New Delhi City Guide

India Gate, which is synonymous with New Delhi and is located in the city's heart, is one of the city's most famous landmarks. India Gate's foundation stone was laid in 1920, and the structure was completed in 1933. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, it is a memorial to all British Indian soldiers who died in World War I.

Later, the Amar Jawan Jyoti — a monument devoted to soldiers who gave their lives in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war — was added. The India Gate is flanked by lush green lawns that are a popular picnic spot, particularly in the winter afternoons and summer evenings. Morning and evening walkers frequent the broad streets surrounding India Gate.

There is also a small pond nearby where boating is possible. India Gate, along with the surrounding fountains, is beautifully lit up at night, making for a stunning sight.

The Lotus Temple, also known as the Bahá'í House of Worship, is one of Delhi's most well-known buildings due to its unique shape and construction. It is made entirely of white marble and stands out against the concrete jungle around it with its contemporary architecture.

The temple is made up of twenty-seven giant marble petals that emerge from nine pools and walkways in the shape of an unfolding lotus flower. The number nine represents the Bahá'í faith's nine unifying paths. Sayings from the Bahá'í scriptures can be found in a small niche beneath each petal.

The temple does not have any idols or images, as they are forbidden by the Bahá'í faith. Visitors are welcome to meditate quietly inside the temple.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the President of India's official residence — a sprawling mansion with stunning architecture. Its 320-acre grounds house not only the head of state, but also staff quarters, stables, offices, and the splendid Mughal Gardens.

Designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens, the Rashtrapati Bhavan is a distinctive blend of Mughal and European architecture. It faces the India Gate across Rajpath, with the North Block and South Block on either side housing various government departments.

The lavish Mughal Gardens are open to the public from mid-February to mid-March. You can also take a guided tour of the newly opened sections, including the Durbar Hall, Lutyens' Gallery, Long Drawing Room, Ashoka Hall, Children's Gallery, and Gift Museum.

The Red Fort is a giant red sandstone fort synonymous with Delhi and serves as evidence of the Mughal Empire's glory. Commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1638 when he decided to move the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi, it took ten years to complete.

The Lahore Gate is the main entrance to the Red Fort — it is also where the Prime Minister delivers his annual Independence Day speech. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Red Fort is spread over 254.67 acres, with walls that stretch for over 2 kilometres.

The Red Fort is octagonal in shape, with lovely flower decorations and calligraphy on its walls. The Diwan-e-Aam, the Diwan-e-Khas, the Moti Masjid, and the Hayat Baksh Bagh are among its architectural highlights.

The Qutub Minar is a 73-meter-high tower erected by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in 1193. After the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu ruler, the tower was erected to commemorate Muslim dominance in the city. With five storeys and projecting balconies, it is India's tallest such structure.

The first three storeys are made of red sandstone, while the last two are made of marble and sandstone. Qutub-ud-Din Aibak began the construction but only finished the cellar. His successor Iltutmish added three more stories, and Firoz Shah Tuglak completed the last two.

The Qutub Minar complex also includes the Quwwat-us-Islam Mosque (India's first mosque), a 7-meter-high iron pillar, Iltutmish's tomb, Ala'i-Darwaza, and the Ala'i Minar.

Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib is one of Delhi's most historic and well-known Sikh shrines. Founded by Baghel Singh in 1783, it commemorates the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur. Located in Chandni Chowk, it was constructed on the site where Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb beheaded Guru Teg Bahadur for refusing to convert to Islam.

The current Gurudwara building was built in 1930. The tree under which Guru Teg Bahadur was beheaded, as well as the well where the Guru would bathe, have been preserved on the premises. Devotees flock to the Gurudwara on a regular basis, and everyone is welcome regardless of religion, caste, or gender.

Located in Chanakyapuri, the National Rail Museum honours India's rail heritage and first opened to the public on February 1, 1977. The museum covers an area of ten acres and houses over 100 life-size displays of Indian Railways trains.

It houses working and static train models, as well as signalling equipment, historical photographs, and reading material about railways. Among the trains on display are the royal Prince of Wales Saloon (1857) and the Maharaja of Mysore's Saloon (1899), complete with a rosewood bed.

The Fairy Queen, built in 1855 and thought to be one of the best preserved steam locomotives of the time, is the most famous exhibit. Visitors can also take a pleasure ride on the monorail or enjoy boating.