Things to Do in New Delhi

Mathura is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh situated 50 kilometers north of Agra and 145 kilometers southeast of Delhi. It is considered the birthplace of the Hindu god, Krishna, and as such is one of the seven cities considered holy by Hindus. As a result, Mathura attracts pilgrims from all across India, particularly for the Holi festival and during Janmashtami, when Krishna’s birthday is celebrated.

The town is dotted with temples from various ages and the stretch of the sacred Yamuna River flows through it. The river is lined with 25 ghats, best seen at dawn, when many people take their holy dip, as well as just after sunset, when hundreds of candles are sent floating on the water during the evening aarti ceremony. 

There are some beautiful sculptures recovered from ruins that are now on display in the archaeological museum in Mathura, and it’s worth seeking out the Keshav Dev Temple, which was built on the site of Krishna's birthplace.

India Gate is a 138-foot (42-meter) war memorial in the heart of New Delhi, reminiscent of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Built in 1931 and designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, designer of most of New Delhi, it’s a must-visit photo stop on a Delhi tour.

 

The India Gate was built to commemorate Indian members of the British Indian Army killed during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. In the 1970s, the eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti) was added to remember Indians who died in the Indo-Pakistan War. Around 13,000 soldiers’ names are inscribed on the gate.

 

The gate is popular among both local and international visitors. Usually visited on half- and full-day sightseeing tours of Delhi, it’s a particularly attractive place to take photos. It doesn’t take long to see the gate itself, so a visit here is best combined with a fuller sightseeing trip that may also call on the Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, and other sites.

 

 

India Gate is located on Rajpath in New Delhi, in a part of the city that’s mainly administrative. It’s not a great place to walk around due to the fast traffic and large distances between points of interest. The nearest metro stations are Khan Market and Udyog Bhawan, where you can hire auto-rickshaws to India Gate.

 

You can tour India Gate at any time, but at night, when it is lit up, is a particularly attractive time to visit. If you’re booking a private sightseeing tour, request to see India Gate after dark. During India Republic Day (January 26), the streets around it get very busy with crowds and military parades.

 

Lutyens designed much of New Delhi in the 1920s–1940s and gave the capital’s administrative areas their character. Touring the parts of Delhi designed by Lutyens is a good way to learn about the colonial history and architecture of the city. Also visit Connaught Place and Rashtrapati Bhawan. Private tour packages can be designed around the theme of Lutyens’ Delhi.

The Kingdom of Dreams complex is pitched as India's first live entertainment, theater, and leisure destination. Spread over six acres, it’s a place where India’s art, heritage, cuisine, and performing arts are celebrated in one sprawling complex. It’s made up of three main areas – the Nautanki Mahal, the Showshaa Theatre, and a cultural and cuisine area known as Culture Gully.

Nautanki Mahal is a state-of-the-art auditorium with a seating capacity of 835. Designed like a grand palace, it stages elaborate Indian and international theater productions using the latest hi-tech equipment to bring the theater to life – including a hydraulic stage, a matrix sound system, and automated fly bars.

Showshaa Theatre is the latest addition to the Kingdom of Dreams. It’s a 350-seat amphitheatre where various theatrical performances take place, including productions based on Indian mythology. Meanwhile, Culture Gully is the arts and food boulevard at the complex. Here, themed restaurants and kitchens representing the cuisine and architecture of the 14 states of India are all contained under a sky dome.

Known as the father of the nation for his leading role in India’s independence, Mahatma Gandhi is among the most important activists of the 20th century. The National Gandhi Museum was inaugurated in his honor in 1961, and today attracts visitors interested in Gandhi, the Independence Movement, and the struggle for peace.

 

This small museum houses numerous artifacts related to Gandhi’s life, including old documents, photographs, audiovisual recordings, and personal effects. The museum also houses 23 models of spinning wheels in honor of Gandhi’s devotion to self-sufficiency through weaving. The museum’s library houses a huge collection of documents of academic interest; you can search the entire catalog online ahead of your visit.

 

Most visitors go to the museum before or after paying their condolences at Raj Ghat across the street, where Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Private and small-group Gandhi-themed tours stop here and at Raj Ghat, as well as at the Gandhi Smriti, where the leader was killed.

 

 

The museum is located just west of the Yamuna River, across the street from Raj Ghat. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the Purple Line’s Delhi Gate Station and a 15-minute drive from Connaught Place and Old Delhi. Most visitors arrive by car or as part of an organized tour.

 

The museum is open 9:30am to 5:30pm Tuesday through Sunday. It’s always a good time to visit, though Sundays can be quieter due to the absence of school groups. If you plan to pair a trip to the museum with the outdoor Raj Ghat, you may want to avoid hotter months such as May and June, or come earlier in the day, before the heat reaches its full intensity.

 

This museum is just one of many dedicated to Gandhi located across the country. Others include the Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai, South India; the Mani Bhavan in Mumbai; three museums in East India; and the Mahatma’s own ashram in his home state of Gujarat. Also in New Delhi, the Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum is housed in the Gandhi Smriti, where the leader was assassinated, and features all sorts of audiovisual materials and exhibits that tell Gandhi’s story by mixing computer-generated imagery with physical objects.

Literally translated as ‘Bloody Gateway’, Khooni Darwaza is an ancient tiered archway located in the middle of Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, the road that connects New and Old Delhi. This Mughal-Afghan style structure has a long and bloody history, and legend has it that its ruins are eerily haunted.

Built by Sher Shah Suri in the mid-16th century, Khooni Darwaza would go on to be associated with a series of brutal murders and other atrocities throughout history. The most famous of these incidents involved the killing of three Mughal princes during the Indian Rebellion in 1857. The sons of Bahadur Shah Zafar were brutally murdered here on the orders of a British major, and the story goes that the three princes still haunt the archway to this day, waiting patiently to avenge their killings.

Those looking for something a little different from a tour of the Indian capital can embark on a haunted places in Delhi private tour. This combines a visit to Khooni Darwaza with other eerie sites seeped in mystery, such as Sanjay Van, the Nicholson Cemetery, the Delhi Cantonment, and House No. W-3.

Did You Know? Khooni Darwaza has seen many more bloody and tragic incidents throughout the years. For instance, during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, many refugees were murdered here by rioting crowds while on their way to a camp at the Old Fort.

If you’re looking for the quintessential Delhi bazaar experience, the vibrant Central Market area of South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar might be your ticket. Here you’ll find everything from multihued bangles to umbrella repair shops, not to mention beautiful saris, discount shoe shops, and a huge variety of Indian street food carts. 

 

Popular with Delhiites in search of good deals, Lajpat Nagar’s Central Market is a great place to people-watch, take photos, or pick up inexpensive gifts. Lajpat Nagar features a solid mix of roadside stalls and brand-name shops, not to mention a cinema showing Bollywood and international flicks. Because the market caters to a local crowd, you won’t find too many handicrafts here, but it’s a great place to get affordable clothes, accessories, housewares, and snacks.

 

Going to Lajpat Nagar with a guide or as part of a shopping-themed tour may be helpful for finding your way around and for navigating bargaining customs, especially if it’s your first time here. 

 

 

Lajpat Nagar is in the eastern part of South Delhi. Most visitors to the neighborhood head straight to the Central Market, where the majority of shops and stalls are located—if you’re taking a taxi here, it’s a good idea to specify. The nearest metro station is Lajpat Nagar (a 5-minute walk) on the Violet Line, which connects to Connaught Place in the heart of Delhi.

 

Lajpat Nagar is open Tuesday through Sunday year-round, but the crowds tend to be thinner when the market first opens, around 10am. This is also the best time to visit if you’re coming on a hot day, as early-morning temperatures tend to be more bearable.

 

Lajpat Nagar is a great place to sample Delhi’s famous street food snacks, known collectively as chaat. Popular items include momos, Tibetan steamed dumplings filled with meat or veggies, and aloo tikki, hash-brown–like potato patties covered with chutney. Adventurous eaters may want to try pani puri, crisp deep-fried flour balls filled with spiced water.

One of the largest wholesale spice markets in Asia, Old Delhi’s Khari Baoli is well worth a visit for the intensity of its sights and smells alone. Along with fresh spices of all shapes, sizes, and colors, this market sells myriad nuts, herbs, dry fruits, and grains—often displayed in heaping, photo-worthy mounds.

 

Dating back to the 17th century, this gargantuan market in the Chandi Chowk neighborhood is a must-explore for anyone who wants to pick up spices, herbs, chutneys, tea, and other edibles to take home to friends and families. (Despite it being a wholesale market, you can buy in small quantities.) With its piles of colorful spices as far as the eye can see, it’s also a great place for photography—rivaled only by the colorful textile market nearby. 

 

Khari Baoli market is a popular stop on most tours of Old Delhi, and having a guide on hand can make identifying and purchasing items easier than if you go at it alone.

 

 

Khari Baoli is in the western end of Chandni Chowk, just south of Old Delhi Railway Station and west of the Red Fort. By metro from New Delhi, take the Yellow Line to Chandni Chowk station, a 10-minute walk from the market.

 

The Khari Baoli spice market is open year-round, though you’re better off visiting in the winter months or first thing in the morning to avoid the heat—particularly in May or June. Like the rest of the markets in Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli is closed on Sunday.

 

While cooking with fragrant spices can be daunting to those new to Indian food, one of the most popular Indian treats, masala chai (spiced tea), is also one of the easiest things to make. Simply heat black tea leaves in a pot of water with some cinnamon, cardamom pods, and a few pieces of clove. When the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat, add milk and a bit of sugar, and serve.

Spread out over 90 acres (36 hectares), Lodi Gardens is a gorgeous and lush park full of meandering pathways, beautiful greenery, and four Lodi dynasty tombs. Many locals and visitors alike find refuge here from the dust and noise of Delhi, and you’re likely to come across picnickers, joggers, and elderly Delhiites on morning walks.

 

Lodi Gardens (also spelled Lodhi Gardens) is one of the best maintained parks in Delhi, with lots of benches and plenty of green space for spreading out picnic blankets. For many visitors, the biggest draw is the park’s four beautifully maintained domed tombs, including the mausoleums of Mohammed Shah (which dates to 1444) and Sikander Lodi, and the 15th-century Bara Gumbad tomb. The gardens are also popular with runners, as the grounds are laced with meandering trails.

 

While the Archaeological Society of India has provided signboards with details about the tombs, the park is best explored with a guide. Many Delhi sightseeing and heritage tours visit the park, walking tours offer in-depth details about the gardens’ history, and yoga and meditation tours give an energetic boost to your morning.

 

 

The gardens’ main entrance is on Lodhi Road, about a 15-minute walk from Khan Market, and a 5- to 10-minute walk east of Sri Aurobindo Marg and Safdarjung’s Tomb (which is often visited on tours in conjunction with the garden). The nearest metro station is Jorbagh, a 12-minute walk away, which connects to Central Delhi’s Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place) on the Yellow Line. Parking is limited here, so it’s best to ride public transport, take a taxi, or visit with a tour.

 

Like all outdoor attractions in New Delhi, it’s best to visit Lodi Gardens during winter and avoid the hottest months of the year (May and June). It can get muggy and muddy here during the rainy season (July and August). If you come to jog, come at sunrise or sunset when the temperatures are more manageable; just note that you’ll likely be sharing the paths with plenty of local runners. 

 

Lodi Gardens is home to a huge variety of avian species. A signboard at the park’s southern entrance details the birds you might see, including green parakeets, woodpeckers, swifts, common hawks, pigeons, and bulbuls. If you're lucky, you may also spot species such as the white-breasted kingfisher or even the Indian grey hornbill, named for their strikingly bulbous beaks.

Janpath Market is located along Janpath Road, just off from Connaught Place in New Delhi. A shopaholic and bargain hunter’s dream, this small yet buzzing market is full of energy, not to mention clothing, jewelry, and a whole range of other goods at astonishingly low prices.

Popular with tourists due to its location and atmosphere, Janpath Market is busy, exotic, and lively, making it an attraction for those not even planning on purchasing anything. Beginning from the Connaught Place end, you’ll find some of the oldest shops in the market selling traditional Indian items. Moving onwards, you’ll find many more shops lining the road, selling all kinds of clothing, shoes, jewelry, furniture, handicrafts, carpets, and curios.

Janpath Market is the ideal place for keen shoppers, and can be enjoyed as part of a guided tour of Delhi's markets. As well as having an expert's opinion as you shop and haggle for bargains, this offers the added benefit of being privately transported to several of the city’s best-loved markets. A visit here can also be combined with a tour of Connaught Place and Delhi’s other key highlights.

Insider’s Tip: When shopping at Janpath Market, don’t be afraid to haggle for a better price. This is expected, so never accept the first price you’re offered by a vendor. The first rule of haggling is to keep it friendly and positive – a genuine smile goes a long way!

Delhi’s ISKCON Temple is a large, contemporary temple complex that features a modern take on an eclectic array of traditional Indian architectural styles. It's the local hub of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (aka the Hare Krishnas) and provides a good introduction to Vedic beliefs, especially for Westerners.

Along with a main temple and multiple shrines, this large complex features a restaurant, multiple bookstores, and a Vedic museum featuring a robotics show, an art gallery, and a "quadroscope," a sort of video globe showing an animated video about the sacred Bhagavad Gita text. It's a popular stop on South Delhi tours and is frequently visited in conjunction with the nearby Baha'i House of Worship, the Lotus Temple.

Things to Know Before You Go 

The ISKCON Temple is located in eastern South Delhi, within a 20-minute walk from both the Lotus Temple and the Shri Kalkaji Mandir. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Connaught Place, Delhi’s de facto city center, though the trip can take considerably longer during periods of dense traffic. The nearest metro stop is at Nehru Place (a 14-minute walk away), which connects to central Delhi via the Violet Line.

The ISKCON complex is open throughout the year, from early morning until well into the evening, though the main temple hall closes for a few hours in the middle of the day. Prayer ceremonies, lectures, and devotional chanting sessions take place throughout the day, with special programs on key religious holidays, such as Krishna Janmashtami (which honors the birth of Lord Krishna, in August or September) and Holi (the festival of colors, in February or March).

ISKCON is known for its food, and The Higher Taste cookbook is one of their most popular publications. You can try many of their dishes at the Delhi temple’s Govinda’s Restaurant, which offers around 18 different dishes daily at lunch and dinner, served buffet style. All of the food here is vegetarian (without eggs) and cooked without garlic or onions or excessive spice, and many of the options are vegan.

The Mehrauli Archaeological Park in New Delhi is home to the crumbling ruins of tombs and palaces that date back to early medieval times and up to the 19th century. The park is sprawled across 200 acres and is an atmospheric site that is less crowded than the Qutub Minar World Heritage site nearby.

One of the main attractions at the park comes in the form of two monuments that sit together – the Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb. The intricately chiselled ceiling of the mosque is well worth a peek inside. There is also a striking 16th-century stairwell within the park, along with the crumbling tombs of Balban and Quli Khan.

Karol Bagh is a residential and commercial neighborhood of New Delhi that’s particularly well-known for its markets. One of the earliest shopping hubs in the city, today the streets of Karol Bagh boast eye-catching shops that sell everything from from inexpensive clothing and cotton yarn, to dusty second hand books and gleaming golden jewellery.

As the markets here have grown, both large-brand retailers and local street stalls have spilt over to areas like Padam Singh Road, Gurudwara Road, and Beadonpura. A shopper’s paradise, you’ll find clothes, shoes, handbags, underwear, and cosmetics, as well as more traditional Punjabi items such as extravagantly embroidered garments and colorful spices.

Karol Bagh is the ideal place for keen shoppers, and can be enjoyed as part of a guided tour of Delhi's markets. As well as having an expert's opinion as you shop and haggle for bargains, this offers the added benefit of being privately transported to several of the city’s other popular markets.

Insider’s Tip: If you get hungry while visiting the markets of Karol Bagh, make a stop at Bikanervala Angan for a delicious South Indian snack. You’ll find it at 82 Arya Samaj Road.

Situated smack in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, on the road that runs between Jaipur and Amber Fort (Amer Fort), the 18th-century Jal Mahal (Water Palace) is a gorgeous red sandstone palace that’s accessible only by boat. Though currently closed to visitors, the dreamlike structure is still an incredible sight to behold from shore.

This 5-story palace was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, who integrated Rajput and Mughal stylistic features into its architecture. After centuries of disrepair, a refurbishment project began in the early 21st century, though it’s still not open for the public to explore. However, many tours of Jaipur stop at the lake’s shores (usually en route to nearby Amber Fort) for photographs, particularly in the monsoon season when the lake is at its fullest.

 

The Jal Mahal is located between Jaipur and Amber Fort, just before the turnoff to the Jaigarh Fort road. It’s a 10-minute drive from both Amber Fort’s parking lot and Jaipur’s top attractions such as the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar observatory, and the City Palace.

 

While the Jal Mahal is viewable year-round, it is most attractive and photogenic during and immediately after the monsoon season (July and August), when the lake’s water level is high. Visit earlier in the year and you’ll see some of the lower floors, which are submerged when the lake is full.

Not much is known about the palace’s original intents, though many believe it was intended to be used as a summer getaway and duck hunting lodge for the royal family. After much neglect, it was restored as part of a public-private partnership, but has remained in a state of flux for years. There’s much speculation about the palace’s future fate, but for now the building remains closed to the public.

Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India and an unmissable stop on any Delhi itinerary. Built between 1644 and 1658 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the mosque’s red sandstone and white marble domes, minarets, gateways, and arches are both grand in scale and elegance. Devout Muslims still come here to pray five times a day, while travelers stop by to marvel over the details. 

The large Jama Masjid complex consists of a courtyard, a prayer hall, arched entrance ways, two minarets, and three domes. Around the outside of the mosque, hawkers sell all kinds of clothes, snacks, and textiles, but inside, the atmosphere is calm. It’s possible to climb the southern minaret (outside of prayer time) for a small fee. From there, the views over the tangled streets of Old Delhi are among the best you’ll find.

Many travelers opt to visit the Jama Masjid on a half- or full-day tour of Old and New Delhi, either on foot or by customizable van tour. In addition to a stop at the Jama Masjid, most tours also visit other Old and New Delhi highlights such as the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, and the Qutub Minar.

The Jama Masjid is in Old Delhi. The Delhi Metro is the easiest way to get around the city, and the nearest metro station is Chawri Bazaar. The streets of Old Delhi are very congested, so getting a taxi is not very practical, but you can take a cycle or auto rickshaw from other parts of Old Delhi.

Non-Muslims are only allowed to enter the Jama Masjid outside of prayer times. As Muslims pray five times a day, this means the mosque is closed quite frequently. Non-Muslims should also avoid visiting on Fridays (the Islamic holy day) and during Islamic festivals, when it is also very crowded. 

Much of Old Delhi was planned and built by the Mughals, who ruled Delhi (and much of India) from the 16th to 19th century. Delhi’s Mughal monuments are among its finest and most distinctive—the Red Fort is across the road from the Jama Masjid and the Chandni Chowk market is also nearby. All of these Mughal Delhi highlights can easily be visited in one day.

The Nehru Museum and Planetarium in New Delhi commemorates India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, with exhibits and galleries displaying the history of India's independence. The colonial-style building is surrounded by green and served as Nehru’s official residence for many years. Inside, you'll find high ceilings, teak panels, and large verandas looking out over well-manicured gardens, as well as the former prime minister’s bedroom, drawing room, and study, which have been left exactly as they were at the time of his death. There’s also a library, plus additional galleries featuring everything from old photographs to various gifts Nehru received during his political career.

The planetarium is the newest addition to this attraction, and is always active with programs and workshops for students and others interested in astronomy. Daily shows are held in the planetarium from 11:30am to 3pm.

To learn about India’s fascinating cultural and political history, book a private full-day museums tour in Delhi, which will combine a visit to the Nehru Museum and Planetarium with other important museums in the city.

Recognized as the most expensive shopping district in Delhi, travelers in search of glitz and glam will find it inside the confines of Khan Market. What started as a complex of roughly 150 stores and half as many apartments eventually transitioned from a Mecca for the middle class to a costly commercial real estate locale.  

 

Visitors can wander the storefronts of popular brands like Nike and Reebok, comb through silver shops, books stores, electronic depots and cloth houses. Afterwards, tuck into savory plates of upscale local cuisine at one of the well-known restaurants like Salim’s Kebabs. 

Khajuraho is a small town located in the Chhatarpur District of Madhya Pradesh that is famous for its Hindu and Jain temples. The temples, which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, depict incredibly intricate (and erotic) rock sculptures of the Kama Sutra and other Hindu art.

The Vindhya mountain range provides a dramatic backdrop to the town, although the ‘Khajuraho Group of Monuments’ are undoubtedly the star attraction here. These temples are of Indo-Aryan architecture and were built between 950 and 1050 AD, during the Chandela dynasty. After the decline of the Chandela in the 13th century, the structures were left under a thick cover of date trees for many years before they were rediscovered, giving the town of Khajuraho its name. (Khajur in Hindi means “date.”)

The site features 85 of the original temples, divided into three sections. The western group are the largest and best known, containing the most impressive temple of all – the magnificent Kandariya Mahadev.