Delhi has continuously been a seat of power through at least a thousand years. It has seen tumultuous times with dynasties rising and falling, and building their own cities and forts. It’s no wonder then that one stumbles upon the remains of those power centers every here and there across Delhi. However, Delhi today is much more than just its historic monuments; it’s a major cultural hotspot in India. With a river (Yamuna) flowing through the city, expansive green forests/ parks, great museums, a potpourri of people and cultures, food and shopping avenues, Delhi has something for everyone. This article is an effort to provide clues to travellers on the best way to explore Delhi in 3 days.
To read about more such great cities of the world, check out: Amsterdam ||| Paris ||| Florence
A short history of Delhi
The mythological city of Indraprastha during Mahabharata times (perhaps ~3000 BC!) was perhaps in Delhi. If this is ever proved to be correct with archeological evidence, that will make Delhi one of the most ancient cities in the world. However, current evidence suggests that it was King Anangpal who established the city around 1020 AD.
Since then, it has been a continuously living city with tens of dynasties and hundreds of kings ruling over it and building magnificent buildings. Some of them built new cities altogether to their liking. As many as eight different capital cities (see below) have been built at different times in different parts of the present day Delhi.
From the ancient Hindu kingdoms to invading Muslim empires, to the imperialist Britishers and finally the democratic republic of India, Delhi has seen it all. Maybe one day, someone makes a great period movie on the tumultuous history of Delhi!
8 Capital Cities of Delhi
- Lal kot: Around the Qutub complex: Anangpal (Tomar dynasty): 1020 AD (or, may be King Dhilu earlier in 1st century BC!)
- Siri Fort: Allauddin Khilji (Delhi sultanate): 1296-1316
- Tughlaqabad: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (Delhi sultanate): 1320-25
- Jahanpanah: Muhammad Bin Tughlaq (Delhi Sultanate): 1326-27
- Feroz Shah Kotla/ Firuzabad: Feroz Shah Tughlaq (Delhi sultanate): 1354
- Din Panah: Humayun (Mughal dynasty): 1534 | Sher Shah destroyed Din Panah and built Sher Shahi/ Shergarh in 1540, now known as Purana Qila | (near the probable ancient city of Indraprastha)
- Shahjahanabad/ Lal Qila/ Red fort: Shahjahan (Mughal dynasty): 1648
- Lutyens’ Delhi: British: 1912-1931; now seat of government of modern democratic India.
Delhi in a nutshell
Before discussing the plan for the best way to explore Delhi, let’s have a bird’s eye view of what Delhi has to offer- from its wonderful monuments to its cultural significance and some of the natural hotspots.
Iconic heritage monuments:
Delhi is perhaps the city with the largest number of heritage monuments in India. I wonder why is it still not a UNESCO World Heritage City (though it’s under the process)! Especially when cities like Ahmedabad and Jaipur are already on that list. Maybe because they were late to apply. In fact, Delhi has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Red fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb) within its precincts.
Apart from these sites, it boasts of tens of equally magnificent monuments like Safdarjung tomb, ruins of Tughlaqabad fort, Old Delhi fort, Hauz Khas, Agrasen ki Baoli, Jantar Mantar, and tens of smaller monuments sprinkled across the city.
Modern landmarks:
Lutyens’ Delhi built by the British is a modern marvel. After India’s independence, the government runs from the same place. It constitutes the Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s house) and its garden- Mughal Gardens, now called Amrit Udyan, Parliamant Bhawan and the India Gate complex, all in New Delhi. Rajghat (Gandhi’s cremation ground) is a major point of interest for travellers.
Beautiful places of worship:
Nature hotspots:
- Heritage gardens: Lodhi garden | Sundar Nursery
- Theme parks: Waste to Wonder park | Garden of five senses
- Bird watching: Okhla bird sanctuary (Noida) | Yamuna ghat
- Others: Nehru park | Delhi zoological park | Central park (Connaught Place)
Great museums:
Though India doesn’t have great museums like that of the western countries, Delhi has a few really good ones worth spending time. The best ones in my view are: the National museum | Rail museum | Crafts museum | Museum of modern arts | Shanker’s Dolls museum.
Market places:
- Medieval charm: Chandnichowk | Sadar bazaar | Khari Baoli | Paharganj
- Art, craft and culture: Dilli Haat | Dastkar Nature Bazaar | Hauz Khas Village | Shahpur Jat
- Modern: Connaught Place (Rajiv Chowk) | Khan market | Greater Kailash | Defense Colony
- Pocket friendly: Sarojini nagar | Lajpat nagar | Karolbagh | Janpath | Chor Bazaar | Daryaganj book market
- Malls: Select City Walk (Saket) | DLF Emporio (Vasantkunj) | DLF Promenade (Vasantkunj) |
Best way to explore Delhi in 3 days
Recently one of my friends asked me the best way to experience Delhi. While I knew what to say, it was difficult to explain in a few sentences. It was then I thought of writing this piece.
Delhi has so many great places to visit, and interesting things to do that one would be spoilt for choice. And 3 days are too little to explore Delhi properly. However, life is such only! This article is for people who want to explore Delhi on a long weekend, or on the sidelines of visiting Delhi for another purpose.
Of course, I’m mindful that there is no one best way to explore Delhi. However, after living in Delhi for 7 years now, and knowing the city up close for about 15 years, I feel an urge to suggest the best way to explore Delhi for new visitors.
In my view, the best way to explore Delhi in 3 days is to choose a mix of places of interest/ things to do from each category mentioned above (Delhi in a nutshell). In the following sections, I suggest a day wise plan for a beginner for convenience. And in the last section, there are suggestions for people having less than three days as well.
So, here’s my take on the best way to explore Delhi in 3 days!
Day-1 : Explore Old Delhi
My best way to explore Delhi starts with a shock, i.e. Old Delhi. There is no place as chaotic as old Delhi, or Shahjahanabad of yesteryears. It’s chaotic even by Indian standards! But it’s worth experiencing that madness, and search for the underlying method in that madness. It’s where most of Delhi’s magnificent medieval architecture still stand in their pristine glory. Start the day in core old Delhi, and wind up at New Delhi’s iconic shopping district- Connaught Place.
Raj Ghat and the memorial area:
It’s a good idea to start the day early (around 8 AM) by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation at his memorial, Rajghat. Moreover, there are quite a few other memorials (of Indian Prime Ministers and Presidents) adjacent to it. And the whole area is so peaceful and green that one would love to walk around.
Red Fort:
In the vicinity is the Red Fort (Lal Qila), the 17th century Mughal seat of power. As the campus is big and one has to walk around in the sun, it’s good to visit in the morning hours, as soon as it opens at 9.30 AM. It will take some 2-3 hours to explore all the buildings in the campus. Appreciate the wonderful architecture of the UNESCO World Heritage site, and shop at the small craft market (Meena Bazar) in the campus, if you like. You should be done by 12 PM.
Jama Masjid:
One of the largest mosques in India, and arguably, the most important one, Jama masjid is just across the road from Red fort. Whether you have religious reason to visit, or not, you are bound to love its Mughal architecture (built by Shah Jahan; 1656) in red stone and marble. I was there once to observe the devotees during the festival of Eid. It was such an amazing environment!
Lunch at Karim’s/ Al-Jawahar:
After you are done with Jama Masjid, it would be lunch time. Just next to the Jama Masjid is old Delhi’s iconic restaurant- the Karim’s. It’s a non-vegetarian’s paradise. It’s as much about the amazingly delicious food as being part of a more than 100-years old tradition of royal food in Delhi.
If not Karim’s, one may look for Al-Jawahar restaurant nearby. However, if you are a pure vegetarian, and don’t like to eat at a non-vegetarian restaurant, you may have to look for some other restaurant. I’m not aware of many vegetarian restaurants in that area, but there are quite a few fast-food eateries and sweet-shops.
Khari Baoli:
Second part of the day, be prepared to experience the real chaos, first at Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest spice market, and then Chandni Chowk.
Chandni Chowk:
Continuing from the spice market towards Chandni Chowk, the sensory organs will keep hyper busy; now adding the taste buds to the equation. From Delhi’s quintessential chaat to parathas and sweet-dishes, one would be overwhelmed by the hundreds of varieties of popular street food in Chandni Chowk.
Don’t miss visiting the Parathewali Gali, and maybe have at least one deep fried paratha at one of the old eateries in the narrow lane. I personally found the deep fried parathas too heavy for my liking; but it’s a good experience once in a while. Other popular street food include Dahi-bhalla, Aloo-Tikki, Daulat ki chaat, Rabdi-jalebi, and Lassi. Taste as much as you can, and say bye to the chaos just before it’s dark.
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib:
This beautiful Sikh shrine is worth spending an evening at. Opened in 1783, it’s Delhi’s best gurdwara, a pure white beauty with a golden dome. I love its interior design too. It always feels so peaceful even in the presence of thousands of devotees in the campus. After visiting the central pedestal holding the holy Guru Granth Sahib in the main building and listening to the prayers (guru vaani), I always felt like sitting by the pond in the campus.
Evening at Connaught Place (CP)/ Rajiv Chowk:
At five minutes drive from the Gurdwara is Connaught Place, a modern looking British era business district. Built in 1933, this is now one of the costliest business district in the world, and is the most happening place in Delhi. Enjoy a relaxing evening sitting in its central garden, or take a stroll, or shop if you like. There are quite a few great cafes and restaurants to choose from for the dinner.
A few nice dinner options in CP:
- Budget restaurants: Kake da hotel for traditional flavour (especially, non-vegetarian) | Saravana Bhawan | Jain Chawal Wale (JCW) | Ghoomar Traditional Thali | Dosa Factory
- Fine Dine: Dasaprakash | Lazeez Affaire | Fresc Co (Italian) | Berco’s (Chinese)
- Some good cafes: Big Chill Cafe | United Coffee House | Indian Coffee House | Cha Bar | And of course all the big chains like Starbucks, McDonalds, Domino’s, Chaayos, etc.
- For bakery/ patisserie: Wenger’s
- For ice cream: Naturals | Havmor
- Try a fire-paan at Odeoan paan in front of Odeon cinema
Day-2 : Explore New Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb:
Start the second day at Delhi’s most beautiful heritage- the Humayun’s tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Undoubtedly, this is the best preserved monument in the capital. Built in 1572 by his wife Bega Begum, this is an absolute masterpiece of Mughal architecture. Isa Khan Niyazi’s tomb in the campus is also a lovely monument.
It opens at 8 AM; so, be the first ones to visit before there is a large crowd. Morning will be pleasant to move around the big campus and it’s good for photography too. It will take 2-3 hours to explore all the lovely buildings.
Some other places of interest beside Humayun’s tomb are: Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia’s Dargah; Sunder Nursery. But it won’t be possible to include them in this itinerary; let’s keep them for another day.
Not far from the Humayun’s tomb is the Purana Qila (Old fort); one must visit.
Purana Qila (Old fort):
The fort is largely believed to have been built/ rebuilt by Humayun in the 1530s near the ancient site of Indraprastha of Mahabharata times. He called it Din Panah. Later, Sher Shah Suri destroyed this fort, and built Sher Shahi in its place. Much of the remains that we see today belong to Sher Shah period.
However, not much archeological proof of Indraprastha remains! I saw large areas of excavation where Indraprastha area was believed to be at. Archeologists have found ceramic/ pottery artefacts there that belonged to 300-400 BC. However, Indraprastha was much earlier in timeline. There is no substantial evidence of that era.
Though Delhi zoo is just beside it, one cannot visit the zoo in a 3-day plan. It’s a nice green campus; good for kids to have some fun.
It will take about an hour to explore the old fort area; next stop is National Crafts Museum.
National Crafts Museum:
India is a great place for crafts. Every state has tens of unique crafts. Isn’t it a great idea to see them all at one place? Exactly this is what National Crafts museum does. Established in 1956, it today houses 35,000 unique artefacts- wooden crafts, terracotta, textile, brass metal, paintings, etc. More importantly, the display, and the ambiance of the place; just lovable. It will take about 2 hours to explore the place.
Once you are done with the museum, head to their cafe. They have some really good traditional food to offer from different parts of India. Perfect combination of fine craft and authentic traditional food! Enjoy!
Agrasen Ki Baoli:
Stepwells of India are a fascinating lot, to say the least. There are scores of them, especially in the north and western part of India. Agrasen ki Baoli is one of the two great stepwells of Delhi. Which is the other one? Click here to know the answer.
Though it’s not proven beyond doubt about who originally built this (perhaps King Agrasen) 108 steps deep well, the architectural style suggests that it was rebuilt during the Delhi sultanate times.
National Museum:
If you want to know a country’s history and culture, what better way than to visit a great museum! National museum at the heart of Delhi houses a great collection of archeological ruins, architectural remains, and historical artefacts from all the states of India. For me it’s the feeling of being part of history like going through a time machine! After appreciating the history of India, head straight to Lutyens’ Delhi.
Lutyens’ Delhi:
When the British decided to shift their capital from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi, the responsibility of designing it came to the able hands of Sir Edwin Lutyens. The whole area where the government was housed came to be known as Lutyens’ Delhi later. After India’s independence from Britain, Indian government decided to continue to rule from here. It includes buildings like Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate and the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone.
Parliament House | Rashtrapati Bhawan:
Built in 1927 by the imperial British government, the impressive Parliament House now hosts the upper and lower houses of Indian Parliament. Just beside it is the Rashtrapati Bhawan. First built in 1916 for the British Viceroy of India, it serves as the house of the President of India in the post-independence era. It’s a magnificent classical structure on the Raisina Hill.
The gorgeous Mughal gardens (now Amrit Udyan) in the precincts of the Rashtrapati Bhawan opens only for a few weeks in Feb-Mar every year for public. The grand secretariat buildings host among other important offices, the Prime Minister’s office now. It lights up nicely in the evening, and is a nice place to walk around.
India Gate:
The straight road (earlier Rajpath; now Kartavya path) from the Rashtrapati Bhawan connects to the India Gate. It was earlier known as the All India War Memorial and was built in the memory of soldiers who laid their lives during World War-I in France. A new National War Memorial has been built beside the India gate. One can watch the beating retreat ceremony conducted every evening.
The whole area with straight wide roads and expansive gardens and lawns is a great place to hang out in the evening. No wonders then why it’s so popular among Delhiites.
Khan Market:
At the end of the hectic day, if you have any plans for shopping or just having a good dinner, the nearby Khan market is a great option. This is an expensive place though, both for shopping and eating. So, if you are seeking for budget options, head to Connaught Place (refer suggestions above).
Some good restaurants/ cafes: Azam’s Mughlai | Wok in the Clouds | Public Affair | Big Chill Cafe | Foxtrot | Perch | Town Hall | SodaBottleOpenerWala.
Day-3 : Explore South Delhi
Lodhi Garden:
Begin the last day by a morning visit to a heritage garden- Lodhi garden. The expansive gardens contain several tombs of Lodhi Kings who ruled over north India and parts of Pakistan in the 15th and 16th centuries. It’s especially popular among morning walkers. Soak in the great heritage value of the garden by walking around the beautiful monuments.
Safdarjung’s Tomb:
Lotus temple:
I wouldn’t perhaps know about the Bahai faith unless I visited the Lotus temple. Built in 1986, and designed like a lotus flower, it has become a major landmark of Delhi.
One of the modern religions, Bahai faith originated in Iran and is largely followed across the middle east. Though I don’t know much about how people actually practice the religion, conceptually I like it. It believes in universal brotherhood, and a unified world order. Interestingly, Bahai faith believes (as much as I understand) that religion is progressive in nature, and God reveals himself in various prophets from time to time like Jesus, Muhammed and Budhha. I would love to meet a practitioner of the faith some day.
Nearby temples: Birla Laxmi Narayan temple | Iscon temple; just appreciate them from outside. Let’s keep them for a later visit.
Qutub Minar:
Built (by Qutub Ud-Din Aibak) between 1199 and 1220 AD as a victory pillar during Delhi sultanate period, Qutub Minar is another UNESCO World Heritage site. It stands tall (at 238 ft ~ 72.5 mt) among a number of other monuments in the first city of Delhi as proof of the rich architectural heritage of that era.
As I noted earlier, the first city was built in this area around 1020 AD, of which only a few ruins exist today. But almost 200 years later, Delhi sultanate started governing from this place. Qutub belongs to that era.
They light up the Qutub Minar monuments in a lovely way in the evening. There are not many places to visit at night in Delhi, this being an exception.
An extraordinary iron pillar:
Of special note is a rust-resistant iron pillar from 4th century AD (Chandragupta-II’s time) that stands proud (7.21 mt) among all the ruins. It’s still a matter of debate as to whether the pillar originally belonged here or was brought here from Udayagiri (Madhya Pradesh) in the 11th century.
But no debate on its magnificence. How come an iron pillar withstand the environment without rusting! It’s a matter of pride for India’s ancient ironsmiths. Scientists have only now deciphered the truth behind the legend of the iron pillar. To read all the facts about the great pillar: click here.
Hauz Khas Village (HKV):
The plan for the last evening has to be at Hauz Khas Village. It’s a little place with heritage monuments, a lovely lake, forest and gardens all around, nice boutiques and art galleries. However, the reason why one should be here in the evening is because of the gorgeous sunset one can witness over the lake from its historic monuments.
It’s not usual to watch a beautiful sunset in a crowded metropolitan city like Delhi. At the heart of the city, a green patch with peaceful gardens and a walk around the lake are the stuff every urbanite dreams of.
To know more about the place, click here: “Hauz Khas Village: A place I am in love with“.
Dilli Haat:
No better way to wind up your Delhi trip than spending an evening at Dilli Haat. If Crafts Museum is an exhibition of crafts of India, Dilli Haat gives you an opportunity to own a piece of that heritage. Artists and craftsmen from all over India sell their beautiful products here. Further, icing on the cake is that one can choose one’s favorite traditional food from any state of India. We never miss eating at the Bihar stall for litti-chokha or litti-mutton. Other favorite stalls include Odisha, Nagaland, Bengal, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Notable Omissions in this plan
As it’s evident from the title- “The best way to explore Delhi in 3 days”, it’s a plan for a beginner only. If you have only 3 days on hand, you are sure to miss out on quite a few places. After 3 days of whirlwind tour of Delhi in and out, you still have a lot to miss out; just check the major omissions below.
Old Delhi: Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib | Jain Lal Mandir | Mirza Ghalib’s Haveli | Fatehpuri masjid
New Delhi: Sunder Nursery | Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia’s Dargah | Rail museum | Museum of modern arts | Mughal garden | Delhi zoo | Jantar Mantar | Gandhi Smriti (Birla House) | Janpath market | Sacred Heart Cathedral | Nehru Park
South Delhi: Tughlaqabad fort | Mehrauli archeological park | Lajpat nagar market | Sarojini Nagar market | Birla Laxmi Narayan temple | Iscon temple | Chhatarpur temple | Garden of Five Senses
Others: Akshardham temple (east Delhi) | Okhla Bird Sanctuary | Yamuna Ghat | And some impressive malls if you are a big shopper!
It will take at least two more days to explore all these places. Moreover, Delhi has actually even more offbeat places to visit; I’ll write a separate blog post on that.
Exploring Delhi in less than 3 days
As I said earlier, 3 days are never going to be enough to explore such an amazing place like Delhi. But life is like that only. We all get less time than we wish for!
So, if you have even less time, say, two days or only one day in hand to see a bit of Delhi. What should you choose? I would suggest you to choose a few from the following list:
- Definitely the three UNESCO World Heritage sites (Red fort | Humayun’s tomb | Qutub Minar)
- Lutyens’ Delhi (India Gate I Parliament House | Rashtrapati Bhawan)
- Two museums: National Crafts Museum | National Museum
- Three interesting market places: Dilli Haat | Connaught Place | Hauz Khas Village
Delhi : Travel Tips
Best time to visit:
- Spring time is the best time: end February to end March; April is not bad either
- Autumn is another good time to visit: October to early December.
- Though winters (end Dec- early Feb)would be tough for rest of Indians south of Delhi, it’s not that bad for tourists from western countries. Winter day temperatures vary between 10 degree to 20 degree C.
- Summers are hard times though. Average day temperatures vary between 30 degree to 45 degree C.
How to reach:
We are talking about the national capital of India. So, I shouldn’t be spending too much time on how to reach!
Where to stay:
- Areas for luxury travellers/ safety seekers: Aerocity; Connaught Place
Hotels: Shangri-La Eros | Lalit | Taj Mahal | Imperial | Pullman
- Areas for mid-range travellers: Hauz Khas Village; Mahipalpur; Connaught Place
Hotels: Bloom Rooms | Radison Blu Marina | Lemon Tree | Ibis | Palace Heights
- Areas for budget travellers/ old world vibes: Paharganj; Chandni Chowk (though I would suggest avoiding these places altogether unless you have shoestring budgets)
Hotels/ Guesthouses: Prakash Kutir | Colonel’s Retreat | Zaza stay
Hostels: Moustache | Hosteller | Zostel | Madpackers
How to move around:
- Delhi metro is world class, and very convenient. Goes to most places. So, this is the best way to move around in Delhi
- However, for convenience, cabs are better. Use Uber/ Ola
- For budget travellers: Auto rickshaws are pretty much everywhere
What/ where to eat:
Through out the article, I have suggested places to eat. However, to summarize:
- In old Delhi: street food in Chandni Chowk; try non-vegetarian dishes at Karim’s
- In New Delhi: Nice restaurants in Connaught Place/ Khan Market
- In south Delhi: Dilli Haat or Hauz Khas Village
Miscellaneous helpful tips:
Safety first:
- Avoid wandering around late in the night (late evenings are fine)
- It’s good to avoid arguing with people; I have seen north Indians getting aggressive too soon!
- Check into a cheap hotel only after checking out guest reviews properly
Food precautions:
- Eat only at busy places
- Avoid eating raw food like salads or fruit chaat
- Drink only package water
Concluding note
To wind up, I would reiterate that the best way to explore Delhi is to keep in mind that Delhi is not only old Delhi. Do experience the old vibes, but also look to experience new Delhi, south Delhi, the museums, gardens, and cultural hotspots like Dilli Haat. One underrated fact of Delhi is that it’s such a green and colourful city, but gets bad reputation because of its air pollution. Except for Bengaluru in India, no other city becomes so full of flowers in the spring-summer season. I just love its gardens and parks.
While I’m yet to come to terms with the way people in general behave here, I must say that I have got a way to love the city. Its heritage is unmatched. The cosmopolitan vibes of Delhi are so good to experience! It offers wonderful food, both street food, and classy food.
I hope this article helps you plan the best way to explore Delhi. Do write to us, if you have another best way to explore Delhi!
Soumen Chatterjee
It’s a excellent way to describe Delhi in a nutshell where there are lot many things to be explored and learned about the history of Delhi . Its hotspots, its culture, heritage and of course its food.
stampedmoments
You have been living in Delhi for quite some time now. Why don’t you share your favorite places/ experiences of Delhi?
Thanks for your feedback.
Pinkle
Comprehensive, to say the least. I never thought I could ever be motivated to visit Delhi. Nice read.
stampedmoments
Happy that you are motivated to visit Delhi 🙂
Will wait to meet/ host you in Delhi sometime.
Will have fun….let me know 🙂
PARUL THAPA
So wonderful. Beautiful capture. The selection does justice for a tight 3 day visit. So glad that you mentioned other places too.
stampedmoments
Welcome to our blog, Parul!
Thanks a lot for the patient reading (I can easily guess that you have read it completely).
I think these places choose themselves; however, the offbeat Delhi is coming soon, and I hope it would be a bit more interesting for Dilli-walas 🙂
Shrusti Mohanty
Very comprehensive summary, I had no idea there were step wells in the city, always thought they were only in Rajasthan.
It’s great that you also plainly called out some things to be wary of in the city, people who live there tend to put on rose-colored glasses some times.
stampedmoments
Thanks a lot for the read, and the feedback.
For more on stepwells, have a look at my article on “stepwells of India”.
Your views on Delhi people in general are bang on!
Rajat Kumar
This is a beautiful blogpost. You seem to have captured the real essence of the capital city. I have been living in Delhi for quite some time and totally love this city.
stampedmoments
Yes, Delhi is a wonderful city.
Not everyone explores Delhi well though.
Most of the times, it’s in news for the wrong reasons.
But if one looks closer, it’s a great city.
Thank you.