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Things To Do in New Delhi

Welcome to Cool Delhi! Join us as we explore one of the world’s most ancient and storied locales to present you with the best things to do in New Delhi, India. Walk the narrow streets and browse the ancient bazaars of Old Delhi, be inspired by the Taj Mahal, journey to Rishikesh where the River Ganges emerges between the feet of the Himalayas, or travel west to the deserts of Rajasthan on a multi-day adventure. The possibilities are endless and it’s all right here at Cool Delhi.

We bring the best New Delhi tours and attractions right to your smart phone screen and make it fun and easy to plan your perfect itinerary in a city and region that are impossibly rich with things to see and do. Browse through the top tours, attractions, and activities in New Delhi, enjoy the photos, read the descriptions, and with a few clicks you can book all your favorites!

New Delhi, the capital of India, is actually the historical 42.7-square-kilometer government and administrative district situated at the heart of the much larger (1,484 square kilometer) National Capital Territory of Delhi. Centrally located in Northern India, and the country’s largest metropolitan center, the entire area is commonly referred to as Delhi by locals and visitors alike. With over 32 million residents, Delhi has the distinction of being the world’s second-largest megacity after Tokyo Japan.

The region has been the site of a succession of human communities since as least as far back as 300BCE. The formal founding date of the city as Indraprashtha (City of Lord Indra) is recorded in the classic epic Mahabharata and set at around the 9th century BCE, and the remains of temples dating back to 1052CE can be found in the southern part of present-day Delhi. An important hub in the ancient web of Silk Road trade routes, and home to a rich blend of ethnic, linguistic, and sociocultural influences from across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, Delhi has been attracting adventurers for millennia.

Historic, hectic, exotic, and eclectic—Delhi is simply fantastic. The everyday markets and street life, people, cultures, customs, and cuisine are all captivating and attract visitors from around the world. The swirl of sights, sounds, colors, and life in Delhi can be overwhelming, but Cool Delhi helps you keep everything in perspective and on track. Beautiful photos, detailed descriptions, honest user reviews, and fast, secure online booking let you organize your days, skip long and chaotic ticket lines, and make the very most of your Delhi visit.

Handle everything before your departure from home, or in the comfort of your Delhi hotel room—even on the fly with your mobile device. Our Cool Delhi booking and reservation technology has been refined over decades of dedication to delivering the best of times to visitors at top destinations around the world. With all vouchers and tickets ready for instant digital delivery right to your phone and friendly customer service always a text, chat, email, or call away, Cool Delhi is your trusty guide and concierge in amazing Delhi India.

New Delhi Attractions

Situated in the flood plains of the Yamuna River, Delhi was the site of at least seven major medieval cities, and their footprints can still be traced through the districts and neighborhoods of modern Delhi. Many empires have risen and fallen here, with the earliest recorded being the 8th-century Tomar dynasty. Mehrauli, historic forerunner of Delhi and the largest Indian city of its time, was established around 1160CE when the first Chauhan emperor took over rule from the Tomars, whose city has largely disappeared.

The modern Mehrauli neighborhood still sits adjacent to the crumbling walls of the Tomar's legendary Red Fort—the place where victorious Afghani conquerors laid the foundations of the 240-foot Qutub Minar around 1200CE. To the northeast, along the banks of the Yamuna River, Old Delhi was founded in 1639 as the walled city of Shahjahanabad and remained capital of the Mughal empire until 1857. Central New Delhi with its careful geometric layout was planned and built by the British colonizers in the years just before and after World War I. These are just a few intriguing districts in a city that could take a lifetime and more to fully explore. Ancient forts and monuments, stately mosques and bustling markets, dozens of shrines, temples, and tombs—visitors marvel at amazing architecture and countless small wonders scattered everywhere in Delhi and beyond.

Over 3,000 major attractions can be found throughout Delhi and the surrounding regions, and that is only counting well-known tourist and sightseeing spots. Many full books have been written on the subject, and suffice it to say that any Delhi itinerary is going to be packed full whether it is for a week-long holiday outing or a stay of several months. A basic selection of Delhi highlights includes the Qutub Minar sandstone minaret and Red Fort, the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib temple of the Sikh religion, Humayun’s Tomb built in 1570 and a forerunner of the garden tomb style that resulted in wonders like the  Taj Mahal and the Lodhi Garden tomb and park complex in central New Delhi, the India Gate war memorial, the incredible Central Ridge Delhi Reserve Forest where leopards still prowl in the midst of the city, and the sprawling slums where some 40% of the Delhi population lives without modern amenities.

Here at Cool Delhi, we are proud to offer a wide selection of tours and attractions that provide many convenient, fun ways to take in the must-see sights. And we also highlight individual local entrepreneurs who take our clients into the back alleys, country villages, ancient market squares, tiny street stalls, and tucked away eateries that are otherwise out of reach for most visitors. We honor small businesses and support the local economy while offering Cool Delhi users access to unique experiences and memories that last a lifetime.

Recommendations: The Best Things to Do in New Delhi

The place is so rich with wonders new and old that it is nearly impossible to choose the best things to do in Delhi India. From wandering millennia-old market streets or mediating at shrines built in the time of Buddha to shopping glittering upscale malls and partying at vibrant nightspots, Delhi has offerings to match the preferences of any visitor.

One site that stands out for its top-rank popularity is the Qutub Minar, dating back to about 1206CE and erected along with the Quwwatul Islam Mosque after Afghani warrior king Muhammad Ghauri overthrew the Chauhan dynasty in 1192CE. The world’s tallest sandstone brick minaret, the Minar sits in a 200-acre park at the site of Lal Kot (Red Fort), Delhi’s oldest fortified city. The park is also home to the 7.21-meter iron pillar of Delhi, of mysterious origin and manufacture but thought to date back to the 3rd or 4th century CE and famous for its ability to remain rust-free for nearly 2,000 years. Together with the adjacent Mehrauli neighborhood, this is a fascinating part of the city and one of Delhi’s top visitor attractions.

Most tourists may not think of a slum visit as a high point of any trip, but the slums of Delhi are world famous for being both heart-wrenching and amazing at once. Beyond Delhi’s glitz, glamour, 5-star hotels, and marble-floored malls, millions of people live out their lives in makeshift dwellings made of mud bricks or scavenged materials, with no clean water or proper sewers. Money is scarce but the spirit of the people and smiles of the children serve to remind wealthy visitors to be grateful for all they have. Paharganj, a poor neighborhood near the New Delhi rail station, is known for its backpacker lodgings and cheap guest houses for train passengers. Kathputli Colony near the Shadipur depot is home to acrobats, dancers, magicians, puppeteers, and other artists who have made their homes here for centuries. Here, colorful houses line narrow mud roads filled with street performers. Kusumpur Pahari is New Delhi's largest slum. Home to thousands of poor migrant workers, Kusumpur is located in one of the city's richest areas. Slum tours are increasingly popular, and can be absolutely unforgettable when led by an expert local guide.

A multi-day trip around what is known as the Golden Triangle—Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and return to Delhi should be part of any extended Delhi itinerary. This is India’s most popular tour circuit and gives visitors a real immersion in the country’s culture along with the requisite Taj Mahal visit plus stops at many other top attractions in Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Overnights in Agra and to the west in Jaipur on the edge of the Rajasthan deserts are nothing short of amazing and offer plenty of time to shop and dine on your own. Travel through the Indian countryside and numerous visits to forts, ancient ruins, museums, markets and more make these multi-day excursions something really special.

When it comes to online travel planning and delivering the best tours, activities, and attractions available, the Cool team has been earning top marks and the trust of tens of thousands of travelers for over 20 years now. Cool Delhi is here to help you unravel the mysteries of one of the world’s oldest civilizations and experience the best things to do in New Delhi along with the top attractions in the Delhi region. Begin your India visit with a tour of our site and let Cool Delhi add some fun to your travel planning experience. Proceed with complete confidence—all bookings are processed through our secure online portal, and friendly staff members are always available to answer your questions via email, text, chat, or phone. Go Cool Delhi!