Places to Visit in Delhi

New Delhi is one of the world’s oldest cities and a bustling capital with over 20 million residents. Most travelers coming to India will likely fly into Delhi before moving onto other cities. Delhi, while it gets the reputation of being a chaotic, dirty, and unsafe place, is definitely worth visiting and one city you cannot skip over. There is too much history and culture here. Here are a few places to visit in Delhi if you find yourself here.

1) Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

This Silk House of worship built in 1783 is beautiful and inspiring.

It was fascinating to see all the Sikhs gather here at this beautiful structure covered in white marble and gold. The sounds of the Sikh prayer were soothing. Before entering you’ll need to store your shoes behind the counter. After, you’ll proceed to the entrance to cleanse your feet in a shallow pool of water.

When I entered I found a basket full of head coverings and immediately put one on when I saw everyone else was covered. The holy pool was an incredible sight to see!

2) Red Fort

The main residence of India’s former emperors of the Mughal dynasty, which was built in 1639.

The fort was massive and even more impressive in person with its red sandstone shining brightly. I met three guys as I was taking photos and they were very excited to speak with an American. They bombarded me with questions, which I was glad to answer.

3) The Streets of Old Delhi

This was hands down my favorite part of Delhi, I hired a driver and he took me around the city on bike.

We cruised through markets and busy streets, it felt like the India I had envisioned. The streets were jam-packed, loud, and filled with cows, but all the chaos made it so fascinating.

I went to a spice market and purchased some of the most potent tea ever. Honestly, I could’ve spent the entire day here just walking around taking photos.

4) Humayun’s Tomb

Built in 1565, this tomb was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Humayun’s first wife Bega Begum, which also happens to be her burial site.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the finest examples of Persian architecture.

5) India Gate

This 42-meter high war memorial honoring fallen Indian soldiers in World War I and the Third Afghan War is worth a visit.

It’s not as appealing as most places in Delhi, but it does make for some good photos if you’re into photography.

6) Lotus Temple

A Bahá’í House of Worship that was built in December 1986, which isn’t too far from India Gate. This is the most visited building in India!

These are my top choices for Delhi. If you find yourself in the city, I hope you’re able to visit all these sites or at least most of them. Enjoy!