Loading...The ever so glorious Delhi has always been an important centre for India that boasts some of the most iconic historical monuments, forts, palaces and attractions in the country. If you want to savour the quintessential charm of this bejewelled city then just check out these famous tourist attractions in Delhi.
India Gate: India’s most coveted monument, India Gate is a memorial built in 1931 in the honour of the martyrs of World War I and the Anglo-Afghan War. The structure is illuminated with lights during the evening which lures many visitors to throng here. The plush gardens that align the structure are a must visit place among Delhities.
Entry Fee: Free
Opening Hours: Always open
Red Fort: Showcasing the intricate Mughal architecture which has proved its mettle from time anon, Delhi’s Red Fort never fails to entice the tourists with its amazing masonry. This outstanding structure built in 1638 is made out of red sandstone. At Red Fort, you can relish the sound and light show which is held here every evening.
Entry Fee: Free for children under 15, INR 10 for Indians, and INR 250 for foreigners
Opening Hours: 9 am to 6 pm, closed on Mondays
Rashtrapati Bhawan: Strategically located opposite to Rajpath, this palatial residence of the President of India is another name for ‘aristocracy’. The Rashtrapati Bhawan boasts four floors, each having 340 rooms housed in a floor area of 200,000 square feet. The building has well manicured presidential gardens, large open spaces, residences of bodyguards and staff, stables, offices and other amenities. Rashtrapati Bhawan is not a typical place and the access to this majestic place is highly restricted but that doesn’t stop the tourists from admiring its beauty from outside.
Humayun’s Tomb: Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Humayun’s Tomb was built by Haji Begum in the memory of her late husband Humayun in the year 1570. A marvel of Persian architecture, the Humayun’s Tomb is unarguably the finest work of Mughal architecture, after which Taj Mahal was designed.
Entry Fee: INR 30 for adults and INR 500 for foreigners
Opening Hours: Daily, up till sunset. Best viewed in the morning or on a full moon evening.
Qutab Minar: The swankiest structure in India’s history, Qutab Minar is a 73-metre high brick minaret which was built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, after having victory over the last Hindu Kingdom. The structure is believed to commemorate the victory and beginning of the Mughal Era in India. This five storey building showcases the marvellous stone carvings and is revered for being the tallest tower in India. The first three stories of Qutab Minar were made out of red stone while the last two stories were made out of marble and sandstone. Quwwat-ul-Islam located at the foot of Qutab Minar is hailed as India’s first ever mosque.
Entry Fee: INR 30 for Indians and INR 500 for foreigners
Opening Hours: Open all days from sunrise to sunset
Jantar Mantar: Established in 1724 AD as an astronomical observatory by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur, the once famous Jantar Mantar’s instruments known for their ingenuity are no longer accurate due to the construction of the tall buildings around. Still many tourists come to admire this astounding structure which gives a tribute to the Indian astronomy.
Entry Fee: INR 5 for Indian and INR 100 for foreigners
Opening Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Lotus Temple: One of the most beautiful stone structures in India, the pristine white Lotus Temple in Delhi is designed as a half bloomed lotus flower. Lotus symbolizes four religions namely Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Jainism. Out of the seven major Bahai temples around the world, the Lotus temple in Delhi was the last one to be constructed. This pictorial temple has a pleasant aura and remains open for prayers and meditation to people belonging to different religions.
Entry Fee: Free
Opening Hours: From 9 am till sunset
Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple: Treasured as the largest Hindu temple in the world, Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple is a place where the faith of many devotees abides. This magnificent temple is built from granite and marbles brought from different parts of the world. The temple houses a museum, several parks including a huge cultural centre which altogether sprawls over 12 acres of land. One can pay obeisance at the temple, visit the cultural centre, indulge in prayer sessions or enjoy boating at the water canals of the temple.
Entry Fee: For Adults (INR 170), senior citizen (INR 125), children between 4 to 11yrs (INR 100) and free for children below 4yrs
Opening Hours: Open on all days from Tue to Sun (9:30 am to 6:30 pm)
Jama Masjid: A sacred place of worship for the Muslims, Jama Masjid built by Shah Jahan is the largest mosque in India. A noted structure in India’s history, Jama Masjid can hold more than 25,000 devotees at a single time. The mosque has three gates, four towers and two minarets made from a combination of red sandstone and white marble.
Entry fee: Free, but videography fee is INR 300
Opening Hours: Daily, 7 am-12 pm: 1:30 pm-6:30 pm. It is closed during prayers and the timings depends upon the direction of the moon
Bangla Sahib Gurudwara: Exhibiting a pristine lake flowing inside the complex, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is a holy place of the Sikh community. It was first built as a small temple by Sikh General, Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783. The complex comprises of a higher secondary school, Baba Baghel Singh Museum, a library and a hospital.
Entry Fee: Free
Opening Hour: Everyday
Old Fort: Purana Qila or Old Fort as the name suggests is one of the oldest forts in Delhi which is standing in utmost grandeur since the ancient times. Having rectangular dimensions, the Purana Qila is spread over a circuit of nearly 2 kilometers. Many tourists enjoy boating at the nearby lake or savour the sound and light show that takes place here every evening.
Entry Fee: INR 5 for domestic, INR 100 for foreigners
Opening Hour: 7 am to 5 pm
Hauz Khas Fort and Village: Resting amidst the colossal lake is the Hauz Khas Fort complex which is one of the best places to visit in Delhi. Built in the 13th century, Hauz Khas Fort complex is a hot spot for the tourists, a bird watcher’s delight and a picnic spot for the locals. This famous tourist attraction owes its credit to Firoz Shah Tughlaq who re-excavated the silted tank and cleared the channels to give shape to this famous recreational spot nestled in South Delhi.
Entry fee: Free
Opening Hour: Sunrise to sunset
National Museum Delhi: Favoured for history, relics and educational information, the National Museum in Delhi offers a deep insight into the kernels Indian history. Beautifully capturing India’s history in a nutshell, the National Museum Delhi exhibits the artifacts ranging from Harappan civilization to British Colonial Era. It is India’s largest museum that displays Mughal era paintings, coins from Gupta dynasty and relics from Mauryan Empire.
Entry Fee: 20 INR for Indians, 650 INR for Foreigners and free for school children
Opening Hour: Open daily except Monday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Lodhi Gardens: The opulent Lodhi Garden is one of the best places in Delhi to have an escapade with family and friends. Generously sprawling over 90 acres of lavish land, the Lodhi Garden is an excellent place to relax, walk, jog and to enjoy the fresh breeze of nature. This well-manicured garden was made by the British in 1936 around the toms of the rules belonging to 15th and 16th century.
Entry Fee: Free
Opening Hours: Open all days from sunrise to sunset.
Dilli Haat: Run and managed by Delhi Tourism Authority (DTTDC), Dilli Haat near INA is an open air food plaza and a craft bazaar, a place to buy the handicraft items. Artists and craftsmen hailing from different regions showcase and sell their handicraft items here. If you are a foodie then you must visit this place to tickle your taste buds with delectable cuisines.
Entry fee: INR 20
Opening hours: 10 am to 10 pm, Daily
Leave a Reply