Delhi, India: what to see on your own in 2 days

Delhi sights are famous all over the world. This is the huge market of Chandi Chuok, and the ancient district of House Kas, and Qutb Minar. If you have only a few days to explore the Indian capital, in our article you will find a list of the main attractions of Delhi with photos and descriptions.

New Delhi is the capital of India with a population of 14 million. It is the second largest city after Mumbai. Hindi is the official language, but many locals also speak English, Punjabi and Urdu.

Delhi covers an area of 42.7 km² and is famous for its wide roads, boulevards, numerous parks and historical sites. Interestingly, the layout of Delhi is in many ways similar to British cities. For example, there is a district where 19 foreign embassies are located (this is typical for European countries), as well as 2 central esplanades.

India Gate

The Gateway of India is a memorial dedicated to all Indian soldiers who died during the First World War and the Anglo-Afghan War. According to the calculations of historians, there are at least 80 thousand people. The walls of India Gate are carved with the names of 13 thousand Indian soldiers.

An eternal flame burns at the foot of the Gateway of India, and a park was laid a few meters away. New Delhi authorities also plan to erect a National War Memorial nearby.

Experienced travelers are advised to come to this attraction in New Delhi in the evening - from 19.00 to 21.30 include lights.

Location: Near Connaught Place New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India.

Qutb Minar

What is definitely worth a look in Delhi is Qutb Minar, the world's first tallest minaret built of brick. This is a unique monument of Indo-Islamic culture, the construction of which began in 1193, and ended in 1368. It is interesting that as many as 5 generations of rulers were engaged in the construction of this attraction.

According to legend, the Rajput prince Prithviraj Chauhan began to build a tower for his daughter, who, before prayer, could go upstairs and be inspired by the surrounding nature. However, the idea was not fully implemented - already in 1190 the power in the city changed (a Muslim came to power), and the first floor was redone.

Qutub Minar is a unique attraction for many reasons. In addition to its venerable age and height, there are hundreds of Sanskrit inscriptions on its walls (their meaning is not completely clear), figures of saints, and, the most important element is an iron column, which, according to historians, is more than 3000 years old.

It is interesting that when one of the Persian emperors wanted to take this column, he ordered shelling it with cores, but this did not help - only minor recesses remained on the surface.

Nearby Qutb Minar there are other attractions of New Delhi in India: the Kuwat-ul-Islam mosque, Ala-i-Minar minaret and the tomb of Imam Zamin.

Location: Qutb Minar, Mehrauli, Delhi 110030, India.
Opening hours: 9.00 - 19.00.
Cost: $ 5.

Akshardham

Akshardham - one of the most grandiose temples of Delhi, completely consisting of pink marble. Its main feature is thousands of figures carved in the walls and entrance arches.

In addition to the sanctuary, the temple complex also includes several parks, sculptural compositions, a lake, a light fountain and an artificial rowing canal. Locals call this place "the residence of God on Earth, which cannot be moved."

The main attraction inside the sanctuary is the statue of Swaminarayan, which is installed in honor of the Indian reformer and preacher.

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb is a mausoleum built by order of the widow of Hamida Banu Begum for her husband. This attraction is so beautiful and grand that it is often confused with the Taj Mahal.

As always in India, the mausoleum is located in the middle of a picturesque park, whose name translates as “four gardens”. Here you can see large flower beds, river canals and decorative arbors. In the center of the territory is a mausoleum - its walls of pink sandstone and white marble are visible from afar.

The building itself looks like many palaces of India: one large dome and many small ones, on the facade - elegant stone lace and arches.

Inside the mausoleum it looks like this:

lower (basement) floor - burial rooms where the remains of members of the Timurid dynasty rest;
the middle and highest floors are huge halls in which services were previously held.

Practical information:

Location Attractions: Mathura Road | Opp Nizamuddin Mosque, New Delhi 110013, India.
Opening hours: 9.00 - 18.00 (you can arrive at other times, but the cashier may not be in place).
Cost: $ 5 for adults, for children and adolescents under 15 years old - free of charge. An audio guide will cost $ 2, and a regular guide will cost $ 5.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

If you still have not decided what to see in New Delhi, take a look at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib - one of the many temples of the city, widely known among believers after the eighth Sikh guru settled here in 1664.

Externally, the building is different from other Indian shrines. Firstly, the dome has a rather unusual shape for India, and, in addition, it is gilded. Secondly, inside the sanctuary there are a lot of gold elements (pillars, walls, arches), so many tourists talk about the similarities with Orthodox and Buddhist temples.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is surrounded on all sides by a picturesque park, on the territory of which there is a pond, in which water has long been considered sacred.

Here are some tips from tourists:

Come to the sanctuary in the evening - when the sun sets, this place looks even more magical and mysterious.
In the dining room at the temple, anyone can dine for free.
Take a look at the tourist center, which is located next to the attraction - there you can get a small book about the sanctuary, as well as the Sikhism pamphlet.
This is one of the few temples where tourists are received very friendly, and do not try to lure money.

Practical information:

Location: Ashoka Road | Connaught Place, next to Grand Post Office, Delhi 110001, India.
Opening hours: 08.00 - 19.00.

Chandni Chowk Market

Chandi Chuok is the largest and most famous market not only in Delhi, but throughout India, where you can find absolutely everything. There are a lot of people here.

The market can be divided into the following parts:

Food market. This is a huge territory where you can buy products: vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices and cereals. Also there are hundreds of shops with fast food, the cost of which is incredibly low. The cooked food here is really high-quality - sellers and buyers know each other well, and cooks are just ashamed to cook from bad products.
Fatehpuri is a mosque located in the center of the market, which serves as a wonderful guide for tourists. We can say that this is a real corner of calm, because here it is very quiet and crowded.
After the mosque begins a more civilized part of the market, consisting of hundreds of small shops. Here you can buy fabrics, women's saris, a variety of hats and accessories.
Old alleys are also a very important part of the market, which creates a unique flavor of the eastern city. Since the market was built in the 17th century, but was constantly being rebuilt, this place is a real history guide where you can see how the life of ordinary Indians has changed.

Please note that in India, one seller always sells only one type of product. That is, if you bought a cake in the shop, it is unlikely that you can also get a bottle of water here. Asians say it would be dishonest to take a penny from other sellers while selling several kinds of things.

Even if you have no desire to buy something, still come and look at these places - it is unlikely that in other cities you will see something like that.

Where to find: Near Red Fort, New Delhi 110006, India.
Opening hours: from early morning until 18.00 - 19.00.

Bahai Lotus Temple

The Lotus Temple is one of the most unusual shrines of India, built at the expense of the followers of the Bahai religion. The building has no straight lines, and its doors are open to all people, all independence from gender, nationality and religion.

There are no clergymen in the temple, and locals often come here to meditate and listen to the singing of prayers.

A detailed description of the temple with a photo is presented on this page.

Red Fort

The Red Fort or Lal Kila is a citadel of the Mughal era, erected in the middle of the 17th century as a palace. For almost 200 years, the building has been the main residence of the Indian emperors and the place of decisive decisions for the country.

The Lal Kila complex includes one large and several small palaces, baths, covered canals, as well as a mosque. The most famous building on the territory of the residence is the Hall of the public audience, in which meetings of the first persons of the state were held. In terms of design, it is also a unique place. 60 red sandstone columns “support” the flat ceiling, and in the center is a large oak table.

The motto of the former imperial residence is: “If there is a paradise in the world, then it is here.”

Tourists are advised to take at least 3 hours to visit this attraction in Delhi, India. There are a lot of interesting places, and you won’t be able to see them quickly.

Location: Netaji Subhash Marg, Delhi 110002, India.
Opening hours: 09.30 - 16.30.
Cost: 40 rupees.

Lodhi Gardens

What you should definitely see in Delhi for 2 days is the Lodi Gardens, a city park in the central part of the city, created in 1936. Located between Khan Market and Dear Lodi. The garden is named after the Afghan dynasty, which ruled in Delhi in the 15-16th centuries.

Despite the relatively small area occupied by the garden (0.36 sq. Km), there are a number of interesting sights. Firstly, these are the ancient tombs of Muhammad Shah, Sikander Lodi, Shish Gumbad and Bara Gumbad. These people were the last Delhi sultans from the families of Saeed and Lodi. Their remains lie in large stone mausoleums scattered in different parts of the park.

Secondly, there are many picturesque reservoirs in the garden, around which local people like to relax after a working day.

Location: Lodhi Road, Delhi 110003, India.

Indian Parliament (Rashtrapati Bhavan)

Rastrapati Bhawan is the official residence of the current President of India. The complex began to be built in the 1910s, but due to a lack of funds, construction was completed only in 1930. Externally, the building resembles the Roman pantheon, and the interior is incredibly lush and rich.

For obvious reasons, you can get into the building only with a guide, after signing up for an excursion on the official website of the residence. This can be done on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. During the tour, tourists can see only a small part of the premises.

Be sure to visit the palace park. Take a look at “Herb Garden”, “Spiritual Garden” and Bonsai Garden, where hundreds of exotic types of flowers are planted every year.

Where is it located: Rajpath, Delhi 110004, India.
Opening hours: 10.00 - 16.00 (Friday and weekends).
Cost: adults - 25 rupees, children - free of charge.
Official website: //presidentofindia.nic.in.

ISKCON Temple

ISKCON or Radhi-Parthasaratha - one of the most unusual temple complexes in Delhi. It was built in 1998 at the expense of followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism movement. The architectural style is Hindu, and the author of the project is Achut Kanwind.

ISKCON is an international society for Krishna consciousness, founded in 1966 by a Bengal monk. ISKCON represents the course of Gaudia Vaishnavism, the most influential branch of Vaishnavism.

The building has three domes of unusual shape and structure, which are difficult to compare with anything. Inside there are more than 20 halls and rooms for priests. Tourists can get into only a few rooms:

Library. This is one of the largest libraries in New Delhi, which houses more than 2,000 books written both by authors known throughout the world and by local priests. There is also a multimedia screen where you can watch films dedicated to other ISKCON temples.
Main hall. This is the largest room of the temple, interesting in terms of architecture and design.
Museum of Vedic Culture. This is a small room where you can get acquainted with the philosophical and Vedic heritage of India.
The Vedic Research Center is intended for students of neighboring universities and teachers who can conduct seminars, conferences and meetings with scientists here.

If we talk about the religious movement of Gaudiya-Vaishnavism itself, it is worth noting that believers have a strict daily routine, so you should not come to the temple from 13.00 to 16.00. At this time they are praying.

Location: Sant Nagar Main Road | Hare Krishna Hill, East of Kailash, Delhi 110065, India.
Opening hours: 4.00 - 13.00, 16.15 - 21.00.

Hauz Khas Village

What is worth seeing in Delhi on your own is the House Kas - this is a small part of the ancient city that existed earlier on the site of Delhi in the 12-13th centuries. The district got its name due to the proximity of the reservoir, and with Farsi it translates as “the royal reservoir”.

In the middle of the last century, the area was newly built up, however, many authentic parts of the city of Siri were still managed to be preserved. For example, there was a network of ancient cenotaphs and a city seminary, which are now the center of Islamic education in New Delhi.

However, the main attraction of Delhi in the area of House Kas is the royal reservoir. After the reconstruction, it decreased in size and became like a lake, however, the authorities preserved a beautiful local landscape and planted a huge number of trees.

Also be sure to visit the deer park, which includes:

rose garden;
territory in which deer live;
long alleys;
recreation area by the reservoir.

A little-known part of the House-Kas district is a pedestrian street with famous brand boutiques, bookstores, nightclubs, art galleries and unusual restaurants. Such areas are not peculiar to India, therefore this place is often called the "National Capital of Ethnic Chic." Here you can also find 5 * hotels and look at wealthy Indians.

Be sure to visit the local Khan market. It is very small, and there are not many people here.

Delhi's attractions are incredibly diverse, and every tourist will find in this city something interesting for himself.

All the secrets of night Delhi: