It is your first time in India and you are lost in New Delhi. Maybe you are wondering what to see or what to do or maybe you are concerned of what to eat. This is my Delhi itinerary for two perfect days in New Delhi.

Pre-Trip Preparation

For those visiting during Summer (i.e. low season), my advice is to bring along a cap and a rather thick pair of socks. The weather will be scorching hot and I got a terrible sunburn that could have been avoided just by having a cap to shield me from the sun. The pair of socks would be helpful when visiting monuments. Many of the monuments covered in this Delhi itinerary will require you to remove your shoes and to walk barefooted. The granite/stone floors will be baking hot and it will be painful. The socks will help in providing some barrier between your feet and the hot floor.

If you are having trouble gauging auto rickshaw fares or don’t want to be ripped off, do look at my auto rickshaw fare guide here.

Part One Delhi Itinerary: Day 1 in New Delhi

For the first time traveller visiting India, one rude shock to the system will be the noise. Car horns will be blaring everywhere and it just feels like your senses are being assaulted. So start off with a more peaceful morning by visiting Raj Ghat. Raj Ghat is a memorial set up for India’s founding father Mahatma Gandhi. When I was there, it felt serene and drastically different from the busy streets outside.

You can then visit the Gandhi museum just opposite Raj Ghat or skip it if you are not a museum fan.

Next up is Jama Masjid. This mosque was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (the same guy that built the Taj Mahal) between 1644 and 1656. There are three domes on the terrace which are surrounded by the two minarets. There are two ticket points. One for the main entrance and one to access the minaret. The minaret poses a challenge due to the narrow stairway and it tends to get crowded at the top. The views, however, are good and you have an awesome view of the Red Fort. If you intend to take pictures, do so before purchasing the minaret ticket and before accessing the minaret. The guard is rather anal and won’t allow you access back into the main courtyard.

 

 

 

 

Once done, consider flagging a trishaw to carry you to the Red Fort. The ticket price for a foreigner is 500 rupees. I decided to go for a guide as he claimed that he was able to bring me through the long queues without the wait. That was a plus. His explanation of the various monuments was so-so but overall it was worth jumping the queue. However, based on my later experiences, it may be the case that as a foreigner paying a premium ticket, you would already have the option of a fast queue. So do check out the ticket booths to see if you can DIY without having to rely on a guide.

 

Inside the Red Fort, there are markers close to the major buildings that offer a brief description of the building and anything interesting about it. You will notice a mixture of Mughal architecture and also British influence as the fort was also used as a barracks by the British.

 

Opposite the Red Fort is the Jain Temple. Do note the timings the temple is open to visitors. The place is closed at certain times. I strongly suggest you pop by and check their opening timings before visiting the Red Fort.

Lunch Break!

There are two options within easy reach from the Jain Temple.

Haldiram’s is like a fast food equivalent of a vegetarian restaurant where you place your order before collecting your food at the collection counters. The restaurant is located on the second floor. The ground floor is like a bakery selling various types of pastries.

The other option is just across the road in a small back alley called Paranthe Wali Gali. This street specialises in Parathas (a kind of flatbread) and some shops claim to have a history going back decades.

Once you are done with your lunch, you can consider popping by one of the old markets of Delhi. Rickshaws nearby can bring you around to see the various markets. I decided to walk over to Khari Baoli to have a look at their Spice Market.

If markets are not your thing, grab an uber or auto rickshaw to the India Gate. This is a monument rather similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris (without the fanciful statues). Then head over to Rashtrapati Bhavan which is directly opposite to the India Gate. While it looks walkable, my advice is to just pay for the “short ride” there. It was a painful experience walking across in the hot summer heat. The main highlights there are the facades of the government buildings and the Mughal Gardens (do check their official website for the actual opening dates).

 

 

 

 

If you are visiting during months other than February or March, don’t fret. The other alternative can be the Lodhi Gardens. A city park, it houses several points of interest from the Lodhi period, when the Lodhis ruled parts of northern India and Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of modern-day Pakistan. The tombs located there vary in terms of architecture and offer an interesting contrast to the more extravagant tombs/mausoleums in other parts of India. Other than that, the park appears to be an average city park with the occasional perfect photo.

Dinner time

To finish off the day, why not pop over to Connaught Place which still gives visitors a colonial vibe. Connaught Place offers both dining and shopping for visitors and is a good respite from the sightseeing. For the more popular restaurants, do consider making a reservation or dining earlier as the places tend to fill up around 8pm onwards.

Part Two coming up soon!

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