India

46 Best Quotes About India For Instagram

February 10, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

India is one of those places that dream about simply because of places like Taj Mahal in Agra but there is so much more to this country that this mausoleum. From the amazing places in Delhi to the colourful city of Jaipur that one can combine into a Golden triangle tour to Kerela and so many other amazing places in Incredible India.

While the best of India travel guides will help you explore the country’s verdant green lakes and rivers, imposing snowy mountains in the north to culture and history throughout the country, below we share the perfect quotes on incredible India to caption your experience. Nothing but the best quotes about India to help you illustrate just how amazing india is, as you photos will too.

46 Perfect Travel Quotes ABout For Insta

Whether you choose to do 3 days in Delhi, 1 Day in Agra, India is simply amazing. A country that people visit not only for the sights but for yoga retreats, food, spiritual journeys, and so many other reasons, it’s a country that is always welcoming to visitors of any kind. Below are inspiring quotes on India caption just how amazing this country is.

Famous Quotes About India

India is not, as people keep calling it, an underdeveloped country, but rather, in the context of its history and cultural heritage, a highly developed one in an advanced state of decay. – Shashi Tharoor
India is a global power and an important partner with whom we are building an intense, broad and enduring relationship. – Pierre Pettigrew
Any idea of a United India could never have worked and in my judgment it would have led us to terrific disaster. – Muhammad Ali Jinnah
India is the second biggest defense procurer in the world after the U.S. – Baba Kalyani
In India we celebrate the commonality of major differences; we are a land of belonging rather than of blood. – Shashi Tharoor
India has to be transformed into a developed nation, a prosperous nation and a healthy nation, with a value system. – Abdul Kalam
If India is not secular, then India is not India at all. – Atal Bihari Vajpayee
India has the most technically ambitious and innovative nuclear energy program in the world. – Siegfried Hecker
There has been no more revolutionary contribution than the one which the Hindus (Indians) made when they invented ZERO. – Lancelot Hogben
There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. For me, India is such a place. – Keith Bellows
Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. In the world, fear has no place. Only strength respects strength. – A.P.J Abdul Kalam

Quotes On Incredible India

India shaped my mind, anchored my identity, influenced my beliefs, and made me who I am. … India matters to me and I would like to matter to India. – Shashi Tharoor
To other countries, I may go as a tourist, but to India, I come as a pilgrim. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
India has two million gods, and worships them all. In religion all other countries are paupers; India is the only millionaire. – Mark Twain
Filming in India was very special. The chaos, the noise, and the sensory overload was all really wonderful. It was a new world to me, and being able to capture that was incredible. – James Watkins
If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India! – Romaine Rolland
India lives in several centuries at the same time. – Arundhati Roy
The world is the body and India is its life. – Khalid Masood
India has an unbroken tradition of nonviolence from times immemorial. – Mahatma Gandhi
India is not a nation, nor a country. It is a subcontinent of nationalities. – Muhammad Ali Jinnah
India, which is the nursery of the great faiths of the world – Leo Tolstoy
Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India. – Mark Twain
I have a vision of a Modern India. I have embarked on a huge mission to convert that vision into reality. My mantra is Development. – Narendra Modi

Funny Quotes About India

When it comes to ‘tok’, India ‘rok’!
The train system in India is chaotic and fun – it’s the best way to see the landscape. Being in with all the families and also being the odd animal is a colorful experience you’ll never forget. – Natalie Dormer
India is a country divided by many local languages and united by a single foreign language.
In India, you don’t drive on the left of the road, you drive on what is left on the road.
Being one in a million in India means that there are 1241 Indians just like you.
In India, success is relative. More success, more relatives.
In India, there is not just forward motion on roads, there is backward, harmonic, oscillatory, curvilinear, perpendicular and projectile motion as well.
But nothing in India is identifiable, the mere asking of a question causes it to disappear or to merge in something else. – E. M. Forster
India is a country where people first become engineers and then figure out what they want to become.
In India, we first populate cities for 20 years. Then plan them for another 20 years.
When in India, I never say no to second helpings! I always want momo.
I don’t want to go and start trying to make jokes in places like India, Tanzania or Iraq. Afghanistan is not a funny place. – Bill Bryson
Where does one go in a tremendous city like Calcutta to find insider information? I recalled India’s golden rule: do the opposite of what would be normal anywhere else. – Tahir Shah

Beautiful Quotes About India

India is a place where color is doubly bright. Pinks that scald your eyes, blues you could drown in. – Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Time spent in India has an extraordinary effect on one. It acts as a barrier that makes the rest of the world seem unreal. – Tahir Shah
In India, you’re taught that there are certain qualities that make you a divine human being. – Deepak Chopra
India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of mature mind, understanding spirit and a unifying, pacifying love for all human beings. – Will Durant
If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India! – Romaine Rolland
If I had never done anything else in India, I would have written my name here, and the letters would have been a living joy. – Lord Curzon
Europe is merely powerful; India is beautiful. – Savitri Devi
The only possible idea of India is that of a nation greater than the sum of its parts. – Shashi Tharoor
India is a curious place that still preserves the past, religions, and its history. No matter how modern India becomes, it is still very much an old country. – Anita Desai
India, which is the nursery of the great faiths of the world. – Leo Tolstoy

More Inspiring Tips For India:

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Best Walking Tours In Delhi – Get To Know Delhi Inside-Out!

July 29, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

| Delhi Tour Packages | Delhi One Day Tour | Delhi Local Tour Packages | Delhi Tour Guide | One Day Delhi Sightseeing | Delhi To Jaipur | Taj Mahal One Day Tour From Delhi | Delhi Tourist Places | New Delhi Travel Guide | Things To Do In Delhi India

Connaught Street In Delhi

While India may be known for so many things like Bollywood, Taj Mahal, Taj Lake Palace, among all those cool and historical places is of course the food! One cannot explore Delhi without sampling the amazing food the city and country has to offer. The city’s cuisine infuses recipes passed on from generation to generation and with each generation adding their own spin on, resulting in a finger-licking delicious mix of irresistible curries. So to help you make the most of your visit as well as finding the best places to eat in Delhi, below are the very best walking tours where you not only explore the city but also sample the food too.

Best Walking Tours In Delhi

Explore all the hidden gems Delhi, both old and new, has to offer through its tourist sights and its foods. Food is just among of the many reasons you will love Delhi and its cool and unmissable tourist sites.

Old Delhi City Walk

Go on a walk through the mystic bazaars of Old Delhi and discover the shops selling goods for generations. The trip costs £17 per head and takes 3.5 hours.

Private Old Delhi Walking Tour and New Delhi Sights with Rickshaw Ride

For £29 per head, the walking tour will take you through Chandni Chowk bazar and Jama Masjid. Head out to other spots in New Delhi by car and rickshaw. Hotel pickup is included in this 6-hour long tour.

Old Delhi Walking Tour

Take this 2.5-hour tour to walk through some of the spice markets, embroidery, and flower markets of Old Delhi. The walking tour costs £8 and does not include hotel pickup.

Old Delhi Heritage Walk

In just 4 hours, view Delhi like never before. The heritage walk will cover the market, Jama Masjid, and a few Sikh temples. The walk does not include hotel pickup and costs £31.

Food Walk in Old Delhi

Take the food trail in Old Delhi and snack on Kebabs, Parathas, and slurp some of the local teas and mouthwatering delicacies. The cost is £58 per head, and it takes 4 hours approximately.

Full-day Delhi Tour with Lunch

In 8 hours, go on a tour through the bustling lanes of Old Delhi. Visit historical spots like Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and others. The cost is £32 per head and does not include hotel pickup.

Heritage Walk of Shahjahanabad, the Old Delhi

The 3-4 hour walk through the city of Shahjahanabad or Old Delhi covers the ancient monuments and bazaars, existing from the 17^th century. The cost is £48.

Old Delhi Street Food Tour

Street food like Kebabs and paranthas has put Old Delhi on every food lovers’ list. Thus, this walk will include all the finest and some offbeat food outlets in 4 hours at a cost of £20.

Delhi Flea and Street Markets Tour

At £12 per head, get a walking tour of the best wholesale markets and shopping districts in Delhi. It will be around 4 hours, including hotel pick up and drop off.

Explore Delhi at Night Walking Tour

Have you ever wondered how the national capital looks at night? The 2-hour long walking tour will show you around the best attractions, including the Parliament House, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, and more. It will cost you £9.

Delhi Food Walk Guide Included

Give your taste buds the best of the most authentic Delhi’s all-time favorite snacks. This 2-hour walking tour will have you try the best always and sweets from 7 iconic eateries. The trip costs £12 per head.

Old Delhi Food and Photo Walk

The 3-5 hour walk tour is ideal for photographers and foodies alike. The trip will be a great way to check out some idyllic spots in these parts for £33 per head.

Colorful Old Delhi Walking Tour

This 2-hour tour includes hotel pickup and takes you through the bustling bazaars, presenting you the authentic shopping districts, and more. The cost per head is just £29.

Old Delhi Heritage Walking Tour

In this trip, go on a complete tour of Old Delhi and know what heritage it retains. The 5-hour trip includes hotel pickup and costs £95.

Walking Tour of Old Delhi’s Food Markets

Try hard, but you will find yourself mesmerized by the flavors of delicacies wafting from the eateries in Old Delhi. The trip costs £133 per head and takes 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately.

Also See:

How To Get To Agra’s Taj Mahal From Delhi
Things To Do In Agra
Where To Stay In Delhi
Top Places To Visit In Jaipur
Top Tips For Visiting Taj Mahal
Why You Need To Visit Humayun’s Tomb

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11 Travel Inspired At-Home Date Night Ideas

April 14, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Romance is defined as the excitement, adventure, and something extremely surreal. So with that in mind I am going to be sharing a few tips on travel inspired date night ideas you can do at home, in your living room, kitchen, garden or balcony for those living in the inner cities in apartments.

Adding a little romance between you and your partner need not cost the world, its all in the little things you do for each other that bring joy to each other. It also doesn’t have to be anything extravagant.

5 Reasons Why Date Nights In Are Great

Date nights are not just for people starting a relationship, Datenights are also great for those already in a relationship together, married or cohabiting. Dating is a fun experience that allows you to get to know more about your partner. People grow and evolve that there is always something new you can learn about your partner. There are always cool and new things to discover and new things to find out that you enjoy or have in common.

Below are reasons date nights in are great:

Cost Effective: You can do romance frugually. Date nights in offer a great way to get to know your partner without spending a lot of money.
Explore new ways of romance that don’t require travel or being outside of your home.
Help reduce stress of what is going on outside, with work or family live by taking a moment to do something that bring comfort, laughter and joy your way.

11 Travel Themed At Home Date Night Ideas

I have covered romantic things to do in London, Dubai, Singapore, Liverpool with more to come, below are ideas that don’t require a passport but are very much travel themed so feel free to bring your wanderlust game and ideas to the table!

Greek night in.

Cook A Meal

Explore countries you have been to or dream to visit through food. Nothing is more romantic that been cooked for or cooking with your partner. Explore the world’s cuisine without heading to the airport. Whether is Lebanese Lamb kebabs, Greek Gyros with a side of Greek Salad, Thai Curry, Spanish Paella, or Italia Pasta meal. You can also try your hand making sushi at home or even at baking. For a little inspiration, check out this cool recipe for Scottish shortbread.

The key here is not to buy prepacked meals but the process or creating this together, tasting together, reminiscing together about the places you have been together or plan to visit and there by making it all part of the evening’s conversation:

Include the kids in on the date?

Get them to draw the flags representing the food send then them off to there rooms with other country-related activities like a quiz and maybe their meals too while you and your partner enjoy a little quiet dinner. Or as a reward for staying away the night before you cook offer a hearty brunch date with the kids. For amazing brunch ideas check this site out.

A night of Italian food, movies and arm-chair travel planning.

Island Breeze Cocktail Hour

With the weather getting warm, how about creating Caribean themed cocktail hour in the garden. If you don’t have a garden, you can also do this on the balcony. Don’t have a balcony? Don’t worry, open all the windows and let the breeze come through, throw a little jazz on or some chillout music and enjoy the cocktails as you plan your next beach getaway to that Caribbean island you have been dreaming about for so long. For inspiration on tropical island cocktails, check these out.

Fondue Night

For Fondue night we going to use some elements of the above ideas, you can do this in the garden and chill to music while enjoy the good weather we are currently getting or do this indoors on a dining table. Fondue is a Swiss melted cheese dished in a communal pot or Fondue pot over a portable stove heated with a candle or Spirit lamp and eaten by dipping bread into the cheese using long-stemmed forks.

You can enjoy the cheese paired with some wine, some good music in the background and plan how you will some-day hike through the Swiss Alps or take a relaxing trip to experience Swiss spas overlooking snow-capped Alps.

Massage Night

Been to Sweden, Thailand, or India? Don’t worry if you haven’t, if you have the internet you get a few tips or free style it. The point here is to give the massage allowing you to relax your partner and perhaps explore eye other’s bodies. The Swedish massage uses softer strokes, on bonier and more delicate parts of the body and stronger strokes on where there is thick muscle coverage. The Thai massage while similar to the Swedish massage, it incorporates, yoga-like stretches.

With the Thai Massage the whole body is pushed, pressed, rocked, vibrate, and rhythmically compressed. The Indian head massage, also known as champissage is a treatment that focuses on massaging acupressure points along the head, neck and shoulders in circular strokes to improve hair and scalp condition but is also great at relaxing the mind and body. What better way than to help your partner to relax and feel at ease for a restful night’s sleep.

Butler or Maid For The Day

Half a day, an hour or two. The choice is yours. You can limits this to romantic tasks if you will. The key thing here is ROMANCE! Things you can add to the list can include, running your partner a bath, choosing an outfit for them, cooking for them, putting their feet up and massaging their feet with oils(clean your feet please!), pouring a class of wine and then incorporating any of the above; massage, meal, or preparing movie night for them.

While Butler has been associated with many different places, from Ireland to German but we are going to go with the English occupational name, denoting a servant in charge of the wine cellar, from the Norman French word Butuille, so for the day or evening you can designate one of you to be the butler for the day; any time your partner feels ‘parched’ the butler shall ‘filler up’, a cup of tea, a glass of wine, whiskey. Just call the butler!

Indoor/Outdoor Movie Night

I have covered movies set in Florence but there are plenty more travel-themed movies out there that will have you romantising and dream about walking in the cities or countries that they are set in. Put some cushions on the living room floor, grab some snacks and set down to a movie.

If you have Netflix or Amazon Prime, you have an array of movies and TV shows set in London, Paris, Tokyo, South Africa, Indonesia. My current favourites at the moment are Queen Sono, Extraordinary Homes, Magical Andes, Eat Pray Love. For something for shows with a travel theme check this out for some inspiration.

If you have a garden you can also run your movies from a portable projector and project your chosen movie on to a wall or a bedsheet, light some candles around the garden, throw a blanket on the grass with some cushions and enjoy a movie.

Have kids and want them involved in movie night: There are shows like Street Food Asia, Tales of Light, Somebody Feed Phil, National Park Adventures, Instant Hotel all suitable for the youngins.

Indoor/Outdoor Picnic

Been to or dream of visiting England, Japan, Italy or France? Again don’t worry if you haven’t been because no one is going to judge the results! How about an indoor or outdoor picnic with an English Tea or Japanese Tea ceremony? You can even do a picnic with a french theme. None of these require too much effort. Grab all manner of French cheese and some wine and crackers, create a cheese board with all kinds of cheeses, add some olives, crackers and you are good to go!

You can also do this with an Italian theme too and get all kinds of Italian meats too. Some wine, a picnic blanket on the living room floor or garden and you have already travelled to a new country without leaving your home. Bonus points of your of you, between you and your partner and find suitable music to go with the theme.

Travel Themed Chirades

Name the country, the city, cuisine, landmark, grab the snakes and if you will, you can also involve the family too.

Couple’s Meditation

‘Loving kindness’ meditation, only requires 15 minutes of your time. Loving kindness meditation (LKM) is a popular self-care technique that can be used to boost well-being and reduce stress. During loving kindness meditation, you focus benevolent and loving energy toward yourself and others. Also, check out Very Well Mind for how to practice.

Destination Themed Take Away Night

This one is an easy one. If you have Uber Eats or Deliveroo, you pretty much have the world’s best cuisines at your finger-tips. It’s like a roller dex of continental food! Pick from Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Greek, Ethiopian, American, Lebanese, Indian and more. From curries, sushi, pizzas, burgers and ramens. You also order wines and deserts too; gelatos, crepes and more. You just press the order and chill back and enjoy it when it arrives.

Take An Online Cooking Glass

Ever wanted to learn how to make pasta, make chocolate, make a pizza, sushi or dumplings, Jamaican patties? Well, now you can! There are of course free sites like the BBC food, YouTube as well as an online course like Master Class where you can have the whole course learning to make desserts and meals from lots of countries around the world. There are course with Gordon Ramsey, Gabreila Camara, Massimo Buttura and many more.

Remember To:

Share the responsibility of planning your date nights regardless or how good or bad you thing you may be as a cook or planner. Make fun of each other’s great or terrible ideas. – -The key here is to have fun without being demeaning.
Plan ahead or keep the idea as a surprise but still reveal planned day of the date night.
It doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s the idea and thought that counts.
Remember to be kind and give criticisms with kindness as all of the above is meant to be done in the name of love.

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The Best Delhi Itinerary For 3 Days – Sightseeing Tour Of The Indian Capital

September 21, 2019 by admin 2 Comments

India, without any doubt, can be termed as one of the world’s most culturally and ethnically diverse territories. A Delhi itinerary for 3 days is a minimum number of days required for this great city.

The city is the melting point of all these diversities is its capital, Delhi. Delhi is not your regular capital with government buildings and foreign embassies, this city has been through a lot, justifying the rich history of this city.

Delhi surely is not for the faint heart, there is heat, there is pollution, there is traffic; but amidst all this chaos exist people with good hearts, mouth-watering food joints, architectural wonders and much more.

In fact, a lot of people who plan to explore India, start their journey from Delhi. Delhi has so much to offer, that no span of time can be regarded as ample, however, 3 days are sufficient to pay a visit to Delhi’s most sought after sights.

So brace yourself and pack your bags, and follow this carefully crafted itinerary to enjoy Delhi to a maximum in 3 days.

Also, a point worth mentioning, if you are visiting Delhi, the heat combined with dirt becomes intolerable, so slather on a ton of sunscreen, wear a hat along with comfy clothes and since you would be doing a lot of walking, choose your shoes accordingly.

Delhi has a metro station that connects you to all the major tourist destinations, but a better option would be commuting around in a taxi or a Rickshaw.

Don’t forget to try your luck by bargaining for the fare, since these drivers charge way too much from foreigners.

Delhi Itinerary For 3 Days

A trip to Delhi is not complete without exploring the many beautiful temples, markets and other cool Delhi sightseeing places.

Below I not only take you through things to do in Delhi but what to see in Delhi, where to eat and shop too.

If you are visiting Delhi for the first time or are short on time you can also get many tours with several options for either one day itinerary for Delhi taking you around the city from early at the moment to get ahead of the traffic and hitting up many places to visit in Delhi in one day which of course will include one or two of the places below.

The local sightseeing in Delhi and places below should take up most of the day which leaving you to have the evening to check out evening entertainment in the city whether that is local restaurants or food tours in Delhi.

DAY 1 In Delhi (Mehrauli Archeological Park, Qutab Minar & Hauz Khas Village )

Delhi is among one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in India and the places below certainly justify why Delhi is on that tressured list.

Mehrauli Archeological Park

India is truly incredible, with so much to see and do so, your first destination to visit in mission explore Delhi is Mehrauli Archaeological Park.

Since it is located adjacent to Qutab Minar, most people prefer paying a visit there and overlook this site, however, little do they know that stepping into this complex is like walking down the lane of Delhi’s history.

It is spread over about 200 acres and houses around 100 historical monuments. You would come across monuments and relics of Tughluqs, Mughals, Khaljis, Lodhis, British and other rulers of Delhi along with their family and loyal subjugates.

Keep an eye for Jamali Kamali mosque and the stepwell of Rajon Ki Baoli. Both of these buildings stand out because of their unmatched splendor.

If walking too much is a turn off for you, you can also rent a bicycle and bring some snacks, to explore this place at your desired pace because there is so much to explore.

You can spend there as much time as you want, but minimum 3 4 hours are required since it’s huge so make sure to wake up early in the morning in order to give each site its due time in scavenging.

Qutab Minar

Adjacent to Mehrauli Archaeological Park lies the Qutab Minar which was built in 1206 and is the tallest brick minaret in the world. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site.

This minaret is named after Qutab-ud-Din Aibak, the ruler who started its construction. It is about 240 feet tall and has 5 storeys.

The building is a manifestation of Islamic influence on the architecture of subcontinent. You would be awestruck by the majesty of this place.

For foreigners, you would have to pay a nominal entrance fee of 300 rupees while locals have to pay 50 rupees and kids are free to enter.

Hauz Khas Village

After spending the whole day dissecting through Delhi’s history and architecture that was influenced by its past rulers, it is now time to get a taste of Delhi’s present-day life and the architecture influenced by it.

Hauz Khas Village is one of a kind place in Delhi, where past meets present. Hauz Khas literally means a royal tank, this place is named so after an ancient reservoir present here, which dates back to the 13th century and is bounded by a walking track.

In the past, this place was an academic hub which attracted India’s Muslim students and scholars to gather and ponder for educational purposes.

This village went through drastic renovations in the 1980s, giving it its present shape. The best thing about this complex is that even with modern well-established shops and restaurants, it still has maintained its medieval charm.

The narrow streets lined with chic boutiques, Bollywood posters, and peppy restaurants is ideal to be strolled in the evening.

You will also have a lot of food options, the best one would be relishing on Indian street food or something which could be grabbed and eaten on the go. Some popular restaurants in Hauz Khas Village are Naivedeyam, Auro Kitchen and Bar, Coast Café, Himalayan Kitchen, etc.

When you return from Delhi you can also try your hand with these cool Indian food recipes.

DAY 2 In Delhi (Humayun’s Tomb, Connaught Place, National Museum of Delhi & Lotus Temple)

Humayun’s Tomb

Day 2 would be inclined towards exploring the monuments of Old Delhi. While Taj Mahal is recognized as one of the modern seven wonders of the world, the inspiration behind its construction was Humayun’s Tomb.

Humayun’s tomb has a significant status among the Muslim inspired architectural monuments in India since it was the first tomb with a garden area. This red sandstone tomb is the resting place of Mughal emperor Humayun.

It was constructed on the orders of his first wife Bega Begum. Since the main attraction of this tombstone is its well-established gardens, you can pack your food and have a picnic in these lush green gardens or you can check in the very famous Oberoi Hotel, whose iconic rooftop restaurant gives a picturesque view of the Humayun’s tomb.

Of all the places to visit in India for 3 or 4 days, this is up there on the top places not to miss.

There is a shop near the tomb Anokhi’s discount store, which has women’s traditional clothes at very affordable rates. If you are interested in exploring the Sufi culture rampant in sub-continent, you can join the walking tour of Nizamuddin Basti, the three hundred rupees that you would pay would be donated for the betterment of underprivileged residents of the area.

If you are lucky enough to join this tour on Thursday, your evening would end with such a mesmerizing Qawali performance that would traverse your soul to the lands unknown.

Connaught Place

Not Delhi itinerary is complete with a visit to this place. Head to Connaught Place, where you will catch a glimpse of Delhi and its people in their raw nature.

The spot is hustling and bustling at all times since it is a significant commercial and trading point in Delhi. The Georgian style buildings talk of Delhi’s colonial past.

You will find vintage cinemas, global chain stores, hotels of different ranges, restaurants offering local as well as foreign cuisine and much more. Parikrama is a revolving restaurant which offers scenic views of the city.

If you are looking to buy ethnic Indian outfits like saris or embroidered bags and traditional shoes, visit the stalls that line Janpath Market.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is a prominent Sikh Gurudwara (worship house ) is another touristy spot in Connaught Place that is famous for its reflecting waters.

Jantar Mantar is the oldest astronomical observatory in India. It was constructed in 1724. A guard would take you around this building and the ancient calendars and sighting objects would fascinate you a lot.

National Museum of Delhi

From Connaught Place, head to National Museum Delhi, which is accessible to the public from 10 am to 6 pm, except Mondays.

It was established in 1949, soon after India’s independence. 650 rupees entrance fee is required.

You will not only find artifacts and relics from India’s recent history and the dynasties that ruled here but also from Indus Valley Civilization, that dates back to 2500 BC.

Lotus Temple

India is home to followers of many religions and the coexistence of their worship houses in its capital Delhi manifests it. Baha’i is a minority religion in India but the Baha’i community of Delhi is very proud of the Bahai Lotus Temple located to the East of Nehru Place.

The temple is relatively young as compared to other religious buildings located in Delhi since it was constructed in 1986.

The white marbled lotus-shaped building afloat water and bounded by gardens was constructed taking influence from other architectural sights in Delhi.

Since the fundamental principle of Baha’i faith is unity and equality among all people, the temple is open to visitation to everyone free of cost.

DAY 3 In Delhi (Chandni Chowk & Red Fort )

Chandni Chowk

Another Delhi itinerary must-see. The narrow streets of Chandi chowk filled with chaos have the heart of residents of Delhi for this place is perfect to shop, eat, explore culture, monuments, etc.

During the Mughal era, Chandni chowk was the primary location for imports from Asia and Europe and a prominent trade location.

Chandni chowk can easily be accessed by metro in case your hotel is too far away and the fare for taxi or rickshaw exceeds your budget.

Shopping at Chandi Chowk can be quite intimidating because of the narrow-congested streets with massive crowds.

In addition, there are specialist areas for each kind of item like Katra Neel for saris, Moti Bazaar for shawls, Dariban Kallan for ethnic jewelry, Chawri Bazaar for stationary, Khari Baoli for spices (which is also Asia’s largest spice Bazaar). That is why hiring a personal tour guide would help you a lot in traversing through this havoc.

Also, while shopping, be mindful of the pocket pickers and try to carry your cash and phone in the breast pocket(You can opt to use an anti-theft backpack).

Chandi Chowk is a foodie’s paradise and there are endless eating options which can become quite confusing as well. However, don’t forget to visit the famous Paranthe Wali Gali to try out anyone from the hundreds of variants of Indian fried bread, paratha, and the Old Famous Jalebi Wala to try out their mouth-watering jalebis.

In Chandni Chowk, you will find many Havelis (traditional Indian mansions) including the one which was home to the famous poet Mirza Ghalib. Chandi Chowk is also home to prominent worship places of different religions; including Jama Masjid, Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Shri Digambar Jain Temple.

Red Fort

At the end of Chandi Chowk, your eyes would meet the majestic Red Fort, which is open to visitors from 6 am to 9 pm, except Mondays and tickets need to be purchased for entry.

Red fort, locally known as Laal Qila, was the home of Mughal Emperors when the capital of the Mughal Dynasty shifted from Agra to Delhi. The red color of the building is imparted by red sandstone and the fort bears a striking resemblance to the Agra Fort in Uttar Pradesh.

In fact, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commanded to construct the fort by taking inspiration from the Agra Fort.

There are lush green gardens, museums, and mausoleums within the complex. Mumtaz Mahal, the palace inside the red fort that belonged to Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz, houses remnants and artifacts from the Mughal period.

Drishyakala Museum displays artistic works and paintings from different time periods, numbering more than 450, while Kranti Mandir is established to acknowledge the sacrifices laid by Indian freedom fighters and pay tribute to them.

The main entrance of the fort is called Lahore Gate which opens to Chatta Chowk. Across the red fort lies the famous Jama Masjid.

Jama Masjid translates into Friday Mosque and it is the biggest and largest Mosque in India. It was the central place of worship of the Mughal Capital Delhi.

The grandeur of the Mosque would leave you in awe since there is a capacity of 25000 worshippers in its courtyard.

Visitors are required to pay 300 rupees fee to tour the Mosque. Also, you cannot wear shoes inside so either leave them with the keepers outside for some money or bring a bag to carry them.

Shri Digambar Jain Temple, also located opposite to the red fort, has a sanctuary for sick birds, Charity Birds Hospital, where volunteers provide suitable treatment to ailing birds of all kinds.

Delhi might not appear as one of the rich or aesthetically pretty cities, but it surely is one of the liveliest and most hustling bustling cities where you can experience life up close.

This Delhi itinerary for 3 days covers a few of Delhi’s most important tourist destinations and if you have more time, you can surely cover the rest.

Day Trips From Delhi

If you have more time in India beyond the 3 day trip to Delhi, I would highly recommend a day trip to Agra. Even better if you have at least 2 days for Agra.

I have shared tips on places to visit in Agra as well as tips on visiting Taj Mahal. If you are doing Agra as a day trip you need to leave by 5am from Delhi at the latest to bit the traffic and arrive in Agra early enough to make the most of the day. For more information on how to get from Delhi to Agra read my post for full details.

Overnight Trips From Delhi

If you are into spiritual trips you can also do a 1 night trip from Delhi. My husband did an overnight trip to Krishna Balaram Mandir in the holy city of Vrindavan, which is on the route to Agra.

So you can do a Delhi sightseeing itinerary then move on to Vrindavan before going to see the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Although there are several day tours to Vrindavan, my husband opted for an overnight stay. Depending on the hotel or hostel you stay at they can arrange a driver for you but you will most likely have to pay for their accommodation too over there.

The hotels in Vrindavan are inexpensive so it’s not so big an expense to pay for the accommodation for the drive. Just book this yourself to avoid paying an unnecessarily higher “foreign” charge.

Whether you have a week in India or doing a one-month itinerary of India, there plenty of other beautiful places to visit in addition to Delhi.

Other overnight trips from Delhi, say 2-day trip places from Delhi include a visit to Jaipur which I have covered on the blog.

You can choose from day tours, 2-day trips or even 3 day trips near Delhi to Jaipur and Agra. If you are someone that prefers package tours then I would also check out the package tours to India from Contiki, GAdentures and WendyWu Tours.

How To Get Around Delhi

There is a mix of transportation options in Delhi. From yellow taxis, auto-rickshaws, radio cabs(advanced booking is a must), cycles, public buses and in recent years the Delhi metro has seen some improvements.

I mostly used taxis arranged by the hotel as it was easier for me to leave super early for exploring before the heavy traffic and come back to the hotel before the mid-day heat got too crazy.

From the moment you arrive, you will notice that Delhi is quite congested with traffic and this will affect how much you have to explore each day.

Delhi Buses

Buses in Delhi are inexpensive and have a wide coverage in the city and beyond. Most are operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation.

The red buses are air-conditioned and the green buses are the non air-conditioned buses. They are mostly packed to the brim. Also, note that it is not advisable for women to ride the buses alone after dark.

Delhi Metro

The metro in Delhi starts from 5.30am and runs to 11.30pm. Trains arrive every 3 minutes during peak hours and every 12 minutes during non-peak time.

The metro is clean and inexpensive. Prices for the tickets start at 8 Rupees and can go up to 30 Rupees. You get single-use tokens to use the metro in Delhi. There are 6 lines in operation.

If you are a tourist or staying longer in Delhi you also have the option of purchasing the Smart Card which can be topped up.

The Smart Card is available with a minimum value of Rs 100. They also have the Tourist Card which has unlimited travel over short periods.

These come in single day cards costing Rs 100 or the Tourist Card for 3 days which costs Rs 250 with a refundable deposit of Rs 50. Perfect for anyone visiting Delhi for 3 or 4 days.

The last option is the daily token option where you get a single journey tokens. The minimum fare is Rs 8 and the maximum is Rs 30.

Where To Stay In Delhi

There are plenty of amazing places to stay in Delhi, for one of our visits we stayed on the edge of the city at Marriott Courtyard which I shared on the blog.

Delhi has many affordable hotels and hostels catering to budget and luxury travellers. Hostels in Delhi can be as cheap as £5 per night.

You also have the option of hotels in Delhi which start from about £20 for a good 3-star hotel. If you prefer the self-caring option there also apartments available.

Other Things To Know About Delhi

The people are very friendly and welcoming. Don’t be surprised if you get invited to a wedding or two.
There is a system to the chaos of the city, simply stop and observe before making a judgment.
The city is beautiful with so many green parks to wander around.
There are so many amazing bazaars to shop at, be prepared to haggle!
Visa for India
- Tourist visas for India are usually granted for 6 months for most passports and you can extend depending on where you come from.
- You can get an electronic visa but I ended up getting mine from the visa offices in London. I don’t remember it costing me more than £50.

Essential Items To Pack

Make sure you have all your vaccines done.
Pack mosquito repellent – essential especially in the monsoon season.
Modest clothing. Keep clothing to at least knee-length as well as higher necklines for tops. Avoid showing cleavage.
Pack comfortable walking shoes as you will most likely be wandering around amazing markets and tourist sights on foot.

There you have it, my recommendations for places to visit in Delhi for 3 or 4 days. Have you been to Delhi before? What else did you include in your Delhi itinerary?

Also See:

The Colours Of India
Amazing Temples To Visit In Siem Reap
Where To Stay In Siem Reap

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Top 10 Places To Visit In Jaipur Day And Night

July 22, 2018 by admin 13 Comments

Whether you are after places to visit in Jaipur in one day, 2 days, 3 days or looking for places to visit in Jaipur at night, below are some of the best attractions in Jaipur. Jaipur City with its display of typical sandstone and pink color buildings is rightly referred to as a ‘Pink City,’ which is geographically situated in the state of Rajasthan. The city being one of the golden triangles in India attracts tourists not only within the country but also from all over the world. The edifices of the city are famous for the Rajput style of architecture. Tourists are usually in awe with a fusion of cultural heritage and splendid architectural talent of the monuments of a city and nearby places. In this post, I will take you through some of tourist places in Jaipur you simply cannot leave without seeing.

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Top 10 Places To Visit In Jaipur

The famous Pink City is breaming with stunningly beautiful architectural gems. From Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Chokhi Dhani, Jantar Mantar, many temples and museums to explore. There are so many beautiful places to visit in Jaipur at night as well. Below I take you through some of the must-see places in Jaipur.

Hawa Mahal

The most famous tourist attractions in Jaipur is a massive building in the heart of Jaipur city. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh has built a magnificent edifice in the year 1799. As the name itself suggests, the combination of small windows of a building allows the cool breeze to enter the palace. Therefore, you will feel very comfortable while you are in the palace. With a view to allowing the women of the royal family to have a glimpse of the festive celebration being held on the streets without being observed by the outsiders, the palace was planned and executed with small windows and screened balconies.

The crown-shaped structure conforms to the architectural style of the Rajput family, and the red and pink sandstone was used in its construction decorated with countless windows. The five story of the palace have dedicated enclosures and exclusively decorated chambers. An impressive fountain at the entrance of a palace greets the tourists. The way from the fountain leads to different floors of the mahal. You can visit a small museum with a collection of miniature paintings. From the top of the Hawa Mahal, you can see the beauty of a city. You will find the rooms of a palace with decoration of colorful mosaics, glasses and the Rajasthani ornamental stonework.

City Palace

Another significant attraction of the city tourist places is the City Palace, which was also built by Maharaja Jai Singh during 1730s. The area of the palace is unimaginably vast that it occupies almost 15% of the entire city of Jaipur.

The palace from where the Maharaja was ruling the kingdom has multiple courtyards, buildings like the Chandra Mahal and the Mubarak Mahal. Though there is a museum in the Chandra Mahal, a majority of the building is still occupied by the Royal family as their dwelling. The intricately crafted products pertaining to the Royal heritage are kept in the museum for display.

There is no doubt that the tourists would be spellbound with the delicate and exquisite handiwork right from the facade itself. Out of the three gates to the palace, only two gates Virendra Pol and Udai Pol are open to the public. The stunning courtyards and the mammoth structures will impress the tourists.
You will appreciate not only the historical significance of edifice but also the engineering and architectural skills of the people associated with the construction of the palace.

The awesome pavilions, gardens and other complexes within the palace will stamp an indelible memory in the hearts and minds of the tourists without an exception.

Amber Fort

The marvelous architectural construction of the Fort is found on the hill by name Amer, which is about 10 kms from the city of Jaipur. Though Raja Man Singh has commenced the construction of the palace, the completion of the entire edifice took about two centuries. The extensive part of the palace and fort also has pink and yellow sandstone, which is a typical combination of many structures of the city monuments. The place was a residential complex for the Royal family of Rajput maharajas for a considerable period of time.

The fort and palace is one of the attractions for the tourists and local residents as well. Though the palace is on the hill, you can easily scale the mountain, which is also next to the impressive Maola Lake. You will find that the structural architecture is a fusion of both the religion of Hindu and Islam and this is also one of the reasons the tourists prefer to visit to have a glimpse of the blend of both the religious faiths.

Any photographer tourist would like to capture a splendid view of the fort from the foothills. You love to view illuminated fort on any evening and etch the impression in your memory.

Nahargarh Fort

Not, itinerYou will be wondering multiple forts within the city of Jaipur. It is a fact that there are at least three major forts attracting the tourists. No doubt, each of the forts with magnificent structures has a varied history and culture of its own. In fact, the three forts of the city surrounding the hills form a ring in protecting the city from all the sides from any access or attack by the enemy. The Nahargarh fort is known for its intricate carvings on the stone pillars besides the walls. Since the fort was steadfast against the enemy, the fortification of this massive structure is well appreciated by the historians and tourists alike.

As a part of the retreat, Maharaja Sawai Jai Sing-II built the fort in the year 1734 when it was called the Sudarshan Fort, which has been renamed as Nahargarh meaning thereby the ‘Abode of Tigers’. It is believed that with a view to pacifying the haunted spirits of Nahar Singh Bhomia, the fort was renamed in a memory of him.

Of all the important things in the fort, the stuccowork and delicately finished murals of the Madhavendra Bhavan would attract the tourists. The women of Royal family were also using the place as a retreat. Similarly, you will find another building called ‘Mardana Mahal,’ which is meant for the royal men for the same purpose. The Biological Park within the Nahargarh Fort is another spot that attracts the tourists including children. You can also see an asylum for the animals like tiger, leopard and the Asian lions.

Albert Hall Museum

The oldest museum of the State of Rajasthan is the Albert Hall Museum in Ram Niwas Garden. In fact, the name of a museum takes after the Prince of Wales Albert Edward and the museum is built on the lines of Indo-Saracenic architecture. During the visit of Prince of Wales to India during 1876, the foundation stone was laid for the museum. The museum which is also referred to as the Government Central Museum houses artifacts collected from various countries of the globe.

The Egyptian mummy, ancient coins, marble sculptures and carvings in addition to pottery and carpets are a feast to the eyes of the tourists. You can enrich your knowledge from the items displayed in the museum and learn the talented skills of artisans of ancient India. The museum is the best place to learn more about Indian history and culture.

While relaxing in the sprawling garden of the city, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the museum building illuminated with attractive yellow lights. With these impressive events, the night tourism also gained more importance with a lot of people visiting the area in the evenings too.

Jantar Mantar

Within the proximity of the City Palace, another very rare tourist attraction is an astronomical observatory. Another one of the best places to visit in Jaipur, the Jantar Mantar can boast to be the largest observatory in the entire globe, also very similar to the one I showed you in my post on the 13 places to see in Delhi. Raja Sawai Jai Singh built the observatory during 1727 to 1723 using stone and brass material.

The uniqueness of the observatory is that anyone can know the precise location of the heavenly bodies with the naked eye without using any instruments, not even binoculars. Even the modern day scientists could not unravel the secret of the observatory, which could precisely show the position of the astronomical bodies. It is not a surprise that Indian mathematicians not only had the prowess on astronomical computations but also engineering marvel to build the observatory of this kind. In recognition of the scientific value and cultural heritage of the building, the UNESCO has listed Jantar Mantar in the list of World Heritage Sites.

The world’s largest sundial of Jantar Mantar is the most attractive instrument for the masses and draws a lot of crowds every day. You can also find similar architectural magnificence built by Raja Jai Singh placed in New Delhi, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura. It is believed that the instruments used for the observatory pertain to Egypt’s Ptolemaic astronomy.

Galtaji Temple

If you are looking for a sacred worshipping place epitomizing the prehistoric Hindu culture, the Galtaji Temple on the outskirts of the pink city is a right place. Because of Aravalli hills surrounding the place, you can also find natural springs or the holy kund within the vicinity. Amidst the deep valleys, the temple atop the hill is a tourist-puller. The tall and lush green trees and other bushes of the venue is certainly a place, the nature lovers do not want to miss.

In this place, the typical Jaipur pink color sandstone is used for the complex spread over a large area. Besides the sanctity of the place, impressive paintings and carvings found in this place are a major attraction.

Unlike other places, the temple resembles a haveli or a palace. In addition to the temples dedicated to Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, and Lord Hanuman, you will find fresh-water springs in contrast to the hot water springs found in other places. Besides them, you will also see seven holy kunds, out of which Galta Kund is the hottest one, which never dries. Another sacred place is the cow-shaped rock called the ‘Gaumukh’ where you will see pure and fresh water flowing.

At the Galta Monkey temple, you will find many varieties of monkeys and the temple premises reverberates with devotional hymns coupled with the spectacular green vegetation and landscape of the hill.

Jaigarh Fort

With a view to protecting the city of Jaipur along with the Amber Fort, Sawai Jai Singh-II commissioned the massive fort on the top of ‘cheel ka teela,’ during the year 1726. Because the fort was never conquered by anyone, it is referred to as ‘Fort of Victory,’ which is also connected to the Amber Fort. From the top of the fort, you can have a glimpse of the fantastic view of the entire city. It boasts itself of housing the world’s largest cannon at the fort, from where the cannon was test fired only once.

The strongest fort of all the three forts in the vicinity of Jaipur was designed by the skillful architect Vidhadhar. The fort is also a testimony for its name, which never faced any serious resistance. The fort was built with a dual aim of protecting the Amber Fort and for safekeeping the treasure of a kingdom. The Government of Rajasthan had taken over the treasure that was discovered during 1970s. You will also love the architectural prowess of a designer and also the people associated with a building of the fort.

Jal Mahal

One of the unique places where you will find Water Palace in the midst of Man Sagar Lake is the Jal Mahal. No doubt, you need to cross the city limits of Jaipur to reach the place. But the fact that the Mahal is free from the buzzing activities of city life is also the main reason people desire to visit it in addition to the rare location of the palace. It is also believed that the Maharajas were using the palace as a shooting lodge.

The spectacular view of a location with the Nahargarh fort in the background is an unforgettable experience. Though the entry into the venue is not allowed to the public, the mesmerizing view from a distance with the reflection of the edifice in the lake water itself is an indelible impression in the minds of the tourists. The illumination of the entire structure during the evening is an impressive scene for one and all.

A leisurely stroll in the alleys of the palace precincts enjoying the greenery of hills and breeze over the lake water cooling you are a rare chance no tourist likes to miss. A photographer lover would find many perfect venues for capturing the memories.

Chokhi Dhani

You can experience a typical Rajasthani village culture in a luxury heritage resort if you could plan to travel beyond the outskirts of the city limits. This is one of the places to visit in Jaipur with family. You will be tempted with all sorts of entertainment activities to choose from folk dances, camel rides, puppet shows. There is no dearth of fortune tellers and parrot reading predictions, the magic shows and the like. You can satisfy your culinary feelings with delicious and ethnic food.

“Chokhi Dhani, meaning ‘special village’, is a mock Rajasthani village 20km south of Jaipur, and is a fun place to take kids. There are open-air restaurants, where you can enjoy a tasty Rajasthani thali, plus a bevy of traditional entertainment – dancers, acrobats, snack stalls – and adventure-park-like activities for kids to swing on, slide down and hide in.”

Chokhi Dhani is one of the best places to visit in Jaipur. The place is aplenty with shopping arcades and the village has a luxurious accommodation with all modern facilities to pamper you.

The Chokhi Dhani, which has been catering to the local and international tourists from 1994, is a perfect blend of luxurious stay with all modern amenities but at the same time allowing you to taste the typical village culture of Rajasthan State.

Places To Visit In Jaipur At Night

A lot of the places in Jaipur close around 4 or 5 pm. There are a couple of places to visit in Jaipur after 5pm when many of Jaipur points of interested for closed for the day. If you are not familiar with the city you can opt to do one of the night tours in Jaipur of of the evening to get your bearings of what is available and then go your own way for the rest of the nights while you are visiting. There are plenty more things to do in Jaipur by night the capital of India’s Rajasthan state.

If you want to explore the nightlife in Jaipur there are plenty of award-winning bars in Jaipur, from the likes of Grunge, a bar and nightclub in Jaipur. Sheesh Mahal is another centrally located star of the city. For more of the coolest bars in Jaipur check out Culture Trips guide on bars in Jaipur.

Places To Visit In Jaipur For Couples

Many have been know to add the golden triangle tour as part of a honeymoon trip. So if you are after places to visit in Jaipur for couple beyond the usual Jaipur tourist stops mentioned above, then add Sisodia Rani Gardens, which is popular with couples. Beautiful places to take romantic walks as you have manicured gardens, fountains, pavilions and galleries to explore.

For a romantic dinning experience, check out Terrace Grill within Hotel Park Prime and comes with amazing views across Jaipur. Another cool places perfect for couples in Jaipur is Padao, a restaurant in Nahargarh Fort and again comes with amazing views of Jaipur located on the highest point of the fort. Perfect places to private moments for couples wish to share a romantic evening away from it all.

Places To Visit In Jaipur For Shopping

Among the tourist places in Jaipur are many bazaars to explore. You could kill two birds with one stone but exploring Hawa Mahal then going across the to Sireh Deori Bazaar. Its open 7 days a week and here you will find everything among which it is known for leather goods. Also add Bapu Bazaar among places to visit in Jaipur for Shopping, here you can find all manner of thing including textiles goods.

Where To Stay In Jaipur | Jaipur Hotels

Like Delhi and Agra, you will find some amazing resorts in Jaipur among the many beautiful Jaipur. While Chokhi Dhani is a great place to check out in Jaipur there are plenty of hostels, hotels, resorts and apartments available to accommodate your visit to Jaipur. To check reviews and prices of Jaipur hotels here.

Top Tours In Jaipur The Include The Best Places To Visit In Jaipur

Tours ranging from private one day tours to 2-day tours of Jaipur, to exploring by cycling in Jaipur to take in the sights and many more adventurous ways to see this amazing city. In addition to the above, some of the other attractions for tourists include Ram Niwas Garden, Anokhi Museum of Hand painting, Swaminarayan Temple and the Birla Mandir, Chand Baori, etc. For additional tips on putting together an itinerary for Jaipur, check out by Globe Guide.

There is no doubt that Jaipur city is a gateway for other tourist attractions of Rajasthan from where you can visit Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaisalmer and other places. Its a perfect example of the many places you need to visit in India.

Also See

So have you visited Jaipur before? Any other places to visit in Jaipur you can think of?

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How To Get From Delhi To Agra By Train (+ Bus & Car Option)

March 1, 2018 by admin 37 Comments

Doing the Golden Triangle is on almost everyone’s bucket list and two of stops on the Golden Triangle is the journey of traveling from Delhi to Agra by train, car or bus. In previous posts I covered 13 places to visit in Delhi, I also covered tips on visiting Taj Mahal, with the recent post covering 5 places to visit in Agra beyond Taj Mahal.

In this post, I wanted to provide tips on how to get from Delhi to Agra by train, bus or car, also covering the NewDelhii to Agra train ticket price options, depending on your budget and how much time you have to explore.

In some of my posts, you may have already read about how I managed to jump on the opportunity to visit India when my husband had a project in India for about a month and a half. While I had plenty of time in New Delhi to visit Humayun’s Tomb, The Lotus Temple and other places, my husband’s exploration were only on weekends.

So while planning the trip to Agra from Delhi I wanted to make sure we could maximise our time in Agra to not only the Taj Mahal but surrounding attractions. So below I have a quick guide one how to get from Delhi to Agra so that you can compare and see which method works for you.

Also See:

How to Get From Delhi to Agra By Train

There are plenty of trains leaving from Delhi to Agra and on to Jaipur so the journey from Delhi to Agra by train is not difficult.
Fast trains in Delhi leave early in the morning around 6 am and reach Agra around 8 am.
You also have the Delhi to Agra Cantt train option. The Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi is where trains leave from 7 am and arrive at Agra Cantt Station.
You can buy tickets online or at the stations or online – details below.
There is now a New Delhi to Agra by train Taj express, a 100-minute journey on the Gatimaan Express, from the New Delhi to Agra, and home of the Taj Mahal. The Delhi to Agra train fare works out between 750 and 1,500 rupees (£8-£16 – AC Chair Car coach and Executive Coach. You can book below the train via the sites below of via a tour that includes the express train.
Gatimaan Express runs six days a week, except Friday, in both directions. The train leaves from Nizamuddin station in Delhi at 8:10 am and reaches Agra at 9:50 am. From Agra, the train will start its return journey at 5:50 pm and will reach Nizamuddin at 7:30 pm. This means you can easily do a day trip to Agra by train.

Don’t Fall For Scams in Delhi (Or India)

First things first, people hustle in all cities and that’s no different to India. You just have to have your wits about you. Most of the tickets for buses and trains can be bought at the tourist office at Delhi Station but make no mistake about it, you will have rickshaw drivers(aka touts) coming up with a million excuse about why you need to let them take you to some tour agent elsewhere. They will literally come up with all manner of excuses.

From the place being closed, flooded, burnt and all sorts. Insist on to the International Tourist Bureau inside New Delhi station or find another rickshaw driver. The other excuse or scare tactics will be that there is some sort of commotion in the area and it’s too dangerous to visit.

This goes for when requesting directions or a ride to your booked accommodation. But hey presto, they know just the place that is “safe” to stay or buy tickets. Don’t fall for it! If you are staying in India for longer and need tips on calling locally in India or how to use or get the local sim card in India check out the post by My Trip Hack.

Tips on Booking Ticket for Train Travel in India

You can book tickets for trains in and around India at the main stations of most big cities like New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi. You can book tickets at the International Tourist Bureaus that you will find in the main stations. These cater mainly to tourists and are usually less crowded.

So whether you are in Delhi or Jaipur, aim to go there for your tickets to avoid scams or paying beyond the price of the tickets. You can see the full list of stations with International Tourist Bureaus and their opening times by visiting India Rail.

If you are just arriving in at Delhi International Airport. There is also a 24-hour rail booking office at Delhi International Airport. I arrived at like 3 am and was in a rush to just get some sleep but that is another option if you are not in a rush to get to your hotel or other destination when you arrive.

How To Buy Tickets For Delhi to Agra By Train Online

At first, planning and booking train tickets when abroad looks complicated as some of the sites require registration and just look downright complicated! There are three options when it comes to purchasing tickets in India. I have added them below but in order to use any one of the last two you need to register with the first option first:

IRCTC – All online tickets have to go through via IRCTC but it’s not the easiest of websites to use.
1. First, register and verify your account. You can then either buy your ticket through this site or use the other slightly more easy to navigate sites.
2. You can book tickets at least 120 days in advance.
3. You have options for an e-ticket or an i-ticket that requires an Indian address to send the ticket to. The best option is for the e-ticket.
4. They now take foreign cards but if yours is not working you can use an Amex.
Clear Trip – It’s probably the easiest & simplest website to use to buy Indian train tickets online.
1. Clear Trip is allowed to link their website to the official IRCTC Indian Railways reservation & ticketing system.
2. It has a simple interface and lets you find your train routes, popular cities, train timings and train availability without hassle.
3. Enter the name of the starting station and the ending station
  - Select the seat or class along with the date of journey
  - Fill in the information about the number of passengers
  - Click on “Search trains” to get the names of the trains running along the desired route
  - You can also have a look at the train routes in India at the bottom of this page.
4. You can pay by card. For more details on payment on the site, they have an FAQ.
Make My Trip – Private much like Clear Trip and much like Clear Trip is also connected to the official IRCTC system.
1. You can buy tickets with an international card and print and e-ticket at home.
2. They charge a small fee when buying tickets through their site.

For more details in train travel in India, I highly recommend Seat61.

Taj Mahal Tours In Agra From New Delhi

You can certainly do Agra in one day. There are so many options to get from Delhi to Agra and one hassle-free option is to go via a tour. Most of these will provide options of going to Agra by train bus or car, all arranged for you via the tour.

You can also book them online before traveling to India. Check out Viator and Get Your Guide to find a suitable option.

How to Travel From Delhi to Agra By Bus

You also have the option of the Delhi to Agra by bus tour package, you can book tickets for bus ride via Make My Trip, Viator or check out Get Your Guide for bus tour package from Delhi. Currently, there are about 40 buses leaving from Delhi to Agra.
You have many operators to choose from on the Make My Trip site.
The journey takes about 2 hours with the lowest fare around Rs 250.
You can also buy tickets from the International Tourist Bureau at the main station. Details above.

How to Get From Delhi to Agra By Car

Whichever hotel you stay at, they can help you arrange a car and driver in addition to getting a guide when you arrive in Agra. Having gone through the process of looking at trains and buses to Agra in the end we opted for a car arranged by Marriott Hotel in Delhi, where we staying in Delhi.

Prices for this can range depending on whether you are booking a one-way trip, a return trip includes or excludes a guide when you get to Agra.

If you are staying overnight in Agra you can also enjoy Taj Mahal at sunrise before driving back to Delhi. Just get the prices and then compare to the above. We went with this option simply for ease of having it all sorted out by someone else including having an air-conditioned car to escape to between tourist sights while exploring during the hot Indian summer.

More on India on the blog:

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Top Things To Do In Agra One Day + Tips For 2 Day Itinerary

February 28, 2018 by admin 13 Comments

There is a bit more Agra just a quick visit to the Taj Mahal. Whether you are doing a day trip from Delhi to Agra, or part of a golden triangle trip in India, if you are heading to Agra then this post for you! Top things to do in

Agra in one day including sample Agra itinerary for one day and Agra itinerary for 2 days. Includes all the best places to visit in Agra on a day trip, things to do in Agra at night, perfect for those doing the 2 day Agra itinerary and the best Agra tours to check out. Tips on all the Unesco world heritage sites to check out, how to do an Agra trip from Delhi via the railway station easily accessible in both cities.

A lot of travelers have the iconic Taj Mahal on their bucket list, the love story alone behind this magnificent tomb is enough to draw millions of people to Agra. Having seen the beautiful Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, I had much more of an appreciation for the Taj Mahal as Humayun’s Tomb was what really gave birth to the idea of creating the Taj Mahal. You can read about that in my post. I wonder if that hadn’t come before it, as to whether we would have the Taj Mahal today.

There are many things to do in Agra city beyond the Taj Mahal from experiencing views of the beautiful Taj Mahal as you sip afternoon tea at Oberoi Hotel, to mingling in Agra’s markets to taking in the reach history of Agra Fort. You can visit the Agra on a day trip from Delhi or your can stay a day or two. You can check out my post on how to get from Delhi to Agra by train, car or bus.

Also See:

Things To Do In Agra In One Day | Places to visit In Agra In A Day Trip

Ideally, you will want to spend at least 2 days in Agra so that you can fully appreciate the beautiful sights in Agra but if time is limited the below are also things to do in Agra in one day. If you have more time I would highly recommend you revisit Taj Mahal the following day but perphaps from a different angle like from across the river. Also below is a sample Agra itinerary for one day on how to spend a day in Agra.

The Taj Mahal

First things, first. One cannot visit Agra and not visit the Taj Mahal, a Unesco world heritage site. Yes, it may be crowded at times but all noise and the pitta-patta of feet loses its volume as you are just in awe of the beauty of the Taj Mahal. The intricate details of semi-precious stones inlaid into marble. The details and thought that weight into everything all the way down to the gates and fixtures on them to represent how long it took to build from start to finish.

Truly a sight to behold and one that cannot be rushed. Take it in from all angles and if you can from across the river. I have linked above to my post on our Visit to see the Taj Mahal in addition to my tips for visiting the Taj Mahal.

Explore Agra Fort

Having braved the crowds or the Indian Summer, depending on your visit. A visit to the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This is a short rickshaw ride from the Taj Mahal. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers.

The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. There are a number of exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid – a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl. If you are with a knowledgeable tour guide you will learn about the many Emperors and their many wives and the lavish lifestyles of past time. Truly fascinating listening to the stories, they almost bring the building to life and suddenly you can imagine how people lived within the walls of the Fort.

If you cannot bring a guide I would highly recommend coming with a guidebook. Buildings without the stories behind them have no meaning and no soul to them. Don’t forget that Agra Fort was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638 so if buildings could talk…

Fatehpur Sikri In Agra

In addition to Agra Fort if time permits, I would also add another UNESCO treasure in Agra that is Fatehpur Sikri.

The Taj Mahal features on almost every Indian itinerary; its emotional draw is unimaginable. However, there is another monument, not too far that fascinates travellers with its story. The 440-year-old World Heritage Site Fatehpur Sikri, or the City of Victory, was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th Century after the prophecy, of a Sufi saint living in the village of Sikri came true and Akhbar’s heir was born.

The first planned Mughal city came as a tribute to the saint, featuring public buildings, residences, mosques and royal palaces. The Jama Masjid here is one of the largest mosques in the country.

See Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah aka Baby Taj

Another one of the cool tourist spots in Agra, India you need to check out is the Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah is a Mughal mausoleum in Agra. Often described as a “jewel box”, sometimes called the Baby Taj, the tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Tāj Mahal. Baby Taj is the tomb of Mir Ghiyas Beg and was built years before Taj Mahal.

Mir Ghiyas Beg, a Persian nobleman was Mumtaz Mahal’s grandfather and Emperor Jehangir’s wazir (chief minister). His daughter, Nur Jahan, who married Jehangir, built the tomb between 1622 and 1628, in a style similar to the tomb she built for Jehangir near Lahore in Pakistan. Mumtaz Mahal who we know, died in 1631 in, during the birth of her fourteenth child is now synonymous with the Taj Mahal.

Built by Shah Jahan had as a mausoleum for her, which is considered to be a monument of “undying love”. India is filled with many more of these beautiful tombs around the country.

Shop for marble and Persian-style carpets in Agra

With the history build the material and methods used to construct the Taj Mahal, one cannot miss on on the many shops selling marble fixtures. From jewellery boxes to plates, and chairs. Most of these shops will most likely have someone on hand to demonstrate the process of in-lay in Marble with various stones.

Explore The Indian Markets and Jewelry Stores

Among Agra attractions is, of course, the markets! We all love a bit of sparkle and one cannot go to India and not come back with some jewellery. Whether for yourself or as gifts. Like any small town in India, the core of old Agra is a warren of lanes, each with thriving local markets.

Browse the exquisite Bazaars of Kinari and Sadar and check out the embroidered material and inexpensive leather goods. The Rawatpara markets is rich with the aromas of spices and the hustle and bustle of a wholesale vegetable market at Sabji Mandi.

Also worth hunting out are the jewellery store with beautiful precious stone jewellery. I manage to huggle my way to a beautiful sterling silver tennis bracelet with aquamarine, one of my favourite stone, which would have cost me a pretty penny in England.

Agra Sightseeing Packages and Tours In Agra.

There are plenty of tour packages on offer in Agra, from guided tours of Taj Mahal to exploring the markets and factories to food tours. Whether you are looking for the perfect golden triangle with your itinerary all planned out and a guide to take you exploring or lookinself-plan plan your Agra trip and just use shorter tours in between cities.

There is something for everyone and in every budget. Check out Get You Guide and Viator to for tour prices and compare reviews as well as options to help you find options on places to visit in Agra at night including many of the tourist places around Agra.

Taste Authentic Indian Curry

While the Taj Mahal is something one must experience in India, so is the food! After a busy day of sightseeing, head to the chaat gali (snack street) of Sadar Bazaar market. Home to famous chaat shops Shri Agrawal Chat House and Agra Chat Bhandar, this neighborhood is a delight for the taste buds.

There is a wealth of delights to sample, from flavor-filled samosas, authentic curries, and the fluffy besan ka cheela (crepes made with chickpea flour). Finish with Agra’s famous petha, a gooey sweet made of pumpkin. If sampling the food is not enough, you can also sign up for cooking classes in Agra to learn how some the delicious Indian food is made.

Sample Agra Itinerary For One Day

If you only have one full day in Agra, below the perfect one day Agra Itinerary exploring some of the tourists spots in Agra mentioned above.

10 am

Explore Taj Mahal, its gardens, mosque and take in all the details, angles and the beautiful gates.

12.30pm

Explore Agra Fort and the many rooms the royal family and the concubines lived in. Make sure to take in the views of the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort.

2.30pm

Explore the Markets and Jewellery stalls of Kinari and Sadar Bazaars. Sadar Bazaar is a popular shopping destination for tourists visiting Agra. It is located close to Agra Cantonment railway station and is in proximity to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Buy one of two items to take back home. Here you can also check out a few snacks to keep you going. as there is something special awaiting you later.

4.30 pm

Take to the luxury Oberoi Villas for afternoon tea. While they do afternoon separately you can also choose to have a day tour of Agra with a guide combined with Afternoon Tea at one of the luxury Agra hotels that comes with amazing views of Taj Mahal.

7pm

Explore the party scene in Agra or do a night tour. If you are in Agra over the weekend the city comes alive with plenty of places to visit in Agra on a Friday night.

Sample Agra Itinerary For 2 Days

If you have 2 days in Agra, in addition to the above one day itinerary, below is how to spend a day in Agra for day 2. Combine that above itinerary with the one below to give you two 2 full days of exploring tourist places around Agra that are must-sees.

6.30am

If you had an overnight stay in Agra the perfect way to start is to see Taj Mahal at sunrise. For times on the best times to visit and which gets are open, check out my post for tips on visiting Taj Mahal.

9am

Head back to the hotel for breakfast.

12pm

Head to explore Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah aka Baby Taj and admire the details on this mini Taj Mahal.

2.30pm

Explore the beautiful Fatehpur Sikri shown above in the video. (Distance between Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri is about one hour)

5.30 pm

Dinner at the hotel or many of the authentic curry houses in Agra.

7pm

Free time…

Things To Do In Agra At Night

If you have run through the above list of things to do in Agra and are staying in Agra for the night then the to get a taste of things to do at night in Agra:

Check out the party scene at Thor Party World in downtown Agra. Dance the night at away and experience the nightlife in Agra in this upscale nightclub that only accommodates about 100 people.
Hang out at Sheroes – a little hangout place that is run by women survivors of acid attacks.

How To Get To Agra From Delhi

You can fly directly to New Delhi and from there are options of using a tour service, train, bus or car hire with driver or taxi. I will cover these in my next post so look out for that. In the meantime, you can also check out my post on 13 places to see in Delhi. For more on how to get to Agra check out my post with details on buses from Delhi to Agra as well as trains and car rentals in Delhi.

Where to stay in Agra

There is so much to see beyond the Taj Mahal that a day in Agra is simply not enough. In addition to that point with the inexpensive price of the ticket, it may be worth visiting the Taj Mahal again before leaving the city.

Failing that there are also hotels with amazing views of the Taj Mahal from your very own room, bathroom or even balcony. Imagine dinning to views of the Taj as you sip wine at The Oberoi Hotel or chilling by the pool with views of the Taj Mahal from Radisson or Hilton hotel.

There are plenty of hotels f near the Taj Mahal and those with views of the Taj Mahal. Prices ranges are dependant on your style and travel budget. You can also opt for hotels near Agra Fort which also have a lovely view of the Taj Mahal.

To view hotels and hostel listings in Agra, check out Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago to compare prices and read reviews.

Booking.com

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So, have you explored India’s golden triangle or explore many of the places to visit in Agra listed above?

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Marriott Courtyard Hotel Review & Where to Stay In New Delhi

August 30, 2016 by admin 6 Comments

Marriott Courtyard Hotel | Where to Stay In New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital of India and comes with world-class restaurants, luxury hotels popping up and a burgeoning creative scene, it’s definitely worth a few days of your time. Here I share where I stayed in India with tips on where to stay in New Delhi, covering all budgets.

I shared a couple of posts on my trip to see the Taj Mahal in Agra and shared tips on the 13 places to see in New Delhi in addition to many a few posts dedicated to each individual place visited, you can find all of them under India on the blog. If you have read those posts you will no doubt by now know that New Delhi is not a city to just skip through on the way to Agra, Varanasi or many of India city gems. New Delhi is definitely worth a few days visit a week, even, considering the how much time you will spend in traffic.

I had a few days of exploring New Delhi so I thought I would share details of my stay and tips on where to stay in New Delhi. It’s no surprise that I am a big fan of Marriott hotels. Having stayed at many of their hotels. From the USA to Germany, from Thailand to England, and From Hong Kong to Poland.

I use them a lot when I travel for work but now also look at their properties when traveling for leisure as well. When my boyfriend was going to work in India for two months, I knew it was only going to be one place I was going to be looking at. His office was Gurgaon, which is just on the border with New Delhi. Perfect for my exploring of New Delhi’s tourist sights and perfect for his morning commute to the office.

Marriott Hotels are some of the most comfortable hotels I have ever stayed in. Service is impeccable whatever the time of day and the locations of the hotels are usually in the best spots in the city. Clean, comfortable and affordable luxury! Why wouldn’t I want to stay there? This is one is part of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotels. In addition to a spacious room and comfortable bed, food is great and even better breakfast selection to set up for the day.

The hotel also has a rooftop pool, perfect for watching the sunset while lounging by the pool – the makings of a great stay. My stay was super short but my boyfriend stayed on for 2 months with no problems. The hotel is also on hand to help with arranging tours to many other places around India.

Marriott Courtyard Hotel | Where to Stay In New Delhi | Hotels in New Delhi

They were also on hand to help book and arrange for a car and driver from New Delhi to Agra so that we could visit The Taj Mahalbefore I left to come back to London.

I am keen to revisit India again soon. To book your stay in India’s capital check out booking.com’s list of hotels in New Delhi or Agoda’s hotels in New Delhi and compare deals. Also make sure you check out my post for Top 13 Place You Should Visit In New New Delhi.

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Lotus Temple of Delhi | Why This Beautiful Temple Is A Must See

August 25, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

Lotus Temple of Delhi- Exploring The Bahai Temple in New Delhi

Nearly two years ago I visited Israel and while I was there I visited the beautiful Bahai temple in Haifa. It was beautiful, colourful and spread across a great area of land in Haifa. Then when I visited India last year I knew that a visit to another Bahai temple while I was in New Delhi was in order.

Visiting The Lotus Temple In New Delhi

One hot morning when my boyfriend left the hotel to go to work, with the help of the Marriott Hotel, I booked a car to take me out on a tour of New Delhi. With the crazy traffic in New Delhi I managed to tick off only half of my list for the day before I wanted to get out of the heat and go cool off at the hotel.

One place I was not going to leave without seeing for the day was the Lotus Temple – A Bahai House of Worship. Delhi has transformed 3 states into one and there are so many gems not to miss.

The day was hazy, humid and dreadfully hot! You have to take off your shoes at the bottom of the step as shoes are not allowed into the temple. I tell you I would have probably had a few degree burns if I didn’t get into the temple quickly the ground was piping hot from the weather and it wasn’t even midday yet.

The Lotus Temple reminds me of Sydney Opera House but is actually shaped like a lotus flower. Constructed entirely of white Marble and consists of 27 marble petals shaped like an unfolding lotus flower and rises from 9 pools that surround the walk ways. The number 9 signifies the unifying paths of the Bahai’s faith.

The inside of the temple is fairly plain, there are no idols or images on the inside as this is against the Bahai faith. Like the Bahai Temple in Israel, whereby the way I am due to revisit next month. The lawns of the temple are beautifully manicured. It’s really a beautiful place to visit.

Visitors are allowed inside the temple. I visited on my own while my car waited outside. Other than being stared at constantly, I felt perfectly safe visiting on my own.

Opening/Closing Time

9.30 – 5.30pm and 9am -7pm in the summer, Tuesday to Sunday.

Entrance

Free entrance. No food is allowed inside. There is security at the gates that search before going in. You are allowed to go in with water.

Getting To The Lotus Temple

I took a car arranged by the hotel. You can get there by the tuk-tuks but just be sure to negotiate pricebefore hand and take a picture of the plate number. There are also tour buses that go to the temple but these may sometime stop by 5pm. Also if using a taxi, make sure its a registered taxi.

New Delhi Temple Tours

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Top 13 Places To Visit In Delhi

June 15, 2016 by admin 9 Comments

Having explored Delhi I thought I would share some of the best places to visit in Delhi. Just the very thought of India warms me up a little. When we visited it was so hot, and thinking about traipsing around in the sunny city provides solace considering my current weather situation in London right now. I have shared quite a few posts of my explorations of places to visit in Delhi and Agra. New Delhi is one of those places that is filled with temples, tombs, and historical places and the bustling noise of the traffic is hypnotic. There are plenty of places to visit for families, couples and if you are exploring with a group of friends.

Places To Visit In Delhi During Your Visit

Considering its history with Mughal Empire in addition to British involvement in the country. There is such rich history in very corners, very building with plenty to see and do in Delhi. You could spend a lifetime exploring the city’s mixes. A reach mix of origins, whether that’s in its people that have come from all over India to make a name for themselves in New Delhi or the Persian influence in the architecture and style of buildings that have stood the test of time, to the history of the Mughals and their fight to stay relevant. New Delhi is a must see so invest a little time to explore.

You can definitely explore places to visit in Delhi in one day but considering the traffic is so bad, if you are short on time I would defintely at a minimal allocate 2 days, then you can pick below places to visit in Delhi in 2 days. Of course to make this easier you can use tours in Delhi to make the most of your exploring. I hired a car and drive from Marriott Hotel so I really didn’t have to think about how to get to places in and around Delhi as the driver took care of that. I just showed him a list of places I planned to visit in Delhi on the day and he came up with the best ones to visit first depending on traffic.

Also See:

List Of Places To Visit In Delhi | Top 13 Places

Prepare for the traffic in the city when you visit, which means that exploring may be a lot slower than you think. There are taxis, rickshaws, and trains in the city, although I found it easier to have the hotel book the car for me as I wanted to make sure I was using registered taxis while exploring. When you visit Delhi do not miss out on the following places below. Below is a list of places to visit in Delhi I visited on my own while my boyfriend was working in Gurgaon. With a map in hand, I would plan on which places to hit in a day considering the traffic.

1. The Lotus Temple(Bahai House of Worship)

This place was close to the top of my list as I have visited Bahai Temples in Israel, all with amazing architecture. I will be sharing more pictures of this place in due course. It’s certainly worth a visit when in Delhi. The Lotus temple, shaped like an unfolding lotus flower, consisting of 27 marble petals, rises from nine pools and walkways, is made entirely out of white marble and reminds me of Sydney’s Opera House. It stands out against a lot of the temples you will find in Delhi. The inside is plain and simple and does not contain any idols oR images as it’s against Bahai faith. I share more pictures of the Lotus Temple in a separate post on the blog. This is one of the best places to visit in Delhi for photography but note that photography is not allowed inside the temple itself.

Visitors are welcome inside. No photography is allowed inside. It’s open 9.30-5.30 and until 7pm in the summer. Entry is Free. Also, note that shoes are not allowed so prepare for the hot ground when the sun is in full force. You can get on a tour that takes you to the Lotus Temple, Dilli Haat and Qutub Minar.

India - places to visit in Delhi for photography

2. Jantar Mantar

This is an observatory constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in 1724. Its purpose was to accumulate astronomical tables which would help predict the time and movement of celestial objects like the sun, moon and planets. Jantar Mantar comprises of various instruments and is just a treat later in the afternoon when the sun is low enough to start creating shadows. Definitely one of the places to visit in Delhi for fun for kids too, so great place to visit for family. If you are heading to do the Golden Triangle there is another Jantar Mantar in Jaipur.

Open from sunrise to sunset. Entry is 100 Rupees to foreigners and 5 Rupees for Indians.

3. Connaught Place

This place is located right in the heart of Delhi and center of important business and commercial centers. It has remnants of a colonial past in its iconic white pillars that form a large circle in the center of the city with seven streets diverging from it, kind of similar to the avenues at Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Built by the British in 1933 and named after the first Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. This is one of the places to visit in Delhi for shopping. There are several shops, restaurants, offices and its a lively part of the city where many people head to especially for the weekends. There are also markets nearby for almost everything you can think of. This is also one of the best places to visit in Delhi for food. If you want to check out food in Delhi there are also food tours you can join. To stay locally check out hotels in Connaught Place here.

India - places to visit in New Delhi - Connaught Place

India - places to visit in Delhi for Food

4. Lodi Gardens

If you are looking for places to visit in Delhi with family or couples then this is it. As a city that is famous for its temple and tombs. One definitely has to pass by Lodi Gardens. It’s dotted with monuments and tombs from Lodi and Sayyed periods of history. Lodi Gardens is a popular attraction in the city and much loved by picnickers, walkers, and morning joggers. It also contains the National Bonsai Park, home to a variety of miniature trees.

Entrance is free. Open from sunrise to sunset.

5. The Red Fort (Lal Qila)

Having been to Agra Fort, I was keen to also see the Red Fort in Delhi. Commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1633 when he decided to shift the capital of the Mughal Empire from Agra to Delhi. The Red Fort took 10 years to build. It’s also the site of the Prime Minister’s speech every year on Independence Day. The Red Fort is comprised of a few internal buildings and truly a delight in learning about how the Mughal lived as you walk around.

Open from sunrise to sunset. Entrance is 250 Rupees and 10 Rupees for Indians. Note there are usually massive queues but be sure to walk through as the queue to the foreigner’s ticket booth hardly has anyone queuing there.

India - places to visit in New Delhi - The Red Fort

India - places to visit in Delhi - The Red Fort

6. Akshar Dham Temple

Akshar Temple is a Hindu temple which is just a marvel! It took the collaboration of 7000 artisans in the construction of the temple, together with another 3000 volunteers. The construction of the temple was built without the use of steel, constructed using 234 intricately carved pillars, 9 domes, 20 towers and a plinth of stone elephants known as Gajendra Pith along with statues of famous Indian spiritual figures. Seeing the temple all lit up from afar at night is just as breath-taking as taking it all in up close.

Entry into the temple’s gardens is free but other areas of the temple require advance booking and paid entry.

7. India Gate and Canopy

India Gate was dedicated to all the Indian soldiers of the British Army who died in World War I. The surrounding area is flanked by green lawns and is usually the spot for many a picnic. If you are a Yoga fan, you might also know that this is the area where they had the world’s biggest yoga session where nearly 36, 000 people set a world record last year.

Open 24/7 but the may be cordoned off in the later hours. Entry is also free.

The Canopy stands behind India Gate and can be seen through the arch. It was constructed by British Architect Edwin Lutyens. Until India’s Independence in 1947, it had contained the statue of King George the Fifth was but later removed. Like India Gate, its open 24/7 and free entrance.

India - places to visit in New Delhi - India Gate

8. Qutub Minor

This is a 120-meter minaret. It’s the world’s tallest brick minaret. Amazing that you can still see this considering it was built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in 1193. Yes, 1193, the tower was built to celebrate Muslim dominance in Delhi after the defeat of Delhi’s last Hindu ruler. It’s also the highest tower in India, complete with 5 storeys and projecting balconies. Apart from the tower, within the complex, you will also find Quwwat-us-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India.

Entry is 250 Rupees and 10 Rupees for Indians.

9. Humayun’s Tomb

One of my absolute favourite places I visited in Delhi. Humayun’s Tomb is one of the most magnificent tombs built during Mughal’s rule. Inspired by Persian architecture. Commissioned in 1526, nearly 10 years after the passing of Humayun, by his widow Hamida Baun Begum. It also went on to inspire Sikander Lodi’s tomb in Lodi Gardens and the famous Taj Mahal. Both of which you can find more pictures of on the blog. More on my exploration Humayun’s Tomb can be found here.

Entrance is 250 Rupees for foreigners and 10 Rupees for Indians. It’s a lot more peaceful than a visit to the Taj Mahal.

India - places to visit in Delhi with friends - Humayun's Tomb

India - places to visit in New Delhi - Humayun's Tomb

10. National Museum

One of India’s largest museums. The National Museum was established in 1949 and houses artifacts ranging from prehistoric to modern pieces of art.

Open 10am – 5pm. Entry is 300 Rupees and 10 Rupees for Indians.

11. Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk is one of Delhi’s oldest and most famous markets. Built in the 17th century but the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It’s located in Old Delhi is still steep in history and is home to many iconic and historic monuments such as Red Ford, Jama Masjid, and a few more sites. Chandni Chowk run through the Red Fort and all the way through to Fatehpur Masjid. It remains famous for being Delhi’s largest wholesale markets, attracting plenty of shoppers daily.

Open Monday to Saturdays.

India - places to visit in Delhi for shopping - The Streets

India - places to visit in New Delhi - The Streets

12. Delhi Art Gallery

This is one of the oldest galleries in the city and home to the country’s renowned pre-modern, modern and contemporary art. If you are a lover of art of looking for places to visit in Delhi for couples or somewhere cool to bring a partner, this is up there in cool places to visit in Delhi.

Open 10.30 to 7pm and entry is free.

13. Rashtrapati Bhavan

This is the official residence of the President of India. Spread over 320 acres, the grounds of Rashtrapati Bhaven are home to the head of state, staff quarters and the beautiful Mughal Gardens. The gardens are only open to the public from Mid February to Mid March. There are also guided tours to sections of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Open Friday to Sunday 9-4pm and entry is free.

India - places to visit in New Delhi - Presidential Palace

Tours In New Delhi

For those visiting New Delhi and perhaps need assistance in arranging a tour. There are plenty of tours in Delhi available for both New Delhi and neighboring cities. Tours ranging from a private tour of Taj Mahal, which we did during our stay in India as well as doing the golden triangle from Delhi. There are many tours in India to choose from, you can even have them customized based on which places you have on your must-see list. These can be both private and group tours. If a self-guided tour is more your thing I have provided places in New Delhi you simply cannot miss out on. I shared and review our hotel stay in India. You can read about where I stayed in New Delhi on the blog but there are a variety of hotels and hostels in New Delhi, from budget to luxury. I would highly recommend staying fairly central like near Connaught Place. With the traffic in the city, you need to ensure you start your exploring earlier or leave after 9 am when the traffic isn’t as bad. This is also because traveling between some of these places takes a while simply because of the traffic and not the distance.

Where To Stay In Delhi

There are many options on where to stay in Delhi. From luxury hotels like, The Oberoi, Leela Palace, Le Meridien, and Shangri La to mid-range hotels like Holiday Inn, Radisson Blu andIbis. You also have the option of apartments in the city. Most are well located like Shangri La and Radisson that are on Connaught Street. We opted to stay at the Marriott, which I reviewed in another post, as it was closer to the office my boyfriend was working in at the time of our visit. We still managed to navigate Delhi’s congested traffic to explore some of the city’s tourist sights above. For more on where to stay in New Delhi check this full list of hotels covering all budgets. You can also compare deals on Trivago and Agoda. For further tips, if you are a first time visitor to New Delhi check out Wandering Core’s tips on New Delhi.

Booking.com

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Remember To:

Delhi Itinerary For 3 Days

DAY 1 In Delhi (Mehrauli Archeological Park, Qutab Minar & Hauz Khas Village )

Mehrauli Archeological Park

Qutab Minar

Hauz Khas Village

DAY 2 In Delhi (Humayun’s Tomb, Connaught Place, National Museum of Delhi & Lotus Temple)

Humayun’s Tomb

Connaught Place

National Museum of Delhi

Lotus Temple

DAY 3 In Delhi (Chandni Chowk & Red Fort )

Chandni Chowk

Red Fort

Day Trips From Delhi

Overnight Trips From Delhi

How To Get Around Delhi

Delhi Buses

Delhi Metro

Where To Stay In Delhi

Other Things To Know About Delhi

Essential Items To Pack

Top 10 Places To Visit In Jaipur

Hawa Mahal

City Palace

Amber Fort

Nahargarh Fort

Albert Hall Museum

Jantar Mantar

Galtaji Temple

Jaigarh Fort

Jal Mahal

Places To Visit In Jaipur At Night

Places To Visit In Jaipur For Couples

Places To Visit In Jaipur For Shopping

Where To Stay In Jaipur | Jaipur Hotels

Top Tours In Jaipur The Include The Best Places To Visit In Jaipur

How to Get From Delhi to Agra By Train

Don’t Fall For Scams in Delhi (Or India)

Tips on Booking Ticket for Train Travel in India

How To Buy Tickets For Delhi to Agra By Train Online

Taj Mahal Tours In Agra From New Delhi

How to Travel From Delhi to Agra By Bus

How to Get From Delhi to Agra By Car

More on India on the blog:

Things To Do In Agra In One Day | Places to visit In Agra In A Day Trip

The Taj Mahal

Explore Agra Fort

Fatehpur Sikri In Agra

See Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah aka Baby Taj

Shop for marble and Persian-style carpets in Agra

Explore The Indian Markets and Jewelry Stores

Agra Sightseeing Packages and Tours In Agra.

Taste Authentic Indian Curry

Sample Agra Itinerary For One Day

Sample Agra Itinerary For 2 Days

Things To Do In Agra At Night

How To Get To Agra From Delhi

Where to stay in Agra

More On India

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Visiting The Lotus Temple In New Delhi

Opening/Closing Time

Entrance

Getting To The Lotus Temple

New Delhi Temple Tours

Places To Visit In Delhi During Your Visit

List Of Places To Visit In Delhi | Top 13 Places

1. The Lotus Temple(Bahai House of Worship)

2. Jantar Mantar

3. Connaught Place