The capital of India, in the north part of the country, New Delhi has 19 million inhabitants. Between the Himalayas and the Thar desert, Delhi is irrigated by the Yamuna, a tributary of the Ganges. This sprawling and very lively city offers a unique experience. A shock if you are visiting India for the first time! Immersed in the bath, you will quickly get used (or less quickly…) to the overcrowding, the noise level, the smells, and the abundant colors and will take full advantage of an intense discovery by Delhi Travel Guide.

Here is a gourmet destination. Gastronomy in New Delhi is cosmopolitan like the city. Opt for tandooris, dal dishes, biryanis accompanied by naans, trying to avoid the most spicy versions! You will also indulge in the pleasure of shopping, for example by strolling through the shops of Connaught Place or the Dilli Haat market which brings together artisans from all over the country (especially in the field of fabrics). Partygoers will dance in the country’s rockiest nightclubs. In a more peaceful version, you will enjoy the parks and gardens of Delhi including Lodhi Garden, Hauz Khas Village. As for the essential heritage sites, there are many! You will not miss the visits of the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid mosque, admire the Indian Gate, the monumental gate of India. Go from one neighborhood to another with the impression of changing countries. An atmosphere in the old streets of Chandini Chowk and a completely different one in the Muslim quarter of Nizamuddin. That’s multiple trips in one city!

New Delhi, the modern capital of India is also an ancient city with origins lost to time and legend. Most of the travelers who drop by this fascinating country use Delhi as their gateway. And personally I think that this first contact is perfect to understand the orderly chaos that reigns in India. If you have also decided to start your trip here, do not miss this post because in it we are going to tell you what to see in New Delhi.

Basic facts about Delhi-by Delhi Travel Guide

Population. The metropolitan area of Delhi has 30 million inhabitants, of which 12 million correspond to the same city of Delhi. 80% of the inhabitants declare themselves Hindus, 12% Muslims, 5% Sikhs and 1% Christians and Jains. Delhi NCR (National Capital Region) includes the cities of Gurugram, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad.

Capital. New Delhi is the capital of India. The New Delhi Municipality is in the center of Delhi and contains most of the government institutions. For practical purposes, New Delhi is just another neighborhood within the city.

Languages. Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English are main & official languages in the Indian capital. The predominant language is different according to the neighborhoods and the majority population. In addition, communities from all the Indian states live in Delhi, so many more languages are spoken.

India is the second largest country in the world, making it the second largest democracy in the world based in New Delhi. The cow is the most sacred animal in India, so you should not abuse it, only you can touch it, much less disturb it. For this reason, it is very common to see cows on roads and paths without supervision and frequently causing fatal traffic accidents. Trigonometry, algebra and chess were born in India. Four of the world’s major religions were also born here: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

Hindu is who professes Hinduism, Indian is the demonym of the people who live in India. It is totally correct and zero rude to say Indians to the people of India. If you consider it an offense, then you have a racism problem.

• There are more than 330 million gods in India.
• The Ganges River is the holiest in Hinduism.
• Three religions coexist in India: Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism.

The best places to see New Delhi-Delhi Travel Guide

Based on the our esteemed guest reviews, my recommendations and the advice of the local guides who live in this city, these are the best places to see in New Delhi and surroundings:Government Building

The Government Buildings of India is one of the most beautiful buildings and constructions to see in New Delhi. It is located exactly in the center of the city and is also known as Rashtrapati Bhavan. This palace was built in 1799 when India was under British rule. Therefore, here you can see an incredible mix of British and Mughal architectural styles, the majority ethnic group that ruled India at that time.

Also, if you go almost at noon, you will be able to see how the Indians lead their normal lives eating, resting or even sleeping in the parks. Not only that, you will also be able to see wild animals, that’s right! There are wild monkeys and cows loose all over the center. Remember, in India practically all animals are sacred and nobody can disturb them, especially the cow.

India Gate

The India Gateway bears a resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. India Gate was built in 1931 as a memorial to commemorate all the wars and the soldiers who have participated in the wars defending India. Personally, coming here at sunset is a good walk to New Delhi at night because the colors with which the parliamentary buildings and the India Gate are illuminated are quite beautiful.

Akshardham Temple

Of all the temples that you have to see in New Delhi, if you only have time to go to one, it has to be this, Akshardham Temple. This temple is one of the most beautiful, not only in New Delhi, but in all of India. It is a Hindu temple built of the best quality marble brought from the southern region of New Delhi, Rajasthan, and with imports of carrara marble from Italy.

What stands out the most here are the interiors of the temple that have an incredible level of detail that seems almost alien and the elephants that are found decorating the entire base of the temple. In addition, at nightfall, there is a show of traditional Indian dances that is very worth enjoying.

The entrance is free and it is totally prohibited to enter with cell phones, cameras, etc. Therefore, if you arrive at the temple with a cell phone, they will ask you to leave it protected in a special place for it. 

Despite this, you can leave your cell phone, camera etc. in the car. The truth is that New Delhi is the safest and most reliable place in the world, so you better take your precautions.

Humayun’s Tomb

The archaeological complex of Humayun’s Tomb is also another excellent monument to see in New Delhi in one day if you have little time to travel through this city by Delhi Travel Guide. This complex was made to house the burial tombs of Emperor Humayun and the royal family. Humayun was one of the most important personalities who helped expand the territories of India.

In addition, Humayun’s tomb will remind you of another quite emblematic and unique place: The Taj Mahal. This temple was taken as inspiration to develop the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra. The entrance fee is 1000 INR.

Safdarjung Tomb

Safdarjung Tomb is also a tomb that is very reminiscent of the famous Taj Mahal. The main attraction of this monument is that said tomb is located in one of the most beautiful gardens to see in New Delhi that will make you marvel at its charm and contrast with the tomb. Admission is free.

Raj Ghat – Tomb of Mahatma Gandhi

In Raj Ghat you will find the tomb where the place where Gandhi’s mortal remains were burned is marked, no, he is not buried. Basically, in the Hindu religion, it is customary that a person must be cremated so that their body can be separated into the five basic elements of the universe: air, fire, earth, soul and water, and thus return to being part of the energy of the universe. In Hinduism, when one becomes part of the energy of the universe, one gets rid of the wheel of reincarnation, then one avoids reincarnating, something that Hindus do not consider good because it means that, in this mortal life, you did not learn what enough to transcend. So, since you didn’t learn, you have to reincarnate again.

Gandhi Smriti is the bungalow where Gandhi was assassinated. It has been converted into a museum and memorial to the leader of independence. The building allows you to get to know in depth the life of this politician and spiritual leader and also visit a bungalow from the British era. 

Red Fort Delhi

The Red Fort of Delhi is also an amazing building to see in New Delhi. This place served as a fortress to defend the cities from attacks from neighboring kingdoms. It is one of the oldest buildings to see in the city since it dates back to the 17th century and is made with the best selection of red sandstone in the Rajasthan region.

Lodhi Gardens

The Lodhi Gardens is one of the less touristy places to see in New Delhi since it is only frequented by locals. However, here there are a series of 18th century buildings that are quite photogenic to visit, especially because they make a contrast with the nature of the place and, in addition, it is a good place to appreciate local life and rest from the chaos that exists in the city center.

Jama Masjid

As I mentioned before, India is a place where three fairly large religions coexist: Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find mosques next to Hindu and Buddhist temples. This is the case of the Jama Masjid Mosque, which is one of the oldest and most important to see in New Delhi since it dates from the 17th century, has a capacity for 25,000 people and minarets over 40 meters high. A rather impressive piece of architecture. But now these days it is not worth visiting this mosque due to overcrowding and too much entrance fee. 

Qutab Minar and Mehrauli Archaeological Park

Personally, Qutab Minar and Mehrauli Archaeological Park is clients second favorite place to visit in New Delhi after Akshardham. Here you will find the ancient ruins of the Hindu empire that ruled this entire region in the 12th century and before the Mughals arrived to invade and conquer India.

In this place you will find the highest minaret in the world with 73 meters high. A minaret is the tower built next to a mosque with which all Muslims are called to pray during the call to prayer, five times a day.

Agrasen Ki Baoli

As I told you, despite the chaos of the city, New Delhi is home to truly amazing buildings and this is the case of Agrasen Ki Baoli. This place is one of the famous stepped cisterns that were built in India and one of the most beautiful. It was made in the 10th century and what impresses the most are the stairs that lead down to the surface with very detailed and decorated arches and engravings on the walls. This is a good place to see in New Delhi with children.

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib

Other religions such as the Sikhs also coexist in New Delhi, you will surely locate them because they are the people who wear the iconic turbans on their heads. The Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara temple is one of the most important and impressive of this religion that has golden domes and is located on the shores of a lake, a fact that makes it truly photogenic.

To learn more about the religions of this country, it would be ideal for you to take a private tour or a guided tour of the most important temples so that you can learn about the difference between the four religions that coexist in New Delhi: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Sikhism.

Lotus Temple 

The temple of New Delhi is one of the most modern Bhai religion temples to see in New Delhi and is built, just like a lotus flower, the national flower and most revered by the locals.

Connaught Place

Connaught Place is one of the most important commercial and financial districts in New Delhi. Here you can see old buildings built by the British Empire where aristocrats and important people of the empire used to live. This is the ideal place to eat in New Delhi because here you can find good bars, restaurants and terraces.

Kingdom of Dreams

Undoubtedly, the least touristy place (thinking of Westerners) to see in India and the place that all tourists loved discovering the most. Lot of our gest recommend in our program, basically, here you can witness an incredible show of the wonderful dances of India and its culture. The show lasts about 3 hours and costs 7500 INR, it is quite expensive, it is totally worth it.Practical information for traveling to New Delhi

Recommended days to visit New Delhi: 3
Currency: Indian Rupee
Language: Hindi and English
Climate: 42 ºC in summer and 14 ºC in winter
Number of Inhabitants: 21.8 million inhabitants.
Main stations:
Train. New Delhi Train Station
Airport. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). You can only enter the airport if your flight leaves within the next 4 hours, otherwise you will have to wait on the street.
Official tourism website: delhitourism.gov.in