My Visual Travel Experience: Delhi

I was born in Delhi, and I've spent a fairly large part of my life in the city. I have also lived in Sofia (Bulgaria), Thimpu (Bhutan), Belgrade (Serbia), Vienna (Austria), Jamshedpur, Chennai and Bangalore, plus I've traveled in and out of Mumbai and Kolkata rather extensively, but Delhi has always been the base for me. I currently stay in Delhi's suburb of Gurgaon, but my life continues to be very Delhi-centric, and I normally go into Delhi several times a week. So I'm writing as a Delhi-ite, who knows the city fairly well.

Delhi has its share of problems. Large parts of Delhi are over-crowded. There is a fair bit of pollution that reaches a new high every winter. Hygiene levels in parts of the city leave a lot to be desired. Safety of women is a concern area. Traffic jams and road rage are major irritants. Weather can be very extreme, with summer temperatures in excess of 45 Degrees Celsius, and winter temperatures lower than 5 Degrees Celsius. Despite all this, Delhi has a truly wonderful side. The city has a long and fascinating history, that is visible in the many heritage monuments that are scattered all over. Lutyens' Delhi in the heart of the city is perhaps the best planned city in India, with wide avenues and green open spaces. Delhi is a major cultural centre, with lots of options for music, dance, drama, plays and other intellectual pursuits. The city is famous for its cuisines, which are on offer from the highest end restaurants to road-side local eateries. There are numerous shopping options, from chic malls to local markets. Lastly, there is an enormous amount for tourists to see and experience, and it's quite easy for a tourist to spend over a week in Delhi and still have a lot of places to cover.

Delhi is the capital of India and its second largest city after Mumbai. The mega city has a population of over 11 million, though Greater Delhi has over 16 million residents (excluding immediate suburbs like Gurgaon, Noida and Faridabad, all of which are fairly big towns in their own right). In 1911, a decision was taken by the British to move the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi, and the well known architect, Edwin Lutyens, was responsible for giving shape to the new capital. Lutyens' Delhi has city landmarks like Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate and Connaught Place, and is a beautiful example of urban planning.

Delhi’s history goes back many centuries. Indraprastha in Delhi was the capital of the legendary Pandavas in the epic Mahabharata. In the 12th century, the Chauhans came to power. Their king, Prithviraj Chauhan, was defeated in 1192 by Mohammad Ghori, an invader from Afghanistan. What followed was many centuries of Islamic rule. Qutub Ud Din Aibak became the first Sultan of Delhi following Mohammad Ghori’s death. For three centuries, Delhi was then ruled by a series of Islamic rulers – the Lodis and the Khiljis. Then in 1526, Babur invaded India and defeated the last Lodi Sultan. We then had the Mughal Empire that ruled from Delhi and Agra. The Mughal Empire was in power for over three centuries, barring a 16 year period when Sher Shah Suri reigned after defeating the 2nd Mughal Emperor, Humayun. In 1639 AD, the 5th Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan, built a walled city called Shahjahanabad in Delhi, which was the capital of Mughal India until the 1857 rebellion against the British, who colonized India. On 15th August 1947, India got its independence from the British, and Delhi became independent India's capital.

Qutub Minar  stands at a height of 72.5 meters and it is India’s tallest minaret. The construction of Qutub Minar was started in 1192 by Qutub Ud Din Aibak and it was completed by Iltutmish. The complex has several interesting structures dating back to that period and is a must visit for anyone visiting Delhi. Alai Minar lies inside the complex and Alauddin Khilji, started building the structure. It was supposed to be twice the height of Qutub Minar. However, work was halted after the king's death in 1316. The Tomb of Imam Zamin is a 16th century tomb inside the complex. Imam Zamin was an Islamic cleric who came from Turkmenistan during the time of Sikandar Lodi. Iltutmish's Tomb and Alauddin Khilji's Tomb also lie inside the complex.

Qutub Minar

Alai Minar, Qutub Minar Complex

Alauddin Khilji's Tomb, Qutub Minar Complex

Iltutmish's Tomb, Qutub Minar Complex

Tomb of Imam Zamim, Qutub Minar Complex

The Dargah of Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki is situated in Mehrauli Archaeological Park and was built in the 13th century AD. It has the tomb of the famous Sufi Saint, who lived from 1173 to 1235. The tomb is the venue of the annual Phoolwalon-ki-sair festival, a festival of flower sellers.

Dargah of Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki

The Tomb of Balban is located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park and was built in 1287. It houses the tomb of Ghiyas ud din Balban, a ruler of the Slave Dynasty who reigned from 1266 to 1287.

Tomb of Balban

Agrasen Ki Baoli is a 60 meter long and 15 meter wide stepwell, built as a water reservoir. It is situated not far from Connaught Place. It was supposed to have been built by King Agrasen, and then rebuilt in the 14th century during the Tughlaq dynasty.

Agrasen Ki Baoli

Khirki Masjid is a mosque dating back to the 14th century and was built by Khan-I-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Firoz Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq Dynasty. It lies next to Saket, close to the wall of Jahnpanah, the fourth city of Delhi.

Khirki Masjid

Tughlaqabad Fort was built in 1321 by Ghuyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq Dynasty, when he built the fourth city of Delhi. The fort is largely in ruins.

Tughlaqabad Fort

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq's Tomb lies close to Tughlaqabad Fort. The king dies in 1324 after a successful campaign in Bengal. The tomb is made of red sandstone and has a white marble dome. It is within an enclosed area and has a lawn around it.

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq's Tomb

The Nizamuddin Dargah has the tomb of the famous Sufi saint Nizamuddin Aulia (1238 – 1325). The tomb is in an impoverished but interesting part of the city. It is visited by Muslim pilgrims in their thousands. The complex also has the tombs of the poet Amir Khusro and the Mughal princess Jahanara. 

Nizamuddin Dargah

Firoz Shah Kotla was built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century. It houses the Topra Ashokan Pillar from the 3rd century BC. The complex also houses the Jami Masjid and a large garden.

Ashokan Pillar, Firoz Shah Kotla

Jami Masjid, Firoz Shah Kotla

Firoz Shah Tughlaq's Tomb is located in Hauz Khas. Firoz Shah Tughlaq ruled from 1351 to 1388, and he designed the tomb in his lifetime. The tomb is made of quartzite rubble with a white plaster finish.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq's Tomb

Lal Gumbad lies next to Panchsheel Park in Jahanpanah, the fourth city of Delhi founded by Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1326-1327. Lal Gumbad dates back to 1397 and has the tomb of Shaikh Kabbiruddin Auliya, a Sufi Saint.

Lal Gumbad

Jahaz Mahal, or Ship Palace, lies in Mehrauli. It got its name because its reflection resembles a ship. It was built during the Lodi period (1452 - 1526), and was used as an inn.

Jahaz Mahal

Lodi Garden is a large green space in the heart of Delhi. It is a city favourite, with interesting tombs from the 15th century, a lake and walking trails. On winter days, one can see people having picnics, kids playing, and people walking their dogs. Muhammad Shah Sayyid’s Tomb has the tomb of the third ruler from the Sayyid Dynasty, who ruled from 1434 to 1444. The Sayyid dynasty reigned from 1414 to 1451. Bada Gumbad dates back to the Lodi period (1451-1526). It is not known who was buried there and the grave has long gone. Sheesh Gumbad is suspected to house the tomb of the first Lodi king, Bahlol Lodi, who died in 1489. The beautiful tomb, which lies opposite the Bara Gumbad, has remains of glazed blue ceramic tiles on the exterior. Sikandar Lodi’s Tomb has the the tomb of the second ruler from the Lodi Dynasty, who ruled from 1489 to 1517.  His tomb  lies within a garden surrounded by a walled enclosure. The interior of the tomb has remains of some beautiful tile work.

Muhammad Shah Sayyid's Tomb, Lodi Garden

Bada Gumbad, Lodi Garden

Sheesh Gumbad, Lodi Garden

Sikandar Lodi's Tomb, Lodi Garden

Rajon Ki Baoli is a stepwell in Mehrauli Archaeological Park. It was built in 1506 by Daulat Khan, an administrator of the Lodi Dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate.

Rajon Ki Baoli

Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb lies in Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Jamali was the name given to Jalal Khan, a Sufi Saint, who lived during the reign of the Lodis. Kamali was an unknown person, but associated with Jamali. The structure was completed in 1529, and Jamali and Kamali were both buried here.

Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb

Purana Qila, Delhi’s Old Fort, was built by Mughal Emperor Humayun, and was completed in 1538. The Bada Darwaza serves as the fort's main entrance. Sher Shah defeated Humayun in 1540 and during his reign, the Purana Qila complex saw a lot of additional construction. Humayun moved back  in 1555, but a year later, he died following a fall from the fort’s Sher Mandal. Purana Qila has the Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid, built by Sher Shah in 1541. It has a single dome and five arched doorways leading to the prayer hall. Other notable structures at the complex include Talaqi Darwaza and Humayun Darwaza. Delhi Zoo lies adjacent to Purana Qila, and is one of India's better known zoos. 

Bada Darwaza, Purana Qila

Sher Mandal, Purana Qila

Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid, Purana Qila

Talaqi Darwaza, Purana Qila

Humayun Darwaza, Purana Qila

Khair-ul-Manazil is a mosque built in 1651. It lies close to Purana Qila. The mosque was built by Maham Anga, Tmperor Akbar's wet nurse.

Khair-ul-Manazil

Humayun’s Tomb has the tomb of the second Mughal emperor, Humayun. Humayun died in 1556 and the tomb was completed in 1572. He was the second emperor in the Mughal Dynasty, after his father Babar. The other great Mughal emperors after him were Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb, after which the decline of the empire started. One enters the complex through the West Gate. The Tomb of Isa Khan lies inside the Humayun's Tomb complex. The octagonal tomb was built in 1548 by Sher Shah. Isa Khan Niazi was one of the nobles of Sher Shah. Nila Gumbad (Blue Dome) is also situated in the Humayun's Tomb complex. An attendant of a nobleman from the time of emperor Jahangir is supposedly buried here. It was originally covered with glazed tiles, which are no longer there. Another notable structure inside the complex is Barber's Tomb.

Humayun's Tomb

West Gate, Humayun's Tomb

Isa Khan's Tomb, Humayun's Tomb Complex

Nila Gumbad, Humayun's Tomb Complex

Barber's Tomb, Humayun's Tomb Complex

Khooni Darwaza lies near Delhi Gate. It was constructed by Sher Shah. Emperor Jahangir had two sons of Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana executed at this gate. Emperor Aurangzeb had his elder brother Shikoh beheaded, and his head was displayed at this gate. Hence the name, which means "Bloody Gate".

Khooni Darwaza

Khan-I-Khana’s Tomb houses the tomb of Abdul Rahim Khan, a scholar and composer during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Khan-I-Khana was his official title. Abdul Rahim Khan built this tomb for his wife in 1598, and then he was buried there following his death in 1627.

Khan-I-Khana's Tomb

Azim Khan's Tomb lies near Mehrauli and houses the tomb of Azim Khan, a general in the Mughal army during the time of Emperor Akbar. It was built in the 17th century. During the British era, the tomb was used as a recreational place by British soldiers.

Tomb of Azim Khan

Subz Burj supposedly has the tomb of Fahim Khan, an attendant of Abdur Rahim Khan. Fahim Khan died in 1626. There is no grave inside. The tomb has a striking blue coloured dome and lies close to Nizamuddin.

Subz Burj

Chausath Khamba was built in 1624 and is situated in Nizamuddin. The name means "64 Pillars". It was built by Mirza Aziz Koka as a tomb for himself. He served as Emperor Jahangir's Governor of Gujarat.

Chausath Khamba

Interior, Chausath Khamba

Delhi’s Red Fort was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor Shahjahan and completed in 1648. It was in the walled city of Old Delhi and served as the emperor’s residence. It is now the venue of the Prime Minister’s annual address to the nation on Independence Day. One enters the complex through the imposing Lahori Gate. Inside, there are a series of palaces and mosques inside, including Diwan - i - Khas, Khas Mahal and Moti Masjid.

Lahori Gate, Red Fort

Diwan - i Khas, Red Fort

Khas Mahal, Red Fort

Moti Masjid, Red Fort

Jama Masjid was commissioned by Emperor Shahjahan and is India’s largest and best known mosque. The mosque was completed in 1656. It lies in the heart of Old Delhi. The mosque’s vast courtyard has the capacity to hold as many as 25,000 people! The mosque has a large dome and two minarets that stand 41 meters high.

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid - Seen from one of the Minarets

Kashmiri Gate is a gate along the walled city of Delhi. It was built by Emperor Shahjahan. It is so named because it is at the start of the road that leads to Kashmir.

Kashmiri Gate

Sunder Nursery is a complex close to Humayun's Tomb. It is a 16th century garden built by the Mughals. It has a total of 15 monuments, prominent among which are Sunder Burj, Lakkadwala Burj and Sunderwala Mahal. It also has a Central Axis with a canal running through it.

Sunder Burj, Sunder Nursery

Lakkadwala Burj, Sunder Nursery

Sundarwala Mahal, Sunder Nursery

Central Axis, Sunder Nursery

Jantar Mantar was constructed in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur. The complex has 13 astronomical instruments. It is just one of the five observatories that were built during that period in various towns of India. The others are in Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura and Varanasi. 

Samrat Yantra, Jantar Mantar

The Observatory, Jantar Mantar

Safdarjang’s Tomb was built in 1754 for Safdarjang, who was a Prime Minister of the then Mughal Emperor, Muhammad Shah. It is a beautiful garden tomb and has canals running through the sprawling gardens. Elements from Khan I Khanan’s Tomb were later stripped off to construct Safdarjang’s Tomb.

Safdarjang's Tomb

Delhi’s Bangla Sahib Gurudwara dates back to 1783. It is associated with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan. The complex was earlier the residence of Raja Jai Singh. Guru Har Krishan stayed here in 1664 while helping out with a small pox epidemic. He himself died of the illness later.

Bangla Sahib Gurudwara

Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib lies in Chandni Chowk and was built in 1783 to commemorate the martyrdom of the ninth Siki Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. The Guru was beheaded by Emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam.

Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib

Lal Bangla is a mausoleum that lies within the Delhi Golf Course complex. Lal Bangla actually consists of two mausoleums, one made of red sandstone, and one of yellow sandstone. One of the tombs has the graves of the wife and daughter of Shah Alam II (1759 - 1806), the 16th Mughal Emperor.

Lal Bangla

Flagstaff Tower is a one room tower built in 1828 as a signal tower. It is near the North Campus of Delhi University. In 1857, during the anti British mutiny, many British officers and their families took shelter here, waiting for help to arrive from Meerut.

Flagstaff Tower

St James's Church was built by the British and completed in 1836. It is one of Delhi's oldest churches. The British Commissioner of Delhi, William Fraser, lived next to the church and is buried in the church graveyard. The church lies next to Kashmiri Gate.

St James's Church

Interior, St James's Church

Delhi Town Hall was completed in 1863 and lies in Chandni Chowk. It was the seat of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi from 1866 till 2009. Originally, a statue of Queen Victoria stood outside the building. After independence, it was replaced by a statue of Arya Samaj leader, Swami Shraddhanand.

Town Hall

The Mutiny Memorial was built in 1863. It lies near Kashmiri Gate. The gothic, red sandstone memorial was built in honour of those killed in the 1857 mutiny.

Mutiny Memorial

Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir was built in 1878. It lies in Chandni Chowk. The temple complex also houses the Jains Birds Hospital.

Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

Sacred Heart Cathedral was built in 1929. British colonial officers financed the construction.  St Columbus’s School and the Convent of Jesus & Mary lie right next to the cathedral.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Rashtrapati Bhawan is the official home of the President of India. It is a large mansion with 320 rooms, and is within sprawling lawns that include the beautiful Mughal Gardens, open to the public for a month every spring. The architect of New Delhi, Edwin Lutyens, designed the building and it was completed in 1929, initially as the Viceroy’s House.  

Rashtrapati Bhawan

India Gate was built in 1931 to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died fighting along with the British in World War I. Inspired by Paris’ Arc De Triomphe, India Gate has the Tomb of the  Unknown Soldier, also called the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

India Gate

Connaught Place is a shopping centre in the heart of New Delhi. The circular market, famous for its white buildings, has a park in the centre. The market was completed in 1933 and consists of an inner circle (renamed Rajiv Chowk) and an outer circle (renamed Indira Chowk). Connaught Place was named after Prince Arthur (1850-1942), the 1st Duke of Connaught, who was the 3rd son of Queen Victoria. Connaught Place is full of restaurants, fast food outlets, cafes, bars and stores, and despite the advent of malls in recent years, remains one of Delhi's most popular markets. Besides Connaught Place, another of the city's favourite markets is Khan Market. In recent years, malls like Select City Walk in Saket and DLF Promenade in Vasant Kunj have opened, and have high footfalls, especially in their multiplexes and food courts. DLF Emporio in Vasant Kunj is a very high end exclusive mall, that features stores of luxury brands. The Chanakya is a high end mall with a multiplex, and was opened after refurbishing an old movie hall by the same name. Sangam is another mall that has a multiplex and several high end restaurants, and the mall was built on the site of another old movie hall. Janpath, near Connaught Place, and Sarojini Nagar Market are well known for their street stalls, where one can negotiate and get great bargains!

Connaught Place

Select City Walk

Interior, Select City Walk

The Cathedral Church of the Redemption was completed in 1935 and is close to Delhi’s Rashtrapati Bhawan. The church was built by the British, for the officers serving in the country. 

Cathedral Church of the Redemption

Birla Temple, also known as Laxmi Narayan Temple, is Delhi’s main Hindu temple. The temple was completed in 1939 by the Birla family of industrialists and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi.

Birla Temple

Gandhi Smriti is the venue where Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, as he was going to the spot of his daily prayers. The assassin was Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fundamentalist.  The assassination was within months of India’s independence on August 15, 1947. It is poignant that the icon of peace met with a violent end.  Mohandad Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), also called the Father of the Nation, was the main leader behind India’s independence movement. He adopted the policy of non violence and stood up to the might of the British Empire, amassing immense support and respect. Rajghat is the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi and lies along the banks of the Yamuna River. Mahatma Gandhi was cremated here after his assassination.

Birla House, Gandhi Smriti

Gandhi's Last Walk, Gandhi Smriti

Gandhi's Simple Room, Gandhi Smriti

Sculpture of Gandhi, Gandhi Smriti

The Dandi March Statue, also known as Gyarah Murthi (or 11 statues, because of the 11 figures present), was built by Devi Prasad Choudhary and lies in the heart of Lutyen’s Delhi. It depicts Mahatma Gandhi’s Legendary Salt March from 1930, in which he and his followers walked for 24 days and traversed a distance of over 350 km to protest against the imposition of the salt tax by the British.

Dandi March Statue

The National Museum was established in 1949. Its exhibits cover a period of 5,000 years of history and there are over 200,000 works of art.  The vast collections include archaeological finds (including those from the ancient Harappan civilization), sculptures, miniature paintings, decorative arts, jewellery and costumes.

National Museum

Buddha Head from 5th century AD, Sarnath, National Museum

Laxmi Narayan from 11th century AD, Madhya Pradesh,National Museum

Bala Krishna, National Museum

Miniature Painting of Krishna and the Gopis, National Museum

Nataraja, National Museum

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) is housed in the beautiful Jaipur House near India Gate, and was established in 1954.  The building was previously the residential palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The gallery has one of India’s biggest collections of art from the modern era and contains over 14,000 works of art.  Some of the famous artists featured include Amrita Shergil, Jamini Roy, Raja Ravi Varma and Rabindranath Tagore.

National Gallery of Modern Art

Victory of Labour, National Gallery of Modern Art

Crafts Museum is located near Pragati Maidan, the venue of large scale exhibitions. The museum was set up over 3 decades, starting in the 1950s by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. The museum has terracotta figures, stone sculptures, wooden sculptures, tribal paintings, textiles, puppets, masks and even a temple chariot. The museum has a well known restaurant called Lota Cafe.

Terracott Figures,
Crafts Museum

Tribal Paintings,
Crafts Museum

Masks,
Crafts Museum

Wooden Sculptures,
Crafts Museum

Temple Chariot,
Crafts Museum

Teen Murti House is the former residence of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, who served in office from 1947 till his death in 1964. The complex now houses a museum, a library and a planetarium.

Teen Murti House

Nehru Park is a large park in the heart of Delhi, near the diplomatic enclave of Chanakya Puri. The park covers an area of 80 acres and was established in 1969. Nehru Park has a prominent statue of the Soviet leader Lenin, as a symbol of the close partnership between India and the Soviet Union. The statue was unveiled in 1987. The park is particularly popular in the mornings, with morning walkers, people walking dogs and people playing a variety of sports. In winters, there are regular evening concerts featuring big names of Indian classical music.

Lenin Statue, Nehru Park

Chhatarpur Temple was established in 1974 by Baba Sant Nagpal Ji, whose samadhi lies there. The complex has no fewer than 20 temples in all, and the main deity is that of Goddess Katyanani. It is one of the world’s largest temple complexes.

Chhatarpur Temple Complex

The National Rail Museum lies in Chanakya Puri and was opened in 1977. It showcases the rail heritage of India and exhibits many railway engines through the decades. A toy train takes visitors around the 10 acre museum.

National Rail Museum

Indira Gandhi Memorial is the house of the former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. She lived there for many years, and she was assassinated there in 1984. After her death, the house was converted into a memorial for her. Many of the rooms are preserved the way they were during her time, giving a glimpse into her life.

Venue of Indira Gandhi's Assassination,
Indira Gandhi Memorial

Baha'i Temple, also known as the Lotus Temple because of its lotus-like shape, was completed in 1986. The Baha'i Temple is open to people of all religions.

Baha'i Temple

Sanskriti Museum, the brain-child of O.P.Jain, is a complex which houses three museums – the Museum of Terracotta Objects, the Museum of Everyday Objects, and the Museum of Textile. The complex is spread over 8 acres of land and lies along M G Road, on the outskirts of Delhi. It was established in 1990 by the Sanskriti Foundation, a not for profit organization, to promote traditional Indian culture and arts.

Terracotta Horses, Sanskriti Museum

Terracotta Deities, Sanskriti Museum

The ISKCON Temple was built in 1998. ISKCON stands for International Society for Krishna Consciousness and was founded in 1966 by Swami Prabhupada. ISKCON has more than 400 centres around the world.

ISKCON Temple

Akshardham Temple, the world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple, was inaugurated in 2005.  The main monument has a central figure of  Swaminarayan, who was born in the late 18th century AD and is a central figure of Swaminarayan Hinduism.

Akshardham Temple

Shanti Stupa is a peace memorial that opened in Delhi in 2015, one of many such structures across the world, intended to promote peace.

Shanti Stupa

Meditating Buddha, Shanti Stupa

Madame Tussauds opened in Connaught Place's Regal Building in 2017. The wax museum has wax figures of Indian and international celebrities, from the world of cinema, sports, music and politics. The original Madame Tussauds was in London, but now there are some 2 dozen of these museums spread all over the world, each having its own local touch.

Raj Kapoor, Madame Tussauds

Amitabh Bachchan, Madame Tussauds

Salman Khan, Madame Tussauds

Sachin Tendulkar, Madame Tussauds

Angelina Jolie, Madame Tussauds

Delhi is a food lovers' paradise. North Indian non vegetarian restaurants (serving items like tandoori food, gravies and kababs) are a local favourite, with restaurants like Karim's (which is one of the city's most famous restaurants, dating back to 1913 and lying next to Jama Masjid in Old Delhi), Bukhara (a high end restaurant at ITC Maurya Hotel), Khan Chacha (which specialises in kababs and rolls), The Great Kabab Factory (with its unlimited kababs), Moti Mahal (a Delhi institution, in Darya Ganj) and the cluster of joints at Pandara Road Market (Gulati's, Pindi's and Chicken Inn). Indian Accent, located at The Manor, is a very high end Indian restaurant run by a celebrity chef, and it is famous for its fusion food, where unusual ingredients from world cuisines are used to prepare traditional Indian meals. For Avadhi food, the city's best known place is Dum Pukht (at ITC Maurya). For Continental food, there are places like Orient Express (at Taj Palace). For Italian food, there's La Piazza (at Hyatt Regency), Olive (in Mehrauli, with an impressive view of Qutub Minar), Tonino's (on M G Road), Fresco (on Janpath) and Flavour's (near Defence Colony). For South Indian cuisine, there are places like Dakshin (at The Sheraton in Saket), Saravana Bhawan (an extension of the Chennai based chain), Naivedyam (at Hauz Khas Market), Sagar (in Defence Colony Market) and Swagath (again in Defence Colony Market, but serving South Indian coastal non vegetarian food). For Chinese food, there are old favourites like Pan Asian (at The Sheraton in Saket), Mainland China and Burco's. Japanese food lovers would enjoy Sakura (at The Metropolitan Hotel). For Mexican food, Rodeo's in Connaught Place is a popular option. People who fancy Middle Eastern food must try out Mashrabiya at The Ashok (the evening belly dance there is a welcome bonus!). For traditional parathas, there's Parathe Wali Gali in Old Delhi, which is street food at its tastiest best. For other traditional Indian vegetarian meals, snacks and sweets, there are places like Bikanerwala and Haldiram's. Most quick service restaurants chains have a strong presence in Delhi, including McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Domino's, TGIF, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, Starbuck's, Barista and Cafe Coffee Day.

Kababs at Karim's

Delhi also has some world class luxury hotels. Top of the list would be ITC Maurya, a hotel preferred by many visiting dignitaries. The hotel's lobby features a famous painting called The Great Procession, by Krishen Khanna. ITC Maurya has some of the city's finest restaurants, including Bukhara and Dum Pukht. The Oberoi New Delhi is another of the city's top hotels. The list of top hotels would be incomplete without mentioning Taj Palace (which had restaurants like Orient Express) and Taj Mahal Hotel (which has the well known Machan restaurant, and Rick's, a popular bar). Lastly, there's also The Imperial on Janpath, a colonial era hotel that maintains its old world charm.

ITC Maurya

Krishen Khanna's The Grand Procession, ITC Maurya

Lobby, The Oberoi New Delhi

Taj Palace

Lobby, Taj Mahal Hotel

Delhi has clubs like Delhi Gymkhana Club, one of India's most prestigious clubs, dating back to the colonial era. A great place for food; activities like tennis, swimming and bridge; and catching up with friends at the bar or the central hall or in the Kashmir Lawns in the winter. Delhi Golf Club is spread over a vast area in the heart of the city, interspersed with old tombs, including the Lal Bangla. There are institutions like India International Centre and India Habitat Centre, that are well known for their cultural performances, intellectual debates and discussions, restaurants, and art exhibitions.

Delhi Gymkhana Club

Delhi Golf Club

India Habitat Centre

In a nutshell, Delhi certainly offers a lot to visitors, whether its through its grand Mughal architecture, its temples, its museums, its markets, its culture, or its restaurants. Call me biased for overlooking some of the city's problems, but I would certainly say it's well worth a trip for any visitor. The interesting towns of Agra (with the fascinating Taj Mahal, plus other landmarks like Agra Fort, Akbar's Mausoleum and Fatehpur Sikri) and Jaipur (famous for its City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort) are short drives away, and these three towns are often jointly referred to as The Golden Triangle. For people interested in getting a glimpse of modern India, there's the Delhi suburb of Gurgaon, with its huge malls, fancy restaurants, chic hotels and posh corporate offices. So my verdict for Delhi is clear - go for it!