What to see and do in 1 day in New Delhi, India.
It was time to move on after 1 month in Nepal. Juan and I boarded a plane from Kathmandu to New Delhi, a daylight flight with extraordinary views from the plane window to the snow-capped Himalayan mountains in the distance, plain to see rising above the clouds. We were staying in New Delhi for a 24 hour stopover before getting the train to Agra.
One day might not be enough to see everything in India’s capital city as there’s a lot to see and do, but with a little planning you can visit the main sites and bazaars, get an insight into India, and thoroughly enjoy your day.
1 Day in New Delhi Itinerary
How to Get Around New Delhi and What to See in a 24 Hour Stopover
So what’s New Delhi like?
Well, it’s dirty, hot and noisy, and the backstreets are filled with the homeless and beggars.
It’s like being thrown into the deep end of a cultural shock called India. India definitely doesn’t leave you feeling indifferent but you’ll be fine with a positive mindset.
New Delhi is the capital city of India, a convenient gateway to enter the country, a hub for affordable international and national flights, and train connections to mayor World Heritage Sites such as the legendary Taj Mahal.
There’s a lot to see in the city itself. One day is enough to see the main attractions of Old Delhi city. However, a 3 days in Delhi itinerary is a better time frame – you can visit all the must-see city sites, and fit in a day trip to nearby places of interest.
Discovering India
There are two ways to discover India – booking a guided tour package with a reputable company is time-saving, comfortable and even luxurious if you are chauffeur driven.
Doing your own thing on a budget takes more effort, an adventure that is fascinating and the ultimate way to see real life situations.
New Delhi is definitely a learning curve for what’s to come!
We chose our own flexible itinerary starting with the Taj Express to Agra, taking in Jaipur and Jodhpur in regal Rajasthan, continuing by bus down to Udaipur, through western India to see the Ellora Cave Temples and mighty Mumbai, before hitting the gorgeous beaches in Goa, and finally on to the tropical southern state of Kerala.
Juan and I obtained a tourist e-visa online, a laborious but necessary process. The arrival procedure at Indira Gandhi International Airport is reasonably straightforward despite the misleading ‘visa on arrival’ signs and sundry queues. The money exchange kiosks inevitably offer a low rate and higher charges, but at least provide the necessary rupees to be going on with. The official prepaid taxi booth is inside the terminal and a hassle-free way to get to your accommodation, but do make sure they haven’t short changed you!
Downtown Old Delhi
Our accommodation wasn’t what we expected even though it had decent reviews in the online booking platform…another lesson learnt! In a dilapidated building and unappealing area, the ‘hotel’ was a least within walking distance of the main bazaar in Paharganj district and the guy on reception was reasonably helpful.
The Main Bazaar was uninspiring, a handful of neglected backstreets with fruit stalls and small shops selling cheap clothes…don’t forget to bargain! I did buy a tie-dye summer dress and found a good café for breakfast strangely named the Drunkyard.
New Delhi railway station is nearby… Booking tickets online can be challenging for non-Indians so it’s easier to get them directly at the ‘International Tourist Bureau’ on the first floor.
India has an increible railway network which makes it easy to take weekend trips from Delhi to other cities of interest.
After a lengthy wait we showed our passports and purchased tickets to Agra for the following morning, to see the Taj Mahal, and to Jaipur for the subsequent day. It’s best to book trains in advance as they may be full.
Firmly ignore anyone who approaches you at the train station, it’s a common scam to tell tourists that the government office is closed for renovation, which is totally untrue and a ploy to take you to a private travel agency.
Getting Around The Old City
It’s simple to get around Old Delhi in a tuk-tuk, the 3-wheeler budget priced auto rickshaws that are so popular in South East Asia. Like everything in India you need to bargain the price beforehand particularly if you’re a tourist.
Driving in New Delhi is crazy…a colourful kaleidoscope for the senses with ladies in bright saris riding crossbar on scooters, loud honking horns and pointless overtaking in the hectic traffic. It’s a way to see city life, Delhi in a day. Otherwise you can get around quickly on the modern subway Metro or see the sights from a hop-on-hop-off bus.
The Indian caste system is an unfair way of life that persists throughout the country and is nowhere more evident than in the large cities…scrawny people in ragged clothes sleeping under bridges, laying on the pavements among piles of rubbish and poor disheveled children coming up to the auto-rickshaw begging. We took the cue from our driver and offered the kids fruit instead of money.
Seeing The Sights of New Delhi
We headed for Connaught Place, the city’s business district, where Delhi Central Park is located. A peaceful park with grassy lawns, water features and a huge Indian flag, it’s circled by small exclusive stores and fashionable rooftop restaurants in smart colonial buildings.
Photography is banned in the peaceful park so I had to take some sneaky shots with my phone. Air pollution is a problem in Delhi and the dense smog was evident while we were there. This district is a good place to stop for lunch, on an exclusive roof terrace or one of the trendy eateries up the side streets.
The Red Fort is the most famous landmark in Old Delhi, the historical part of the city which dates back to the early 17th century. Known locally as Lal Qila, this magnificent red walled and turreted compound is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located beside the Yamuna river, and is particularly spectacular at sunset.
Hare Krishna Festival in Delhi
An international Hare Krishna gathering was held in the forecourt the day I visited the Red Fort, an amazing event we happened upon by chance!
An immense mosaic carpet made of flowers covered the ground, an ornate podium at the far end held spiritual leaders who appeared to be blessing devotees in a cult ritual.
Polite orange robed young men with the tilaka mark on their foreheads lay prostrate on the floor and the crowd chanted the mantra as if they were hypnotized.
Juan and I were invited into a large marquee where free food and water was provided for everyone. A large float parade through the city streets was also taking place.
It was all quite fascinating and out of the ordinary to see.
Chandni Chowk is just across the road, a famous bazaar which was originally designed in the 1600’s by the Emperor’s daughter.
We explored some of the alleyways where stalls are grouped into thematic areas including electronics, spices, garments, jewellery, and lots more. This was once the greatest market in India, and there are notable historic buildings in the old quarters, but the whole vicinity looks extremely run down now.
Other sites in the heart of the city which merit a visit include the great Jama Masjid Mosque and Emperor Humayun’s Tomb Memorial.
Dinner in Delhi
In the evening we met up with Eva and Joseba, Spanish bloggers and around the world travellers – their website in Spanish is called ‘Organizo tu viaje’. It was wonderful to speak to like-minded friends!
I saw a lot of street food in Delhi but it was generally cooked in insalubrious stalls on the pavements by open sewers. So the four of us dined on the roof top terrace of their hotel, swapping travel stories and useful tips such as off-line maps and tuk-tuk price compare apps!
Vegetarian meals are a great option in India -the Hindu majority is predominately vegetarian- and there is usually a good selection on the menu. Paneer is the local cheese and tastes great in a tikka masala curry, jeera rice is delicately spiced and flavourful, lentils with spinach and potatoes is similar to Nepalese dal bhat, and many other dishes which we came to appreciate during our travels through India.
This particular restaurant also served non-vegetarian specialties and cold lager – many places in India do not openly serve alcoholic drinks!
Destination Delhi
Delhi, New Delhi, Old Delhi…
What’s the difference between Delhi, New Delhi and Old Delhi? Well, it’s somewhat confusing, and the terms are often intermingled, but basically…
Old Delhi was built in the 1600s by the Mughal Empire. Originally a walled city set out in a semicircle beside the Yamuna River. Old Delhi is famous for its iconic sites, places to visit include Lal Qila Red Fort (sound and light show in the evenings), Jama Masjid Mosque, Lal Mandir Jain Temple, Chandra Chowk bazaar and Khari Baoli spice market. This is the ancient historical heart of New Delhi City.
New Delhi is India’s capital city. Founded in 1911 by George V, the British architecture is still evident. Must-see attractions include emblematic India Gate, Connaught Place and the characteristic 20th century mansions which now house foreign embassies or government offices. Modern New Delhi is a thriving commercial hub with a skyscraper cityscape surrounding crumbling impoverished districts.
The Indian State of Delhi is known as NCT. An abbreviation for National Capital Territory, it covers a massive area of 1,484 sq km.
Is New Delhi safe?
In our experience, New Delhi is like many big cities… keep your wits about you and use common sense, and you’ll be fine.
Our tips – leave jewellery at home and be careful with wallets, flashy cameras and phones, don’t stray away too far from the tourist areas (especially at night if you are a woman on your own), and firmly ignore anyone trying to give you ‘advice’ in the streets.
Food and hygiene – Don’t eat food that is laying out on display, always drink bottled water, do not eat fruit or salads that have been washed in tap water (peel fruit). Use sanitizing hand gel before eating and after going to the loo – antiseptic gel can also be applied to minor abrasions or cuts in an emergency, after washing thoroughly with bottled water first. Good hotels and restaurants generally have better standards of hygiene.
Travel Scams – Savvy world traveler Roobens (Been Around The Globe) gives you some tips on how to avoid Common Travel Scams.
Visas for India
The official government site with information on how to apply for an e-Visa: Indian Visa On Line
Delhi Transport Information
- DELHI AIRPORT
Indira Gandhi International Airport – International flights arrive/depart from Terminal 3 (also Air India, AirAsia India and Vistara domestic flights). Other Indian carriers operating domestic flights currently use Terminals 1 & 2.
TAXIS - A metered taxi is the easiest way to get into the city – avoid scams by using the official prepaid taxi booth inside the airport or train terminals.
UBER - Uber is an option in Delhi and many Indian cities that we visited -you’ll need the app installed on your phone and an Indian SIM card. Driver’s don’t necessarily speak English so you might need your hotel receptionist to book it.
DELHI METRO - The Airport Express Line runs between IGI Airport and New Delhi Railway Station. It takes 20 minutes. Details on DMRC website.
BUS SERVICE - DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) is the main, state owned, bus company. An airport transfer bus runs from Terminal 3 to New Delhi Railway Station and Connaught Place etc., and there are also regular bus services into the city from Terminals 1 & 2 (takes around 50 mins.).
TOURIST HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS - Yes, it is possible to see Delhi in one day! The hoho bus is a convenient way to see all the sights, details on the DTC Tourist Bus site.
AUTO-RICKSHAWS - If you prefer a more authentic experience just hail an auto-rickshaw – this is the easiest and cheapest way to get around the old city, but don’t forget to bargain the price first.
RAILWAY STATIONS - New Delhi – Delhi’s main train station. The International Tourist Bureau train ticket office is on the 1st floor.
- Old Delhi Station – Historical Delhi Junction (1864) is located in the old city by Chandi Chowk market.
- Nizamuddin – For express trains to Agra (Taj Majal) and numerous Indian cities.
- Anand Vihar – A new terminal for connections to eastern India.
- Sarai Rohilla – One of Delhi’s original stations (1872). North/West trains to Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat or Mumbai etc.
*For everything you need to know about train travel in India see: The Man in Seat Sixty-One.
Our tips: Trains and coaches are an excellent way of travelling through India particularly the overnight ones which save you time, as well as money on accommodation.
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