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I put together this New Delhi guide to help you enjoy to the fullest your stay and discover some of the best spots around the city. If you ever decide to travel to India, the chances are big that you land in the capital. Thus, all your first impressions about the country will be based on your experience there. Let me help you make the best of your stay by giving you all the tips about what to do and see, where to stay, how to move around and what to eat in New Delhi.
Together, let’s discover the fascinating city of New Delhi through this little guide. Let’s experience going from a complete chaos to a beautiful order and peace in a matter of minutes and deep into modernity with a little twist of rural. But careful people! New Delhi has all the assets to seduce you, charm you and steal your heart much quicker than you think.
Unfortunately, not all the tourists enjoy Delhi. Most of them find it difficult to get around it and discover the hidden charm and beauty of it. In fact, all the people I know that have been to Delhi hated it and advised me not to waste my time visiting it. Today I’m very glad I did not listen to them. It was the very first contact I had with India since I landed there and I simply fall in love with this amazing city. Check out my post about the scam at New Delhi airport.
Where to Stay in New Delhi?
Here are few neighborhoods I would recommend for you stay in New Delhi. My favorite ones are definitely Connaught Place and South Delhi being a little away from the hustle or the crowds.
- Paharganj : The Budget Traveler Area
- Karol Bagh : The Local Shopping Area
- Connaugh Place : The Central area of Delhi
- South Delhi: The Clean and Green Delhi
- Old Delhi: The local Tourists Area
Check out my post “New Delhi: The Best Areas Where To Stay According To Your Need“ for more details about where to stay in New Delhi and which neighborhood suits bests your needs and desires.
How to Move Around?
There are several ways to move around New Delhi without worrying about your safety even as being a solo female traveler. There some safety precautions to keep in mind though. To know more about it check out my article ” 8 Key Travel Tips For Your First Trip To India”
Public Transportation
- Metro is brand new and has air-conditioning. It makes it easy to move around the city and go from north to south. If you are a woman traveling alone, you should always look for the ladies car marked with pink. Women only can use it. That way you don’t have to worry about being touched by unknown creepy people.
- Moto Rickshaw is a very good way to move for small distances. Fares can be much higher for foreigners. Therefore I would advice you to negotiate as much as you can.
- Hoho Bus like any other major cities in the world, New Delhi has its hop-on/hop-off bus. Its route covers all the “major” touristy spots of the city. It passes by the main picking up points every 30minutes starting from 8:30am. I suggest checking their official web site to know more about the pick up points, and the last pick up hours depending on where you will be. It is a convenient and easy solution if you are very short on time while visiting Delhi.
- Public Buses are an option that I would never recommend in New Delhi! Just Don’t!
Other transportation
- Uber is available in New Delhi and the prices are very reasonable. You can either pay your ride in the Uber app or by cash. In fact, most of the time the rides where 4 times cheaper than by Moto- Rickshaws.
- Ola cabs is the Indian Uber and is as cheap and efficient as Uber. I used it several times and I have to admit it was a lifesaver. You can download the app on your phone and use it exactly like you would use uber.
- Car with Private Driver is a good option if you have very little time to spend in the city. I tried it one day and I must admit it was a very convenient and comfortable option. I negotiated the price at my hotel and could get a private car with a driver from 9am to 7pm for 20 dollars. If you are traveling with someone else this could probably be the best deal for you to have flexibility and comfort and being sure not to get ripped off by cabs or Moto-Rickshaws.
- Cabs are one more option for you to get around the city but I would surely avoid using them. They never put their meters on and usually rip off foreigners. Also, they take part of a lot of scams and always end up taking you to a travel agency to sell you tours and packages.
What’s Good to See in New Delhi City?
I would recommend staying at least 3 full days in order to discover well Delhi. It is a huge city where sightseeing sites are spread out. Therefore, the best way to enjoy it fully is to divide the city in its three main parts and discover one part at a time.
- Old Delhi
- South Delhi
- New Delhi.
What’s good to see in Old Delhi?
1.Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid is the largest Mosque of India. It’s architecture is as impressive as stunning. It can hold 25.000 devotees for prayers and has two 40m high minarets made of red sandstone. Women have to be covered in order to enter to the mosque. Long sleeves robes can be hired from the north gate in case you don’t have the adapted clothing.
How to get there: Closest Metro station is Chandni Chowk station (Yellow Line)
Address: Meena Bazaar, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006, India
Hours: All days of the week From 7am to Noon, from 1.30pm to 6.30pm. Note that none Muslim Tourists are not allowed during prayer hours.
Fees: No Entrance Fee + 200 Rupees for Camera Use.
2.The Red Fort
Also known as “Lal Qila”, the Red Fort used to be a residence for the Mughal emperors. Its architecture is stunning. The ramparts are massive and made of red sandstone. In 2007, the red fort became Unesco World Heritage so make sure not to miss it while in Delhi.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the “Chandni Chowk” Metro Station (yellow line). Its half a mile away from the fort so you can either walk to reach it or take a Moto Rickshaw.
Address: Netaji Subhash Marg, Lal Qila, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006, India
Hours: From 9:30am to 4:30pm. Open everyday except Monday.
Fees: 10 Rupees for Indians, 150 Rupees for foreigners
3.Gauri Shankar Mandir
Opposite to the Red Fort, the Gauri Shankar temple is one of the most important Hindu temples in the capital. It was built 800 years ago. This temple is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva. Better visit the temple on Mondays, (day of Shiva) to get more immersion into religious and devotional rituals.
How to get there: Chandni Chowk is the closest Metro Station (Yellow Line).
Address: Chandni Chowk, Opposite The Red Fort, New Delhi, Delhi 110006, India
Hours: From 5.00 am To 10.00 am and From 5.00pm To 10.00 pm. Open Everyday.
Fees: No Entrance Fee.
4. The Raj Ghat
The Raj Ghat is a Memorial dedicated to the father of modern and independent India, Mahatma Gandhi. It is a park but the most important part to see is the Marble Platform marking the spot of Gandhi’s cremation in the 31st of January 1948. You will need to take off your shoes to access to the platform.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is “Indraprastha” Metro Station (Blue Line)
Address: Gandhi Smriti, Raj Ghat, New Delhi, Delhi 110006, India
Hours: From 10Am to 5Pm. Open daily.
Fees: No Entrance Fee but tips for shoes keeping.
5.The Chandni Chowk Market
This market is heaven for street food lover. It is very chaotic and you will need some courage to get around it, but it is definitely worth it. The streets are narrow and old. It is usually a super crowded area where you don’t see that many tourists.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is Chandni Chowk (yellow line).
Address: Chandni Chowk A-17 Masoodpur Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110006, India
Hours: 9Am – 8Pm. Open everyday .
Fees: No Entrance Fee
6. Khari Baoli Street
Khari Baoli is a street in Old Delhi that turns to be the biggest wholesale spice Market in Asia. This street holds for part of the soul of Delhi and millions (yes millions!) of traders sale their products in it everyday. If you want to get some delicious and fresh spices, Ayurveda herbs and observe the daily life of Indians this is the place to go to. It is overwhelming like pretty much every other market in New Delhi but the experience is totally worth it.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is Chandni Chowk (yellow line). From there head west to the Chandni Chowk Road until you reach the intersection. Then turn right on Mission Church Road and again left on Khari Baoli.
Address: Khari Baoli, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi (state) 110006, India
Hours: 8Am – 10Pm . Open everyday.
Fees: No Entrance Fee
What’s Good to See in South Delhi?
1.Hauz Khas village
The Hauz Khas Village is a complex of ruins from the medieval period when the Delhi Sultanate was ruling the region in the 13th century. Besides the water tank that is the main attraction you can visit the “madrassa”, the “mosque”, the “tombs” and the “pavilions”.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Stations are “Hauz Khas” (yellow and magenta line) or “Green Park” (yellow line)
Address: Hauz Khas Village, Deer Park, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi 110016, India
Hours: 10Am – 6Pm . Open everyday.
Fees: No Entrance Fee
2. The Lotus Temple
This beautiful masterpiece of architecture is one of my very favorite places in New Delhi. It is a house of worship to every religion. The Lotus Temple was built in 1986 to preach tolerance among people. It is one of the most visited buildings in the world and beats even the Taj Mahal in terms of numbers of visitors. Definitely add it to your list.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the “Kalkaji Mandir” (Violet Line)
Address: Lotus Temple Rd, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Bahapur, New Delhi, DL 110019
Hours: 9Am – 7Pm. Open everyday except Monday
Fees: No Entrance Fee
3.Qutub Minar
One more impressive historical building in South Delhi you absolutely have to visit is the Qutub Minar. It is a world heritage and has survived the damages of time. The minaret is truly impressive and is in fact the tallest brick minaret in the world (just that). This historical site is a treasure from the Mughal architecture that you should not miss while in Delhi.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the “Qutub Minar” Metro Station (yellow line)
Address: Aurobindo Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030, India
Hours: 10Am – 5Pm. Open everyday except Sunday.
Fees: 30 Rupees for Indians, 500 Rupees for foreigners.
4.Safdarjung Tomb
This garden tomb was built under the Mughal Empire and is home to the mausoleum of Safdarjung. The monument is very impressive. It is principally made of sandstone and marble and its façade is built in the same style than the Taj Mahal. In my opinion, one of the most beautiful sites in New Delhi.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the “Jor Bagh” Metro Station (yellow line)
Address: Intersection of. Safdarjung Road and Aurobindo Marg , Delhi 110021, India
Hours: 7Am – 6Pm. Open everyday
Fees: 15 Rupees for Indians, 200 Rupees for foreigners
5.Chhatarpur Temple
The Chhatarpur temple is the second largest temple complex in India. It is spread over 59acres (24hectares) of land and is fully constructed from marble. This temple is mainly dedicated to the Goddess Katyayani. Some parts of the complex only open for specific religious celebrations but the rest of it is green, beautiful, well maintained and worth a visit.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the “Chhatarpur” Metro Station (yellow line).
Address: Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030, India.
Hours: 4Am – 11Pm. Open everyday except Sunday
Fees: No entrance fee.
What’s Good to See in New Delhi?
1. India Gate
The India Gate or as I like to call it “the Indian Arc de Triomphe” is a war memorial for the undivided soldiers from the Indian army who died during the First World War. Some feet behind it, you can also see the canopy and the fountain where a lot of locals like to swim and refresh themselves on a hot day. The India Gate is a famous landmark worth a quick stop.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the ” Central Secretariat” Metro Station (Yellow and Violet line). It is 1mile away from the India gate though so I would recommend taking a Moto Rickshaw if you don’t like to walk.
Address: Rajpath, India Gate, New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India.
Hours: Open Everyday.
Fees: No Entrance Fee.
2.Humayun’s Tomb
That was certainly one of my very favorite landmarks in New Delhi. I was really eager to discover this site that is holding so much cultural significance and let me tell you that it far exceeded all my expectations.
The Humayun’s tomb was indeed the first garden-tombs to be constructed on the Indian subcontinent. The garden and the mausoleum are absolutely stunning. It is a peaceful place in Delhi that makes you forget about all the chaos that is going on outside. I simply loved it and I can bet you will do too!
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the “JLN Stadium” Metro Station (violet line). From the metro station, it is a 20minute walk to get to the Humayun’s tomb. If you don’t like to walk or don’t feel safe doing so, you can take a Moto Rickshaw from the metro station to the historical site.
Address: Mathura Road, Opp. Dargah Nizamuddin, New Delhi, Delhi 110013, India
Hours: 7am to 6pm. Open everyday.
Fees: 30 Rupees for Indians, 500 Rupees for foreigners.
3.Lodi garden
Located 2miles away from the Humayun’s Tomb, the Lodi Garden is a really impressive city park that is home to several Mughal Tombs. You can enjoy a pick-nick time with your travel companion or simply scroll around, go for your daily run or enjoy some breathing time far from busy Delhi. The park is very big and what is really impressive about it is that there are historical sites and buildings spread all around and act naturally as part of the park. Do not miss that!
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the “JLN Stadium” Metro Station (violet line).
Address: Main Lodi Road, Beside India International Centre, New Delhi, Delhi – 110003
Hours: 6am to 7:30pm. Open everyday.
Fees: No Entrance Fee.
4. Khan Market
The Khan Market is much more than a simple a market it is a whole experience. You can find pretty much everything there; food, books, clothes, fabrics, electronics, souvenirs, and so much more. It does not matter if you don’t want to buy anything. Just go there have a nice walk, see new things, talk to people and experience the market life. Also, there are plenty of restaurants and bars around if you are scared to get some street food and a Delhi belly along with it.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the “Khan Market” metro station (violet line). It is some minutes away from the market.
Address: Khan Market, Rabindra Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110003
Hours: Open everyday. Activities in Restaurants and Shops start around 10am and stops around 11pm.
Fees: No Entrance Fee.
5. Swaminarayan Akshardham
This complex of temples offers a great spiritual and cultural experience to all its visitors. So many activities are held there such as a water show running on Tuesdays and Fridays nights at 7pm and plenty of exhibitions. The thematic gardens are a delight to visit and the temples are very beautiful with their modern architecture and stunning selection of statues and details inside. Don’t miss The Swaminarayan Akshardham complex while in New Delhi. It is a little cultural treasure.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the ” Akshardham” Metro Station (blue line). Once you are out of the station take right, and after walking 300feet, take right again. Walk 800 feet and you get there.
Address: Noida Mor, Pandav Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110092, India
Hours: From 9:30am to 6:30pm for the temples (Different timing for exhibitions and shows). Closed on Mondays.
Fees: No Entrance Fee.
6. The Birla Mandir
This Hindu temple dedicated to Laxmi (goddess of prosperity) and Narayan (the preserver) is one of the most famous in the city. It attracts a lot of tourists and devoted everyday. Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated this temple so that all people, from all backgrounds and castes can access to it. Its modern Indian architecture is stunning with Icons made of Marble. I really enjoyed spending time in this temple, and I received a blessing from a Sanyasi near by the Ganesh statue.
How to get there: The nearest Metro Station is the ” RK Ashram Marg” Metro Station. The Temple is half a mile away.
Address: Mandir Marg, near Gol market, New Delhi, 110001, India.
Hours: 4:30am to 1:30pm & 2.30pm to 9.00pm. Open everyday.
Fees: No Entrance Fee. Cameras not allowed.
Now that we have a better understanding of the urban organization of New Delhi and all its must do landmarks, let’s discover together the beauty of this city through some of my pictures.
Click on a Picture to zoom it and get access to the gallery
I hope you enjoyed discovering more about the exciting city of New Delhi. Feel free to write me a comment to share with me your own experience in Delhi or to give me some suggestions to complete this list.
Also, if you are planing a trip to India, I suggest you to check my article “8 Key Travel Tips For Your First Trip To India“ to be more familiar with some aspects of this beautiful country and be more prepared for your trip.
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