If you’ve ever been to the Capital, then you know that New Delhi is one the most popular travel destinations, if you’re looking for a perfect blend of rich history, culture, mouth smacking food and an all-round fun vacation. It’s got all that, plus more than a few hidden gems for you to explore and enjoy. So here’s a list of the best things to do in Delhi, when you’re planning your itinerary.
New Delhi Attractions
Places to visit in New Delhi
Old Delhi vs New Delhi
Understand the difference between New and Old Delhi so you can plan you’re itinerary accordingly and choose which parts of town you want to go to and what to do in Delhi.
Old Delhi a constant, buzzing, and thriving part of the city. Full of breathtaking monuments built during the Mughal reign in India. a never-ending slew of mouth-watering street food for you to try, and one of the oldest, the most renowned market, Chandni Chowk, where you’ll find just about everything you’ll ever need, and more accurately, everything you didn’t know you needed.
New Delhi, however, was designed during the British Raj. During the time when the British moved the capital from Calcutta to the newly designed metropolis, in ‘New Delhi,’ south of ‘Old Delhi.’
Here’s a list of some of the monuments you simply cannot miss on your visit.
The Qutub Minar
Also, known as Qutb Minar is actually in a complex that houses not just the 72.5m minaret, but also the Iron Pillar. It is a metallurgical curiosity: the pillar that never rusts, the tomb of Ala-ud-din Hilji, the Alai Minar, and also the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque.
The Qutub Minar, the Iron Pillar, and Khilji’s tomb, however, steal the show with their rich history. However, you might be interested in visiting the Akai Minar as well. The first Indo-Islamic monuments built using solely Islamic methods of construction, not to mention a World Heritage site.
Red Fort
Once again, the Red fort is built in a complex that also houses the Delhi Gate, the Lahori Gate, Diwan-i-Aam, and a Diwan-i-Khas, apart from other smaller structures. When the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi, he had this complex commissioned in 1638.
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Pop over to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India. This building has a hallowed existence in the annals of democracy and is the physical manifestation of the largest democracy in the world.
Just around the corner, a short walk away is the Parliament House and India Gate, as are the war memorial Amar Jawan Jyotiall, all in one pocket of the city-Rajpath-for you to visit.
One hardly needs to explain why Rajpath is so famous. The Republic Day Parade is held here yearly. It showcases the culture, military, and heritage of India, everything that Rajpath stands for, and houses.
Akshardham
Swaminarayan Akshardham at New Delhi, a place of devotion, peace, and purity. A temple tributed to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The beautiful garden, the exhibitions, and the two hundred idols of spiritual stalwarts featured across the place. Also, the actual Mandir, or temple, itself has much spiritual significance. A place dedicated to helping visitors to become aware of the universal nature of Hinduism’s ancient principles.
Much like the Lotus Temple that is much closer to the city, Akshardham too is a place dedicated to finding peace. It is the perfect place to spend time away in retrospection, away from the bustle of the city.
Don’t forget to hang around and make a booking in advance to watch the spectacular water show at the end of the day!
Chandni Chowk
Of all the best things to do in Delhi, and there are a lot of them, shopping at Chandni Chowk is perhaps the most memorable one. While Connaught Place is the hotspot for branded fashion, it is the Chandni Chowk markets that have been around for ages, at the heart of Chandni Chowk.
You find just about anything there, from spices fruits and vegetables, books, stationary, clothes-casual, formal, bridal and costume, cloth material, accessories….you name it, Chandni Chowk and the dozens of markets in the area have it. Chandni Chowk particularly famous for the silver jeweler, aptly named “Silver Street.’ Please note the market closes on Sundays.
Connaught Place
Connaught Place might be the commercial hub of New Delhi, with its financial and business spots and companies. Also, considered the tenth most expensive office location in the world. Not to mention, it has a booming nightlife, global chain stores, vintage bars, restaurants, and theatres. The houses are in beautiful Georgian-style buildings.
Connaught place is like a town in its own right, at the heart of New Delhi.
Here’s some of the top things to do in New Delhi’s Connaught Place, all in one day :
Breakfast at Kulcha Junction
Perhaps the most popular spot to eat hot, buttery Amritsari Kulchas. This small restaurant offers dozens of varieties of kulchas and combos. Remember to load up on breakfast because you can’t spend a day in Connaught place without a good, hearty breakfast.
Don’t forget to drop in at Depauls, one of the best places to drink coffee.
Take in the sights
The Hanuman temple and Jantar Mantar are two of the most visited spots in Connaught Place, New Delhi. Alternatively, you can check out the Metro Museum, the Dhoomimal Art Centre as well as Agrasen ki Baoli. It is one of the most hauntingly beautiful, enigmatic step-wells ever.
Visit the flea markets and branded stores
Indulging in a shopping spree at the street markets and alternatively, at the global stores, is a rite of passage for all visitors and travelers. Filled with pockets of flea markets and narrow winding streets. and stacked high with shoes, bags, clothes and accessories, books, and stationary on either side.
You can be thrifty at the flea markets or go ahead and splurge on gorgeous high-fashion at the luxury stores.
Snack time
If you’ve been strolling down the streets of Connaught Place, there’s a good chance that you’ve already loaded up on snacks. There are hundreds of street-food stalls along the way.
Places like Shake Square and Odeon Bhelpuri Bhandaar have been around forever, and are all-time favorites of locals and newly-discovered favorites for travelers.
Catch a movie or go to a nightclub
The Rivoli Building on Baba Kharag Sing Margh is an old-school theatre, vintage and classy. The time of red velvet cushioned seats, portable popcorn machines, and when movie theatres were called cinema halls.
Hidden Gems in New Delhi
Daryaganj Sunday Book-Market
If you’re a bibliophile, then the Daryaganj Sunday book Market is the place to be. Books, old and new, are stacked everywhere, on pavements, installs, and in small kiosks, and available to buy at very cheap rates.
You’re going to have to get your hands dirty and rummage through mile-high piles of old books. Don’t expect to find books behind a display case, or helpful attendants and sales reps to help you find the book you need.
You’ll often find people bent double, or on their hands and knees by the pavement, sorting through the thousands of books available- the mark of a true bibliophile.
This market has something different for every type of reader, and watch out for those rare, signed copies, or first editions of novels because there’s a good chance they’ve found their way from all over the world, here to the Daryaganj Sunday Market.
Majnu-ha-tila
Majnu-ka-tilla or MKT as it is commonly known as a Tibetan refugee colony in New Delhi set up back in1950 and located at the banks of the river Yamuna.
With the faint echoes of the Dalai Lama’s preachings wafting through the winding alleys, the colorful sights and mysterious scents of a time long gone, make a rather pretty imitation of a Dharamshala. MKT is a small bubble of culture, history, and authentic Tibetan cuisine and art.
Whether it is thukpa noodle soup you are craving or beautifully flavored momos, MKT’s restaurants, quirky cafes and Tibetan street food stalls have what you’re looking for.
Keep in mind when visiting Delhi
New Delhi is buzzing with travelers from all over the world, either staying within the city or making detours to visit Jaipur and Agra, both of which, along with Delhi, form the Golden triangle— all three of which you’d be insane to miss out on visiting when you’re looking for top things to do in Delhi.
Alternatively, it would not be remiss to hire a guide to take you around. But, if you’re a wanderer and a free soul, feel free to hop on and off the Metro to get where you want to go, to do what you want to do in New Delhi.
