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Being a first-hand witness of the millennial culture, a regular week in my life revolves around crossing the same street each day to get to office, visiting the community market on a Friday night, engaging in retail therapy as a form of a self-care routine every now and then, going on a binge-watch session on a Saturday night and catching up with my friends whenever they end up making that plan we started a month back.
Then on one such day, “August” appears in big, bold letters on the calendar resting on my bedside table and unapologetically along with it, comes the fervor and enthusiastic patriotism of Independence Day. The familiar lane becomes overfilled with street vendors carrying the tri-colored merchandise, you find yourself questioning if you have come to the right market because the atmosphere undergoes a vibrant change as the celebrations are just around the corner, your binge-watching sessions are hijacked by TV channels airing movies like ‘Mother India’ and ‘Junoon’ to take you back to the beginning of this day, and your friends finally drop by to have a kite-flying contest.
Naturally, Delhi has its own glorious plans for this day that attract loads of travelers and tourists to the capital on this occasion, each year. Be it the Prime Minister’s address to the nation or the magnificent parade at the fort; the lively ‘Independence Day Fair’ swarming with people or the city skies adorned with colorful kites- Delhi brings back the celebrations of this historic feat in its full glory.
This year, as India awaits the celebration of its freedom for the 72nd time, you can make your own personal plans to enjoy this day to the fullest as a visitor to the heritage sites, a witness of the ardent festivities and vibes of the capital or a sore loser/ over-enthusiastic winner of the kite-flying competitions.
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Here’s a list of all the things to do in Delhi during Independence day to get a wholesome experience of this National holiday.
Witnessing the celebrations at Red Fort in-person is a spectacular experience of its own. The proceedings begin as the Prime Minister unfurls the flag and thousands of people rise for the national anthem. This is followed closely by an honorary 21 gunshots regime. Do drop by the venue as early as possible though because the seats fill up on first-come, first-serve basis and don’t forget to carry your IDs.
The unfurling of the flag is followed by the Prime Minister’s speech to the public- a mass reminiscence of the freedom our country gained on this day and a trip down the historical memory lane amongst other things.
The fair is one of the major highlights of the whole event. It is marked by the famous march-past of the army, the kite-flying battle, show of art-forms from different states, performances by students representing the National Cadet Corps and much more.
Rs 80 per person for adults on weekdays and Rs 60 on weekends.
Rs 30 per person for children on weekdays and Rs 20 on weekends.
Timings:
9am-6pm (Tuesday-Sunday)
7:30 am – 8:30 pm (Light and Sound Show)
| Nearest Metro Station | Chandni Chowk Metro Station |
| Nearest Railway Station | Old Delhi Railway Station |
| Nearest Bus Stand | Kashmiri Gate Bus Station |
| Nearest Airport | Indira Gandhi International Airport |
Red Fort is well-connected by all modes of transport and can be reached by cab and bus. If you plan to take the metro then board off at the Chandni Chowk metro station. Alternatively, you can take the heritage line which consists of the landmarks of Old Delhi and board off at the Red Fort metro station.
When you are reeling under the vibrant celebrations of the day on the streets, you can take a quiet detour and visit the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library.
It is located within the Teen Murti House complex and initially served as the residence of Commander-in-Chief of the British military and subsequently as the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru. NMML has now expanded to include a planetarium (called Nehru Planetarium) and Centre for Contemporary Studies.
Charges:
Timings:
10am-5pm (Mondays Closed).
| Nearest Metro Station | Lok Kalyan Marg Metro Station |
| Nearest Railway Station | Sarojini Nagar Railway Station |
| Nearest Bus Stand | Chanakyapuri police station |
| Nearest Airport | Indira Gandhi International Airport |
This building was Mahatama Gandhi’s home during his stay in the city and was the site of his assassination on 30 January 1948.It is known to be one of historical places in Delhi. With an interactive museum, well laid out garden, and an eternal flame, this site is a must-visit for those wishing to pay tribute to the Mahatama- the Father of the Nation- on the day when India earned its freedom.
It consists of two parts- ‘Gandhi Smriti’ and ‘International Centre of Gandhian Studies and Research’. The International Centre of Gandhian Studies and Research offers a variety of facilities for academic research on the life of Mahatama Gandhi including library facilities, in-house publications, etc. A multimedia show is held between 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm as well.
Charges:
No entry fee
Timings :
10am-5pm (Mondays closed)
| Nearest Metro Station | Rajiv Chowk Metro Station |
| Nearest Railway Station | Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station |
| Nearest Bus Stand | Delhi Sachivalaya (Raj Ghat Power House) |
| Nearest Airport | Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station |
Other sites you can visit: Akshardham Temple, Qutub Minar, Dilli Haat, Rajghat, Lodhi Gardens, India Gate, Connaught Place
Go kite-flying at India Gate, get some retail therapy by getting your hands on all those holiday discounts, buy memorable souvenirs to remind you of your experiences here, munch onto the ‘Independence Day Special’ delicacies, go out into the streets of Delhi and witness the vibrancy of people celebrating the day India earned freedom with music and joy, in their own little ways.
There will always be something to do when you visit Delhi during Independence Day. So, if you are in the right place at the right time, you should make loads of memories and enjoy every second of it before the streets and markets get rid of the festive decorations and you go back to your familiar life.
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April 15, 2024 
