Top 10 things to do in delhi

Delhi, a place of hearts is India’s capital territory, is a massive metropolitan area in the country’s north filled with food carts, sweets shops and spice stalls

 

Hi there i am Sagar many people asked me to tell what to do in delhi where to visit where to eat so i thought why not i post things that could help u guys so 

Delhi, India, is a giant city that contains an overwhelming amount of history, culture, life, food, temples, and everything else you could possibly imagine.

Throughout this guide of things to do in Delhi I’ve listed each attraction, given them all a brief introduction, and then shared my notes and personal visiting tips, which I think you’ll find useful.

I’m going to be honest, not everything is a breeze to accomplish in India, and that goes for the capital too.

Things don’t always turn out how you want them to, and there will always arise some frustrations when touring around.

But don’t let the annoyances get you down, keep a positive attitude. I would recommend not wearing anything too fancy or ritzy, and if you’re a female, I would encourage you to dress very modestly, and possibly even wear a head covering / scarf.

That being said, the culture, history and food in Delhi is incredible!

Here are top 10 things you can do in delhi

Where to stay?

Here are a few of the hotels I recommend in Delhi:

• Oberoi New Delhi (High end) – One of the best high end hotels in Delhi is the Oberoi New Delhi.
• Saket Bed and Breakfast (Mid-range) – Saket is a wonderuful bed and breakfast that feels like you’re staying in a luxury home. It extremely well furnished, clean, safe, and in a nice neighborhood in South Delhi.
• Bloomrooms (Mid-range) – Also located in South Delhi, Bloomrooms is a flash-packer style mid-range place to stay.
• Smyle Inn (Budget) – Located in the Paharganj area of Delhi, this is a good budget accommodation option near the railroad station.

Transportation

I took the Metro everywhere to get to all of these attractions. It’s clean, efficient, often packed, and extremely cheap. To make your life easier, it’s nice to buy a Metro card (50 Rupees deposit) and add some cash on it, rather than purchasing a new ticket every ride. Alternatively there’s also 1 day (100 Rupees) and 3 day (250 Rupees) Metro tourist passes available. After getting off the Metro you can either walk or take a short auto rickshaw ride to everything included on this list.

HOHO Bus (Hop On Hop Off) – Like quite a few other major cities, Delhi has a tourist designed bus where you can pay a set fee for a 1 or 2 day period and the bus goes from attraction to attraction. You can get off wherever you like and stay as long as you want, and the buses come something like every 30 – 45 minutes throughout the day. The HOHO bus doesn’t run on Monday.

One last word of advice: In Delhi I was shorthanded change after paying for a number of different attractions. I know officials occasionally do this on purpose, because at Qutub Minar I counted my change, was 100 Rupees short, so I turned back to the counter, and he immediately gave me 100 Rupees without saying anything… he knew all along, but was hoping I didn’t count. Count your change, and demand that you are given the correct amount!

Now let’s jump straight into these 10 things to do…

THE LOTUS TEMPLE (BAHÁ’Í HOUSE OF WORSHIP)

1.The Lotus Temple (Bahá’í House of Worship)

Among the numerous recognizable landmarks which are scattered all around Delhi is the remarkable Lotus Temple. Designed in the shape of a sacred lotus flower, there are 27 flower petals which are constructed of marble and make up the structure.

Though it’s dedicated to the Bahá’í faith, it’s a religious worshipping grounds for people of all religions (as such is the philosophy of the Bahá’í faith). As you approach the temple, you’ll walk through some nicely manicured gardens and then have an opportunity to place your shoes in the free and secure shoe deposit room. You’ll then be given a 2 minute briefing by a volunteer, mainly about turning off your cell phone and keeping silent, and then you’ll be free to enter the sanctuary and sit in pure silence for as long as you’d like.

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: Free

ISKCON HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE

2. ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple

Located just a 15 minute walk from the Lotus Temple (though you have to walk around due to the fence), is one of the largest and most interesting temples dedicated to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

The religious movement was actually founded in the United States and is now represented throughout India. Visiting the temple, you’ll be able to freely walk around and sit in the sanctuary where you can listen to the ever present drum and chant of “Har-e-Krishna.” I think they also have a theater where you can watch a film, but I didn’t see it.

How to get there: The closest Metro station is Nehru Place and the temple is about a 10 minute walk from the station. As mentioned above, I visited after going to the Lotus Temple.
Website: http://www.iskcondelhi.com/
Address: Hare Krishna Hill Sant Nagar, East of Kailash New Delhi, India
Hours: Day hours
Price: Free

KALKAJI MANDIR HINDU TEMPLE IN DELHI

3. Kalkaji Mandir Hindu Temple

The final temple making a trio of temples surrounding the Lotus Temple, is the Hindu Kalkaji Mandir. It’s not a big tourist attraction, and mostly (at least when I was there) it’s a temple where locals go. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Kali and is the site of many rituals that include singing and chanting.

When I was there, it looked like a number of babies were being dedicated. Not wanting to leave my shoes somewhere unattended, I stuck them in a plastic bag and carried them around with me, and nobody bothered me like at some other temples such as the Kalighat temple in Kolkata.

How to get there: Take the Metro to Kalkaji Mandir station and it’s just a 5 minute walk from there, it’s right across the street from the entrance gate to the Lotus Temple.
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday from morning until night, closed on Mondays
Price: Free

JAMA MASJID

4. Jama 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.

Note: When you approach any entrance of the mosque someone will stop you and ask you to pay 300 Rupees (a bit overly steep in my opinion). So I stopped and read all the official rules posted on the wall. It clearly states, that only “Cameras including mobile phone cameras will be charged 300 Rupees.” So I decided to not take any photos inside (just took photos from the outside), and they still wanted to charge me, but I simply just went in without paying. Of course, once inside, many local Indians were taking photos with their phones, and it’s pretty safe to say, they didn’t pay 300 Rupees. If you want to take photos inside the mosque, the rule states to pay 300 Rupees, but if you just want to enter without taking photos, DON’T let them charge you!

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 photos

AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE

5. Akshardham 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.

They don’t allow anything inside the temple complex, but they do have a very secure (and free) place to store all your belongings – you’ll have to deposit your camera, phone, and everything, but they’re safe and their system is very organized. You then walk into the gates, proceed through the visitor center, and you’ll be standing directly in front of the stunning temple. Keep approaching, deposit your shoes, and enter the temple.

The interior of the temple is unbelievable; What you’ll see will make your jaw drop. The amount of labor and craftsmanship that went into building Akshardham is unimaginable. Sorry, they don’t allow any photos, so you’ll have to see it for yourself!

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: Free

GURDWARA BANGLA SAHIB (SIKH TEMPLE)

6. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (Sikh Temple)

Unlike the uneasy feeling of visiting Jama Masjid (where someone always seems to be asking for money and your shoes are likely to get stolen if you leave them somewhere), the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple is about the friendliest, most inviting, and comfortable temple you’ll ever visit. Nobody will ask you for money, a donation, or anything. You just leave you shoes safely in the deposit room and walk around the temple.

There’s a huge pool of water outdoors on one side, a dining facility where many people share a meal together each day, and even a medical facility. Go inside the temple and you can sit and enjoy the Sikh band playing drums and singing as you sit there in peace. It’s a really great experience, and I’d label it as a must visit when you’re in Delhi.

How to get there: Take the Metro to Patel Chowk, from there walk along Ashok Road until you reach the back side of the temple. I think the walk took me about 10 – 15 minutes.
Hours: Daytime hours
Price: Free

LAXMI NARAYAN MANDIR – HINDU TEMPLE

7. Laxmi Narayan Mandir – Hindu Temple

Also known as Birla Mandir, this significant Hindu temple complex in Delhi is now a main tourist attractions. The temple is famous as it was officially opened by Mahatma Gandhi and it’s a Hindu temple that is meant for people coming from all different castes of India. The temple was indeed nice, but I didn’t think it was near as impressive as Akshardham or even as interesting as Kalkaji Mandir.

Unlike some other temples in Delhi where they offer you secure and free place to leave your shoes without any pressures, at Laxmi Narayan Mandir they instruct foreigners to go in a special little room to leave your shoes and then you feel a bit obligated to leave a tip… though of course, as they say… “it’s up to you.”

How to get there: I took an auto rickshaw from the Sikh Temple for 40 INR, and I’d imagine you could get an auto rickshaw from Connaught Place for around 50 – 60 INR.
Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily
Price: Free, but tip for shoes

HAUZ KHAS COMPLEX

8. Hauz Khas Complex

The historical complex of Hauz Khas (originally known as Hauz-e-Alai) is an ancient community of ruins which includes a mosque, various tombs, and the previously important water tank.

Built in the early 1300’s, the water tank was designed to store rainwater to be used when needed in the dry season. Nowadays, the complex is a public Delhi park, a place where lots of students go to just hang out with friends, and chat while sitting on ancients stones and tombs. Delhi just has so many ancient Mughal buildings of history that there are many that are just public and not fully preserved, but are just part of the daily lives of residents – such is the case when it comes to Hauz Khas.

Hauz Khas Village, located surrounding the entrance of the ruins, is an upscale outdoor shopping area filled with boutique stores, high end restaurants, and cafes. When I was in Delhi, I stayed at a place near Hauz Khas. If you’re looking for where to stay in Delhi, South Delhi is a good area.

How to get there: The easiest way to get to Hauz Khas Complex and Village is by taking the Delhi Metro to Green Park station and then hopping in an auto rickshaw to Hauz Khas. It should cost 20 – 30 INR.
Website: http://hauzkhasvillage.in/
Hours: Daylight hours
Price: Free

THINGS TO DO IN DELHI – LODI GARDENS

9. Lodi Gardens

Along with Qutub Minar and Akshardham, the Lodi Gardens was one of my favorite things to do in Delhi. It’s similar to Hauz Khas Complex, but on a much grander and more impressive scale.

The Lodi Gardens is a public park that’s scattered with ancient Mughal tombs and structures. Kids run around, people enjoy picnics, and artists become inspired by walking and sitting in these gardens. The park is large, and it’s easy to walk around for a few hours indulging in a breath of fresh air and exploring the 500 year old tombs.

I found it very interesting and hard to believe that such ancient and important buildings are just a normal part of everyday life in Delhi, really cool!

How to get there: I took the Metro to Khan Market station and from there it was about a 30 minute walk to Lodi Gardens. If you don’t want to walk, take the metro to Khan Market station and then jump in an auto rickshaw.
Hours: Daylight hours
Price: Free

INDIA GATE IN DELHI, INDIA

10. India 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.

Since the India Gate attracts quite a number of tourists, both locals and foreigners, there are also quite a few beggars and overly pushy sellers that hang around.

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: Free