Location: North India.
Famous for: The Capital Of India & It's Administrative Center

Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, along with Damascus and Varanasi. Legend estimates it to be over 5,000 years old. Over the millennia, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. The oldest alleged incarnation of the city shows up in the Indian mythological epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha.

Tourist Attraction

• Red Fort
  The Red Fort (Lal Qila) is one of Delhi's top tourist sights. A brilliant red sandstone fort built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (who also built Agra's Taj Mahal) as his ruling palace. Major buildings within include:
  • Chatta Chowk
  • Diwan-i-Am
  • Hayat Baksh Bagh
  • Diwan-i-Khas
  • Khas Mahal
  • Rang Mahal
  • Mumtaz Mahal
  • Daawat Khana
  • Swatantra Sangrama Sangrahalaya
  
  
  
• Humayun's Tomb
  Humayun's Tomb in south Delhi, near Hazrat Nizamuddin station, is one of Delhi's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, entry is 10/250 rupees Indians/foreigners.
  
  
• Qutub Complex
  This complex in Mehrauli, south Delhi, houses structures dating from the Slave Dynasty (1206-1290) and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens are kept in excellent shape, making this a popular relaxation and picnic spot. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, entry is 20/250 rupees Indians/foreigners. Light-and-sound show held most nights after sunset.
  
  
• Monuments
  • Rajpath - This is a main parade route that leads to the President's residence (Rashtrapati Bhavan). Don't miss the splendid India Gate, and the many grassy lawns. Especially nice in the evenings and at night when the buildings are lit and the vendors come out to supply the many picnicking families.
  • Rajghat Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi [8] - check for closure dates/security checks around national holidays/gandhiji's death anniversary (30th Jan).
  • Lodhi Estate
  • Nehru House 'Teen Murti Bhavan'. This is the house of the first Prime Minister of India. Remarkably well preserved with most of paraphernalia intact. Was used by the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Army before Indian Independence. Free entrance.
  • India Gate. This monument has been built as a memorial for the Indian soldiers who died in World War I. There is also a fire ("eternal flame") burning for all fallen Indian soldiers.
  • Parliament House
  
  
  
• Parks and Gardens
  • Lodhi Garden is a peaceful park in the heart of New Delhi. Lodhi garden is ideal for morning walks in the hot season and for afternoon strolls and picnics during the cooler months
  • Nehru Park is a large park in the South Delhi neighborhood of Chankayapuri
  
  
  
• Museums
  • India Habitat Center,
  • International Doll's Museum,
  • National Museum
  • National Science Centre
  • National Railway Museum
  • Teen Murti Bhavan
  • Tibet House
  
  
  
• Religious Buildings
  • Lotus Temple
  • Chhattarpur Mandir
  • Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
  • Gurudwara Sis Ganj
  • Sacred Heart Cathedral
  • St. Peter's Cathedral
  • ISKCON Temple
  • Lakshmi Narayan Temple (Birla mandir)
  • Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple
  • Sai Baba Temple
  
  
  
• Market
  • Connaught Place
  • Paharganj market
  • Central Market, Lajpat Nagar
  • Sarojini Nagar
  • Khan Market
  • Janpath
  • Palika Bazaar
  • Chandni Chowk,

How to Get In

• By Plane
  Indira Gandhi International Airport
  The airport is split into three terminals, with the domestic terminals commonly known as Palam Airport.
  • Terminal 1A (Domestic): Air India ("IC" flight numbers), Go Air, MDLR, Jagson
  • Terminal 1D (Domestic): All other domestic flights
  • Terminal 2 (International): All international flights and Air India domestic "AI" flights
  
  
  
• By Bus
  Delhi has a confusing slew of inter-state bus termini (ISBT), which all have two names. The Delhi Transport Corporation is the major operator, but every state also runs its own buses and there are some private operators too
  • Kashmere Gate ISBT (aka Maharana Pratap), Metro Kashmere Gate, Line 1/2. This is "the" ISBT and the largest of the lot. Buses to points north, including Nepal.
  • Sarai Kale Khan ISBT (aka Vir Hakikat Rai), next to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. Buses to points south.
  • Anand Vihar ISBT (aka Swami Vivekanand), on the east bank of Yamuna, Metro: Anand Vihar, Line 3 (end 2009). Buses to points east.
  • Bikaner House bus stop. Buses, including air-conditioned Volvo buses from Jaipur arrive at this place. For travel between Jaipur and Delhi, this bus stop is very clean, less crowded than ISBT, and easy to reach.
  
  
  By Train
  Trains arrive at one of four main stations: Delhi Junction, also called Old Delhi or Purani Dilli; the second at New Delhi which lies in Central Delhi; Hazrat Nizamuddin a few kilometers to the south; and the upcoming Anand Vihar station to the east. (A very few trains use Delhi Sarai Rohilla or Delhi Cantt stations.) Delhi Junction and New Delhi Railway Station are now conveniently connected by Metro Line 2, just minutes apart, while Anand Vihar is served by Line 3. It will take about 40 minutes to an hour to travel from the New Delhi Railway Station to the airport by car, depending on traffic.
  • New Delhi Railway Station
    The main entrance to New Delhi Railway Station (code NDLS) is located just outside of Paharganj, also known as the backpacker ghetto. The Delhi Metro now connects directly here, but the metro exits are at the Ajmeri Gate (second entrance) side near platform 12. You can also take prepaid rickshaws and taxis from the plaza outside the main entrance.
    
    
  • Delhi Railway Station
    Formally Delhi Junction (code DLI), but best referred to as "Old" Delhi Station for clarity. Like New Delhi RS, this station is huge and confusing. The platforms are not in linear order, with some hidden in the west and east wings of the stations. The railway station is served by Metro Line 2 Chandni Chowk station.
    
    
  • Hazrat Nizamuddin
    Hazrat Nizamuddin (code NZM) is the departure point of many trains heading south. Practically speaking, the only way to get here is by taxi or auto. The budget alternative is to take a bus to the Sarai Kale Khan Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) on the ring road and then walk over to the station (400 meters). It's the least chaotic of the Big Three, but still pretty big and poorly signposted - listen to the announcements to figure out your train. The station has a pretty good food court that sells inexpensive, hygienic takeaway snacks (sandwiches, samosas, etc).
    
    
  • Anand Vihar
    Anand Vihar (code ANVR) is Delhi's newest station, located well to the east of the city near Noida. Repeatedly delayed, the station is now scheduled to be commissioned in October 2009 and will gradually take over all east-bound services. Delhi Metro Line 3 will start serving the station by the end of the year.