Delhi
National Capital Region (India)
Highlights : India Gate, Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Humayun Tomb, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Chandni Chowk, Connaught place, Parliament, Qutub Minar, Raj ghat
The vibrant city of New Delhi was planned and designed by highly acclaimed British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The most enchanting aspect of this city is that it is home to few of the most elegant historic monuments. Moreover, two of the monuments namely, Qutub Complex and Humayun’s Tomb are enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage Sites’ list.
Since the city is the capital of India, New Delhi has witnessed numerous political activities and houses several administrative structures. For shopaholics, the city is always buzzing with the most glamorous shopping malls wherein there are showrooms boasting few of the topmost fashion brands. New Delhi offers impeccable avenues for entertainment and food like multiplexes, grand restaurants and spectaculars hotels.
These hotels are based on the finest properties and offer flawless hospitality, luscious cuisine and ecstatic ambience. The 5 star hotels in New Delhi are scattered throughout the city so as to offer maximum comfort and approachability to its guests. The business hotels in New Delhi maintain high-end corporate environment so as to accentuate their purpose. These hotels witness various corporate deals worth several crores being finalised on day to day basis. New Delhi is well-equipped with both types of hotels; luxury hotels that are super flamboyant and are accordingly expensive as well and low budget hotels that cater to the requirement of those who have low budget for stay. Therefore, it is quite easy for leisurely as well as business travellers to find the best hotels in New Delhi.
Delhi By Road
Delhi is well connected, by a network of roads and national highways, with all the major cities in India. The three major bus stands in Delhi are Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Kashmiri Gate, Sarai Kale-Khan Bus Terminus and Anand Vihar Bus Terminus. Both the government and private transport providers provide frequent bus services. One can also get government as well as private taxis here.
Delhi By Rail
Getting to Delhi by Train/rail is another good options for travelers; those how plan for a vacation tour to Delhi India. The New Delhi Railway station is well connects to the major cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chennai, Bangalore, Patna, Shimla, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad etc. Some of the trains connected from other main railway stations of Delhi i.e. Old Delhi station, H. Nizamuddin Railway Station, Anand Vihar Station, Sarai Rohilla and many more. You can enjoy the ride of Luxury trains, express trains and local trains.
Delhi By Air
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) the only airport in Delhi serves both domestic and international flights to reaching Delhi India. More than 23 million passengers travel to and from this IGI airport of New Delhi. It is one of the busiest airports in Asia. It is undergoing expansion and modernisation under GMR.The capital city of Delhi is well connected with the Major cities of India as well as World. Getting Delhi by air is very easy and time saving options for travellers.
The Lotus Temple
How to get there: I took the Metro to Kalkaji Mandir station and from there it’s about a 10 minute walk to the entrance gate – you’ll see the giant lotus from the Metro as you approach.
Website: http://www.bahaihouseofworship.in/
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 9 am – 7 pm, closed on Mondays
Price: FreeJama Masjid
It was the during the Islamic Mughal empire when many of Delhi’s famous ancient sites were constructed. In the heart of Old Delhi, located right at Chawri Bazar and very close to Chandni Chowk is the largest Islamic mosque in the city, Jama Masjid. It’s a huge structure, built in the 17th century, and includes multiple entrances that all lead to the main worship deck. The mosque has two towering minarets and a few onion shaped domes. The giant expanse on the upper floor has a capacity to hold 25,000 people. There are some great restaurants like Karim’s and others within the vicinity.
How to get there: I took the Metro to Chawri Chowk station, exited at Gate #3, and from there you just walk straight down the street for about 10 – 15 minutes and the road will lead you right to the mosque. You can then either take a left or right to get in either main gate of the mosque.
Hours: 8 am – 30 minutes before sunset
Price: Free to enter, 300 INR to take photosAkshardham Temple
This modern Hindu temple complex, which was built in 2005, is one of the things to do in Delhi that you don’t want to leave out seeing. Akshardham, with its elaborate architecture, construction, and its ridiculous amount of perfect detail and decoration will blow your mind.
How to get there: Take the Delhi Metro to Akshardham station (make sure you head towards NOIDA city center station), exit to the main street, turn right and then turn right again on the road and walk for about 10 minutes and you’ll be at the main entrance gate. Alternatively, you can take a rickshaw from the Metro to the temple.
Website: http://www.akshardham.com/
Hours: 9:30 am – 6:30 pm, closed on Monday
Price: FreeIndia Gate
The well respected India Gate is a 42 meter tall monument that was built in 1931 to honor Indian soldiers as a war memorial. Under the gate you can see a flame that’s continually lit and honors soldiers that have given their lives for their country.
How to get there: The nearest Metro station is Central Secretariat, but it’s a bit of trek from there, I think it took about 30 minutes walking, but it’s not a bad walk and right along Rajpath. You can alternatively take an auto rickshaw or take a shared little motorcycle rickshaw up to the entrance of the India Gate.
Hours: Daylight hours
Price: FreeJantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar in New Delhi is a complex that includes a number of different structures used for astronomy observations. Commissioned by Muhammad Shah, the Mughal emperor, the structures were actually constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II from Jaipur, Rajasthan (if you visit Jaipur, they have an even nicer Jantar Mantar).
How to get there: Jantar Mantar is located just a short distance from Connaught Place and you can take the Metro to either Rajiv Chowk or Patel Chowk and the attraction is located right along Sansad Marg. I took the Metro to Patel Chowk and it took about 10 minutes to walk there.
Address: Sansad Marg,Connaught Place, New Delhi, DL,110001, India
Website: http://www.jantarmantar.org/
Hours: Daylight hours
Price: 100 INRQutub Minar
Among all the historical things to do in Delhi, the Qutub Minar is what I enjoyed most. Along with a bunch of crumblings structures is the incredible 72.5 meter minaret that sort of looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The minaret is the tallest in all of India, and it was originally built nearly 1,000 years ago.
Constructed from red sandstone, there are detailed carvings and inscriptions throughout the tower. Though you can’t go inside, it’s really awe-inspiring to see from a distance and up close. Qutub Minar is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a proud icon of Delhi, India.
How to get there: Though there’s a Metro station named Qutub Minar, the actual site is sort of inconveniently located a bit of a distance away. It’s easiest to take the Metro and then take and auto rickshaw for 30 – 40 INR to the entrance.
Address: Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030, India
Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
Price: 250 Rupees, but make sure you count your change, I was shorthanded!Red Fort
The Red Fort in Delhi, known as Lal Qila, is a red sandstone Mughal fortress of walls that surrounds an entire ancient city. Once you get inside the gate, you’ll be able to freely walk around and view some of the main structures, halls, and mosques. Along with being a place to learn and see the history of Delhi, it’s also just a quiet place to get away from the crowds and noise outside the walls. However, if you visit Agra, please go to the Agra Fort, I thought it was more impressive than the Red Fort in Delhi.
How to get there: You can easily walk in about 20 minutes or take a quick auto rickshaw ride from Chandni Chowk metro station to the Lahore Gate of the Red Fort. Just get off the Metro and walk straight down Chandni Chowk road until you reach the large main road, and you’ll see the fort across the street.
Address: Netaji Subhash Rd, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006, India
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday during daylight hours, closed Mondays
Price: 250 INR
Chandni Chowk
The vibrant city of New Delhi was planned and designed by highly acclaimed British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The most enchanting aspect of this city is that it is home to few of the most elegant historic monuments. Moreover, two of the monuments namely, Qutub Complex and Humayun’s Tomb are enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage […]
Red fort
The vibrant city of New Delhi was planned and designed by highly acclaimed British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The most enchanting aspect of this city is that it is home to few of the most elegant historic monuments. Moreover, two of the monuments namely, Qutub Complex and Humayun’s Tomb are enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage […]
