The historic city Delhi beholds the true essence and multicultural beauty of India. India’s capital city is massive and houses a population of 2 crores that sees migrants from all over the country to make a living. The high spirits, cultural exchange, and beautiful historic and contemporary sites leave its visitors in awe of it. Though originally Old Delhi was considered the main area during Mughals, Delhi has been expanded massively over years and has seen an immense growth in all aspects. There’s no shortage of places to experience, and is a hub for tourism as well, rightly so! Two major neighbourhoods in Delhi include Old Delhi dating back to the 1600s and New delhi which is an urban district located that dates back to 1911. The city also seats all three branches of Govt of India; The Executive, The Legislative and The Judiciary and is a political hub too.
Delhi attracts 10 million forgein tourists every year on an average, owing to the several tourist attractions and things to do and experiences in Delhi. Monuments, Bazaar, easteoris, cafes, religious places, you name it, and you will find it here in its finest form.
Top Best Attractions and Things to Do in Delhi
Rashtrapati Bhavan- When you are in the capital state, you must experience the magnificent residence of the President of India. It’s open for public viewing for four days a week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Why should you visit this beautiful piece of fine architect? To experience the grandeur of this majestic presidential palace with an H shaped building, covering an area of 5 acres on a 330 acre estate.
The mansion houses a total of 340 rooms spread over four floors, corridors that are as long as 2.5 kilometres and 190 acres of stunning garden space. Originally, it was a residence for the Viceroy of India which was later converted into Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1947. For public visits, the attraction has been bifurcated into 3 circuits, covering the Main Building and Central Lawn and the premier rooms like the Ashok Hall, Durbar Hall, Banquet Hall, Drawing Rooms and many more, tour of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex, The Mughal Gardens, Herbal Garden, Musical Garden and Spiritual Garden.
Old Delhi- The neighborhood entails a Royal Mughal Charm, as the name suggests it's the oldest part of the town and home to some of the historic monuments and attractions with a history dating back to 1000 BC. The authentic Mughlai food and the lip smacking street food is another reason to visit Old Delhi. Some of the delicious delicacies to be savoured include, Mutton Nihari, Biryani, Shashi Tukda, Ghee Parathas, Butter Chicken, Chicken Mughail, street snacks like Chaat, pani Puri and more.
Some best attractions located here include Red Fort (Lal Qila), Jama Masjid, Rajghat, Chandi Chowk, Indian war memorial museum, Roshanar bagh, Delhi Gate, Old Fort (Purana Quila), Sacred Heart Cathedral, Khooni Darwaza ( Bloody Gate) and the list is endless. A visit to Old Delhi is incomplete without a Food walk at Old Delhi Lanes, be sure to add it to your list.
India Gate- The iconic historical landmark is a photographer's delight. India gate was built in the honour of the martyrs of Afghan war that features sculpted walls with the names of 13000+ martyrs. Surrounding the Gate, there are green spaces and fountains, giving a magical vibe to this lit up monument in the evenings and at night. A stroll at this site is quite popular amongst locals.
Qutub Minar- Purely made of marbles and reed stone, the Minar stands tall at a height of 240 feet and has been acclaimed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The Minar was built in 1192 by the 1st ruler of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aibak and has been named after him, rightly so. Adjacent to the main minar, there are few other minars as well, and the premise is done-up with lush green gardens and dim mood lighting, making it a gorgeous sight to behold. It’s situated in the South District of Delhi, bordering Gurgaon.
Humayun’s Tomb- Delhi is blessed with architecturally fine tombs, Humayun’s tomb fairly tops the list. It would be more than fair to compare it with The Taj Mahal in Agra. Humayun's tomb features an elaborate Persian design and as the name suggests, it houses the tomb of Humayun that’s made of pure white marble. The masterpiece was created in the 16th century, and carries a strong essence of that era. The monument has been acclaimed as the UNESCO World Heritage site
The complex is spread across acres, housing other marble tombs. Sunder Nursery, an ecological park and nursery zone spread over 90 acres of lush green lawns is a beautiful site that’s adjacent to Humayun's Tomb. It’s a heritage park which is home to 4,200 trees, a biodiversity zone spanning 30 acres with 80 bird species, 36 butterfly and species and 15 historical monuments.
Lotus Temple- A pure architectural delight which is structurally inspired by the flower Lotus. The premises is well-maintained with lush green garden space and has a fine-looking contemporary complex with a small pond as well. The inner sanctum is a masterpiece with its plush and fine design, often used to meditate in peace. It's a place where you would want to sit for hours and enjoy the marvel in serenity.
Jantar Mantar- The observatory resembles a Maze Puzzle which was built for astronomical observations and houses an open air observatory with 13 architectural astronomy instruments. It was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, aiming to revise the calendar and astronomical tables. It’s an architectural marvel located in the heart of Delhi.
Lodhi Gardens- The grand public park will impress you to the core with the neatly done-up green spaces that also house excotic flowers and trees. Amidst the green spaces, you would spot ancient tombs and structures that are as old as 500 years. There are walking trails leading to tiny ponds and into even more greener corners. With 60 different species of birds, it's a haven for bird watchers. You may also dine at The Lodhi, an indoor and outdoor restaurant amidst the greens. Outside the entrance, you may also try quick lip-smacking snacks served by the street vendors.
Dilli Haat- It’s a cultural exchange hub is a beautifully done-up marketplace, commonly known as Haat located in South Delhi. The market highlights different cultures of India, and displays unique clothes, crafts and food shops “Haats”, that are unique to each state of India. Time to time, there are cultural programmes organised here with an idea to deep dive into the local culture of different states in the country. This is one stop where you would experience the essence of the multicultural nature of the country.
Other places to visit in Delhi include Market hubs like Connaught place, Haus Khas and SDA amongst others, thar are modern-day areas packed with vibrant aafes and bars opened till midnight, places with live music scenes , popular boutiques and top branded shops, locals food vendors and more.
The city is packed with good accommodations for all kinds of visitors while you would also find couple friendly hotels near Delhi. The hotels and homes offered by OYO are a great deal, owing to the safety, service, amenities and warm staff. Hotels booking online helps you get additional discounts, book hotels on our website.