Things To Do In New Delhi - Woman In New Delhi

Things To Do In New Delhi – Woman In New Delhi

New Delhi is the sprawling capital of India. When it comes to the things to do in New Delhi, you will realize there’s a lot. 

This city in northern India was originally not the country’s capital. In history, during the British Raj, Calcutta was the capital. Until one day in 1911, the British King and Emperor of India, George V, decided to move the capital from Calcutta to New Delhi. Since that decision, New Delhi was designed on a grand imperial scale, transforming the city to what it is today. 

Part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi has been the country’s center of politics, as it is where the seat of all three branches of the Government of India lies: the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the official residence of the President), the Sansad Bhavan (the Parliament of India), and the Supreme Court. Aside from those, New Delhi is also etched in history for being the home to the country’s most powerful people, such as the Pāṇḍavas and the Mughals.

Furthermore, much of the city’s colonial footprint still remains today such as the Connaught Place – that circular, colonnaded shopping precinct – and the imposing government structures that look out along Rajpath. The city is home to several historical monuments and tourist attractions, not to mention lively marketplaces and great-tasting food.

Namaste. Welcome to our guide to the best things to do in New Delhi. 

11 Of The Best And Most Incredible Things To Do In New Delhi

Without further ado, let’s now proceed to the list of the best and most incredible things to do in New Delhi, India.

1. See Rajpath, Where The Official Residence Of India’s President Is

New Delhi is like India’s Washington DC. If you love and appreciate politics, you will enjoy the many things to do in New Delhi. Our first stop is Rajpath, where the official residence of India’s president is located.

Rajpath is a vast parade that links India Gate to the offices of the Indian government. Constructed on an imperial scale between 1914 and 1931, after King George V decided to move the capital to New Delhi, Rajpath housed the country’s British rulers. But just 16 years later, the British left India, so it has been the Indian politicians who paced along Rajpath’s corridors of power. 

At Rajpath’s western side lies the official residence of the president of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan. If you wish to see it, it is particularly open to the public via a guided tour. This place is flanked by its mirror-image and dome-crowned North Secretariat and South Secretariat. However, they are not open to the public. 

2. Get To Know The Story Of The Indian Army At India Gate

Walking to Rajpath’s eastern end takes you to the mighty India Gate. India Gate is a 42-meter high stone memorial arch designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, one of the most renowned architects during this time. Often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in France and the Arch of Constantine in Italy, the India Gate pays tribute to tens of thousands of Indian Army soldiers who perished during the First World War, the Northwest Frontier operations, and the 1919 Anglo-Afghan War. 

The India Gate embodies the very spirit of Delhi and is among its most iconic monuments. Thus, it is a great place to learn about the history and might of the Indian Army. Don’t forget to take a look at India Gate’s marble plinth surrounded by four eternal flames known as the “Amar Jawan Jyoti.”

3. Shop, Dine, And Have Fun At Connaught Place

Another landmark where there’s a lot of things to do in New Delhi is Connaught Place. This landmark is touted as Delhi’s financial and business hub, and a great place to visit if you fancy old-school, British architecture. 

Named after King George V’s uncle, the Duke of Connaught, it is fashioned about Bath’s Palladian colonnades. Greying and whitewashed, its colonnaded streets radiate out from Rajiv Chowk’s central circle. 

Today, the Georgian-style buildings that surround Connaught Place now houses cinemas, restaurants, bars, pubs, hotels, and international chain stores. It is interesting to note that many still consider Connaught Place as a confusing circular shopping district. But you can definitely have so much fun here.

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Things To Do In New Delhi - Rajpath

Things To Do In New Delhi – Rajpath

4. Marvel At Lotus Temple, A Place Frequented By Artists

The next that should be on your list of things to do in New Delhi is visiting the Lotus Temple. Inspired by the flower it is named after, this temple comprises of around 27 “petals” made of marble, making this structure one of the most iconic buildings in this Indian capital. 

Visitors can enter through the Lotus Temple’s nine doors. The temple is easily accessible by public transport. You can get off at Kakaji Mandir Metro station which is just a short 500-meter walk away. 

The white marble which the temple is made with is from the Penteli Mountain in Greece. This marble used to build the temple is said to be the same type of material used in the construction of several popular ancient monuments such as the Parthenon in Athens. Its architect is Iranian Fariborz Sahba, and it is said that it costed more than $10 million to build the Lotus Temple back in the 1970s. Lotus Temple is frequented by artists and architecture enthusiasts from around the world.

5. Visit The Spot Where Mahatma Gandhi Was Cremated

Otherwise known as “the Mahatma” or “great soul,” Mahatma Gandhi was a popular figure in Indian history, a lawyer who led the country to freedom from British colonial rule in the late 1940s. Gandhi is famous for his philosophy of non-violence, something that has inspired civil rights leaders from across the globe. 

When he was 78 years old, he was assassinated. Following this, he was cremated and marking the spot where he was cremated is at Raj Ghat. Raj Chat is a peaceful and well-maintained park in the banks of the Yamuna River, containing a simple black marble platform that marks the spot where he was cremated after his assassination. 

This memorial is inscribed with what are said to have been his last words: “Hai Ram” (“Oh, God). Every Friday, the day he died, commemorative players are held here at 5 p.m., as well as on October 2nd and January 30th, his birth and death anniversaries. 

Just remember that if you are visiting this park, despite an ambience that suggests it is a perfect picnic spot, you are not allowed to bring food here, and there’s also nowhere to buy food when you are inside.

6. Take A Private Old And New Delhi City Tour

In India, there’s the Old Delhi and the New Delhi. Old Delhi is mostly the historic past of the metro, with its origins dating back to the time of the Moghuls. These Moghuls were part of the Mughal Empire, an early-modern Islamic empire that ruled much of South Asia, India included, between the 1500s and 1800s. 

Then, you’ve got the New Delhi, a place designed by the British colonial power that occupied India before. You can visit the Old and New Delhi, and see the best of both worlds via this private tour offered by Viator. 

You can customize this private tour according to your preference. There will be a driver who will take you to the landmarks such as the Jama Masjid, the Khari Baoli spice market, the Lotus Temple, and the Qutub Minar. This private tour saves you from the hassles of haggling with taxi drivers and riding the mostly crowded metro. Definitely one of the things to do in New Delhi that you should not miss. 

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Things To Do In New Delhi - Connaught Place

Things To Do In New Delhi – Connaught Place

7. Immerse Into Indian Religion At Laxmi Narayan Temple

Much of India’s heritage are anchored on its religions, and one of the places where this religious heritage is celebrated is at Laxmi Narayan Temple. Built in 1933, this temple in New Delhi has been a popular spot among tourists. The Laxmi Narayan Temple was accredited and was supposed to be inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, who said that this temple must allow people from all castes or Hindu social classes. It is also the first temple the Birlas built in a series of temples they constructed all over India. The Birlas are family associated with India’s industrial and social history.  

Laxmi Narayan Temple is constructed following the Nagara style of temple arhitecture, or that particular style that does not usually feature elaborate boundary walls or gateways. It is also adorned with detailed carvings and opulent shrines. 

There are so many things to do in New Delhi while you are in this temple. Inside, you can find statues of Lord Narayan and goddess Lakshmi; shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, and Hanuman; and a shrine built especially for Lord Buddha.

8. Spend Some Time At Qutab Minar, A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Qutab Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is actually a minaret that is part of the Qutab complex in New Delhi. Built way back in the 1300s, its minar is a 73-meter tall tower composed of five stories.

Those stories are comprised of cylindrical and fluted shafts with red columns made of sandstone and separated by balconies. Quranic scripts, and decorative elements and designs engrave its flages. There’s a also a spiral staircase that has more than 300 steps.

India may be a Hindu country, but its history also tells the story of its Islamic past, and this complex is a testament of this. But here’s a little controversy. It has been said that the stones used to build the columns of Qutab Minar’s corridor are recycled from destroyed Hindu temples. Visiting Qutab Minar is certainly one of the things to do in New Delhi that you should not skip.

9. Understand The History Of Toilets At The Sulabh International Museum Of Toilets

You read that title right. Your visit to the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets is one of the most unique things to do in New Delhi as this museum tells about the history and evolution of toilets through time. If there’s the Madame Tussauds museum that showcases wax statues, this museum showcases toilets. The museum was founded and established by Dr. Bindeswar Pathak, an award-winning social activist.

Sulabh International Museum of Toilets features an exhibit of toilets from 50 countries. It showcases the development of toilets from the ancient, Medieval, and modern times. The exhibit literally has chamber pots, privies, modern toilet seats, and more – from the 12th century until today.

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Things To Do In New Delhi - Lotus Temple

Things To Do In New Delhi – Lotus Temple

10. Dive Deep Into India’s History At The National Museum

Countries would have their own national museums, but nothing comes as far back as history than India’s National Museum. Inaugurated in 1949, this dusty yet glorious museum houses ancient and sophisticated figures from the Harappan civilization, a civilization that dates back almost 5,000 years old. If you wish to travel back in time more, the museum also showcases fine ceramics from the even-older Nal civilization. 

Other exhibit showcases include Buddha relics, beautiful jewelry, miniature paintings, Medieval woodcravings, musical instruments, and textiles. When you’re here, don’t forget to see the immense, five-tier wooden temple chariot built in southern India during the 1800s.

11. Shop For Spices At Khari Baoli Spice Market

If there’s another stuff India is known for worldwide, it has to be its spices. Your favorite Indian curry has them.

India has been the land of spices mainly because of its environment – heavy humidity, high rainfall, and dry and hot seasons that favor the growth of various spaces. Some of the most widely marketed spices in this South Asian country are turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, coriander, clove, and red chili, and you can shop for these at the Khari Baoli Spice Market.

If you are looking for things to do in New Delhi where you can explore the country’s spices, head over to Khari Baoli. It is a street known for its wholesale supplies of spices, together with herbs, nuts, and food products like rice and tea. Happy spice shopping!

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Things To Do In New Delhi - Qutab Minar

Things To Do In New Delhi – Qutab Minar

Things To Do In New Delhi: How Much Budget Should You Prepare?

When you want to fully enjoy the best things to do in New Delhi, nothing should stop you, not even your wallets. So, in this section of the guide, we’ll let you know how much budget you should prepare when you wish to travel to this Indian capital. 

Travelers to New Delhi must keep around $45 per day while vacationing to this place. Some travelers say they have spent $12 on average on meals for a day, and around $5 on local transportation.

Things To Do In New Delhi - The City

Things To Do In New Delhi – The City

Discover What’s Incredible

As a country that has recently overtaken China as the most populous nation in the world, India’s people are certainly its treasure. 

The people of India are known for their strong sense of loyalty to their state. One of the reasons for this is that the country’s people have their own unique culture and language that people of other countries do not have. As you go enjoy the many things to do in New Delhi, you’ll get to know more about these people. 

When you search around, you can be confused about New Delhi and Delhi, but the two are different. Delhi is a city and a Union Territory of India that contains New Delhi, the country’s capital. New Delhi is an urban district situated within Delhi. 

Overall, New Delhi is a city that will never fail to amaze. From the grandeur of its ancient landmarks to its bustling markets bursting with aromas, New Delhi beckons every traveler with a splash of captivating experiences.

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