Top 10 Places to Visit in Delhi

[DavidLindsy]

As you, all must have seen that my wife and I will be in Delhi for a holiday. I would like some help from fellow members to guide me to the top 10 places to visit in Delhi. We have listed a few places of our own to visit, but we would like to know more if there are any.

There are a few old places in Delhi we I have heard about but not too sure where they are and exactly what places they are.

The list provided by the members will allow us to get some guidance to visiting the popular places in Delhi and make our trip better, knowing we would not have missed out of anything.

 

[briannagodess]

Hello again! I hope you're enjoying this forum.

Delhi is definitely a city with a rich culture and heritage. It was once the home of the Mughal Emperors as well. The contrast between the Old Delhi and the New Delhi is quite interesting. It's a must to visit both places and enjoy the differences between the old and new city. Anyway, here's a list of the must-visit places in Delhi:

Forts

• Red Fort. A trip to Delhi won't be complete without visiting the Red Fort. This magnificent fort is a symbol of the great Mughal Era. As strong and mighty as it is, it still didn't stop the invasion of the British and the Sikhs. However, it is still worth a visit to see the architectural prowess of the might Mughal Rulers. There's even an evening sound and light show showcasing the history of the fort. Schedule your trip accordingly as it's closed during Mondays.

• Tughlaqabad Fort. This was built by the founder of the Tughlaq Dynasty who is Ghiyas-Ud-Dhin Tughlaq. Although the fort is in ruins now, you can still marvel at its architectural beauty. On the Southern side of the fort, there's the tomb of Ghiyas-Ud-Dhin Tughlaq. There's also some myths that the fort itself was constructed using the skulls of the killed Mongol marauders. Legend also has it that Sufi Saint Nizam-Ud-Din cursed the fort when Ghiyas-Ud-Dhin refused to help him build his stepwell.

• Purana Qila. One of the oldest forts of Delhi, built by Sher Shah Suri although it was completed fully by his son, Islam Shah. Archeologists confirmed that an ancient village called "Indrapat" used to live in the fort.

Shopping Areas

• Paharganj. Known for the leather bags and shoes that are of great quality in here. Jewelries and accessories are also available here.

• Sarojini Market. You can find all kinds of knick-knacks in here, from accessories, fabrics, to handicrafts.

• Shahpurjat. Once you get tired of shopping here, then visit the for stalls nearby. The Mad Teapot is a famous one with their range of delectable teas.

• Dilli Haat. Probably one of the most popular shopping places in Delhi. You can find both delectable food and good quality goods here.

• Chandni Chowk. This is the oldest shopping market in Delhi. You can find jewelries, accessories, fabrics and even gadgets here. It's a bit chaotic though so be prepared for that.

Temples and Mosques

• Lotus Temple. The name is derived from the temple's resemblance to a lotus flower. It is also the last Bahai Temple to be constructed, out of all the Bahai Temples in the world. This is dedicated to several religions namely: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Jainism.

• Swaminarayan Akshardam Temple. This is the world's largest Hindu Temple. It is also a fairly new temple just completed in the year 2005. It was made using granite and marble materials. There's even a canal here where you can ride a boat. Aside from that, there's a museum, a park and a cultural centre aside from the temple. This is closed during Mondays though.

• Jama Masjid. This is the largest mosque in India which can hold over 25,000 devotees. It took about 13 years to complete this beautiful mosque.

• Quwwat-Ul-Islam and Qutab Minnar. Quwwat-ul-Islam is India's first ever mosque. The Qutab Minnar was built to commemorate the victory and the beginning of the Mughal Era.

Fun

• Delhi Eye. Enjoy the theme park and the water park inside. The Delhi Eye lets you see the city in a panoramic view.

• Nehru Planetarium. For kids, this is a fun place to learn more about science and astronomy.

• National Gallery of Modern Art. You can find many paintings to admire inside this gallery. The surrounding garden is quite lovely too.

Garden

• Lodi Gardens. It's a nice place to relax and enjoy nature. There's also the National Bonsai Park inside the gardens, great for nature enthusiasts.

Monument

• India Gate. This was built for the commemoration of the Indian soldiers who died during the world war. You can find their names inscribed in the gate as well. It's a must to visit this at night when it's all lit up.

• Humayun's Tomb. Built by Queen Haji Begum for her husband Humayum. It is said that the tomb has some similarities with the Taj Mahal.

• Gandhi Smriti. This is the spot where Gandhi was assassinated. The room where he lived before he was assassinated is also here and you can visit it.

There you go. It's kind of hard to pick a top ten from all of those. But for the sake of this thread, here they are:

The Top Ten Places to Visit in Delhi

1. The Red Fort

2. The Tughlaqabad Fort

3. The Purana Qila

4. The Jama Masjid

5. The India Gate

6. The Swaminarayan Akshardam Temple

7. The Lotus Temple

8. The Quwwat-Ul-Islam and Qutab Minnar

9. The Gandhi Smriti

10. The Chandni Chowk

I hope this helps!