Delhi

India's capital, with three UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and the Qutb Minar), the street food of Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk and New Delhi's colonial-era central axis.

Delhi is India's capital, on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northwest of the Gangetic Plain. It consists of Old Delhi and New Delhi, and the metropolitan area has more than 30 million people. Old Delhi is Shahjahanabad, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, where the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and the spice market are packed into labyrinthine lanes. New Delhi is the capital planned by the British in 1931, with broad, grand vistas of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kartavya Path, India Gate and Connaught Place. Delhi has three World Heritage Sites (the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and the Qutb Minar), as well as monuments from successive Delhi sultanates in Lodi Garden, Hauz Khas and Mehrauli, and a diverse range of religious sites including gurdwaras, Sufi shrines, the Lotus Temple and Akshardham.

Climate: October to March is cool and dry and is the best season, though early mornings from November to January often bring severe smog; April to June temperatures exceed 40°C; July to September is monsoon season.

Getting there: there are direct flights to Delhi from several Chinese cities, taking about 6–7 hours. Chinese passport holders must arrange an Indian visa in advance (follow the embassy's latest policy). The Airport Express reaches the city center in about 20 minutes, and the metro covers most attractions (the Yellow Line serves Old Delhi and the Qutb Minar, and the Blue Line serves Connaught Place and Akshardham). Uber or Ola is the easiest way to get a taxi. Delhi is also the starting point of the "Golden Triangle" route; trips to Agra (the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur are each separate excursions.

Recommended stay: 2–3 days: one day for Old Delhi and the New Delhi central axis, one day for Humayun's Tomb, Lodi Garden and the monuments of South Delhi, plus a day for museums, temples and markets. Tips: remove your shoes and cover shoulders and knees at religious sites; beware of fake "tourist information offices" and touts for auto-rickshaws near stations and attractions, and trust only official ticket counters; drink only bottled water and choose hygienic restaurants; women should avoid walking alone at night.

Top sights

• Red Fort – A red sandstone palace built by Shah Jahan when he moved the capital to Delhi in 1648. Every year on Independence Day, India's Prime Minist…
• Humayun's Tomb – The first Mughal garden tomb, completed in 1570 and the prototype for the Taj Mahal. Its red sandstone and white marble quadrant garden is…
• Qutb Minar – A 73-metre brick minaret begun in 1193, the tallest brick tower in the world, with the ruins of India's earliest mosque and a 1,600-year-ol…
• India Gate – A 42-metre war memorial arch to soldiers killed in the First World War, the eastern landmark of New Delhi's ceremonial avenue and a public…
• Chandni Chowk – The main street of Old Delhi, laid out in 1650 under Shah Jahan, with lanes of spice, silver and wedding goods and century-old snack shops…
• Swaminarayan Akshardham – A temple complex completed in 2005, the largest Hindu temple complex in the world, with pink sandstone and white marble carved with deities…
• Jama Masjid – One of India's largest mosques, completed by Shah Jahan in 1656, with three domes of red sandstone and white marble and a courtyard that ho…
• Lotus Temple – A Bahá'í House of Worship completed in 1986. Its lotus shape, made of 27 white marble petals, makes it one of Delhi's most modern-looking b…
• Rashtrapati Bhavan – The former residence of the British viceroy of India, now the Presidential Palace. Lutyens designed its great dome, which blends classical…
• Raj Ghat – The cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of the Yamuna river. An eternal flame burns on a black marble platform, and it is one of…
• Lodhi Garden – A large urban park in central New Delhi, where 15th- and 16th-century tombs from the Lodi and Sayyid dynasties dot the greenery. It is a fa…
• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib – Delhi's most important Sikh temple, with a golden dome reflected in its sacred pool. Its free langar kitchen serves tens of thousands of pe…
• Hauz Khas Complex & Village – On the shores of a 13th-century royal reservoir, the complex preserves the tomb of Firuz Shah and the ruins of an Islamic college. Next doo…
• Mehrauli Archaeological Park – A large wooded area beside the Qutub Minar, scattered with more than 100 monuments from different eras, including the Jamali Kamali Mosque…
• Safdarjung's Tomb – A late Mughal garden tomb completed in 1754, often called 'the last flourish of Mughal architecture.' It draws far fewer visitors than Huma…
• Purana Qila – A citadel built in the 16th century by Humayun and Sher Shah, with a towering city wall and grand gates, an exquisite mosque inside, and a…
• Agrasen ki Baoli – An ancient stepwell hidden among high-rise buildings. Some 60 metres long, its 108 steps descend level by level, making it one of Delhi's m…
• Jantar Mantar, New Delhi – An ancient observatory built in 1724 by Jai Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur. Its giant sundial and unusually shaped measuring instruments make…
• National Museum, New Delhi – One of India's largest museums, with collections spanning the Harappan Civilization, Gandharan Buddha statues, Mughal miniature paintings a…
• Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah – The 14th-century tomb of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin. On Thursday evenings, Sufi qawwali music fills the crowded lanes with a spiritual atmos…
• Connaught Place – A commercial district of white colonnaded circles, planned during the British colonial era and packed with restaurants, bars and brand-name…
• Dilli Haat (INA) – An open-air market of handicrafts and food, where textiles, wood carvings, jewelry and local snacks from India's states come together in on…
• Tughlaqabad Fort – A vast abandoned city built by the Tughlaq dynasty in the 14th century. Its thick, crumbling walls stretch for kilometres, creating a scene…
• Gandhi Smriti – The Birla House, where Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life. He was assassinated while walking through the garden to evening prayers…
• National Rail Museum – An open-air railway museum covering about 4 hectares, with over a hundred vintage locomotives and royal saloon cars. A toy train circles th…
• Chhatarpur Temple – A large complex of white marble temples dedicated to the goddess Katyayani, with intricate carvings. It is one of the largest temple comple…
• Sunder Nursery – A restored Mughal heritage park beside Humayun's Tomb, where 15 monuments are scattered among gardens, water channels and small lakes. It i…
• Khari Baoli Spice Market – One of Asia's largest spice wholesale markets, where bags of chilies, turmeric and dried fruit are stacked high. From the rooftop of Gadodi…
• Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir) – A Hindu temple inaugurated by Gandhi in 1939, with a striking red-and-white tower. It was opened to all castes and religions.
• Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya – A museum opened in 2022 that uses immersive multimedia to tell the story of India's prime ministers and the nation's development since inde…

Where to eat

• Karim's (Jama Masjid) – A famous Mughlai restaurant in Old Delhi opened in 1913, tucked away in a narrow alley near Jama Masjid, renowned for i…
• Indian Accent – A pioneer of modern Indian cuisine located at The Lodhi hotel, consistently ranked among Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, re…
• Bukhara (ITC Maurya) – A legendary tandoori restaurant at the ITC Maurya hotel, famous for its slow-cooked black lentils and whole roasted leg…
• Moti Mahal (Daryaganj) – A historic eatery established in Daryaganj in 1947, closely tied to the legendary origins of butter chicken and dal mak…
• Sita Ram Diwan Chand – A legendary Paharganj eatery serving chole bhature since 1950, famous for its paneer-stuffed fried bread—a classic Delh…
• Pandit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan – An iconic eatery established in 1872 in Paranthe Wali Gali, serving deep-fried vegetarian paranthas with a wide variety…
• Andhra Bhawan Canteen – An affordable canteen inside the state government guesthouse near India Gate, beloved by locals for its Andhra thali an…

Itineraries

• Delhi, Agra & Jaipur Golden Triangle – A classic loop from Delhi to the Taj Mahal and the Pink City, perfect for first-time visitors to North India.
• Vrindavan, Mathura & Agra Pilgrimage – A short trip south from Delhi to the Krishna pilgrimage sites of Braj, followed by the Taj Mahal in Agra.
• Rishikesh Rafting & Mussoorie Hill Station – A short getaway from Delhi featuring yoga and rafting by the Ganges, followed by the hill station of Mussoorie.
• Delhi to Varanasi Ganges Plains Cultural Route – A cultural journey from Delhi to Varanasi via Agra, Orchha, and Khajuraho.
• Grand Rajasthan Desert & Forts Loop – A grand loop from Delhi covering Shekhawati, desert fortresses, Udaipur, Pushkar, and Jaipur.
• Central India Heritage Trail: Delhi to Indore – A cultural journey heading south from Delhi through Gwalior, Khajuraho, and Sanchi to Malwa.
• Kumaon Lake District & Corbett Tiger Safari – Head north from Delhi to the Nainital Lake District, then visit Jim Corbett National Park for a tiger safari.