Discover the Hidden Gems of New Delhi: A Journey through Culture, History, and Delight

Welcome to the beating heart of India, where history whispers through ancient monuments and modernity hums in bustling streets – welcome to New Delhi. As the vibrant capital city of India, New Delhi embodies a captivating blend of tradition and progress, drawing visitors from around the globe into its colorful tapestry of culture, cuisine, and beautiful chaos. Every corner of New Delhi tells a story of resilience, diversity, and dynamism. Join me on a journey through the sights, sounds, and sensations of this metropolis, where every experience is an adventure waiting to unfold.

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For your information, all these pictures were taken in January 2024.

Some information about New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital city of India and is a vibrant metropolis that seeps with history and culture. Established in 1911, it showcases a blend of Mughal, British, and contemporary architectural styles. Home to iconic landmarks like India Gate, Jama Masjid, and Red Fort, the city attracts tourists worldwide and for a very good reason.

New Delhi’s population is estimated to be around 30 million people. However, it’s important to note that this figure includes the broader metropolitan area, which encompasses not just New Delhi but also the surrounding urban and suburban regions.

How to get to New Delhi?

As New Delhi is the capital of India, the city is very easy to reach and most planes from different countries fly directly to Delhi. We reached Delhi with a direct flight from Schiphol in the Netherlands.

To get to New Delhi, you typically have several options depending on your starting location:

1 | By plane

The most common way to reach New Delhi from international destinations or other major cities within India is by air. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is the primary airport serving New Delhi and is well-connected to various cities worldwide.

2 | By train

New Delhi is a major city with well a connected railway hub, and you can reach it by train from various parts of India. The city has several railway stations, with New Delhi Railway Station being the busiest and most centrally located. If you want to travel around India, the train will be the best solution.

3 | By car

Another way can be by car. and then I mean not driving yourself as it’s very dangerous to drive in Indian traffic. But you can hire a private driver to drive you around the different cities.

So, if you prefer to travel by car, you can reach New Delhi via national highways and expressways. Delhi is well-connected by road to nearby cities and states, making it accessible by private or hired vehicles.

Best time to visit New Delhi

The best time to visit New Delhi is between October and March, as it’s dry and not that hot. But in the peak winter season (December and January), it can be quite cold in the north of India. Another important thing to know it that the smog is quite bad in the winter months, where you can’t see further that 100 meters in front of you.

1 | Winter season (December - April)

December to April is typically the winter season, whereas it can bring cooler temperatures, but also pleasant weather as it’s not that hot. Only, the northern region is way more chilly. In the northern part of the city, like in New Delhi, this will be the period where you have the most problems with the smog and pollution. I sometimes saw nothing 100 meters in front of me.

2 | Spring season (April - June)

The summer months, or also known as pre-monsoon season, is between April and June. This concludes very hot months. Think about temperatures around 32 – 40 °C (90 – 104 °F)

3 | Rain season (June - September)

The monsoon or rain season starts in June and runs all the way to September. In these months, there is a lot of rainfall, that starts in June and is less frequent in September.

4 | Post rain season (September - November)

Post wet season is actually autumn in India, and lasts between October and December. This season brings less rain and cooler temperatures.

Best things to do in New Delhi

New Delhi is definitely chaotic and busy, but once your used to the busy street life, you will find the beauty in this city. It’s a metropolis with different sights, flavours, people, but most of all the most beautiful historic buildings and tombs, which you will discover below.

To buy tickets online, check out the website below.

1 | Red Fort

The Red Fort is a historic fort that is located in the Old Delhi neighbourhood and it served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. It was built in 1639 by emperor Shah Jahan when he decided to shift the capital from Agra to Delhi. This fort is the peak combination of the Mughal and Persian palace architecture. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007.

I was very unlucky at our time at New Delhi as it was a big holiday at the time, which caused the Red Fort to be closed for the whole duration I was there. But luckily, the Agra Fort was open and it kind of looks similar so we opted for that one. But here is a bit of information on how to visit the Red Fort.

Opening hours: The Red Fort is open from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM from Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Monday.

Entrance fee for Indian residents: The online ticket costs Rs 35 for the Red Fort only and costs Rs 56 for the Red Fort and the Museum. If you buy the ticket at the counter, it costs Rs 50 for the Red Fort only and costs Rs 80 for the Red Fort and the Museum.

Entrance fee for foreigners: The online ticket costs Rs 550 for the Red Fort only and costs Rs 870 for the Red Fort and the Museum. If you buy the ticket at the counter, it costs Rs 600 for the Red Fort only and costs Rs 950 for the Red Fort and the Museum.

Important to know: There is a restriction of drinking water, but there is a canteen where you can get drinks

2 | Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India and was also built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan around 1656. This mosque was the imperial one of the Mughal emperors and stayed a symbolic gesture of Islamic power across India.

This has to be one of the most beautiful sightings I’ve ever seen. It was the very first thing we visited and from that moment on, I knew I fell in love with India and its architecture! And how can you blame me? Just look at the pictures.

Opening hours: Jama Masjid is open everyday from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

Entrance fee for Indian residents: It’s totally free for Indian residents.

Entrance fee for foreigners: The entrance fee for foreigner is Rs 300 per person and an extra Rs 100 for a cover up.

Important to know: You need to take of your shoes and wear proper clothing, which you can rent at the entrance.

3 | Raj Ghat

We visited Raj Ghat on our last day in New Delhi, not knowing what it would be, but it turned out to be a very important stop. Raj Ghat is a peaceful place, where Mahatma Ghandi is remembered. It’s a great way to learn about the history of this important person and to pay your respect.

Opening hours: Raj Ghat is open everyday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Entrance fee: Free entree for everyone.

Important to know: You need to take of your shoes at the memorial of Ghandi.

4 | Akshardham

Askhardham is a Hindu temple and was finished in 2005. This temple had been planned since 1968 as there was a desire to built a grand Hindu temple at the banks of the Yamuna river.

This temple has to be the most beautiful building I have ever seen in my entire life and I am so sad that I can’t show it to you as it wasn’t allowed to take any pictures inside. So, you just have to believe me on my word and see for yourself.

Opening hours: Askhardam is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM. It’s closed every Monday.

Entrance fee: Askhardham is free for everyone.

Important to know: You need to take of your shoes and wear proper clothing, which you can rent at the entrance. Also, you can’t take your camera with you and can’t take any pictures inside.

5 | Ugrasen ki Baoli

Agrasen ki Baoli is very special location, where new and old meet. The baoli is an ancient water reservoir that is 60 meter long and where you can go down the 103 steps. It only takes a very short time to visit this location, but it really surprised me in a good way.

Opening hours: Ugrasen ki Baoli is open everyday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Entrance fee: The entrance is free for everyone.

Important to know: It’s only a very short stop to another location.

6 | India Gate

The India Gate is a very famous monument in New Delhi as it’s a war memorial to 74.187 soldiers of the Indian army who died between 1914 and 1921 in World War I. The gate reminds of the ancient Roman triumphal arches and is often compared to the Arch de Triomphe in Paris.

I don’t have a picture of the gate as I only drove past it.

Opening hours: The India Gate is open 24 hours.

Entrance fee: The gate is free to visit for everyone.

7 | Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb is another very beautiful location to visit in New Delhi. It’s the tomb of Mughal emperor Mirza Nasir al-Dun Muhammad and was on behalf of his first wife and chief, Bega Begum, in 1558

As it’s a tomb, this complex includes the main tomb of the Emperor Humayun, the Empress Bega Begum, Hajji Begum and Dara Shikoh, which is the great-great-grandson, as well. It’s a perfect example of the Mughal architecture and history.

Opening hours: Humayun’s Tomb is open from sunrise to sunset.

Entrance fee for Indian residents: The entrance fee is Rs 40 per person.

Entrance fee for foreigners: The entrance fee for foreigner is Rs 600 per person.

Important to know: It’s an enormous place and calculate a few hours to discover everything.

8 | Lotus Temple

The Lotus Temple, or also known as the Bahá’í House of Worship, is a temple of Worship where all people of all races and religions can come together to pray. The name of this temple is quite obvious as it’s shaped as a lotus flower. It was very busy when we visited the Lotus Temple, which made the visit a lot less pleasant. But it’s still quite fascinating to see this special formed building.

Opening hours: The Lotus Temple is open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Tuesday till Sunday and is closed on Monday.

Entrance fee: It’s free to enter for everyone.

Important to know: Photography is only permitted around the Lotus Temple and not inside the prayer room.

9 | ISKCON Temple

The IKSCON Temple is a great place to learn a lot more about the religion and culture of India. I did a light show for around €3 for half an hour that explained the whole story of Krishna, which is very important to the culture of India.

Opening hours: IKSCON Temple is open from 4:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM everyday.

Entrance fee: It’s free to enter for everyone.

Best things to do near New Delhi

As I was only in India for 4 days as a short stop to our next trip to Sri Lanka, I only did 2 stops. Hopefully, I can return to India for a longer trip and explore much more! But for now, I only can recommend Agra.

1 | Visit Agra

Agra is a city that is located south-east of New Delhi and has a population of around 1.6 million people. The reason most people visit Agra is for one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal! But there are a lot more reasons to visit this city, which I will explain in another blog post!

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Travel blogger

Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!

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