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TOP 5 PLACES IN DELHI
1: QUTUB MINAR
Qutub Minar, the 238 feet tall minaret, is a matter of pride for Delhi Tourism, so much so that it is featured on the tokens & travel cards issued by the DMRC. Take a closer look next time you are issued one! It was in 1993 that UNESCO declared it a heritage site and is the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks.
The minar though, is a part of the Qutub complex, which consists of other significanthistorical structures like Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Iron Pillar and a pillared cuppola called “Smith’s Folly” (because Major Robert Smith of the British Indian Army thought he was enhacing its aesthetic value by creating a 6th storey by adding the cupola, only to realize how silly it looked & having it removed).
Qutub Minar also finds a place in any list of top 10 most visited tourist attractions by foreign tourists in Delhi.
Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. It remains closed on Sundays.
Entry fee: INR 40 for Indians, SAARC & BIMSTEC, INR 600 for Foreigners, Free for children up to 15 years.
Nearest metro station: Qutub Minar
2 :AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE
Timings: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibition fee: 220 INR for adults, 170 INR for senior citizens, 120 INR for children from 4 to 11 years.
Nearest metro station: Akshardham Mandir
A sightseeing tour in Delhi is incomplete without visiting the Akshardham Temple, particularly so for those with a spiritual bent of mind. Built in 2005, it finds a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple. That is reason enough to visit it.
The architecture dominates the skyline as well as the minds of those who visit it. There is also a stepwell within the temple complex, believed to be the largest in India. The prime attraction is the idol of Lord Swaminarayana along with 20,000 deities.
3: CONNAUGHT PLACE
To others, it’s Connaught Place, to Delhiites, it’s simply “CP”. You will recognise it from a distance by its colonnade and the rows of swanky stores with globally renowned brands, besides fast food chains, bars and restaurants. This is still the go to place for those that prefer the traditionally stylish way of doing things, or spending a day out.
What should you know before visiting it is that there are 2 concentric circles: Inner Circle & Outer Circle. Other than Hauz Khas, this is where most of Delhi’s nightlife comes to life, making it the best place to visit for couples in Delhi!
Timings (for the markets): 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM (except Sundays)
Nearest metro station: Rajiv Chowk
4 :HAMAYUNS ,S TOMB
Timings: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: 10 INR for Indians & 250 INR for Foreigners (Adults), Video Filming: 25 INR, Photography: Free.
Nearest metro station: Jor Bagh
Humayun’s Tomb is first in two things: it was the first garden tomb on the subcontinent of India and also the first structure built using red sandstone. This famous tourist attraction of Delhi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
The white dome and the Mughal Gardens, both compete for your attention upon your visit. Its construction was commissioned by Empress Bega Begum, the first wife of Emperor Humayun. Today, the mausoleum houses the remains of several famous Mughal emperors, wives, sons and descendants.
5 :NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK
- Adults – INR 40.
- Children (below 3 ft.) – Free.
- Children (between 3-5ft)- INR 20.
- Senior Citizens- INR 40.
Try including the National Zoological Park during your Delhi Darshan Sightseeing Tour. You will have a wonderful time watching the various animals, particularly the visitors’ favourites like Royal Bengal Tiger, spider monkey, chimpanzee, hippopotamus and Indian Rhinoceros.
Bird lovers can spot exotic birds like the Great Indian Hornbill, while reptiles like Indian Cobra, diadem snake and Indian Sand Boa always manage to extract admiration from visitors.
Timings: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Entry Fee for Indians:
TOP 3 MESEUMS DELHI
1: AIR FORCE MUSEUMS
Address : Palam, Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi – 110010
Timing : 10.00 AM – 05:00 PM
Closed : Monday, Tuesday and Public Holidays
Air Force Museum
Situated at the Palam Air Force Station in Delhi, the Indian Air Force Museum displays a huge collection of aeroplanes and armoury reflecting the Indian Air force history. It showcases the great achievements of the Indian Air Force along with the best of what it has stood for in the war and peace.
This museum of the Indian Air Force is worth visiting for children, tourists and aviation enthusiasts. It offers an enriching experience along with the in-depth information from the early days when Indian aviators flew for the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War to the Kargil Operations.
2 : NATIONAL HANDICRAFT,S AND HANDLOOMS MEUSUMS
Address : Bhairon Road, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi – 110001
Timing : 09:30 AM – 05:00 PM (July to September) & 09:30 AM – 06:00 PM (October to June)
Closed : Monday and Public Holidays
National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum
The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum well known as the National Crafts Museum in Delhi is one of the largest crafts museums in India. It functions under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
The Crafts Museum complex is an attractive retreat located in the middle of the chaos of Delhi. It comprises of mud huts with thatched roofs, painted walls and courtyards, craftsmen at work, etc. These are some of the aspects that add to the rural appearance of the place. This is a museum of traditional Indian crafts, folk and tribal paintings, metalware, clay and terracotta pots, wooden carvings and images, toys and images, textiles and jewellery. It is worth exploring for all the art and handicraft lovers.
3 :NATIONAL POLICE MEUSEUM
Address : Block No. 4, CGO complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi
Timing : 10:00 AM – 05:00 PM
Closed : Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
National Police Museum
Established in the year 1991, the National Police Museum showcase the items associated with police working, criminals and crimes from ancient to modern times. Collected from State Police Forces, Central Police Forces of India and of Foreign Countries, the displayed items include weapons, images, forged documents, counterfeiter equipment and various other accessories.
TOP 3 POPULAR ART GALLERIES
1: NATIONAL GALLARY OF MORDERN ART DELHI
Modern Art has always been the voice of society, highlighting the social and cultural malpractices, voicing the voiceless and pushing the boundary of what art can do in the society. One of the places to witness such modern arts is the National Gallery of Modern Arts. Situated at the end of Rajpath, National Gallery of Modern Art has brought the heart to the center of Delhi.
Modern art has always been upfront and rebellious against the social norms and this is evident in the art exhibited at the gallery. Paintings of various historic rebels are a part of the exhibitions. Artists like Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Varma, Gajendra Nath Tagore, Amrita Sher-Gil, Abindranath Tagore, S.H Raza, and Tyeb
2 :LALIT KALA AKADEMI DELHI
Knock at doors of this bewitching place and adore an array of masterpieces that will surely keep you engaged at Lalit Kala Akademi. Established by Government of India on 5 August 1954, Lalit Kala Akademi, also known as National Academy of Art, is an autonomous entity which was founded by the Ministry of Culture. Not just this, the Akademi is serving as the leading cultural body in the sector of visual arts in India, and thus, is also one of the popular tourist attractions in Delhi for art lovers. For a long time, Lalit Kala Akademi is pioneering the arts domain and showcasing the world the beauty of Indian art. It does so by providing scholarships,
3 : TRIVENI KALA SANGAM DELHI
For all the aspiring photographers, dancers, artists and sculptors, Triveni Kala Sangam is a perfect place to visit on a Delhi vacation. Situated right opposite to FICCI Auditorium, Triveni Kala Sangam is a multi-faceted art and educational complex that teaches various forms of Indian arts, including classical Indian dance, contemporary painting, classical Indian music, sculpture, glass art, and more such compelling arts. Triveni Kala Sangam was established in 1950 by late Sundari K. Shridharani with an aim to create a platform for the artists in order to promote classical forms of music and dance along with various other arts. Since TKS is pioneering the art sphere, not just in Delhi but in the entire
TOP 3 RESTURANT IN DELHI
1: DUM PUKHT,DELHI
- Location: ITC Maurya, Chanakyapuri, Delhi
- Timings: 7 pm to 11:45 pm (Mon-Sa); 12:30 pm to 2:45 pm and 7 pm to 11:45 pm (Sunday)
- Cost for two: ₹ 4000
Dum Pukht, is a critical element in the Awadhi cuisine of Lucknow; meat, spices and herbs are kept inside a pot which is then covered with dough. The meat is allowed to cook while it takes on the flavour of the seasoning, and this results in an exuberant dish which is the speciality of the restaurant that goes by the same name. S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna released its list of Asia’s Fifty Best Restaurants, and Dum Pukht was cited as the best in India in their 2014 edition. The restaurant serves its biryanis and slow-cooked kebabs in its magnificent silver and blue dining room, adorned with crystal chandeliers, making it among the best restaurants in Delhi for couples. While here, do not forget to order Dum Pukht biryani, shahi nihari, dudiya kabab and Kakori kabab.
2: INDIAN ACCENT DELHI
Indian Accent Delhi is located inside a small boutique hotel that Chef Manish Mehrotra uses as his abode for fusing local cuisine with contemporary Western elements in imaginative ways. Foie gras-stuffed galawati kebabs with strawberries and green chilli chutney, butter chicken altered with peanut butter and roast peanuts, and crabs with tomato pickle and roasted coconut are all examples of the innovative ideas that Indian Accent has come up with.
- Location: The Lodhi, Lodhi Road, Delhi
- Timings: 12 pm to 2:30 pm and 7 pm to 10:30 pm
- Cost for two: ₹ 5000
3: BUKHARA,DELHI
- Location: ITC Maurya, Chanakyapuri, Delhi
- Timings: 12:30 pm to 2:45 pm and 7 pm to 11:45 pm
- Cost for two: ₹ 6500
Situated right beside Dum Pukht, Bukhara is another restaurant in S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna’s top fifty restaurants in Asia list. It is in stark contrast to Dum Pukht with its ambience being nothing like its next-door neighbour in its décor, as it features a rustic, dark brown theme. Started in 1978, the restaurant has not changed much since. The menu comprises of marinated meat cooked in a tandoor along with loads of breads and curies. Its signature is Daal Bukhara, wherein lentils are cooked slowly for almost 24 hours!
TOP 3 FAMOUS PARK IN DELHI
Sprawling over 90 acres, Lodhi Gardens is a heritage site, located near Khan Market, New Delhi. The garden has some historical monuments such as the tombs of Mohammed Shash, and Sikander Lodi.
It is a delightful place for a morning walk or a picnic on a Saturday morning.
- Location: Khan Market, New Delhi
2: CENTRAL PARK RAJIV CHOWK
Central Park is located at Rajiv Chowk metro station, Connaught Place. This is a beautiful, lush green park with a smattering of water bodies here and there, and a few fountains.
It is popular with both tourists and locals.
- Location: Connaught Place, New Delhi
Located in Willingdon Crescent, New Delhi, Talkatora Gardens is a renovated version of a garden, recreated from its remains from the Mughal era.
This park attracts a lot of tourists and locals, and is a great spot to spend quality time with friends or family.
- Location: Willingdon Crescent, New Delhi
Best Five Star Hotels In Delhi
1 :TAJ PALACE,NEW DELHI
The Taj Palace, located in the diplomatic zone, only minutes away from the Presidential residence—Rashtrapati Bhavan, has hosted historic visits and worldwide conferences for more than 30 years. The luxurious property is stretched across six acres of beautiful gardens in the central part of India’s capital city. It offers a sanctuary of peace amid the city’s excitement. The hotel pays homage to the Mughal era by presenting some of its art, customs, and food in a contemporary environment. The hotel has 403 premium rooms. The Taj Palace also has numerous fine-dining restaurants specializing in Indian, Continental-European, and Vietnamese cuisine.
2: THE IMPERIAL NEW DELHI
Imperial New Delhi, an award-winning legendary 5-star hotel located in the centre of India’s capital, is also known as an art lover’s heaven. It is half an hour away from the international airport and meters away from the popular hub of Connaught Place. The vintage hotel symbolizes Victorian charm and colonial grace. The three levels of art galleries display the previous works of many notable painters. It will be a great visit with nine kinds of magnificent rooms and suites overlooking the gorgeous beautiful green garden. Furthermore, the hotel boasts some of the best restaurants and bars for a memorable dining experience, making this a must-see and must-stay place.
3: Roseate House New,Delhi
Roseate House New Delhi is a contemporary luxury hotel in Aerocity, the capital’s main hospitality district. It is known as one of the best hotels in Delhi Aerocity. It covers 1.6 acres and blends history and innovation in its structure and operations to appeal to a new generation of global clients. Aerocity, Delhi’s most popular 5-star hotel, offers a contrasted escape from the city’s hustle-bustle, located 30 minutes from the business areas of Gurugram and Delhi. Roseate House New Delhi features 216 large and nicely decorated rooms, 15 of which are suites. Each room boasts a tranquil view and is equipped with modern conveniences, luxurious mattresses, a four-fixture bathroom, and a versatile workstation.