Planning to Visit Delhi for the First Time? Don't Miss Out on These 10 Best Places to Visit in Delhi to Get the Most from Your Trip to the Capital of India (2019)

Delhi is one of the most historically rich cities of India. It has been a capital city of India for a very long time. Delhi has seen numerous political turmoil in the due course of its history and has been still facing ups and downs of the political world. Delhi was first recognised in the period of Mahabharata. The town was known as Indraprastha at that time, where Pandavas used to live. In due course, eight more cities came alive adjacent to Indraprastha forming today’s Delhi: Lal Kot, Siri, Dinpanah, Qila Rai Pithora, Firozabad, Jahanpanah, Tughlakabad, and Shahjahanabad. From British rule to the current government rule, Delhi has a vast history of political drama under its belt. That’s why it is a place where you can see a small reflection of the whole India.

Before we jump into finding out the top 10 places of Delhi, let's get to know some little known interesting fun facts about the city.

Delhi was surrounded on all sides by walls and gates in its ancient avatar. Initially, Delhi had a total of 14 gates , but today only 5 of them are present in the city. These gates are Ajmeri Gate, Kashmiri Gate, Lahori Gate, Delhi Gate, and Turkman Gate. Try to visit at least a few of them to see why they are so famous.

Delhi has served as the capital city for numerous dynasties, that have ruled India in the past. However, the present New Delhi received its capital status in 1931 from the British Governor of that time, George V. Since then, it has been the capital city of India.

There is some conflict regarding who originally coined this name. Some scholars believe that Delhi is named after the ruler named "Dhillus". And, some believe that it's a word taken from the ancient Prakrit language which was used by Tomaras.

Khari Baoli market of Delhi is the largest spice market of the Asian region. If you want to discover some unknown spices and want to indulge in the fragrance of all the aromatic spices, you should pay a visit to this market and buy some traditional Indian spices.

If you are assuming that Delhi and New Delhi are the two same words, then you are mistaken. Because, New Delhi is the capital of India where all the government offices are located and is a source of all the political drama. Whereas Delhi has New Delhi as a part of it, and includes other areas of the city as well. You may also come across the term Delhi NCR (National Capital Region) and it refers to three cities Noida, Delhi and Gurgaon, combined.

This might sound weird but Delhi has an International Museum of toilets. In this museum, you can locate all the different facts and evaluations related to the toilet from 2500 BC to till date.

Delhi is a city of people with generous hearts and optimism. It's a land where numerous rulers have established their kingdoms and ruled over the whole nation. Delhi has numerous majestic and magnificent sights which you cannot afford to miss out. So, if you haven’t taken a trip to the capital city yet, then rectify it right away. In your trip to Delhi, do visit the following places for some enchanting views.

Red Fort also known as Lal Qila is one of the most beautiful gems of Delhi. It was the former home of the Mughal dynasty for around 200 years. Later, the British established their kingdom here and ruled India for almost 100 years. So, if you are going to gaze at this red stone building, then do the following things:

Chandni Chowk is the heart of Delhi. It's a busy road in the old Delhi which is packed with a bewildering variety of shops that sell clothes, fabric, jewellery, accessories and much more. In this area, you cannot only shop your heart out but also munch on some incredibly delicious street food. Do check out the following when you visit Chandni Chowk:

Swaminarayan Akshardham is one magnificent temple that pairs majestic architecture and spiritual connection. At Swaminarayan Akshardham, take in the peaceful vibes, marvel at the large intricate complex and intake the holy water of Neelkanth - the teenage-yogi form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. You can enjoy the mesmerising and stunning spiritually designed exhibitions also: there are multi-colour lasers, video projects, underwater flames and water jets. You can also enjoy a live show with surround sound with lights and actors produce a captivating and inspiring presentation of an important story from the Kena Upanishad, a true immersion that'll bring to life the temple's message!

To experience fresh environment and architectural beauties, you can visit the Lodhi Garden. This verdant garden contains the burial memorials of numerous Lodi and Sayyid rulers. Here, you will see several fragments of ancient monuments including remains of an old water tank and a courtyard. You can enjoy the gorgeously laid out garden and appreciate the beauty of the grounds.

If you are in Delhi, then you should pay your tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. India Gate is a historic monument built in the memory of Indian soldiers who lost their lives in World War l. Names of around 82,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army are engraved on the walls on India Gate. Recently, a new War Memorial in front of India Gate has been established to pay tribute to the brave soldiers of the nation. There you can see a presentation of numerous Indian army’s successful missions and bow to pay tribute to our great soldiers.

If you want to remember the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, then you have to pay a visit to Gandhi Smriti and Raj Ghat. Raj Ghat is created in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. Originally, it was one of the historic ghats of old Delhi located in the east of Daryaganj on the open bank of Yamuna River. Later, it was dedicated to the father of the nation. A black marble platform in the memory of Gandhi ji has been crafted as a cremation spot. On Raj Ghat, memorial monuments of Jawaharlal Nehru, K.R.Narayana, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, etc., have also been crafted.

Qutub Minar, built in the late 1100s now holds the title of 'UNESCO World Heritage Site'. It is an ancient building which has numerous layers of history tucked beneath its mesmerising architectural charm. The walls of Qutub Minar surrounding the Minars were covered in intricate stone carvings, a true masterpiece of Mughal Islamic craftsmanship. The pristine detailing work crafted on the walls and ceilings of the whole tower is truly magnificent. Qutub Minar is a perfect place to experience some history and click a few memorable pictures.

Rashtrapati Bhawan is the official president house of India where the working President of India resides. It was built during the British period and used to be the home of British Governor General of India till 1950. It is a vast palace with 340 rooms and one of the most beautiful architectural buildings in India. Due to security reasons, you can only visit selected areas of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Currently, tours are allowed to Rashtrapati Bhavan Main Building and the central lawn, Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex, and the Mughal Gardens. You need to book online for your visit as the days and timings are strictly fixed. You can have a view of the Parliament House while visiting Rashtrapati Bhawan as well .

Jantar Mantar was constructed in 1724 to predict the astronomical movements. It is one of the five similar structures built by Maharaja Jai Singh ll of Jaipur. Maharaja established these structures because Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah asked him to revise the astronomical tables and calendars. That’s why 13 architectural structures containing 13 astronomical devices had been established. One of the structures was constructed in Delhi and the rest of the five structures are located in Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura, all designated with the same name “Jantar Mantar”. When you're visiting Jantar Mantar in Delhi, then you should observe the amazing marvel of ancient science here. Samrat Yantra or the sundial is the most imposing instrument in the observatory. It's a huge sundial with 27 m long arm placed at the angle of 27 degrees which calculates the time of a day perfectly. Moreover, there are two pillars present which record the longest and shortest days of the year. This device is called ‘Mishra Yantra' and there are plenty of other instruments, used to track astronomical phenomena from other planets and stars.

Lotus Temple is yet another piece of unique architecture that Delhi has to offer. This temple has been awarded numerous different awards and recognition in the world for its unique building shape. This building perfectly showcases the concepts of religion and intellectual architectural work. It is one of the most visited places of the world due to its non-religious appeal. The attractions of Lotus Temple are:

Delhi is a city which has something to offer to the persons of all age groups. It has numerous religious places like Gurudwara Shish Ganj Sahib where all the elders love to visit. On the other hand, Delhi has plenty of different tourist spots where families can together hang out and enjoy their Sundays. Moreover, nightlife and clubs of Delhi are very popular among the youth. So, in a way, Delhi has to offer something to persons of all age groups. Delhi is a welcoming city which invites everyone!