As if India’s capital city were not hectic enough, it also has two very distinct parts to try and wrap your head around: Old Delhi and New Delhi. Both are fascinating must-sees, so here's a breakdown for travelers who want to minimize travel-fatigue and get busy having memorable moments.
1. Take the metro to Old Delhi
Get onto the brand new, super-efficient metro – departing from twenty-first century New Delhi – and hop out in the medieval old city, and all for a few rupees. People-watch on the train, for it is one of the city’s great levelers, where citizens from all walks of life travel together in clean, quiet harmony… until a man attempts to enter the pink-colored 'Women Only' carriages and you see Indian girl power at work as the hapless intruder is 'politely' seen off.
Once in Old Delhi, take a cycle rickshaw through the narrow lanes of Old Delhi, crowded and noisy and full of color. Shop, eat, haggle, wander then hop back into the metro and return to the 21st century.
2. Changing of the Guard
This is one of New Delhi’s least-known free sights. Every Saturday morning, there is a ceremonial changing of the guard outside the presidential palace (Rashtrapati Bhavan). Impressive marching bands and an impeccable cavalry regiment all make a great start to the weekend. There are usually only a handful of visitors, most of the crowd being the wives and children of the soldiers taking part, all looking suitably proud. The police presence is relaxed and friendly, and it’s a great opportunity to get photos of Rashtrapti Bhavan and the wide avenues of Lutyens Delhi during a rare quiet moment.
3. Lodhi Gardens
The pretty landscaped gardens surrounding a complex of tombs from the fifteenth-century Lodhi dynasty are a favorite place for Delhi-ites and visitors to walk, jog, meditate, picnic, play games, practice yoga – the list is endless. The 90 acres of gardens are beautifully maintained, the place is spotless, entrance is free, and you can combine history with watching a make-shift cricket match, or strolling round the walking trails. Early mornings and evenings are the best time to see Delhi relaxing and enjoying the Gardens.
4. Red Fort
The Red Fort is a majestic seventeenth-century monument, which has been witness to many of the city’s most iconic events. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of Delhi’s most important monuments, and is where the Prime Minister addresses the nation every 15 August on Independence Day.
A piece of advice: aim to visit the Fort as early as possible in the day, before the crowds build up, and you will have the Fort virtually to yourself. On the way out, as the tour groups pour in, shop (and haggle furiously) in the shops inside the Fort, at the Lahore Gate entrance.
There is an excellent sound and light show at night, in Hindi and later in English. Times vary according to the season, so check first.
A piece of advice: aim to visit the Fort as early as possible in the day, before the crowds build up, and you will have the Fort virtually to yourself. On the way out, as the tour groups pour in, shop (and haggle furiously) in the shops inside the Fort, at the Lahore Gate entrance.
There is an excellent sound and light show at night, in Hindi and later in English. Times vary according to the season, so check first.
5. Humayun’s Tomb
Of all the splendid tombs scattered over Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb is one of the most impressive, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beautiful in its own right, the tomb is a vivid precursor of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Commissioned in 1562 by the wife of Emperor Humayun, this gorgeous complex also includes the tomb of his wife, son, and several Mughal nobles, all set amongst meticulously maintained gardens.
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