Delhi, India Sightseeing and Things to do – Travel guide

This trip to Delhi, India is not my first trip been there a few times, but every visit surprises me. I keep on discovering new places I missed previously. There is so much to see in Delhi; it is full of historical places such as Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Lotus Temple, India gate, and much more. I arrived here by Air India, unlike last time. I still remember the exciting Rajdhani Express train trip from Kolkata a few years back. Then, the airport taxi to the White House was smooth. But wait a minute, this is not the same White House you have in mind. I choose this hotel in the Karol Bagh district because it’s accessible from the metro station/Train station, only 5 minute walk.

New Delhi and Old Delhi, what a different experience visiting both places; to me, old is gold. If you want to really experience untouched old-world charm, then this is it; the simplicity of the area has lured millions of travelers and locals to the town’s narrow streets. The area is renowned for its traditional and wide food options, magnificent monuments like Red Fort and Jama Masjid, traditional markets, captivating Islamic dazzle, and so on.

People say go to the narrow alley of old Delhi, and you may not need to walk; instead, the crowd will walk you as your shoulder gets pressed against hundreds of other folks. But, on the other hand, in New Delhi, you may think you are in the mainstream of modernization. And you would feel like you did not even leave the county.

Getting around in Delhi

Traveling within the city could be a great experience, too; you can choose the best based on budget and time.

Delhi Metro: It is the best way to get around the city. Metro has not only excellent connectivity but also got air-conditioned carriage. Fares are really cheap and the best way to avoid traffic jams.

Auto-Rickshaw (Tuk Tuk): CNG three-wheel auto-rickshaws can be another way of moving around the big city if you know the routes well enough.

Hop-on Hop-off Bus: HoHo buses are air-conditioned and run mostly around Delhi’s top tourist attractions; if you have limited time, this could be a great way to cover highlights of Delhi, and it’s affordable too.

Cycle Rickshaws: Short distances in the alley and inner cities could be a mode of transport or to have the experience or support the locals.

Great Things to do in Delhi

The Lotus Temple

The Lotus Temple, located in New Delhi, India, is a Bahá’í House of Worship completed in 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, it serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent and has become a prominent attraction in the city. Lotus Temple tops the charts, not only in terms of the enlightening lessons it teaches but also in architecture. The building has won many awards already. This temple is also known as Baha’i Temple. Baha’i teaching talks about the oneness of God, religion, and humanity.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is an important worship place for the Sikhs; in fact, not just the Sikhs, but people following other religions too. The Gurudwara relates to Sikhs’ eighth guru, Guru Har Krishan. The domes of the tower are covered with gold and reflect in the adjacent pool, weaving a panorama worth hailing.

India Gate

India Gate was designed by Edwin Lutyens, a British architect who headed the architectural projects of the New Delhi plan. The monument commemorates 82,000 soldiers of the Indian Army and officers from the UK who sacrificed their lives in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. In the center of the monument lies an eternal flame, “Amar Jawan Jyoti,” beside a rifle topped with a warm cap. The best time to visit India Gate is during the early morning when people flock around in yoga pants and relax in the park. Or visit it at night, when the monument looks beautiful with lights on, and people come with their families to have a good picnic.

The Red Fort

Red Fort was the residence of Mughal Emperors for about two hundred years. What else could talk about its flawlessness and Grandeur?! Red fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a prominent iconic symbol of India. This is where the prime minister of India hoists the Indian flag on the occasion of Independence Day every year. The fort exhibits the impeccability of Mughal architecture in every inch of the complex. Delhi, gate, Watergate, Chhatta Chowk, Nubar Khana, Diwan-i-aam, Nahir-i-behest, Rang Mahal, and Khas Mahal are the most notable spots inside the fort.

Jama Masjid, Delhi

The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India. Like Lotus Temple, Qutub Miner and Red Fort it is also one of the most visited historic religious site in Delhi.

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India. The fusion of Persian and Mughal architecture has lured its visitor since its creation, which started in 1565 and ended in 1572. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun’s wife, Bega Begum, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by her, and it was the first gardened and heavily red-stoned tomb in that era. Many famous Mughal emperors rest here in peace. Humayun’s Tomb is UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Birla Mandir

Sprawling over 7 acres, Laxminarayan Mandir, local calls it as Birla Mandir, is one of the well-known attractions of Delhi. Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, it took some six years to complete its construction. The work started for this one in 1933 and finished in 1939, opened to visitors. Built as an initiative of B.R. Birla and Jugal Kishore Birla, well-known industrialists and Samaritans. the temple is dedicated to Hindu deities–Vishnu and Laxmi. King Udaybhanu Singh laid the foundation stone for the temple.

The 3-storeyed Nagara-style temple has carved with scenes from Hindu mythologies. Apart from Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi, various other shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Hanuman, and Buddha are also present.

Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar in Delhi is a world heritage site and a great masterpiece of Mughal architecture. It should be on your must-see list. Qutab-ud-din Aibak started building this 72.5 meters (237.8 feet) tall minaret, and later Iltutmish finished it. The soaring conical tower is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture.

The base of the Qutub Minar measures 14.32 meters, and the top of the structure measures 2.75 meters. The bird’s eye view of Delhi city from the top is amazing. The tower is so high that you need climb around 379 steps to reach the top. Another taller tower adjacent to Qutub Minar is Alai Minar, which is somewhat tilting in one direction.

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