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Best Places to Visit in Delhi

The Presidential Residence, formerly known as the Viceroy’s House is the famous Rashtrapathi Bhavan in Delhi. It is the home of the President of India, officially. It is located at the western end of Rajpath. The mansion or the main building accommodates the president’s official residence, halls, guest rooms and offices. The entire 130 hectare President Estate that includes huge gardens known as the Mughal Gardens, large open spaces, a residence of office staff and bodyguards, stables etc is the major portion of it the mansion.

It is considered to be the largest residence of a head of state in the world in terms of area. The Delhi Durbar occurred in December 1911 decided to build a residence in New Delhi for the British Viceroy. In the beginning, the plan had 4000 acres of land acquired for the building after relocating Raisina and Malcha villages existed in the region. The famous British architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens was given the responsibility for the primary architecture. 

The design made by Lutyens was grand and extraordinarily classical that was enhanced by different colours and details inspired by Indian architecture. Originally, the Viceroy’s House had to be built on the top of Raisina Hill along with the secretariats lower down. But it was decided to build 400 yards back and thus both the buildings had to come on top of the plateau. On this, Lutyens and Baker who was constructing the secretariat had disputes. The house consists of four floors and 340 rooms which are decorated with modified interior designs.

There were around 700 million bricks used for the construction. The design of the building was inspired by the Edwardian Baroque. It has several halls used for different functions and purposes. The main ones are the Durbar Hall and the Ashoka Hall. There is a dome in the middle that reflects both Indian and British styles.

Rashtrapathi Bhavan entry timing:
The mansion can be visited on all days from 09:00 am to 04:00 pm but the Mughal Garden and other gardens will be open from August to March on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You should visit during winter as weather in Delhi is just excellent in the months of October and November.

Rashtrapathi Bhavan entry fee:
There is a registration charge of Rs.50 and it can be paid online as well as it will be non-refundable and non-transferable. Visitors individually or in a group of fewer than 30 people will be charged Rs.50 per visitor and for a group of 30, it will be 1200 per visit.

Rashtrapathi Bhavan location:
Rashtrapati Bhawan, President's Estate, New Delhi, Delhi 110004.

Insider Tips:

    -Cameras are not allowed inside the building.

    -You need not pay the guide.

    -The various circuits of the Bhavan are:
     Circuit 1: Rashtrapati Bhavan Main Building and the Central Lawn will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
     Circuit 2: The Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex [RBMC] comprising the Clock Tower, the Stables and the Garages will be open on all days except Monday.
     Circuit 3: The Mughal Gardens and other Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan will be open from August to March on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

    -Entry to Rashtrapati Bhavan for visit is through Gate No.2 (Rajpath); Gate No.37 (via Dalhousie Road-Hukmi Mai Marg); and Gate No.38 (via Church Road-Brassy Avenue) of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

    -Indian Citizens should carry valid photo ID Cards. In case of foreigners, they should make their request for visit along with photocopies of their passport. On the day of visit, they are required to carry their original passport for identification.

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A tapered street in Chandni Chowk area, Paranthe Wali Gali is noted because of its sequential shops located one after the other known for selling paratha, a typical Indian unleavened thin bread. The food sold in Paranthe Wali Gali is strictly vegetarian, presented in old retrospective style without any addition of onion or garlic to the food. 

This is because the owner of the particular series of a shop is a Brahmin and the neighborhood includes the Jain population. The menu includes mix paratha, khoya parantha, rabri parantha, parat parantha. The parantha generally is served along with mint, mixed or sweet tamarind chutney, potato or paneer curry sautéed with rich sweet and spicy pumpkin.

Entry timings- The opening timings to Paranthe Wali Gali is between 9 AM to 11 PM.

Entry fee – Average cost for having food at Paranthe Wali Gali would sum up to 150 INR or 2.306 USD for two people approximately.

Location - Address of Paranthe Wali Gali is 1984-1985, Gali Paranthe Wali, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi.

Insider tips - You must try the recommended food from Paranthe Wali Gali. The recommended food is Mixed Veg Paranthe, Mirch Parantha, and Karela Parantha.

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India’s first live entertainment, theatre and leisure spot is Kingdom of Dream in NCR Delhi located near the Leisure Valley Park. As a master destination for all types of entertainment and art based innovations, the Kingdom of Dreams was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Haryana and it was open to the public on 18th September 2010. The opening day witnessed the special preview of the Bollywood musical, Zangoora portraying the famous stars like Hussain Kuwajerwala, Gauhar Khan, and Kashmira Irani. Kingdom of Dream is one of the best amusement parks in Delhi toto chill out.

The spot is spreading across over 6 acres of land and was built at a cost of more than Rs.2 billion. Kingdom of Dreams is under Great Indian Nautanki Company which is a joint venture between Apra Group and Wizcraft. It consists of two theatres named Nautanki Mahal and the Showshaa Theatre along with a cultural and cuisine area called Culture Gully. The famous Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was declared as the global ambassador of Kingdom of Dream in 2010.Al, o it was in the news when the Commonwealth Games 2010 official theme song by A R Rahman was launched in the complex.

One of the portions of the complex, the Nautanki Mahal is a huge auditorium with 864 seats and is designed like a posh palace. Indian and international theatres are performed here. Culture Gully is the space where arts, crafts, and food etc are arranged beautifully. It is a fully air-conditioned boulevard that extends up to 10000 square feet with themed restaurants and live kitchens in its possession. Showshaa theatre is a 350 seater amphitheater with a soaring tent. Several theatrical performances are conducted here.

Kingdom of Dreams entry timings:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 12:30 pm to 12:00 am and on Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 pm to 12:00 am.

• 2,999 per person (Diamond) on weekdays (Tue-Fri)
• 3,999 per person (Diamond) on weekendsZ
• 2,499 per person (Platinum) on weekdays (Tue-Fri)
• 2,999 per person (Platinum) on weekends
• 1,999 per person (Gold) on weekdays (Tue-Fri)
• 2,499 per person (Gold) on weekends
• 1,499 per person (Silver) on weekdays (Tue-Fri)
• 1,999 per person (Silver) on weekends
• 1,249 per person (Bronze) on weekdays (Tue-Fri)
• 1,499 per person (Bronze) on weekends
• 600 per person (culture gully) on weekdays (Tue-Fri)
• 700 per person (culture gully) on weekend 

Kingdom of Dream location: Auditorium Complex, Sector 29, Gurgaon, Haryana 122001, India.

Insider Tips:

    -To avoid the rush, book your seat in advance and arrive at the venue on time.

    -You can pick munchies, beverages (including alcoholic ones) at the theatre during the break.

    -Which seats should you pick? Go for Diamond with the lazy boy seats. The chairs for all other categories could do with an upgrade – they are a tad uncomfortable, more so since the show is long. And there are no cup holders for your drinks. Beyond Diamond, you could pick any other seats and the experience will not be very different. Except perhaps the first row (where you may have to crane your neck to see the stage) and the extreme corners at the back.

    -Valets will take care of your car.

    -Photography is prohibited inside the theatre but not at Culture Gulli.

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A very significant museum in the history of India is the National Rail Museum in Delhi. It is situated in Chanakyapuri with a focus on the rail heritage India had been possessing. It was opened on February 1st 1977. The building is in over 10 acres of land enhanced by both indoor and outdoor exhibits and it is one of the famous places in north Delhi. The visitors are allowed to do a toy train ride around the site on regular days. Apart from the toy train, there are a lot of amusing items on the display such as 1:8 scale trail, Diesel simulator, Steam simulator, Coach Simulator and things like these.

The concept of a transport museum was coming into the presentation in 1962. However, the first concrete shape of it came out in 1970. It was coming into the scenario under the advisory of Micharl Graham Satow who was a genuine rail enthusiast. In 1971, the foundation stone for the museum was laid by the then President of India V. V. Giri. The Rail Transport Museum as it was known in the initial days was inaugurated by Kamalapati Tripathi, the Minister of Railways during that time.

Later, the name was changed to National Rail Museum in 1995. Patiala State monorail trainways, the oldest operational steam locomotive Fairy Queen, Fire Engine, Saloon of Prince of Wales, Saloon of Maharaja of Indore and Mysore, electric locomotive 4502 etc are a few of the possessions of the museum that have the history of many centuries to be told.

You can find several museums in Delhi, The National Rail Museum is one of the famous museums which is located near to the Dhaula Kuan Metro Station which is about 2 kms away and you can catch an auto rickshaw to reach the museum from the station.

Rail Museum entry timings:
It is open on all days except on Mondays and National Holidays from 09:30 am to 05:30 pm.

Rail Museum Entry fee:
The entry fee is Rs.20 per person and for toy train ride the fee would be again Rs.20 per person.

Rail Museum location:
Market Rd, Block F, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021.

Raj Ghat in Delhi is an important landmark for India as it is a memorial to the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi. It used to be the name of a historic ghat of Old Delhi that is Shahjahanabad situated on the banks of Yamuna River. Near to it was Raj Ghat Gate of the walled city that opens at Raj Ghat on the banks of Yamuna River and thus later, the memorial area was also started addressed as Raj Ghat and it is one of the best places to visit in east Delhi. A black marble platform that symbolizes the spot of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation happened on 31st January 1948.

The spot is open to the sky and there is an eternal flame burn at the end. A stone path that leads to the walled enclosure is the pathway for the visitors to reach the memorial and the guests should remove their footwear before entering the walls of the Raj Ghat. Near to Raj Ghat, you can find other samadhis or cremation spots of other major persons. The place was landscaped and the construction of the memorial was done by Alick Percy Lancaster. He was the last Englishman to hold the post of Superintendent of Horticultural Operations for Government of India.

To the north of the Raj Ghat is where the memorial of Jawaharlal Nehru is situated which is known as the Shantivan. Ekta Sthal, the site where K R Narayanan was cremated is also located adjacent to Nehru’s cremation site. The area of the Raj Ghat is made beautiful by a lot of trees around planted by the dignitaries and heads of states visiting the sites.

Raj Ghat entry timing:
It is open from 05:00 am to 07:30 pm on all days.

Raj Ghat Entry fee:
The entry to the site is completely free.

Raj Ghat Location:
Gandhi Smriti, Raj Ghat, New Delhi, Delhi 110006.

Insider Tips:

    -There is no entrance fee to visit Raj Ghat.

    -You have to remove your shoes near the shrine of Mahatma Gandhi. Visitors can keep their shoes on the guarded shelves at the entrance.

    -A commemoration ceremony is held every Friday.

    -Foreign delegates of Government of India come here to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by offering flowers at the shrine.

    -Nearest Metro Station to the structure is Indraprastha Metro Station.

    -Visit Gandhi Memorial Museum as well. The museum displays the life of the great soul and the philosophy of the Sarvodaya Movement through a movie.

    -English show is from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm except for Thursdays. On Sundays, the show is shown at 3:00 pm in Hindi and at 5:00 pm in English.

Kotla is the name people of Delhi simply call the famous historic figure the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. It was fortress built by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq to obtain his version of Delhi city named Ferozabad. The fortress looked amazingly stunning- a polished sandstone Topra Ashokan pillar is standing tall in the fortress and it is one of the best places to visit in east Delhi. It was one of the many pillars left by the Mauryan emperor. It was re-erected at the fort as per the orders of Firoz Shah after it was abandoned and left alone in Topra Kalan in Pong Ghati.

The obelisk has several inscriptions and the original ones is in Brahmi script along with some Pali and Sanskrit inscriptions added much later. James Prinsep in 1837 had successfully translated those inscriptions. Apart from the pillar, the fortress also accommodates the Jami Masjid, a baoli and a large garden complex. The city of Ferozabad was established by the Sultan of Delhi, Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 1354 and it was the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate including the kotla or the fortress. As years passed, the fortress had to undergo several destructions due to the battles between emperors and now what is remaining is some ruins of the proud fortress.

Pragati Maidan metro station is the closest metro railway station to the fort so that reaching the fort never becomes a headache.

Firoz Shah Kotla entry timings:
The fort is open on all days from Tuesday to Sunday from 06:00 am to 06:00 pm.

Firoz Shah Kotla entry fee:
For Indian citizens and SAARC members, the entry fee is Rs.15 while for foreign nationals it will cost Rs. 100. Children up to the age of 15 need not pay any fee to enter the fort.

Firoz Shah Kotla location:
Feroz Shah Kotla Fort, Balmiki Basti, Vikram Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110002.

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The Pragati Maidan situated on the Mathura road is an exhibition cum complex center with a total area of around one hundred and fifty acres. Well equipped with paved lawns, roads, outlets and gardens, Pragati Maidan is known as progress ground and is highly renowned fostering it with the title of being one of the best tourist places in Delhi. Housing around sixteen vast and voluminous halls in total, Pragati Maidan is considered to be the largest exhibition centers in Delhi.

Entry timings – The visiting time to Pragati Maidan depends on the event which is taking place and the visit duration is in between two to three hours.

Entry fee – The package for per person entry begins at 9914 INR or 152. 324 USD.

Location – The address of Pragati Maidan is Mathura Road, New Delhi, Delhi 110002. 

Insider tips - The place is popular for photo seekers and wanderers providing them a wonderful experience of the Maidan in entirety Experience Seekers. 

A famous mosque which is archaeologically significant for India is Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb related to it. It is located in the archaeological village complex in Mehrauli in Delhi, making it one of the top attractions to visit in Delhi in one day. The two monuments situated in contact with each other are the mosque and the tomb of two persons, Jamali and Kamali. The Urdu name Jamali originated from Jamal which means beauty. The name was an alias given to Shaikh Fazlullah and he was also known as Shaikh Jamali Kamboh or Jalal Khan. He was a great Sufi saint lived during the pre-Mughal period ruled by Lodi. While on the other side, Kamali was not famous as Jamali but he associated with Jamali.

Nonetheless, his antecedents have not been established. Perhaps, both their names were tagged as Jamali Kamali for the mosque and the tomb since they were buried close to each other. Both the mosque and the tomb were constructed during 1528 to 1529 but Jamali was buried in the tomb after his death in 1535. The mosque as well as the tomb are located in an enclosed garden which has a southern entry. The structure is appealing with the properly arranged red sand stone along with marble embellishments by which it looks extra ordinary.

It was believed to be a forerunner in the design of Mughal mosque architecture. It is comprised of a large prayer hall, a courtyard at the front, five arches in which the central arch only possesses a dome and much more. The arches have spandrels which are decorated with medallions and ornamentation. The central arch is astonishingly magnified by the presence of fluted pilasters. The rear end of the mosque is beautified with oriel windows. In the tomb chamber, there are two marble graves, one of Jamali and the other one is of Kamali.

There are a lot of easy modes to reach the mosque though Qutub Minar metro station is the nearest metro station to the tomb.

Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb entry timings:
 It is open on all days of the week from sunrise to sunset.

Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb Entry fee:
The entry to the mosque and the tomb is completely free to all.

Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb location:
Archeological Village Complex, Mehrauli, Delhi.

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The National Zoological Park or commonly known as Delhi Zoo is an extensive zoo that spreads across 176 acres near the Old Fort in Delhi, India. In the middle of a vibrant city lies a 16th century citadel, a green island and a great collection of rare flora and fauna. Around 1350 animals are protected inside the zoo, of different species and families. You can also book best wildlife tour in Delhi to explore the beauty of nature and the wild life. Walking through the beautiful zoo is a relishing activity for a day out in Delhi one can do or you can explore it with the help of a battery operated vehicle that can be arranged on rent at the zoo. Also, the visitors are not allowed to bring their own food inside the premises except water but you will get food at the canteen situated in the zoo.

The zoo was in news is 2012 as one man fell into the white tiger’s zoo and got killed by one white tiger. Then the safety and security measures of the zoo were under questions. After New Delhi came into existence, the zoo also came into existence and it was inaugurated in November 1959. Though initially Major Aubrey Weinman of the Ceylon Zoological Garden was asked to do the plans for the zoo but he could not do it and later Carl Hagenbeck of the Zoological Garden of Hamburg was approached by the Indian Government and thus he helped the Government with the preliminary plan of the zoo.

The construction was started in 1956 and the northern part of the zoo was completed by 1959. The official name as the National Zoological Park was given to the zoo in 1982 with the aim to make it a model for other zoos in the country to develop.

National Zoological Park entry timings:
From March to October mid- 09:00 am to 04:30 pm
From October mid to March mid- 09:30 am to 04:00 pm

National Zoological Park entry fee:
Adults: Rs.40, child between 3 and 5 feet: Rs.20, senior citizens: Rs.20.
For foreign nationals- adults: Rs.200 and for children: Rs.100.

National Zoological Park location:
Mathura Road, Sundar Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110003.

Mehrauli Archeological Park is a predominant archaeological space spreading across 200 acres in Mehrauli in Delhi. It is located close to Qutub Minar and the Qutb complex. More than 100 historically important monuments are coexisting within this park. For more than 1000 years, the park has been witnessing occupation and includes the ruins of Lal Kot built by Tomar Rajputs as well. This is the only existing spot with continuous years of occupation.

The architectural relics of the subsequent periods like Khalji dynasty, Tughlaq dynasty, Lodhi dynasty of Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire and the last the British Raj etc are also found inside the extant fort of Delhi. The tomb of Balban which shows a true arch and the true dome is lying inside the park along with Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb of Maulana Jamali Kamali, Quli Khan’s Tomb, Gandhak ki Baoli, a madhi Masjid, a stepwell etc are scattered around the park as the pieces of remnants of something yet they form a cluster of charm and attraction with their firm structure and architectural strengths.

The remnants or the structures present in the park are dated back to the 10th century as well. The nearest metro station is ‘Qutub Minar’ on the yellow line to the fort. To the south of the village, you will find the remnants of the Mughal Palace, the Zafar Mahal, located once in the middle of the large jungle and next one to it is the Sufi shrine, the Dargah of Qutb Sahib. Also, a small burial ground with an empty space can be spotted which was intended for the last king of Delhi, Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Mehrauli Archaeological Park entry timings:
The park will be open on all days from sunrise to sunset.

Mehrauli Archaeological Park Entry Fee:
There is no entry applicable.

Mehrauli Archaeological Park location:
Opposite Qutub Minar Metro Station, Anuvrat Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030, India.

Insider Tips:

    -Wear a strong pair of walking shoes.

    -Remember to bring water as well as sunglasses or sunscreen.

    -Avoid wearing short pants to prevent some insects from attacking your legs.

A village in Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh is Kuchesar which is very closely located to Delhi, around 100 kilometers away. Earlier it was the seat of Zamindari. The mud fort in Kuchesar is famous. The Jat rulers of Kuchesar were behind the construction of the mud-fort in the mid- 18th century. The fort tells the chequered history of the Jats who vied with many other religions as well as with French adventurers and the British East India Company in order to fill the gap built by the decline of the Mughal Empire.

There are amazing heritage hotels in Delhi and a part of the fort has also became a heritage hotel in 1998 after the restoration by Neemrana Hotels. Kuchesar’s ruling family belonged to the Dalal clan of the Jat caste. Currently, there are different sects originated from the basic caste and they settled down in the region. Also, currently there are two heritage hotels which are part of the fort. One if Mud Fort Kuchesar and Rao Raj Vilas. In Kuchesar, the main attraction every visitor will love to visit is the mud fort. But now it is a heritage resort where you can enjoy a luxurious stay and relish the historically important walls of the fort.

The fort now has 16 well maintained and properly arranged rooms along with an impeccable service, brand new amenities and warm hospitality. Also, you would find enough chances to indulge in multiple exhilarating activities like nature walk, bullock cart rides, village walks, horse riding, swimming and much more.

It is one the best places near Delhi to visit. Brij Ghat located about 25 kilometers away from Kuchesar is an unbeatable location where you can spend ample time amidst the green nature and witness the beauty of the river Ganges. 

Distance from Delhi to Kuchesar:
The exact distance from Delhi to Kuchesar is 98.6 kilometers and if you take a drive along NH 9, you will reach Kuchesar in 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately. Thus Kuchesar becomes the favourite tourist destination to visit near Delhi within 500 kms. 

Best time to visit:
November – February

Attractions:
Mud Fort is a pleasant place to spend leisurely time exploring cultural heritage apart from indulging in sports and other activities. Brij Ghat is an excellent picnic spot near Delhi with an exotic locale to enjoy a peaceful time on the banks of the Ganges.