Best Tourist Places in Delhi

I have been to India four times prior for weddings including my own. During my previous visits I didn’t get to play much of a tourist!Thankfully after two years, we went for exactly two weeks to be tourists in Delhi and visit family. I to put together top spots that we visited and some helpful tips!

Places to Visit

DILLI HAAT

Cost: Indian Citizens: 20 rupees; Foreign Citizens: 100 rupees

Dilli haat provides the ambiance of a village market that sells a vast array of home accessories, crafts, food, and clothing. The stalls selling handicrafts are allotted on a rotational basis to craftsmen that come from all corners of India for a period of 15 days from 29 states. It would be best to go with someone who can help you bargain for the goods! This was truly one of my favorite stops the entire trip. I would highly recommend this place if you are a tourist in Delhi. I will do a video on my Instagram in the very near future (@taylorchuich) of all my finds.

LOTUS TEMPLE

Cost: Free

Lotus Temple is one of the seven major Bahai’s temples in the world with the other six in Sydney, Panama City, Wilmette, Apia, Frankfurt, and Kampala. In contrast to other religious places and shrines, Lotus Temple is not dedicated to one deity; it is place which emphasizes more on unity, peace, meditation and togetherness among people of different countries, race and religion. As the name suggests, it is in the shape of a lotus flower. Unfortunately, the inside was closed due to COVID but can accommodate around 2,500 people. If you are a tourist in Delhi, I would recommend to walk around the temple although it will be a quick trip!

QUTAB MINAR

Cost: Indian Citizens: 30 rupees; Foreign Citizens: 500 rupees (I showed my marriage certificate and paid the Indian citizen fee)

Built in the style of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture, Qutub Minar was built with red sandstone in 1192. There are intricate carvings and inscriptions from Holy Quran. Some believe this tower was built as symbol of victory and to mark the start of Islamic invasion, while others believe it was built for the purpose of praying. The location is open from 7 AM to 5 PM everyday but it is best to go as early as possible to avoid crowds.

GURUDWARA BANGLA SAHIB

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Cost: Free

The Gurudwara is named after Guru Harkishan Sahib, the eighth Sikh guru. The building is built in a classic Sikh style, with a heavy influence of Mughal and Rajput styles mostly made of white marble with a beautiful central gold dome. As a starting point at the gurudwara, you can see the Sarovar that were originally built for practical purposes including fresh water supply for cooking and bathing. In modern times the sarovars are used primarily by pilgrims or for performing spiritual practices. In addition, there is langar service throughout the day, a communal meal served free of cost. Lastly, you can get fresh halwa as the Prasad to try!

CHANDI CHAWK + RED FORT

One of the busiest markets in Old Delhi filled with delicious food, clothing, fabrics, wedding items, and more. If you are even slightly claustrophobic I would highly recommend NOT going. I personally was just enjoying walking around all of the alleys to see the different types of cuisine. My new favorite item is daulat ki chaat which tastes like saffron flavored whipped cream with the perfect amount of sweetness. The other good places to eat are Natraj Dahi Bhalla, Paranthe wali gali, and Amritsari Lassi waale, Right down the road is Red Fort which we didn’t have time to completely explore. If you are a tourist in Delhi and can handle crowds this it the place for you!

Places to Eat

Indian Cuisine: Bukhara: Reservation Required. Located in ITC Maurya. Bukhara has an emphasis on kebab with the signature dishes, Dal Bukhara. This is their personal spin on Dal Makhani, but I found it had the most delicious deep flavor.

• Indian Cuisine: Have More: Pandara Road.
• Indian Cuisine: Haldirams
• Chinese: China Garden
• Asian: Shang Palace in Shangri-La
• Pan-Asian: Yum Yum Cha
• Pan Asian: Plum in Aerocity
• Italian: Big Chill
• Japanese: Megu in Leela Palace
• Multicuisine experience: MKT Food Hall
• Buffet: The Qube at Leela Palace

Great Hangouts

There are a couple of great hangout spots that I noted that you can spend most of your day at eating, socializing, or shopping. If you are tourist in Delhi, you will be exhausted from sitting in traffic. Spending a day in one location can be refreshing.

• Khan Market: Vast array of small restaurants and shops
• GK 1 Market
• DLF Promenade Mall
• Aerocity
• Mehrauli: As a day activity you can visit all the high end designer stores. In the evening there are great hangouts like Diablo.
• Qutub Hotel: Bohka and Dear Donna are both fantastic for food and drinks.

Helpful Tips

• If you go in December, the air pollution is horrible. I wouldn’t recommend going to New Delhi, but possibly visiting other places around India that are less polluted.
• Avoid roadside food stands if you are a foreigner. If at a restaurant, avoid any foods that are water-based. This would include any fresh salads, smoothies, cut fruit, and chutneys. Always order bottled water wherever you go.
• When you go to a temple, remember to bring a scarf or material to cover your head for both men and women. You also need to remove your shoes before entering.
• Print your visa! Not the confirmation email! When you’ve been approved, go back to the visa application site and click “visa status.” After entering your information, click “print status” at the bottom of the screen, and the proper form should start to download. It should have your photo and a bar code on it — if it doesn’t, it’s not the right document. In addition, print your boarding pass going to and from India!
• Get an international credit card to avoid fees. Always ask when you enter a location as a lot of places only accept local credit cards.