Must See Tourist Places in Delhi
As the capital of India, Delhi has an interesting history and it is stamped all over the city. From the Mughal era to the colonial times to the present day, it’s as if this city is embossed with layers upon layers of history. Every place in Delhi has a story to tell, each telling a different and diverse story, and that is what makes it so popular among tourists to India. Some places in Delhi are quite popular tourist attractions and most international travellers who visit India and Delhi in particular make sure to pay a visit to those places and there are also places that are not quite as popular or well-known but equally worth seeing. This is a compilation of all such places in Delhi that you absolutely must see if you are planning on visiting India and Delhi specifically.
Safdarjung's Tomb
The last monumental tomb of its kind ever to be made in Delhi, the Tomb of Safdarjung, with its stunning Mughal architectural style, is made up of dark red-brown sandstone embellished with some white design and a white marble dome that looks striking against the red. Constructed like an enclosed garden, much like Humayun’s Tomb, it is surrounded by a huge garden made in the style of a Charbagh that’s divided into 4 squares, footpaths, and water canals. The main attraction of the tomb is the intricately designed mausoleum of white marble inside although the actual graves of Safdarjung and his wife are in an underground chamber. Inside the monument there are also several rooms and a library. The garden tomb is beautiful with all its ancient and rustic charm and the monument looks spectacular against the backdrop of a blue sky. It might take you at least an hour to see the tomb in its entirety but it will be an hour well spent.
Humayun's Tomb
A UNESCO World Heritage Site today, Humayun’s Tomb was the inspiration for Safdarjung’s Tomb and is undoubtedly the grander of the 2. In fact, it was India’s first garden tomb and inspired the Taj Mahal as well. Built by Persian and Indian craftsmen together, it started a new era for Islamic architecture. It too is surrounded by a beautiful Charbagh and canals. Standing on top of a wide terrace, the monument has an imposing structure with a huge dome adorned with white ceramic tiles. The grandeur of its design and architecture is unparalleled anywhere else in Delhi. And a fascinating fact about it is that there are over 150 Mughal family members are buried within it. The tomb is also located near the Shrine of the 14th century Sufi Saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, and is surrounded by other smaller medieval Islamic buildings. A testament to the craft of the Mughal builders, you just cannot visit Delhi without visiting this tomb.
Lotus Temple
This is 1 of the most interesting temples in Delhi. Built by the Bahai Faith, it is a Bahai House of Worship which is a space open to people of all religions to gather and worship at. Sacred texts of any religion may be read here and prayers sung. It is a democratizing place of worshipping, quite a unique concept. It is also a stunningly beautiful work of architecture, made in the shape of a flower, in particular the lotus, with clusters of petal-like structures composed of marble. The interior of the temple is also dazzling with light coming in through the lattice like spaces in between each petal-like structure. The temple also has ponds and gardens surrounding it on the outside and there is also an information centre. The Lotus Temple has also won several awards for its architecture. It’s definitely a place that you shouldn’t miss out on the experience of seeing in person.
Agrasen Ki Baoli
Another interesting monument in Delhi, this ancient step well is famous for many reasons. Although the well is pretty much dry these days, there were many such water temples and step well temples built in ancient times. There are no official historical records to show who it was built by but legend goes that it was King Agrasen who had the Baoli built and then it was later rebuilt by the Tughlaqs during the Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century. Baoli means ‘steps’ in Hindi and the monument has 108 of those built over 3 levels with arched niches all around the steps. It is popular for having been featured in movies and for the urban legend of it being haunted at night. It's a place unlike any other and you wouldn’t want to leave Delhi without seeing witnessing its mystical and beguiling beauty.
Dilli Haat
You shouldn’t restrict yourself to monuments and temples when you visit Delhi but also experience the present day culture of Delhi. This is a huge market in Delhi that features handicraft from all over India. Craftsmen from wide and varied places in India come here to sell their authentic goods at reasonable prices, helping them stay economically afloat and helping Indian Handicraft to flourish in a time when mass produced and machine produced goods are the norm otherwise. The market has the ambience of a village market or a traditional rural Haat which adds to the authenticity of the experience. There is also delicious local food from all corners of the country available here. It truly depicts the richness of the Indian culture and you wouldn’t regret visiting it.
Jaipur is also close to New Delhi. If you are arriving on Indian Visa (eVisa India) then you can take advantage of its proximity to New Delhi. We have covered places to visit in Jaipur.
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