Situated on the banks of River Yamuna, Delhi is the capital of India and is one of the most visited tourist destination of the country. Ruled by many great dynasties and empires, this imperial city has been the epicenter of political, cultural, social, and religious, evolution. Delhi reflects a picture rich with architecture, culture, and religion. One can plummet deep into history, monuments, galleries, museums, gardens and exotic shows. From convoluted streets, illustrious food stalls, and lively markets of Old Delhi, to tree lined avenues, massive colonial buildings, skyscrapers, and malls, Delhi is without a doubt a charming combination of old tradition and modernity. A major commercial hub, Delhi is speckled with countless tourist attractions and places of interests. Some of the important places of tourist interest that tops the list of sightseeing itinerary are listed below.
India Gate
A stoned monument that stands the 42 m high, India Gate is one of the most important tourist attractions of the metropolitan city, Delhi. An "Arc-de-Triomphe" like cloisters in the middle of a crossroad, this monument is more or less similar to its French counterpart and was built to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919. India Gate is thronged by both tourists and local people all throughout the day.
Red Fort
Situated in Old Delhi, the Red Fort narrates the saga of the glorious past of the country during the Mughal Rule. Popularly known as Lal Quila, the Red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort remind the magnificent power and splendor of the Mughal emperors. Built in 1638, the Red Fort was constructed to keep away invaders. The main gate, Lahore Gate, is one of the emotional and symbolic focal points of the modern Indian nation and attracts a major crowd on each Independence Day. The vaulted arcade of Chatta Chowk, a bazaar selling tourist trinkets, leads into the huge fort compound. Inside is a veritable treasure trove of buildings, including the Drum House, the Hall of Public Audiences, the white marble Hall of Private Audiences, the Pearl Mosque, Royal Baths and Palace of Color. In the evening, Light and Sound show is organized on the premises of the Red Fort that re-creates events in India's history connected with the fort.
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Situated in proximity to the India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan is one of the popular and most visited tourist attractions of Delhi. Once the palace of Viceroy of India, Rashtrapati Bhawan is now the residence of the President of India. It is a real masterpiece that was built during the British period. It is the focal point of New Delhi and situated in the Raisina Hills. There is a Durbar Hall inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi and the dome of the hall measures 22.8 meters in diameter. The hall is marked by the beautiful colored marbles and throne of the Viceroy is put on display in this hall for visitors. Today, the Durbar Hall is the major venue of all official ceremonies of the Indian Government such as the oath taking ceremony by the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Members of Parliament. The Arjuna Awards for Excellence is also presented in this hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Qutab Minar
Built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, Qutab Minar is one of the most prominent attractions of the city. Soaring at 73 m-high tower of victory, it has five distinctive storeys, each marked by a protruding balconies that narrows from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth storeys are of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. An inscription over its eastern gate provocatively informs that it was built with material obtained from demolishing '27 Hindu temples'. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if one can encircle it with your hands while standing with the back towards it, wishes get fulfilled. Additions to the building were made by Iltutmush in the year 1230 and by Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1315. The main mosque comprises of an inner and outer courtyard,decorated with shafts and surrounded by piller. Close to the mosque is one of Delhi's most curious antiques, the Iron Pillar.
Jama Masjid
The largest mosque in India, Jama Masjid is situated in Old Delhi with a patio capable of holding 25,000 devotees. Although the construction started in the year 1644, the mosque was completed by Shah Jahan, who built one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Taj Mahal. 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. The mosque remains open all throughout the week from 7am to Noon and 1.30pm to 6.30pm. However, tourists are not permitted inside the mosque during prayer hours. This is a must-visit monument of the city that offers a glimpse of the glorious past and is thronged by people of all religions.
Akshardham Temple
Akshardham Temple embodies 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its spectacular magnificence and beauty. It brilliantly showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind. Declared by the Guinness World Record as the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple, this temple is one of the must-visit places in the city of Delhi. There is a traditional temple dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan that reflects the beauty and spirituality of India’s ancient art, culture, and architecture and Nilkanth Varni Abhishek is a sacred religious practice in which prayers are offered for world peace and continual peace for oneself, family, and friends with the water of 151 holy rivers, lakes and ponds of India.
Bahai Temple
Situated in the East of Nehru place, this temple is built in the shape of a lotus flower and is the last of seven Major Bahai's temples built around the world. Completed in1986 it is set among the lush green landscaped gardens. The structure is made up of pure white marble and the architect of this temple named Furiburz Sabha chose the lotus as the symbol common to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. Followers of any faith are free to visit the temple for offering prayer or meditate. Around the blooming petals there are nine water pools which light up, in natural light and looks stunning at sundown when it is lit with flood lights.
Birla Mandir
Also known as Laxmi Narayan Temple, Birla Temple is a major tourist attraction of the city. Built by the industrialst G.D. Birla in 1938, this beautiful temple is located in the west of Connaught Place. The temple is dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (The preserver). The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes will be allowed to enter the temple. This temple is today, one of the major temples of Delhi.
Jantar Mantar
Constructed in the year 1724, Jantar Mantar is an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur. Since he had found the existing astronomical instruments too small to take correct measurements, he built these larger and more accurate instruments. The instruments at Jantar Mantar are fascinating for their ingenuity, but accurate observations can no longer be made from here because of the tall buildings around. This observatory is open on all days from sunrise to sunset and has an entry fee of Rs. 5 for Indians and Rs. 100 for foreigners.
Garden of Five Senses
Developed by Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation, Garden of Five Senses is a park that offers a variety of recreational activities for a rejuvenating experience from the busy city life of people. Sprawling over 20 acres of land, this park is situated at Said-Ul-Azaib village, close to the Mehrauli heritage area in New Delhi. Majestic rocks stand silhouetted against the sky, others lie strewn upon the ground in a casual yet alluring display of nature's sculptural genius. It was the ideal ground on which to realize the concept of a public leisure space that would awaken a sensory response and thereby a sensitivity to the environment. Soaring stainless-steel birds mounted on slate-clad pillars welcome you into the park. An expansive plaza, set on the natural slope of the site, invites you up the spiral walkway. Across, a troop of elephants, cut in stone, regaling in a water bath, tempts exploration. The garden is divided into separate areas; where on one side of the spiral walkway is the Khas Bagh, a ceremonial garden decorated on the lines of the Mughal Garden. Slow-moving water cascades in channels along its length, while flowering and fragrant shrubs and trees line its paths. The Central axis leads to a series of fountains, some of which are lit up by fibreoptic lighting systems. Encapsulating the expression here is the sculpture of 'A Fountain Tree". Isolated from the heart of the garden, on the other side of the alley is a series of terraces provided with seating arrangements face the food court.
India Gate
A stoned monument that stands the 42 m high, India Gate is one of the most important tourist attractions of the metropolitan city, Delhi. An "Arc-de-Triomphe" like cloisters in the middle of a crossroad, this monument is more or less similar to its French counterpart and was built to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919. India Gate is thronged by both tourists and local people all throughout the day.
Red Fort
Situated in Old Delhi, the Red Fort narrates the saga of the glorious past of the country during the Mughal Rule. Popularly known as Lal Quila, the Red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort remind the magnificent power and splendor of the Mughal emperors. Built in 1638, the Red Fort was constructed to keep away invaders. The main gate, Lahore Gate, is one of the emotional and symbolic focal points of the modern Indian nation and attracts a major crowd on each Independence Day. The vaulted arcade of Chatta Chowk, a bazaar selling tourist trinkets, leads into the huge fort compound. Inside is a veritable treasure trove of buildings, including the Drum House, the Hall of Public Audiences, the white marble Hall of Private Audiences, the Pearl Mosque, Royal Baths and Palace of Color. In the evening, Light and Sound show is organized on the premises of the Red Fort that re-creates events in India's history connected with the fort.
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Situated in proximity to the India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan is one of the popular and most visited tourist attractions of Delhi. Once the palace of Viceroy of India, Rashtrapati Bhawan is now the residence of the President of India. It is a real masterpiece that was built during the British period. It is the focal point of New Delhi and situated in the Raisina Hills. There is a Durbar Hall inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi and the dome of the hall measures 22.8 meters in diameter. The hall is marked by the beautiful colored marbles and throne of the Viceroy is put on display in this hall for visitors. Today, the Durbar Hall is the major venue of all official ceremonies of the Indian Government such as the oath taking ceremony by the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Members of Parliament. The Arjuna Awards for Excellence is also presented in this hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Qutab Minar
Built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, Qutab Minar is one of the most prominent attractions of the city. Soaring at 73 m-high tower of victory, it has five distinctive storeys, each marked by a protruding balconies that narrows from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth storeys are of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. An inscription over its eastern gate provocatively informs that it was built with material obtained from demolishing '27 Hindu temples'. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if one can encircle it with your hands while standing with the back towards it, wishes get fulfilled. Additions to the building were made by Iltutmush in the year 1230 and by Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1315. The main mosque comprises of an inner and outer courtyard,decorated with shafts and surrounded by piller. Close to the mosque is one of Delhi's most curious antiques, the Iron Pillar.
Jama Masjid
The largest mosque in India, Jama Masjid is situated in Old Delhi with a patio capable of holding 25,000 devotees. Although the construction started in the year 1644, the mosque was completed by Shah Jahan, who built one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Taj Mahal. 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. The mosque remains open all throughout the week from 7am to Noon and 1.30pm to 6.30pm. However, tourists are not permitted inside the mosque during prayer hours. This is a must-visit monument of the city that offers a glimpse of the glorious past and is thronged by people of all religions.
Akshardham Temple
Akshardham Temple embodies 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its spectacular magnificence and beauty. It brilliantly showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind. Declared by the Guinness World Record as the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple, this temple is one of the must-visit places in the city of Delhi. There is a traditional temple dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan that reflects the beauty and spirituality of India’s ancient art, culture, and architecture and Nilkanth Varni Abhishek is a sacred religious practice in which prayers are offered for world peace and continual peace for oneself, family, and friends with the water of 151 holy rivers, lakes and ponds of India.
Bahai Temple
Situated in the East of Nehru place, this temple is built in the shape of a lotus flower and is the last of seven Major Bahai's temples built around the world. Completed in1986 it is set among the lush green landscaped gardens. The structure is made up of pure white marble and the architect of this temple named Furiburz Sabha chose the lotus as the symbol common to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. Followers of any faith are free to visit the temple for offering prayer or meditate. Around the blooming petals there are nine water pools which light up, in natural light and looks stunning at sundown when it is lit with flood lights.
Birla Mandir
Also known as Laxmi Narayan Temple, Birla Temple is a major tourist attraction of the city. Built by the industrialst G.D. Birla in 1938, this beautiful temple is located in the west of Connaught Place. The temple is dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (The preserver). The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes will be allowed to enter the temple. This temple is today, one of the major temples of Delhi.
Jantar Mantar
Constructed in the year 1724, Jantar Mantar is an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur. Since he had found the existing astronomical instruments too small to take correct measurements, he built these larger and more accurate instruments. The instruments at Jantar Mantar are fascinating for their ingenuity, but accurate observations can no longer be made from here because of the tall buildings around. This observatory is open on all days from sunrise to sunset and has an entry fee of Rs. 5 for Indians and Rs. 100 for foreigners.
Garden of Five Senses
Developed by Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation, Garden of Five Senses is a park that offers a variety of recreational activities for a rejuvenating experience from the busy city life of people. Sprawling over 20 acres of land, this park is situated at Said-Ul-Azaib village, close to the Mehrauli heritage area in New Delhi. Majestic rocks stand silhouetted against the sky, others lie strewn upon the ground in a casual yet alluring display of nature's sculptural genius. It was the ideal ground on which to realize the concept of a public leisure space that would awaken a sensory response and thereby a sensitivity to the environment. Soaring stainless-steel birds mounted on slate-clad pillars welcome you into the park. An expansive plaza, set on the natural slope of the site, invites you up the spiral walkway. Across, a troop of elephants, cut in stone, regaling in a water bath, tempts exploration. The garden is divided into separate areas; where on one side of the spiral walkway is the Khas Bagh, a ceremonial garden decorated on the lines of the Mughal Garden. Slow-moving water cascades in channels along its length, while flowering and fragrant shrubs and trees line its paths. The Central axis leads to a series of fountains, some of which are lit up by fibreoptic lighting systems. Encapsulating the expression here is the sculpture of 'A Fountain Tree". Isolated from the heart of the garden, on the other side of the alley is a series of terraces provided with seating arrangements face the food court.