Delhi City Highlights
A curated tour of Delhi's most iconic landmarks — spanning 1,000 years of history, from ancient forts and Mughal mosques to British-era memorials and modern spiritual wonders. India's capital in all its layered glory.
Trip Stops
- 1
The crown jewel of Mughal Delhi — Shah Jahan began building this massive red sandstone fort in 1639 and it took nine years to complete, reportedly costing one crore rupees (half of it on the palaces alone!). Every Indian Prime Minister since independence has delivered their Independence Day speech from the Lahore Gate on August 15. Inside, the Diwan-i-Am's marble throne alcove features pietra dura panels executed by a Florentine artist — look for the panel of Orpheus playing his lute. The fort's Nahr-i-Bihisht ('Stream of Paradise') once had an ivory fountain that reportedly sprayed rose water.
📍 Chandni Chowk, Delhi, India
- 2
India's largest mosque — and a five-minute walk from Red Fort, making them a perfect pair. Shah Jahan commissioned it in the 1650s, and its courtyard can hold over 25,000 worshippers at once. The mosque is built on a natural rocky outcrop, giving it an elevated, commanding presence over Old Delhi. Climb the south minaret for a stunning bird's-eye view of the Red Fort and the chaotic, glorious tangle of Old Delhi's rooftops. Fun fact: the mosque houses a relic believed to be the Prophet Muhammad's sandal, a strand of hair, and a Quran written on deerskin.
📍 Old Delhi, Delhi, India
- 3
One of Asia's oldest and busiest markets, laid out by Shah Jahan's daughter Jahanara in 1650. The name means 'moonlit square' — it originally had a central canal that reflected moonlight. Today it's a glorious sensory overload of spice bazaars, jewellery lanes, street food stalls, and wholesale markets, each street specialising in something different. Don't miss the legendary paratha-wallahs of Paranthe Wali Gali, who have been frying stuffed flatbreads in the same spot for over 150 years. The Khari Baoli spice market nearby is Asia's largest wholesale spice market.
📍 Old Delhi, Delhi, India
- 4
Delhi's most beloved public monument — a 42-metre triumphal arch built in 1931 to commemorate the 82,000 Indian soldiers who died serving in World War I and the Afghan Wars. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the same architect who planned most of New Delhi. The names of 13,300 soldiers are inscribed on the arch. Since 2022, the eternal flame burns here at the National War Memorial nearby, honouring all Indian soldiers who have died in wars since independence. Visit after sunset when the sandstone arch is illuminated in a warm golden glow — it's one of Delhi's most photogenic sights.
📍 New Delhi, Delhi, India
- 5
Delhi's most historically layered site — archaeologists have found evidence of continuous human settlement here going back to 1000 BC! Emperor Humayun began building this fort, but his arch-rival Sher Shah Suri captured it and completed it instead, making it the only major monument shared between two feuding emperors. The beautiful Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque inside is a masterpiece of Afghan-Mughal architecture. The fort also has a serene boating lake — surreal to paddle through a 3,000-year-old settlement. Emperor Humayun is said to have fatally tripped down the stairs of the Sher Mandal library inside this very fort in 1556.
📍 Pragati Maidan, Delhi, India
- 6
The most beautiful park in Delhi — and the secret is that it contains centuries-old Lodhi and Sayyid dynasty tombs scattered among 90 acres of lush greenery. The garden was called 'Lady Willingdon Park' during British rule (the Viceroy's wife had it developed in 1936), then renamed after Independence. The round Gumbad and Shish Gumbad tombs are Lodhi-era gems largely ignored by tourists rushing past. In spring, the bougainvillea blooms turn the ruins into a painter's fantasy. Birdwatchers love this garden — over 100 species have been recorded here, including owls roosting inside the medieval domes.
📍 Lodhi Estate, Delhi, India
- 7
The tallest brick minaret in the world at 72.5 metres — and it has been standing since 1199 AD! Qutb-ud-Din Aibak started it in 1199 but only completed the first storey; it took three more rulers to finish. Look for the mysterious Iron Pillar in the courtyard — a 6-metre-tall, 1,600-year-old column that has barely rusted despite centuries of exposure. Scientists still can't fully explain why. The complex also contains India's first mosque, the Quwwat-ul-Islam, built using columns salvaged from 27 demolished Hindu and Jain temples — you can still spot the original carved Hindu motifs on the pillars.
📍 Mehrauli, Delhi, India
- 8
One of the world's largest Hindu temple complexes — Guinness World Records certified it as the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple in 2007. Built in just five years with the help of 11,000 artisans and volunteers, the main monument is entirely free of steel — held together purely by traditional Indian stone-interlocking techniques used for millennia. The intricate pink sandstone and marble carvings feature over 20,000 figures of saints, devotees, and divine beings. No cameras are allowed inside, so the details stay in your memory alone. The evening Sahaj Anand Water Show is a spectacular fusion of lasers, fountains, fire, and ancient Vedic storytelling.
📍 Pandav Nagar, Delhi, India
Discover More Trips
Download Guyde and create personalized travel guides