What to See When in Delhi, India

India is a country full of such rich culture and history. As it is an incredibly large country, one could easily spend months exploring. However, if your time is limited, you may choose to stick to Northern India. Even just exploring Delhi, one could easily spend weeks. It can be hard to figure out what to visit especially when your time may be limited. Here are some of my must-sees to help make your Indian holiday incredible. 

Qutub Minar

As if India isn't filled with enough deep, rich culture, right in New Delhi you'll find the Qutub Minar. This tall sandstone tower is an incredible sight to see. Surrounded by other ruins, you'll have plenty to do and see. One can easily spend a few hours exploring this area. 

While you're no longer able to go up into the tower, that doesn't mean you'll be unable to fully appreciate its beauty. Even standing at the base of the tower, you get the sheer impressive nature of this 72.5-metre structure. For it still to be standing today being built in 1199 is quite impressive. 

The India Gate

The India Gate is a beautiful war memorial standing in the middle of New Delhi. When you visit, you will definitely get some Arc de Triomphe vibes. It was built to commemorate those who perished fighting in the Indian armed services. At the centre of the memorial, you'll find an eternal flame burning.

I highly recommend visiting around dusk. The India Gate becomes lit with the colours of the Indian flag. There are a number of street vendors selling incredible food. However, if street food isn't really your thing, there are a number of incredible restaurants and shops located incredibly close to the memorial. 

Bahai Lotus Temple

This temple is renowned for its fascinating architecture. With its white marble exterior, it gives the Taj Mahal a run for its money. The building looks just like a lotus flower and it is just so exquisitely breathtaking. Words cannot adequately describe this building. Random cool fact: it is one of the first temples in Delhi to be powered by solar energy! Regular prayer sessions are held at the temple so just remember to be respectful when you do visit. 

Old Delhi

Visiting Old Delhi can often be a chaotic experience, however, it's like being transported back to another time. Here you'll find streets and alleyways jam-packed with shops, incredible food and so many people. In Old Delhi, you'll be able to explore the Red Fort, some incredible mosques or just marvel at the amazing architecture that lines the street.

Make sure you come hungry. Trust me, you'll want to try all the incredible different types of food lining the streets. There are a number of bazaars you should definitely visit as well. You'll absolutely be able to satisfy all of your shopping needs. You will come home with some incredible souvenirs. 

Connaught Place

After you've visited the India Gate, make you way over to Connaught Place. The architecture of the building is quite different from others in Delhi but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. There are a number of hotels, restaurants, shops, and offices in this area. Not sure where to start? You might want to visit the old cinema and catch a silent film. Or visit the Hanuman temple. Or if you're wanting a little bit of a break, take a seat on the giant stairwell and people watch after grabbing some food. 

Dilli Haat

If you didn't get your fill of markets and bazaars in Old Delhi, you must visit Dilli Haat. It is the biggest market in Delhi lined with tons of vendors, lots of incredible places to eat, and even cultural performances. Whilst there are permanent fixtures to the market, there are rotating vendors so each time you visit, you'll find something different. Here I was able to find some of the neatest handcrafted postcards I've ever seen. I was unable to find anything like them anywhere else on my Indian travels so I was very happy that I made the purchase. Trust me when I say, you'll find some very unique items at Dilli Haat. 

National Handicraft and Handloom Museum

This museum used to be called the Crafts Museum so you may hear it referred to by that name. For how centrally located the Museum is, it doesn't seem to be as popular as its surrounding sights. I'm honestly not sure why more people do not have the National Handicraft and Handloom Museum because it sure is impressive. One can easily spend a couple hours exploring and taking in the rich cultural history. There are thousands of pieces to view but there are also cultural performances so you're able to gain a greater appreciation for traditional Indian folk art and dance. 

Honestly, it can be hard to narrow down what to do when you're on a limited time frame. I wish I could have spent more time in Delhi so I could have explored a bit more but loved the time I had there. Have you ever visited Delhi? What were your favourite sights? If you've never been to Delhi, what would you most like to see? 

And until next time...

Stay curious!