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The capital of India requires time to reveal itself
Fascinating city of contrasts, it harmoniously blends the past and the present and offers visitors a multitude of historical monuments and cultural and natural sites to explore.
Capital of yesterday and today, both a city and a state of the Indian Union, 'Dilli', as the Indians affectionately call it, is a sprawling megacity where the traveller walks without ever getting lost.
In perpetual motion, Delhi is the place where modernity and Mughal and British legacies coexist.
Air-conditioned automobiles drive around New Delhi's broad and shaded avenues, as rickshaws make their way through the twisting alleys of Chandni Chowk. In contrast to old Shahjahanabad's ancient havelis, the Lutyens' Zone boasts opulent colonial houses with spotless lawns. The immaculate shopping malls, giants of steel and glass where global brands are showcased, stand in stark contrast to the small shops in the crowded bazaars. The buildings of the new century continue to invade the suburbs and drift further away from the medieval fortifications, the Mughal forts, and the ancient wells of the city centre.
The numerous parks in the southern part of the city are the lungs of the megacity. Even the largest ones are havens of peace. The Lodhi Gardens, Nehru Park, Sunder Nursery, and the green lawns of the ceremonial boulevard Kartavya Path are all bubbles of calm and greenery. The population loves to gather there in the evening or on weekends to enjoy an ice cream or have a picnic.
Besides the buildings dating back to the city's construction by the British, Delhi boasts a rich heritage inherited from ancient empires. Impossible to present here in their entirety as they are numerous, the sites and monuments traverse the history of the city. Three of them are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among the most important are Qutub Minar (12th century), the third tallest minaret in the world and the tallest in India, Humayun Tomb (16th century), the tomb of the second Mughal emperor, and the Red Fort (17th century), the Mughal imperial residence from which, on August 15th, the Indian Prime Minister addresses the nation to commemorate the country's Independence. Jantar Mantar (18th century), an astronomical observatory built by the Maharaja of Jaipur, and Raj Ghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi erected at the site of his cremation in 1948, are also on the list of major sites and monuments in New Delhi.
For over a thousand years, for varying lengths of time, New Delhi has hosted the seat of the central government of India. With 33 million inhabitants (in 2024), the second largest megacity in the world after Tokyo is a melting pot of religions, cultures, languages, and other traditions brought by migrants from all regions of the country.
New Delhi is a fascinating capital in constant evolution
It takes several days of visit to discover all (or almost all) of these treasures.
The city being an amalgamation of several towns built at different times throughout its millennium-long history, each of them has contributed its share of additional kilometres by extending its boundaries. As a result, there are lengthy commutes within the megacity, along with congested traffic and challenging parking.
However, by dividing the visit into several parts, the visitor will be able to appreciate the uniqueness of each neighbourhood.
New Delhi can be visited all year round. In the cold of the winter of December–January, the monsoon rains from July to September, or the extreme heat before summer, each period offers a different light and atmosphere in the capital.
As the starting point for trips throughout North India, especially Rajasthan, we always factor in a full day to see the sights and monuments of New Delhi.
For Delhi has consistently served as a great introduction to India.
Here is an overview of the sights and monuments to explore while in New Delhi
HUMAYUN'S TOMB
It is one of the most pleasant places in New Delhi. It is also surprisingly quiet considering its location between a busy road and the main railway line.
Humayun (1508–1556) is probably the least known of the great Mughals. He is the son of Babur (1483–1530), the founder of the dynasty, and the father of Akbar (1542–1606), certainly the most famous Mughal emperor of them all.
The tomb, built under Akbar's instructions long after his father's death, was completed in 1571 after about eight years of work. Constructed sixty years before the incredible Taj Mahal, Humayun's Tomb was, at the time, very innovative.
The architectural merits lie in the superb exterior proportions and the unadorned ornamentation. The building, an elegant octagonal structure in Persian style, is crowned with a double dome that reaches a height of 38 meters.
In red sandstone inlaid with white and black marble, the monument rests on a high platform oriented towards the Yamuna River, the base of which contains seventeen arched openings leading to small funerary chambers. The main chamber, inside the tomb, is very austere, certainly very different from what it was when Niccolao Manucci (1638–1717), a Venetian writer, saw it and described it as having "many paintings and stones of various types, and the dome ceiling is gilded." Humayun's cenotaph is a simple block of marble in the middle of the main chamber. Dozens of other cenotaphs are also located inside or on the platform of the tomb. Most of them are unidentified, but many members of the Mughal dynasty and the imperial family were buried there during or after the glory of the Empire. The tomb of Humayun is the first in a long series of dynastic tombs, innovative in various respects, particularly because it introduces the garden tomb in India. Humayun's Tomb is located at the center of a vast park, with divisions marked by elevated walkways, each having narrow water channels leading to pools at most intersections. The legend says that Humayun's tomb served as a model for the construction of the Taj Mahal. Today, the site has regained all its splendour thanks to a major restoration program for the building and gardens. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1993, it is a must-see among the sites and monuments of New Delhi.
Open from sunrise to 9:00 PM
Adult tariff 600 Rs. Free < 15
INDIA GATE
Located in the heart of the capital and standing 42 meters tall, the All India War Memorial Arch, more commonly known as India Gate, was designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and dedicated to the nation in 1931.
The arch, which was modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, honours the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The unknown soldier's tomb lies beneath the arch, just like in Paris. A monument to Lutyens' architectural skill, the arch is embellished with sculptures and elaborate decorative patterns and is engraved with the names of troops who served on several fronts.
The entire building rises in layers to a massive cornice on a low base of red sandstone from Bharatpur. The imperial suns are inscribed on the cornice, and the dates 1914 and 1919 are displayed in Roman numerals on either side of the arch, along with the caption INDIA.
Particularly during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, the expansive gardens that encircle the monument make the ideal location for walks. The mob gathers there all year long, followed by street merchants and vendors selling food and other delicacies. On Republic Day, however, when the monument becomes the centre of national pride, the most spectacular spectacle occurs. A large procession is held along Kartavya Path (previously Rajpath) on January 26th, Republic Day. After that, the army contingents mix with colourful allegorical floats, schoolchildren, and folk dancers who join the procession, giving the celebration a more cultural touch. At the end of the day, in the setting sun, the traveller enjoys the walk between the presidential palace and the India Gate, which, bathed in the warm glow of the spotlights, takes on a new face. With the surrounding fountains coming to life, the monument, now magnificently illuminated, stands like a beacon of memory and national pride. This nocturnal show provides a unique viewpoint on one of Delhi's most iconic locations.
Free and open access
SAFDARJUNG'S TOMB
The Tomb of Safdarjung, built in 1754, commemorates the life and legacy of Nawab Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan, better known by his title, Safdarjung. Noble and military leader originally from Persia, he was the powerful and influential prime minister of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah.
This magnificent mausoleum stands in the middle of a vast garden known as "char-bagh," typically Mughal, divided into four equal quarters by water channels and adorned with lawns and meticulously maintained flowerbeds. Fusion of Mughal and Persian architectural styles, the tomb features intricate sculptures and a large dome.
Designed by his son in the mid-18th century, the Tomb of Safdarjung resembles the famous Tomb of Humayun, significantly contributing to the architectural landscape of Delhi.
The site is surrounded by high walls. You enter through a grand door, decorated prolifically with painted muqarnas.
The first hall has a richly decorated stucco ceiling (sculpted and moulded plaster), a material found in many rooms of the complex (including the rauza or cenotaph chamber of Safdarjung). Where the early emperors and wealthier Mughal nobles would have used white marble, later Mughals used finely polished limestone plaster, a less expensive alternative but a sign of the relative poverty of the time. New, its white and shiny appearance was entirely satisfactory. Facing the grand entrance gate and separated from it by a long canal (similar in style to the Tomb of Humayun or the Taj Mahal) lies the centrepiece of the funerary complex, the Tomb of Safdarjung. Resting on a high platform adorned with a facade of three two-tiered arches and topped with an unattractive bulbous dome, the tomb appears incorrectly proportioned. Minarets occupy each corner, projecting windows (or jarokhas) adorn the facade, and a short staircase leads to the platform. In a large hall adorned with arched doors on all four sides and featuring an inscription resembling an obituary, lies the cenotaph of Safdarjung. On the floor, a strip of pietra dura inlay welcomes the visitor; it is one of the few signs of opulence at the site. The funeral hall, modest in size, features a ceiling richly adorned with incised plaster. In the centre, Safdarjung's cenotaph is a heavily carved piece of white marble. This central hall provides access to eight side rooms, four square and four octagonal. Few travellers visit the Safdarjung Tomb. Yet, even though it does not have the fame of the Humayun Tomb or the Taj Mahal, its historical and architectural significance is immense. Its gardens are an oasis of tranquillity, and the monument is a delight for photographers. Last of the imposing Mughal-style mausoleums built in India, it truly deserves a visit. This is even more true at sunset or when the monument is illuminated in the evening.
Open from sunrise to 9:00 PM
Adult tariff 600 Rs. Free < 15
Shajahanabad, the Old Delhi
For more than 30 years in the 17th century, the planned city of Shah Jahan flourished, with the Red Fort as its epicentre. It was not only the capital of the Mughal Empire; it was also a cultural centre where art, poetry, music, and craftsmanship thrived.
Today, Chandni Chowk is bustling and it is a truly exciting experience to stroll through the narrow alleys or zigzag in a rickshaw through the crowded streets.
Parks and nature heavens
Street food at every corner
Other monuments of Delhi
Explore the local bazaars
Evening lights