Delhi, India, (नई दिल्ली) is the national capital of the country and has a metropolitan population of around 22 million residents. The city is ancient, it’s been around since the 6th century BC so there are many historical and cultural places to visit. That’s specifically why I created this list of 21 things to do in Delhi, to help you plan and get excited about visiting Delhi, India.
1. The Lotus Temple (Bahá’í House of Worship) – The temple is in the shape of a giant lotus and on the inside is a peaceful sanctuary where you can enter and sit in silence for as long as you like.
2. ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple – I had never seen a temple like this before, so it as an interesting experience to hear the music and walk around the interior of the temple.
3. Kalkaji Mandir Hindu Temple – This temple is a very important Hindu temple in Delhi and while I was there, there were a number of babies being dedicated by being decorated and blessed.
4. Jama Masjid – Located in Old Delhi, Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in all of Delhi. Though they will attempt to get money from you, it’s free to enter the mosque, but if you want to take photos inside they will charge you 300 rupees.
5. Akshardham Temple – This modern Hindu temple located on the outskirts of Delhi literally made my jaw drop, it’s that amazing. It’s free to enter, but unfortunately, they don’t allow any photography inside. This is one of the things to do in Delhi that you cannot afford to miss!
6. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (Sikh Temple) – Unlike some other sites in Delhi where you’ll find many touts and hustlers, the Gurdwara Sikh Temple is about the nicest and most friendly place you can go in Delhi. People are extremely nice and you can enter the temple to listen to music.
7. Laxmi Narayan Mandir — Dedicated by Mahatma Gandhi, this is one of the most significant Hindu temples in Delhi.
8. Hauz Khas Complex – I’m always amazed at the history of Delhi and Hauz Khas is an excellent example of ancient monuments in the middle of a public park.
9. Lodi Gardens – As a free entrance public park, visiting the Lodi Gardens is one of the most amazing things to do in Delhi. It’s just like an ordinary park, but it’s filled with thousand year old tombs and monuments that are truly inspirational.
10. India Gate – The war memorial is one of the landmarks of Delhi and resembles the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
11. Jantar Mantar – The Jantar Mantar complex is a compound that houses 13 different astronomy instruments. The structures are confusing to look at, but if you read or follow a guide (or audio guide) you’ll understand how each instrument functioned.
12. Qutub Minar – Just like Akshardham Temple, Qutub Minar is one of the top things to do in Delhi, it’s truly remarkable. The minaret is the main attraction, a huge pillar of red carved sandstone that towers above the ancient ruins in the complex.
13. Humayun’s Tomb – One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Delhi is Humayun’s Tomb, built in Mughal Islamic architecture.
14. Tomb of Safdarjung – Very similar to Humayun’s tomb is the tomb of Safdarjung. What I really liked is that there were no other tourists the day I went so it was quite and peaceful.
15. Red Fort – Located near Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi is the Red Fort. It’s an entire walled in city where you can walk around the browse the many buildings within the walls.
16. Raj Ghat – The Raj Ghat is a memorial park dedicated to Gandhi.
17. Chandni Chowk & Chawri Bazar – The liveliest and busiest area of Delhi is Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazar. I think it’s possible to purchase anything from the entire world in this area, and you’ll also find lots of delicious food.
18. Dilli Haat – This handicraft village was set up by the Delhi tourism authority and it’s a decent place to purchase souvenirs or high quality crafts. You’ll also find a food court that contains canteens serving food from all over India.
19. Connaught Place (Rajiv Chowk) – Known for short as just CP is a huge series of roundabouts and is the central modern business district of Delhi. Within the area you’ll find all sorts of shops, famous restaurants and the Palika Bazar, an underground shopping center.
20. Paharganj (Main Bazar) – The main bazar is located just west of the New Delhi railroad station and it’s an old area of town where you’ll find a market and lots of budget accommodation options.
21. Delhi Street Food – Eating street food is one of the best things to do in Delhi, you’ll love it.
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For many more things to do in Delhi, where to stay, and delicious food to eat, check out my Delhi Travel Guide: https://migrationology.com/store/delhi-travel-guide/ (click the link)!