New Delhi Travelers Recommend

The UNESCO–listed Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world. Though you’ve almost certainly seen the white marble wonder in photos, the structure’s symmetry, scope, and obsessive detail can be appreciated only in person. Here’s how to experience the Taj Mahal and Agra from New Delhi.

Full-Day Tours

Situated 124 miles (200 kilometers) from New Delhi, Agra sits within day-trip distance of the Indian capital, and a full-day tour to the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site is a good option if you’re pressed for time. Private or small-group tours often include visits to both the Taj Mahal and nearby Agra Fort. Save money with a small-group tour by train, or enjoy a more personalized experience with a private tour, including your own personal guide and transportation by air-conditioned private vehicle.

Multi-Day Tours

If you have more than a day to spare, you can explore the entire Golden Triangle on a multi-day trip from Delhi. After an in-depth Agra tour and Taj Mahal visit, journey to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. See the Jal Mahal floating on Man Sagar Lake, learn about the astronomical tools at the Jantar Mantar observatory, and snap some photos of the intricate facade of Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of the Winds. 

Things to Know

• Choose between an Agra day trip or multi-day Golden Triangle tour from New Delhi.

• Enjoy the value of a small-group tour, or opt for the flexibility of a private tour with a personal guide.

• Day trips to Agra can last anywhere from 12 to 18 hours, depending on the option you choose.

• Most guided tours include hotel pickup and drop-off in New Delhi.

Three days in New Delhi will give you a good introduction to the city’s plethora of remarkable sights, from temples and tombs to mosques and markets. You’ll also have time to day trip to Agra, home to more glorious historic monuments, most notably the Taj Mahal. Here’s how to make the most of your 3-day trip to Delhi.

Day 1: Go Back in Time

The city now known as Delhi is actually an amalgamation of numerous older cities and villages, the oldest of which date back to the 12th century, with the Muslim conquest of the area. As a result, the capital has many old sites of equal importance, from the ancient, UNESCO World Heritage–listed ruins of the Qutub Minar and the adjacent Mehrauli Archaeological Park to the broad British-designed avenues and stately buildings in the central area known as New Delhi. You can easily devote a full day to exploring just these areas, though because Delhi is so spread out, it’s advisable to either sign up for a full-day sightseeing tour or get a ticket for a hop-on hop-off tour bus. Along with the Qutub Minar, don’t miss the city’s other two UNESCO-recognized sites: Humayun’s Tomb and Old Delhi’s Lal Qila (Red Fort).

Day 2: Behold the Taj Mahal

Now that you have some context from spending your first day learning about Northern Indian history in Delhi, it’s time for a day trip to Agra, a short drive or train ride from the capital. The city is best known as the home of India’s star attraction, the spectacular white-marble Taj Mahal—an absolute must-visit. While in town, don’t miss the UNESCO-listed Agra Fort, where the Taj Mahal’s creator, Shah Jahan, was held captive by his own son. Other top sights include Mehtab Bagh, gardens that face the Taj and offer stunning views, and the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, a smaller (and older) white-marble tomb frequently referred to as Baby Taj. Some day tours to Agra include stops at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fatehpur Sikri, a short-lived Mughal capital that was abandoned due to lack of water, and the Hindu holy town of Mathura, the alleged birthplace of Lord Krishna.

Day 3: Experience Delhi Life Today

After two days of history, today experience the city as its millions of inhabitants do every day. If you’re interested in food, there are plenty of spots to sample traditional North Indian cuisine and Delhi’s famous street snacks, or chaat —but joining a food tour can help facilitate finding the best (and safest) eats. If shopping is more up your alley, check out local markets, from the always-busy Lajpat Nagar Central Market to the tourist-friendly Dilli Haat, both popular stops on Delhi shopping tours. And if you’re interested in learning about the spiritual side of the city, there are plenty of temples, mosques, and churches across the capital, from East Delhi’s gargantuan Swaminarayan Akshardham complex to the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, or Sikh temple. The latter is located right by Central Delhi’s Connaught Place, a busy commercial hub with a good variety of restaurants and a popular place to grab dinner.

India is a country filled with incredible culture, vibrant colors, bold flavors, and ancient traditions. It's a colorful destination no matter the time of year. But to experience India at its most colorfully kinetic, you'll have to visit during the Holi Festival of Colors. Here's what you need to know.

What to Expect

During India's annual Holi festival, celebrants take to the streets wearing white clothes and armed with colorful powders and dyed water for one of the world's most colorful water fights. People spend the morning running through sprinklers, drenching each other in water, and smearing or throwing brightly colored powders on each other. Unlike other Indian festivals, there are no religious rituals performed on the day of Holi.

When to Go

This annual festival marks the end of winter, a celebration of the victory of good over evil and a commemoration of the Hindu god Krishna. The spring festival takes place on the day following the full moon each March. The bulk of festivities occur in the morning; expect the color throwing to finish up by early afternoon in most towns.

Where to Go

While Holi parties are staged throughout the country, the most exuberant ones take place in the north. The cities of Mathura and Vrindavan are the biggest and most frequently photographed, but other popular destinations include cosmopolitan Delhi and Jaipur in Rajasthan, where Holi coincides with the Elephant Festival.

How to Go

Visitors to India during the Color Festival have several options for experiencing the celebrations. Choose a tour that allows you to celebrate Holi with a local Indian family in Delhi while learning more about the traditional celebration, throw colors at Jaipur's Diggi Palace for a Rajasthani take on the festivities, or combine Holi in Vrindavan with a full-moon visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra during a multi-day yoga tour.

Things to Know

• Wear white clothes you can throw away, and rub your skin with oil before going out to prevent being stained with Holi colors.

• Always go out in a group; most celebrants are warm and welcoming, but expect a few intoxicated individuals as well.

• Head out to the festival early in the morning, as it will be over my midday.

• Keep your camera in a protective covering. Take some images from a high vantage point, then put it away and enjoy.

Delhi is huge, and with two full days in the city you can take in many top attractions, from ancient forts and UNESCO-listed tombs to massive mosques and sacred temples. You’ll also have ample time to explore vibrant markets and indulge in local cuisine. Here are a few ways you can make the most of a 2-day stint in Delhi.

Day 1: City of History

**Morning:**Start your day off with a sightseeing walking or bicycle rickshaw tour of Old Delhi; it’s best to get here early in the day before the day gets too hot. Don’t miss the historic Red Fort (Lal Qila), the huge Jama Masjid mosque, and the bustling markets of Chandni Chowk.

**Afternoon:**Explore the central parts of Delhi, including the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Humayun’s Tomb, the shops and markets around Connaught Place, and the leafy boulevards in Lutyen’s Delhi. This is the Raj-era heart of the city and home to sites such as India Gate and the Presidential Palace (Rashtrapati Bhavan).

**Night:**After sunset, head to one of the city’s many local markets, which are often their busiest right around dusk. If you’re worried about your bargaining skills, a private shopping tour might be a good idea. Alternatively, check out a sound-and-light show at Lal Qila (Red Fort) or the Purana Qila (Old Fort).

Day 2: Temples and Cuisine

**Morning:**Start your next day checking out some of the many attractions in South Delhi. History lovers may want to head straight to the UNESCO-recognized Qutub Minar or the adjacent Mehrauli Archeological Park. Those more into religion may prefer the ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Temple or the Baha’i House of Worship, aka the Lotus Temple.

**Afternoon:**Head to Dilli Haat, an open-air crafts market with hygienic food stalls representing cuisines from across the subcontinent, for lunch—it’s also a great place to shop. Alternatively, visit Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu temple in the city, where there’s an enormous main temple along with an IMAX-style theater, a boat ride attraction, animatronics shows, and a huge vegetarian food court.

**Night:**Foodies may want to head back to Old Delhi for an evening culinary walking tour or simply to dine at one of the many local restaurants in the area. If you happen to visit on a Thursday, a live Sufi performance at the Nizamuddin dargah is in order. 

India’s capital is known for its delicious, rich food, much of which is heavily influenced by the city’s large Punjabi and Muslim populations. Street food (known as chaat ) is particularly popular, and it’s hard to walk more than a few feet in Delhi without coming across a hawker offering cheap and delicious treats. Here are a few dishes you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Delhi.

Paranthas: A classic North Indian breakfast dish, paranthas are layered, fried flatbread, often stuffed with potatoes, cauliflower, or other hearty veggies and served with yogurt. Try the deep-fried version at the Paranthe Wali Gali in Old Delhi.

Butter Chicken: Delhi’s beloved take on chicken curry, this dish consists of chicken cooked in a rich sauce made of cream, potatoes, and plenty of butter. The recipe was actually invented, accidentally, at Moti Mahal Restaurant in the Daryaganj neighborhood.

Pani Puri: Also known as gol gappe, this beloved street food consists of crisp, thin balls filled with mashed potatoes, spiced water, and a little tamarind chutney. A safe bet to try this unusual snack is Prince Chaat Corner in Greater Kailash.

Samosas: A popular item on Indian restaurant menus around the world, samosas are triangular puff pastries stuffed with savory fillings (potatoes and peas are the most common). Those served at Bangla Sweet House in Central Delhi’s Gole Market are famous around the city.

Aloo Tikki: Another classic North Indian street food, this dish consists of fried potato patties, often served with spicy chickpeas and a mix of mint and tamarind chutney. While you can get aloo tikki at roadside stalls all over the city, one of the most famous places to try them is BTW in Kamla Nagar.

Chole Bhature: Another popular breakfast item, this dish features spiced chickpeas served with huge, deep-fried puffy bread. One of the most famous places to sample them is Bhogal Chole Bhature Wala in the central Janpath area.

The Indian capital of New Delhi is as rich in its cuisine as it is in its culture, and the city's cosmopolitan nature means there's a melting pot of culinary influences and flavors to draw from. Whether dining at a high end restaurant or hitting the streets, New Delhi is a city made for eating. Here are a few foods and activities you won't want to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

Eaten for breakfast or as an afternoon snack, paranthas are among Delhi's most beloved foods. This pan-fried unleavened flatbread can be eaten plain or stuffed with potato, cauliflower, paneer, or a host of other vegetables, and they're often served with chutney or pickle for dipping. The word chaat refers to several potato-based savory snacks, most famously found in Chandni Chowk, Delhi's main street food destination.

Got a sweet tooth? Try some kulfi —Delhi's version of ice cream—or jalebi, a bright orange coil of fermented and fried batter soaked in warm, spiced syrup.

Must-Do Experiences

• Tour Old Delhi's markets, food stalls and sweet shops with the help of a guide who can direct you to the best stalls and the tastiest bites
• Try your hand at cooking Indian cuisine at a traditional cooking class
• Learn how to prepare an authentic Indian meal in the home of a local family for an intimate experience
• Wander New Delhi's streets and alleys on a food walking tour with rickshaw ride

With its crumbling old forts, stately Mughal-era tombs, and vibrant markets, India’s sprawling capital city offers nearly an unlimited amount of experiences, exploration, and enjoyment. You could spend months here, but if you only one day in the city, here’s how to make the most of your time.

Morning: Experience Old Delhi

Start your day off with a visit to Old Delhi, known for its traditional markets and beautiful historical sites. Don’t miss the imposing Jama Masjid—one of India’s largest mosques—and the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Red Fort (Lal Qila), a gargantuan red sandstone complex that once served as the seat of the Mughal Empire. Don’t leave the area before hitting up Chandni Chowk, a charmingly hectic old market with everything from traditional wedding garb to fragrant spices on display. The area is best explored on foot or from the comfort of a traditional bicycle-pulled rickshaw.

Afternoon: Discover the Best of New Delhi

After exploring Old Delhi, head south to the area known as New Delhi, home to a mixture of wide, tree-lined avenues, vibrant markets, and myriad temples, plus a couple of top-notch UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Start with a trip to Humayun’s Tomb, one of the earliest examples of Mughal architecture, before making your way down to the Lotus Temple, aka the Baha’i House of Worship. From here, head to the nearby ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Temple, stopping for a buffet lunch at the on-site Govinda’s restaurant. Then head over to the UNESCO-listed Qutub Minar, with its 12th-century tower and gorgeously preserved ruins, or to Dilli Haat, an open-air handicrafts market featuring souvenirs from across India.

Night: Explore Central Delhi or See a Sound and Light Show

Spend your evening exploring Connaught Place, the de facto “downtown” of Delhi and its surrounding area. Don’t miss a visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the city’s biggest Sikh house of worship, which is beautifully illuminated in the evenings, or shop for handicrafts in the Janpath market. Stop for dinner or drinks at one of the numerous restaurants and bars in Connaught Place. Alternatively, head back to the Red Fort in Old Delhi or to the expansive ruins of the nearby Old Fort (Purana Qila), both of which offer regular sound-and-light shows in Hindi and English.

Situated in northwestern India, Punjab has a history and heritage dating back to the Vedic period and remains the center of the Sikh religion. If you don’t have time to visit Punjab, you can still experience a taste of Punjabi culture in New Delhi. Here’s how to do it.

• Treat your tastebuds to some Punjabi street food—chole bhature (fried bread with spicy chickpea curry), chaat (a variety of snacks), or Amritsari kulcha (a savory stuffed version of naan)—on a Delhi food tour.

• Learn more about Sikhism with a visit to the golden-domed temple Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.

• Shake your hips like a Bollywood star to the sounds of bhangra, the most common form of Punjabi music, during an Indian dance class.

• Make the journey to Amritsar to see its Golden Temple in as little as two days during a multi-day tour from India’s capital city.