Delhi is often dismissed as a hectic beast of a city by international visitors, who land at Indira Gandhi airport, give the illustrious metropolis a jet-lagged night or two, then zip off in search of beaches and backwaters. This is a rookie error, as Delhi is not the place to wander when you’re short on time and exhausted post-flight.
In fact, there’s so much to absorb in India’s capital, which manages to be both sharply modern and hazily ancient. The first incarnation of the city, Indraprastha, is believed to have been established 5,000 years ago, so calling it “historically rich” is a bit of an understatement. Work this India stop into your itinerary when you are fully charged and ready to take in the wow factor of one of the oldest cities in the world: consider tacking on a few days after a tour to explore it before you leave. Delhi’s utterly unique, soulful spirit is still present – as long as you take the time to look for it.
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What to do
Park life
Delhi is surprisingly green, with leafy parks and expanses of forested land dotted around every corner of the vast city. This is thanks to the tombs and ruins, which were respected by the centuries of predecessors who built artfully around them. Consequently, the city is absolutely packed full of archeological sites, with more ruins to visit than Rome. The best of these ancient relics of bygone empires are in Lodi Gardens, full of 15th-century tombs, and Hauz Khas Park, with its 14th-century palace. Or take a tuk-tuk south to Mehrauli, where the 12th-century Qutab Minar complex will knock your socks off.
Spiritual landmarks
Whatever your position on religion, it’s impossible to visit India and not be moved by its spirituality and wide range of devout faiths. Delhi is a macrocosm of this — a city pulsing with belief, the perfect place to dive into the divine. Whether paying a visit to the huge Hindu Akshardham temple; taking in a hymnal qaali service at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah sufi shrine; seeing the Jama Masjid mosque; or Jain temple Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, with its bird hospital; or listening to shabads sung at the Sikh Gurudwara Shri Bangla Sahib, be sure to dress appropriately and act respectfully.
Magnificent architecture
India’s capital is an architecture enthusiast’s dream. Home to the most stunning Mughal buildings this side of Agra, visitors to Delhi really can’t miss the sprawling Red Fort (formerly the Mughal royal palace), the…
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