Stand on the Kartavya Path at dusk and the sandstone of Rashtrapati Bhavan glows behind you while the India Gate arches away down the boulevard — this is the New Delhi the British planned, all wide roads and roundabouts. Turn north and the city changes completely: the lanes around the Jama Masjid fill with the smell of frying kebabs and the sound of rickshaw bells, and the Red Fort's walls rise at the end of the street. Delhi rewards travellers who move between these two worlds in the same day.
This guide suits anyone with two or three days and an interest in forts, mosques and tombs — the structures built during the centuries when Delhi was the centre of large Muslim empires. It is also for travellers who want to understand how New Delhi, the capital within the metropolis, differs from the older city around it. Everything below is drawn from the source material, and each place is named exactly as it appears there.
Top things to do in Delhi
1. Red Fort
The Red Fort is the 17th-century palace of the Mughal emperor, and it is the anchor of any visit to Old Delhi. The source material names it as one of the city's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, alongside the Qutb Minar and Humayun's Tomb.
Pair it with the Jama Masjid, which is close by in the same part of the city. On Independence Day, 15 August, the flag of India is hoisted here and the Prime Minister addresses the nation; the airspace around the fort is declared a no-fly zone that day.
2. Jama Masjid
The Jama Masjid is described in the source material as a vast and beautiful 17th-century mosque, and it is among the most visited sites in the city. Its scale and its setting in the old city make it worth unhurried time.
Combine it with the Red Fort, since both sit in Old Delhi and are natural companions on the same outing.
3. Qutb Minar
The Qutb Minar is a 73-metre high tower dating to the 13th century, and the source material notes that it still has well-preserved intricate carvings. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Construction began under Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who also began the Quwwat-al-Islam (Might of Islam) mosque, the earliest extant mosque in India, and the tower was completed during the reign of Sultan Iltutmish in the 13th century. Allow time to look closely at the carving rather than only at the height.
4. Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb is the vast 16th-century tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun, and it is one of the city's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The source material lists it among the most visited sites in Delhi.
It belongs to the same Mughal building tradition as the Red Fort and the Purana Qila, so it works well as part of a day spent on the city's imperial architecture.
5. Purana Qila
The Purana Qila is a 16th-century Mughal citadel, and it is named in the source material as one of Delhi's most visited sites. The topography of the medieval fort, on the banks of the river Yamuna, matches the literary description of the citadel Indraprastha in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.
Note that excavations in the area have revealed no signs of an ancient built environment, so come for the fort itself rather than for the legend. It sits in the same part of the city as Humayun's Tomb and pairs naturally with it.
6. India Gate
The India Gate is one of the popular sights of New Delhi, the capital city within the Delhi metropolis. It stands at the end of the Kartavya Path, and the Republic Day Parade marches from the Rashtrapati Bhavan along the Kartavya Path to the India Gate.
Visit as part of a walk along the Kartavya Path rather than as a standalone stop.
7. Kartavya Path
The Kartavya Path is the "national mall" connecting the main government buildings of New Delhi, and it is one of the area's popular sights. New Delhi was built in 1911–12 under British rule and is centrally planned, with wide boulevards, large parks and roundabouts between its government buildings.
The Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path is worth watching. It begins on Republic Day, 26 January, and lasts for three days, opening with the flag unfurling by the President, followed by marching regiments with their bands and tableaux from various states. The marchers proceed from the Rashtrapati Bhavan along the Kartavya Path to the India Gate, then north to the Red Fort, with a beating retreat ceremony at the end.
8. Rashtrapati Bhavan
Rashtrapati Bhavan is the presidential palace and one of the popular sights of New Delhi. It sits at the head of the Kartavya Path, which connects the main government buildings.
See it as the starting point of a walk down the Kartavya Path towards the India Gate.
9. Bahá'í Lotus Temple
The Bahá'í Lotus Temple is a modern structure built with a flower-like shape, located in the South East. The source material describes it as one of the most visited buildings in the world.
Its form is unlike anything else named in this guide, so it is worth slotting in when you are already heading to that side of the city.
10. Akshardham
Akshardham is another modern attraction, in East Delhi. The source material groups it with the Bahá'í Lotus Temple as a popular draw.
Both are modern buildings rather than imperial monuments, so treat them as a change of pace from the forts and tombs.
11. Museums of New Delhi
Many of the most important museums in Delhi are located in New Delhi, according to the source material. They sit among the government buildings and the green spaces of the planned capital.
Combine a museum visit with the India Gate and the Kartavya Path, since all are in the same central area.
12. Republic Day Parade
The Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path is worth watching. It begins on Republic Day, 26 January, and lasts for three days, beginning with the flag unfurling by the President.
Marching regiments and their bands follow, along with tableaux from various states signifying their cultures. The route runs from the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the Kartavya Path to the India Gate, then north to the Red Fort, ending with a beating retreat ceremony.
13. Independence Day at the Red Fort
On Independence Day, 15 August, the flag of India is hoisted at the Red Fort and the Prime Minister addresses the nation, covering the past year's achievements, current challenges and a call for further development.
The speech is followed by a march past of the Indian military, and parades and pageants showcase scenes from the independence struggle and India's diverse cultural traditions. Be aware that the airspace around the Red Fort is declared a no-fly zone that day.
14. New Delhi World Book Fair
The New Delhi World Book Fair is India's second-oldest book fair. It is held in mid-January at Bharat Mandapam in South East Delhi.
If your trip falls in January, this is a reason to keep a day free in the South East.
15. Sports venues
Delhi has many major sports venues, including the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, the Ambedkar Stadium for football, and the Indira Gandhi Arena, described in the source material as one of Asia's largest indoor arenas, in the southeastern corner of Central Delhi.
A bit further south is the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, home to the national football team and the venue for major sports events in the city. Check what is on before you go, since these are event venues rather than sights.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Old Delhi at the Red Fort, the 17th-century Mughal palace, then walk to the Jama Masjid nearby. Both are in the same quarter, so you can move between them without crossing the city.
Afternoon: Head to New Delhi and walk the Kartavya Path, taking in the Rashtrapati Bhavan at one end and the India Gate at the other. If time allows, add one of the museums of New Delhi, which are located in this part of the city.
Evening: Finish at Humayun's Tomb, the 16th-century tomb of the Mughal emperor, or at the Purana Qila, the 16th-century Mughal citadel, which sits in the same area. Note that all public parks are shut after sunset, so plan your last stop accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Delhi the same as New Delhi?
No. New Delhi, the capital of India, is a city within the Delhi metropolis. It was built in 1911–12 under British rule and is centrally planned, with wide boulevards, large parks and roundabouts between its government buildings.
Which sites in Delhi are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
There are three: the Qutb Minar, Humayun's Tomb and the Red Fort. All three belong to the period when Delhi was the capital of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.
When is the Republic Day Parade, and where does it go?
It begins on Republic Day, 26 January, and lasts for three days. It starts with the flag unfurling by the President, then marches from the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the Kartavya Path to the India Gate, and on north to the Red Fort, ending with a beating retreat ceremony.
Can I visit parks in the evening?
No. The source material notes that all the public parks are shut after sunset, so plan park and garden time for daylight hours.
Decide which of these you want most — the imperial monuments, the modern temples, or the parades — and start mapping your days around them.