Stand at the corner of Hastsal village, on the edge of Nangloi, and a red sandstone tower rises above the rooftops. It is the first thing that tells you this part of West Delhi has a longer story than its busy streets suggest.
Nangloi Jat suits travellers who are already in Delhi and want to look beyond the central monuments, or who are staying in the west of the city and would rather spend a half-day on nearby sights than cross town. The surrounding area rewards a slow, deliberate approach: most of what is worth seeing is spread out, and the metro is the easiest way to move between them.
This guide covers the places in and around Nangloi that the source material names, with practical notes on how to combine them.
Top things to do in Nangloi Jat
1. Hastsal ki Laat
Hastsal ki Laat sits at the corner of Hastsal village near Nangloi and is known locally simply as the Laat. The 75-feet high minar was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1650 and served as his hunting lodge. It resembles the Qutub Minar in design and is also made with red sandstone.
Come here first if you only have time for one stop, since it is the anchor sight of the area. Pair it with a walk through the surrounding lanes of Hastsal village rather than treating it as a drive-by photo stop.
2. Dwarka Baoli
Dwarka Baoli, or Dvārkā Bāvlī, is a stepwell in Sector 12, Dwarka, between the Dwarka International School and Gangotri Apartments. It was discovered in 2011 under thick vegetation and undergrowth, hidden behind a large group of tall trees, and it appears in Maulvi Zafar Hasan's 1910 list of Delhi baolis, where it was recorded as the Loharheri Baoli, or the Blacksmith's stepwell.
It is a 22-step baoli built of rubble masonry, with the well at the southern end now covered by an iron grill and two sets of recessed arches in the side wall. It is small and unornamented, so treat it as a quiet architectural stop rather than a major attraction, and combine it with the rest of your Dwarka itinerary.
3. Yashobhoomi
Yashobhoomi, in Sector 25, Dwarka, is a convention centre and one of the biggest MICE facilities in the world. It is reachable by metro at Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector-25 on the Airport Express line.
Check what is scheduled before you go, since a convention centre is only worth a visit when there is an event or exhibition on. Its position on the Airport Express line makes it easy to slot in before or after a flight.
4. Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
This is a museum dedicated to the global history of sanitation and toilets. It was established to highlight the need to address the problems of the sanitation sector in India.
It is an unusual stop and a good counterpoint to the area's Mughal-era sights. Allow a focused visit rather than a full afternoon.
5. Bharat Vandana Park
Bharat Vandana Park is in Sector 20, Dwarka, near Dwarka Sector 9 metro station on lines 3 and 4.
Use it as an open-air break between indoor stops. The metro station nearby makes it simple to combine with Dwarka Baoli or Yashobhoomi in the same outing.
6. Woodland Park
Woodland Park is in Tagore Garden. It is a straightforward green space to add to a day that is otherwise built around built heritage and museums.
Tagore Garden is also where you will find The Free Spirit Dance Studio, so the two can be paired in one trip to the area.
7. Shri Bharat Kshetra
Shri Bharat Kshetra is a Jain temple in Najafgarh, reachable by metro at Dhansa Bus Stand on line 9.
Dress and behave according to temple custom, and check the metro timing for your return leg before you set out, as Najafgarh is at the end of the line.
8. The Free Spirit Dance Studio
The Free Spirit Dance Studio is at J13/69, Basement, Block J, Rajouri Garden Extension, Rajouri Garden. It runs dance workshops covering Bollywood, Indian folk genres such as bhangra, and contemporary Western and fusion genres including jazz, hip-hop and zumba.
It is open daily from 7AM to 9PM, and you can call +91 96430 92737. Book ahead if you want to join a specific workshop, and pair the session with a visit to nearby Woodland Park.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Hastsal ki Laat at the corner of Hastsal village, the area's defining sight, and take your time over the red sandstone minar before the day gets busy.
Afternoon: Move on to Dwarka by metro. See Dwarka Baoli in Sector 12, then continue to Yashobhoomi in Sector 25 if something is on, or to Bharat Vandana Park near Dwarka Sector 9 for an open-air pause. If the museum appeals more, swap in the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets.
Evening: Head to Rajouri Garden for a workshop at The Free Spirit Dance Studio, which runs until 9PM, or finish with a walk in Woodland Park in Tagore Garden.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nangloi Jat known for?
It is a locality in West Delhi, surrounded by Paschim Vihar, the Delhi Outer Ring road and Najafgarh. Its best-known sight is Hastsal ki Laat, the minar built by Shahjahan in 1650 at the corner of Hastsal village.
How do I get around the sights near Nangloi Jat?
The metro serves several of them directly: Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector-25 on the Airport Express line, Dwarka Sector 9 on lines 3 and 4, and Dhansa Bus Stand on line 9 for Shri Bharat Kshetra in Najafgarh.
Is Dwarka Baoli worth visiting?
It is a small baoli with no ornamentation and not much of general tourist interest, so go only if stepwell architecture appeals to you. It was discovered in 2011 under thick vegetation and was recorded in Maulvi Zafar Hasan's 1910 list as the Loharheri Baoli.
Can I join a dance class while I am in the area?
Yes. The Free Spirit Dance Studio in Rajouri Garden Extension runs workshops in Bollywood, bhangra, jazz, hip-hop, zumba and other styles, daily from 7AM to 9PM, and can be reached at +91 96430 92737.
Decide which of these fits your days in West Delhi, check the metro line for each stop, and you can have a route mapped out before you land.