Historical Monuments

1. Red Fort (Lal Qila): Completed in 1648, this massive fort built during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan dates from the peak of Mughal power.
2. Old Fort (Purana Qila): Built by Humayun in 1534, the fort stands on the site of the most ancient of the numerous cities of Delhi, Indraprastha.
3. Humayun’s Tomb: This magnificent garden tomb dating back to 1565 is the first substantial example of Mughal architecture in India, built nine years after the death of Humayun.
4. Jama Masjid: Shah Jahan’s final architectural opus, finished in 1658, India’s largest mosque can hold a mind-blowing 25,000 people.
5. Jantar Mantar: Built in 1725, this observatory is composed of curious terracotta-red structures.
6. Qutb Minar: A soaring (73m) tower of victory that started in 1193, immediately after the defeat of the last Hindu Kingdom in Delhi.
7. India Gate: An ‘Arc de Triomphe’ like archway, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British army during WWI.
8. Old Delhi – Lonely Planet India: A fantastic article and other links about Old Delhi

Places of Interest

1. Connaught Place: Located in the heart of Delhi, these architecturally uniform series of colonnaded buildings are packed with shops and restaurants.
2. Hauz Khas Village: ‘The Village’ is packed with boutiques and eateries, and adjoins the Hauz Khas Ruins.
3. Bahai Temple: This spectacular lotus shaped temple made of pure white marble welcomes worshippers of all faiths to pray or meditate.
4. Akshardam Temple: This lavish temple is made of salmon-coloured sandstone and white marble and contains a mind-boggling 20,000 carved deities.
5. National Gallery of Modern Art: The gallery is packed with the work of all the great modern Indian masters such as Amrita Sher-Gil and MF Husain.
6. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: This important Sikh Shrine is dedicated to Harkrishan Dev (a Sikh guru), who was revered for his healing powers. The water at the shrine is said to have curative properties.
7. 20 Great things to do in Delhi – Lonely Planet India: Check out this list of 20 great things to do in Delhi.

Shopping

1. Chandni Chowk: This old jumble of frenzied bazaars is the old city’s most famed shopping strip, and a veritable assault on your senses.
2. Dilli Haat: This open-air market houses representatives from all states. You can find handicrafts and food from all corners of the country here.
3. Khan Market: Slightly upmarket, find fashion boutiques adjacent to bigger brands like FabIndia. Don’t miss the kebabs at Khan Chacha.
4. State Emporiums: Visit all of India in a few hours. With stores from several Indian states, you’ll find a tremendous variety of merchandise here.
5. Janpath Market: Packed with tourists, this Tibetan market sells shawls, earrings and other handicrafts.
6. People Tree: A little shop selling Indian themed clothing, bags and accessories.
7. Nalli Silk Sarees: This sari emporium has four floors of silk varieties, mostly from South India.

Eating

1. Karim’s: Karim’s is the place to go for Mughlai cuisine. Established in 1913, this legendary establishment has been serving Delhiites brutally good food for a century.
2. Paratha Wali Gali: This lane off Chandni Chowk boasts an assortment of stores serving piping hot parathas (traditional flat bread) in a variety of flavours.
3. Saravana Bhavan: This massively popular Tamil restaurant serves a fantastic array of southern specialties.
4. Gulati: A mostly North Indian restaurant. If it’s Butter chicken, then it has to be Gulati.
5. Hot Rum Toddy – Lonely Planet India: Feeling the chill? Warm yourself with a hot rum toddy.
6. HT Crystal Awards (Best Restaurants): A long list of eateries to choose from, across a variety of cuisines and budgets.

Short Excursions from Delhi

1. Golden Triangle: Jaipur, Delhi and Agra form the edges of this triangle. The trip usually lasts a week, and is very popular with tourists as it provides a good spectrum of the country’s different landscapes.
2. Agra: Visit the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort  and Fatehpur Sikri. Only 200 km away from Delhi, the new Yamuna Expressway cuts the drive to just 2 hours.
3. Jaipur: The ‘Pink City’ is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the continent, and is littered with Forts and other historical monuments. Jaipur is 265 km from Delhi, and the drive takes approximately 4 hours. Check out the Jaipur Literature Festival, the largest of its kind in the Asia-Pacific, from 24-28 January.
4. Haridwar: One of the holiest places for Hindus, pilgrims from across the country congregate in Haridwar to bathe in the river Ganges. 220 km from Delhi, the drive usually takes about 4 hours.
5. Short Excursions – Delhi Tourism: An extensive list of interesting places close to the national capital.

For VISA related information visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/