhi has a metro station of the same name. Previously, the Gate was an important political object, but over the years it has turned into a cultural heritage with unusual architecture, beloved by tourists.

India Gate and Purana Qila fortress are quite close to each other. If you don’t hire a guide, you’ll have plenty of time to see everything in a couple of hours.

Let’s finish with something pleasant — the spice market, where you can spend all your money on delicious souvenirs for your friends.

What to see in two days

Now you’ve figured out what you can see in Delhi in one day. What if you have more free time? That’s even better: more iconic places, more photos, and new experiences.

If on the first day you decided to stop at the Kashmiri Gate or immediately head to the spice market, we strongly recommend visiting India Gate. By the way, in the evening they are beautifully illuminated in the colors of the country’s flag.

Not far from the gate is Rajpath Ceremonial Avenue. Locals often spend time there: sitting on the grass with friends or having picnics. The location is beautiful, so a short visit there would be a great option.

Humayun’s Tomb can be reached by metro: the fare is inexpensive, and it significantly eases the journey. In the morning, the place is quite quiet, with few tourists — an excellent opportunity to stroll through the park and be impressed by the majestic size of the attraction.

And finally, the Lotus Temple. A beautiful structure with unusual architectural solutions and a true paradise for all perfectionists.

Where to stay

The best option is to look for accommodation in tourist areas. Firstly, you won’t be asking yourself “What to see in Delhi?”, as all the iconic places are within walking distance. Secondly, the capital of India is a very large city where it’s easy to get lost. Therefore, we’re sharing the most unique neighborhoods where you can settle.

• Majnu-ka-Tilla, in other words, the Tibetan Quarter, is suitable for everyone who wants to combine pleasure with utility: eat delicious food and see modern Indian culture. They prepare excellent dumplings with the simple name Momo here, and it’s clean and very colorful all around.
• Paharganj — one of Delhi’s central districts with inexpensive hotels and eternal hustle and bustle. This is where Main Bazaar is located — the main shopping street where you can profitably buy a SIM card or exchange currency. By the way, Paharganj is very close to New Delhi railway station. From there, trains go to one of India’s best resorts — Goa. So, if you get tired of everything, you can rush to the sea and not worry about a thing.
• Hauz Khas — a wealthy district of New Delhi. It’s not as noisy here as in Paharganj, but there are many interesting streets where you can buy souvenirs or eat delicious food.

Well, in general, our advice: always write down your route. This is Delhi — sometimes streets marked on the map may not even exist.

What to eat

What else to do in Delhi, if not try traditional cuisine? This is something we know how to do, love, and practice. It’s especially pleasant to order a hearty portion of something in the evening, when all the sights have been explored, and your phone’s gallery is filled with new photos.

Without further ado, here’s our list of recommendations for what you definitely need to try in India:

• Samosa — one of the most popular dishes that captures the hearts of tourists year after year. There’s actually nothing unusual in preparing this treat: just deep-fried dough with a vegetable filling (sometimes a meat option can also be found).
• Masala chai. In general, masala is a blend of spices that each Indian family prepares in its own special way. Therefore, when ordering the same drink, be prepared for the taste to be completely different. The base consists of tea, a spice blend, sweetener, and milk.
• The Indian snack dhokla will appeal to vegetarians. It’s made from rice and chickpeas, and then this mixture is steamed with mustard seeds.
• Chaat is considered a street snack. It’s something like rice balls with vegetables and various spices.
• Pani puri — airy balls, deep-fried in oil. It’s a kind of street fast food, sometimes prepared with fillings.
• Kulfi can be bought almost everywhere. It’s a local ice cream with completely different ingredients.
• Aloo gobi — a delicious dish of spiced potatoes and cauliflower.
• You’ve probably heard of dal. This is another favorite dish among tourists. It’s a thick cream soup made from lentils. It’s often eaten with some kind of flatbread.

Safety

1. Most likely, you’ve already heard about petty thefts throughout India. Therefore, to avoid losing your most valuable possessions, keep your belongings and documents with you and don’t take your eyes off them. A good option would be to buy a fanny pack with a strong lock.
2. Eating out is, of course, great. However, even here, safety rules apply: for example, you should only buy well-cooked dishes or drink beverages through pre-purchased straws.
3. Just in case, carry an improvised first-aid kit with you. Even if it’s left in your hotel room, it’s still something.
4. It’s trivial, but don’t fall for fake healers and beggars. Both will swindle you out of your money.
5. Before buying anything at the bazaar, check its integrity. Often, prices can be inflated, so don’t be afraid to haggle.

Now you definitely won’t get bored in India. Moreover, you can confidently claim the role of a first-class guide for your friends. Or simply an inspirer for new trips, for example, to local resorts: to the sea and unforgettable sensations. For such a case, we’ve just told you what to see in Goa alone or with a whole company. In short, have fun!