Two Day Itinerary for Delhi
This two day tour of Delhi will give you a good flavour of the various experiences Delhi has to offer, without being too taxing.
Day 1 stays largely in South Delhi, taking in Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb (both World Heritage Sites), before bringing you to the centre of power in India. Visit Rajpath, India Gate and glimpse the Presidential Palace and Parliament before heading to the National Museum. End the Day in Lodhi Gardens. We have an alternate suggestion if Museums are not your thing.
Day 2 is a bit more spiritual – you will visit the Akshardham Hindu Temple, the Gurudwara Bangla Saheb (Sikh Temple) and the Jama Masjid (Mosque) – each an imposing structure milling with people, yet each will leave you with new knowledge and insight into a great religion of the world.
You will also visit the Red Fort, and two shopping areas of complete contrast – Connaught Place, and Chandni Chowk.
Day 1
Morning
Start your morning with an early visit to the Qutub Minar (CaptivaTour Mobile Audio Guide app available – Download Now), a victory tower that is Delhi’s most recognisable monument. If you skipped breakfast, catch a coffee and a snack at a nearby coffee shop.
Next visit Humayun’s Tomb (CaptivaTour Mobile Audio Guide App available – Download Now), Delhi’s grandest monument and the architectural precursor to the Taj Mahal
Lunch
Head to Pandara Road market for a delicious Indian meal at one of the famous restaurants there (somewhat pricey) or at Khan Market (range of price and cuisine options)
Afternoon
Rajpath & India Gate
Make a quick stop at the India Gate memorial on Rajpath and take in the sight of the majestic buildings there including the Presidential Palace and the Parliament.
National Museum
Walk south down Janpath to the National Museum to view the impressive collections of ancient Indian artefacts, Mughal Miniature paintings and Chola Bronze statues among other highlights.
If museums do not excite you much, walk north up Janpath and visit Jantar Mantar (an 18th Century Astronomical Observatory with instruments you could literally walk into) and the Janpath flea market.
Evening and Dinner
Lodhi Gardens
Head to the Lodhi Gardens in the late afternoon, where Delhi elites come for their morning and evening walks, jogs and hob-nobbing. View a range of major and minor tombs from the 15th Century scattered across the gardens.
Later head to Khan Market for dinner, or if you have the energy, head to the Dilli Haat to shop for art & craft and regional cuisine from different parts of India.
Day 2
Morning
Start the day with a morning visit to the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple (opens 9.30 am). Try and catch the aarti prayer at 10 a.m.
Connaught Place
Take the Delhi Metro straight to Rajiv Chowk station to visit the Connaught Place – Delhi’s best known shopping and meeting place. Take a stroll around the middle or inner circles checking out the colonial architecture and ducking into interesting stores, coffee shops and restaurants. Then head down Baba Kharak Singh Marg on which numerous emporia run by state governments sell reasonably priced art, craft and textiles.
At the far end of Baba Kharak Singh Marg is the Gurudwara Bangla Saheb, Delhi’s largest and best known Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)
Lunch
Enjoy a simple, communal meal in the langar (community kitchen) of the Gurudwara. You can stay a while to help serve others in any way you feel able to.
Afternoon
Sacred Heart Cathedral
You may want to make a quick visit to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, across the road from the Gurudwara if you like.
Jama Masjid
Now head to the Jama Masjid, Delhi’s largest mosque (take the Blue Line Metro from Shivaji Stadium to Chawri Bazaar).
Take a stroll via Dariba Kalan and Chandni Chowk (or hire a rickshaw) to the imposing Red Fort (CaptivaTour Mobile Audio Guide App available – Download Now), which was the seat of power of the Mughal Empire and even now the venue of the Prime Minister’s speech on Independence day.
Evening and Dinner
Old Delhi Markets
Round the day off with a stroll through Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s busiest bazaars for over 400 years, where each street has shops trading in different articles.
For dinner, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could sample the kebabs and other cuisine in Chawri Bazaar in the Old Delhi area, or head back to Connaught Place for safer options.
