Delhi stands as the place which has seen almost everything too close from history. From the Mughal Era to the British rule and to finally being called as an independent nation and then touching heights of modernity, Delhi has aged like a fine wine.
These gems from these times stand as the only narrator to our history. You can give a visit to them to learn some startling facts about our history.
Walk into the lanes of Mughal Era
Stand high on the ruins of war at Tughlaqabad Fort
The founder of Tughlaq dynasty, Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, got this once grand fort built.
Also enjoy a beautiful sunset from one of the highest most points in Delhi, i.e., Tughlaqabad Fort. The grand fort is planned in a pentagon form and has coned shaped bastions supported by huge parapet walls. The fort was built to protect the city from Mongol attacks.
Also, visit Tomb of Giyas-ud-din Tughlaq which stands on sloped walls and is a fine example of stunning but simple architectural techniques.
Visiting time: 7 am to 5 pm
Nearest metro station- Govindpuri
Traveller Tips
The fort is usually deserted so it is advisable to go in groups.
Other Nearby Attractions
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
Take a Heritage Walk to revisit the Mughal Era at Humayuns Tomb
Delhi is laden with architectural marvels and Mughal Era Tombs and its forts definitely top that list. Start your morning by visiting the Humayuns Tomb where the history is as extensive as its kota and marble detailing.
The mortal remains of second Mughal emperor of India, Humayun, are located here in this tomb. Here you will get to see a lot of Persian, Turkish and Indian architectural influences.
Safdarjung Tomb is another fine example of the last monument garden from the Mughal Era of the 18th century. Prominent features are the yellow sandstone, grand dome, Rococo plaster in the interiors and octagonal shaped chattris on the four polygonal towers.
Visiting time: 7 am to 6 pm
Nearest metro stations-Jor Bagh
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Traveller Tips
Visit Lodhi Garden during early morning and catch Delhi in its fitness mode.
Visit Khan market for some shopping and munch in some cool cafes.
Other Nearby Attractions
Sikender Lodi Tomb
National Zoological Park
Nizamuddin Dargah
All of these amazing structures remind me of the extremely detailed ones in Jaipur. Check this list to know more about the places to visit in Jaipur
See it here
Visit this extremely detailed Mosque-Khirki Masjid
This beautiful mosque was built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq Dynasty. This mosque is a fusion of traditional Islamic and Hindu elements with windows as the chief element.
Visiting time: 7 am to 7 pm
Nearest metro station- Malviya Nagar
Traveller Tips
You can also visit Select City Mall in Saket after this
Don’t disturb the bats with noise and flashlights.
Other Nearby Attractions
Satpula Bridge
Qutub Minar
See the age-old water reservoir, Agrasen Ki Baoli
It was built during the time of Mahabharata by Raja Agrasen. It is basically a 14th-century stepwell with 108 steps and arched pathways on three sides.
After the release of Aamir Khan starrer PK, the monument has started receiving a lot of visitors.
Visiting time: 7 am to 6 pm
Nearest metro station- Mandi House/Janpath
Other Nearby Attractions
Connaught Place
Jantar Mantar
Have you ever spent hours researching and deciding on going to “Weekend getaways from Delhi”? Here is a little travel guide on Weekend getaways from Delhi for your help.
Taste heritage and luxury together at Dharampura Haveli
A masterpiece made out of Lakhori bricks and countless traditional details; the Haveli sits in the busy lanes of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi.
The most stunning fact about this Haveli is that this is a renovated piece of architecture where a 100 years old dilapidated Haveli is converted into a heritage hotel.
Antique balconies, intricate stone brackets, jharoka, red sandstone brackets, floral decorations, motifs, wooden joist flooring and lime concrete flooring, multi foliated arched gateway and arches, carved sandstone facades, large arched openings with elephants and intricate carvings on the main door and whatnot; the place is full of details.
Nearest metro station-Jama Masjid/Chandni Chowk/Red Fort
Traveller Tips
Delhi residents can also opt to just dine in here, taking in the Old city vibes from the rooftop or the beautiful courtyard.
Other Nearby Attractions
Jama Masjid
Fatehpuri Majid
Red Fort
Sheesh Mahal
Razia Sultan Tomb
A lot to extract from history at Jahaz Mahal Fort
This Lodi dynasty palace looked like a ship when it was reflected in the reservoir which was nearby. This was basically built before the Mughal Era to provide accommodation to a large number of pilgrims coming from Afghanistan, Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Morocco and Turkey to visit the Muslim shrines.
The main elements of the palace are Chhatris, towers, squinches. Now extinct, then famed blue tiles are also in the domed pavilion here.
This palace is also the venue for the annual event called Phool Walon Ki Sair (procession of the florists) or ‘Sair-i-Gulfaroshan’ which is held in October.
Visiting time: 10 am to 7 pm
Nearest metro station-Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station
Other Nearby Attractions
Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah
Qutub Minar
Zafar Mahal
Garden of Five Senses
Smell some spices at Khari Baoli
It is a marvel from the 15th century and is now Asia`s largest wholesale spice market. As per its name, it used to be a salty water stepwell for animals to bathe.
Visiting time: open all time
Nearest metro station-Chandni Chowk
Traveller Tips
Keep your nose and mouth covered as the spice particles tend to make you cough.
Other Nearby Attractions
Fatehpuri Masjid
Chandni Chowk market
Red Fort
Legacy of the British Rule-The Neoclassical style or the Indo Saracenic Architecture
Embrace colourful evenings at Rashtrapati Bhawan
Covered under a blanket of constantly changing lights, President`s House stands as the most glorious testimony in Lutyens Delhi. Secretariat Building, Rashtrapati Bhawan and a lot of buildings from the surrounding areas are designed by Herbert Baker and Edward Lutyen together.
The building falls into the time category of Edwardian Baroque where the use of classical motifs was there to emphasise authority and power. Along with this, there is the use of Mughal elements like the dome which also resembles with the Buddhist stupas from which Edward was highly inspired.
Visiting time: From sunrise till 5 pm (for entry beyond barricades)
Nearest metro station- Central secretariat/Udyog Bhawan
Traveller Tips
A prior interior tour of the place has to be booked online in advance through an app.
Other Nearby Attractions
India Gate
National War Memorial
Parliament of India
Proudly visit these architectural marvels from the Independent India period
Learn things at India Habitat Centre
Indian Habitat Centre, Indian Islamic cultural centre, India International centre are a host to various exhibitions and curated art shows, also movie screenings. Make the most of your time meeting new people and learning more than ever here.
These buildings are from the 1980s and also a good example of sustainable structures in Delhi.
Apart from this, Charles Correa designed the British Council is a wonderful place to look for amazing books and catch on some works of world-renowned artists.
Visiting time: 10 am to 8 pm
Nearest metro stations-JLN Stadium-IHC, IIC, Indian Islamic cultural centre
Janpath-British Council
Make the most of your day in Delhi at Triveni Kala Sangam
Joseph Allen Stein designed this multipurpose structure in 1950 and it contains four art galleries, a chamber theatre, outdoor theatre and open-air sculpture gallery. There is an extensive use of Stein`s hallmark which was the Jali work (stone lattices).
Nearest metro stations- Mandi House
Traveller Tips
Triveni Café serves really good food at great prices. Do give it a try.
Other Nearby Attractions
Bengali Market
Connaught Place
Spot the Jeevan Bharti or LIC Building easily
This building stands with its unique looks in the British designed white themed Connaught Place. Designed by Charles Correa in 1986, its construction majorly comprises of materials like reflective glass, red sandstone and iron mesh.
A testimony to modernism, truly!
Nearest metro stations-Rajiv Chowk
Other Nearby Attractions
Connaught Place
Remember the Martyrs at the National War Memorial
To honour the Armed Forces, this was completed and opened for public recently. It has been flushed with the ground level keeping it in harmony with the surrounding monuments like India Gate.
The concept is based on concentric circles and a central obelisk with Amr Jawan Jyoti. The four circles represent the Indian war formation of Chakravyuh from Indian mythology.
Visiting time: 9 am to 7:30 pm
Nearest metro stations-Central Secretariat/ Udyog Bhawan
Traveller Tips
Avoid weekends since India Gate is crowded during that time and so is this place.
You can plan its visit during sunset hours to enjoy the amazing lighting here.
Other Nearby Attractions
India Gate
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Gallery of Modern Art
Some urban design in these cool places
Dine in at Champa Gali in Saket
If you are someone who likes to spend some quality alone time or with someone special, then you should definitely not miss going on a Coffee date in Champa Gali which is in Saket. It is literally an alleyway but beautifully decorated with fairy lights and dotted with cafes like Blue Tokai, Jugmug Thela and the others. And if you are lucky then you might find some acoustic sessions too going on there.
It is a great example of street design in small spaces. A covered alleyway, some outdoor seating and some indoor, some cafes with some shops and a textured pedestrian path to walk on.
Visiting time: 11 am to 10 pm
Nearest metro stations- Vishwavidyalaya and Saket
Architecture of the religion
Get enchanted by the beauty of Lotus Temple
You can also visit the Lotus Temple (Bahai Temple) which was built by Fariborz Sahba.
The temple is open for prayers for all people and signifies no particular religion. The nine pools around the lotus-shaped building are worth seeing as they clearly reflect the image of the building making it even larger than life.
Visiting time: 9 am to 5:30 pm (closed on Monday)
Nearest metro station: Kalkaji
Traveller Tips
The prayer at Lotus Temple consists of verses from various religions and it is magical when trained singers speak them for you. Do attend them on these timings- 10 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM.
Other Nearby Attractions
ISKCON Temple
Watch people pray in unison at Jama Masjid
Under Shah Jahan, many marvels were built and this fine piece of architecture is one of them. This being India`s largest mosque, is capable of holding 25000 devotees. A typical Mughal era architectural example with construction in red sandstone and white marble, Jama Masjid is the place to be during Ramadan and Eid.
Visiting time: 7 am to 12 pm and 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Nearest metro station-Jama Masjid
Traveller Tips
Do climb the minaret to get the view of whole Old Delhi.
Other Nearby Attractions
Dharampura Haveli
Jama Masjid Market which is full of famous restaurants
Red Fort
Listen to a different story at Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple
Apparently, it’s the world’s largest Hindu Temple. Granite and marble were imported from all parts of the world for this opulent construction. A full one day is needed to visit this marvel since there are a variety of shows to attend, museums to see, history to learn and a musical fountain show to watch after the sunset.
Visiting time: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm (closed on Monday)
Nearest metro station- Akshardham Temple
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