Places to Visit in New Delhi

Monuments and Forts

Red Fort or Lal Quila: Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, laid the foundation of Red Fort in 1639 and it got completed in 1648. This colossus citadel is built with red stone and that is how the fort got its name. The total area of this fort is about 2.41 km. The fort is octagonal in shape. A wide moat that was originally connected with the river and was filled with water surrounds the fort. The main entrance to the Quila is through the Lahori Gate. Some of the main buildings within the fort are: Diwan-i-Am (hall of public audience), Diwan-i-Khas (hall of selective audience), the Hamam (the bathroom set), Moti Masjid (pearl mosque), Mumtaz Mahal (one of the main palaces), Naubat Khana (music house). After India got its independence from the British rule, the National Flag of India is hoisted at the Red Fort every year on 15th of August by the Prime Minister. This magnificent structure with its historical past is truly glorious and demands your visit.

Humayun's Tomb: The tomb of Humayun was built by the orders of Humayun's widow, Hamida Banu Begum, starting in 1562. It took 8 years for the tomb to get completed. The structure is built with red sandstone, whereas white and black marble has been used largely in the borders. This tomb is set in a geometrically arranged garden crisscrossed by numerous water channels. It is the first example of Mughal architecture, with high arches and double dome. Humayun's Tomb is one of the best-preserved Mughal monuments in Delhi. 

Qutub Minar: Your trip to Qutub Minar will be fascinating. This world heritage site is located in Mehrauli, South of Delhi. This tallest brick tower in the world, built in 1193 AD, is named after Qutab-ud-din Aibak. He ruled initially from Lahore and later moved the capital to Delhi; he is considered the first Muslim ruler of South Asia. This tower was started by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak but was completed by his son-in-law Iltutmish and ultimately by Firoz Shah Tughlak. This tower is 72.5 meters tall with 399 steps leading to the top. The base is 14.3 meters wide and the top floor is 2.75 meters wide. While visiting this Minar, do not miss the nearby Iron Pillar. You will immensely enjoy the tour of this monument.

Jantar Mantar:Sawai Jia Singh II of Jaipur had built this in 1710 A.D. He was a keen astronomer. Jantar Mantar is situated at Parliament Street, close to Connaught Place. Jantar Mantar is also known as Delhi Observatory. It is made of stone and marble. This structure consists of fourteen geometric devices used for measuring time, forecasting weather changes, predicting behavior of planets and finding extraterrestrial altitude. It has always been an attraction for the architects, historians and scientists from all over the world. This popular tourist site will be a great place to explore. The structure is a masterpiece of Indian architecture which shows the scientific acumen of ancient India.

Purana Quila:The fort was constructed on the historic site of Indraprastha by Humayun and Sher Shah. The walls of the fort have three gates and are surrounded by a mat fed by the river Yamuna. The wall was built by Humayun while the buildings in the fort are attributed to Sher Shah. The structures that have survived in the fort are the Sher Mandal and the Quila-I-kholina Mosque. As a tourist, you will cherish the fort and its brilliant architecture.

India Gate:You have to visit India Gate, the famous landmark of New Delhi, India. It is one of the largest war memorials in India and commemorates the members of the former British Indian Army who laid their lives fighting for the Indian Empire in World War I and the Afghan Wars. The foundation stone for India Gate was laid in 1921 by the Duke of Connaught and was completed in 1931. This enormous structure was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. After India's independence, India Gate became the site of the Indian Army's tomb of the unknown soldier, known as the Amar Jawan Jyoti. The 42 meter high archway is made of red stone and has the name "INDIA" written on both sides. More than 70,000 names of soldiers are also inscribed on the arch. The archway is located on the Rajpath in New Delhi. This monument is surrounded by lawns, children's park and a boat club. Locals and tourists gather near the India Gate and spend their evenings in leisure.

Religious Places

Bangla Sahib:
One of the most important historical and sacred pilgrimage destinations of the Sikh comunity, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is the Haveli or palace, where Guru Hari Krishan, the eighth Sikh Guru stayed during his tour to Delhi in 1664. The Guru was entertained as a royal guest by Mirza Raja Jai Singh in this bangla (palace), which was built on the model of the existing palace of Raja Jai Singh in Jaipur.

Akshardham Temple:This 100 acres of sprawling Hindu temple is visited by thousands of people every day. Within this temple, under the central dome, the statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan is erected, which is 11-foot high. This statue is surrounded by other similar statues of the gurus of the sect. This is a very popular tourist spot. The temple was inaugurated in 2005. You can enjoy programmes in the IMAX theater as well as the musical fountain along with Swaminarayan temple in this Akshardham complex in Delhi.

Lotus Temple:This Baha'i House of Worship is in the shape of lotus. That is the reason this temple is called Lotus Temple. This beautiful structure was opened to public in December 1986. The temple is so popular that it is one of the most visited places in the world. When you enter this temple, you have to maintain a pin drop silence. The atmosphere inside the temple is calm and serene. Visiting this temple is once in a lifetime experience.