The Top 10 Things To Do and See in New Delhi

Akshardham Temple

If nothing else, paying a visit to Akshardham Temple will broaden your mind and awake your inner being with an intensity you wouldn’t expect on entering a mere temple. But Akshardham is not just any temple. Carved with the help of 7000 artisans and constructed entirely with stones with no support from steel or concrete, it is a grand masterpiece of architecture and skill. The carved works consist of beautifully sculpted stories deities, musicians, dancers, flora and faunas which depicts the traditional and Hindu culture, spirituality and architecture. The temple has a boat ride through the exhibition of the life of Swaminarayan, to whom this temple is dedicated, and an IMAX theatre that shows a movie about Swaminarayan as the teenage yogi, making a visit here a multifaceted experience.

Opening times: 8 a.m to 8p.m

Address : Noida Mor, New Delhi, India, +91 11 4344 2344

National Gallery of Modern Art

The National Gallery of Modern Art is must visit for lovers of art. With minimal fees and long entry timings, the National Gallery of Modern Art is the great place to visit on a budget. Featuring artists of all kinds from different parts of the world, and displaying modern art from as far back as 1857, the National Gallery of Modern Art is an institute that cares about preserving and protecting the integrity of art. The Gallery is located in the beautiful Jaipur House, which was formerly the palace of The Maharajah of Jaipur, and is an extraordinary building in an of itself.

Timing: 8am to 6pm, Until 4pm on a Sunday

Address : Jaipur House, Shershah Road, Near Delhi High Court, India Gate, New Delhi, India, +91 11 2338 4640

Paintball Co.

If you want to celebrate a birthday party, teach your team to learn the value of cooperation and teamwork, or if you are seeking to just have fun, the Paintball Co. is the place to head. Awarded the ‘Best Adventure Sports Co. in Delhi-NCR’, the Paintball Co. is the first of its kind to launch paintballing in India and is entirely dedicated to making India stand out in the world map for paintball mania. Not only does it have paintball activity, but other adventure sports are available too. One of New Delhi’s most playful places to spend quality time in.

Timing: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Address : Plot # 53/19, HSIIDC Apartments,Sector 31- 40, Main Road, New Delhi, India, +91 99712 00530

Kingdom of Dreams

Bollywood, Bollywood and Bollywood is what you will find in the Kingdom of Dreams. The Kingdom of Dreams has two theatres – Nautanki Mahal and the Showshaa theatre – both of which stage live performances and grand shows to thrill audiences with surprises, bountiful talents and numerous stories. Not only is it perfect for theatre and cinema enthusiasts, but it also has a whole area dedicated to making your taste buds go on a roller coaster – a restaurant area called The Culture Gully. It is India’s first live entertainment and leisure destination, and is a must visit.

Timing: 12:30 pm – 12:00 am

Address : Auditorium Complex, Sector 29, Gurgaon, Haryana 122001, India, +91 124 452 8000

Mr. K. Shankar Pillai was a famous cartoonist travelling the world. One day, when he was heading back to India, he was gifted a beautiful doll by a Hungarian diplomat. The doll ignited something inside of him and from that moment on, he preserved every doll he was gifted or brought from different parts of the world; he was mesmerized by the various materials used, costumes and the expressions that varied so vividly from one another. So captivated was he by their loveliness that he soon started exhibiting his collection for children; today the Shankar’s International Doll Museum holds a staggering 6500 dolls, from Pillai’s original collection and contributions from all over the world.

Timing: 9am to 7pm, closed on Sunday.

Nehru Planetarium

If the concept of wormholes, the idea of a parallel universe existing or the mystery behind the blackholes excite you, then Nehru Planetarium is the a dream come true. The planetarium was established in memory of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who worked hard at promoting astronomy education in India. With interactive devices designed to educate the visitors about planet Earth and the world beyond, Nehru Planetarium is a fun learning experience. The show stopper of Nehru Planetarium is the Sky Theatre, a dome shaped theatre giving you a 3D experience of taking a ride through the constellations and galaxies.

Opening times: Check with planetarium for individual show timings

Address : Teen Murti Marg Area, New Delhi, India, +91 11 2301 4504

The National Rail Museum is the rail heritage museum of India, which was first opened to the public on the 1st of February, 1977. The museum exhibits the oldest working steam locomotive in the world, the Fairy Queen, as well as numerous other stream engines, many of which have travelled throughout India. With a toy train that gives you a ride throughout the Rail Museum, you could gaze comfortably at the trains, coaches and locomotives that are on display outside and learn the 150 year-old history of the rails of India.

Timing: Check with museum.

Dilli Haat

Dilli Haat is the hub of Indian crafts in New Delhi. Ranging from shoes, shawls, accessories, carpets, clothes and articrafts from all around the country, Dilli Haat is a little India within India. It is an open-air food plaza where exhibitions are held regularly to promote handlooms and handicrafts. The main aim of the establishment of Dilli Haat is to create awareness of the tradition of India and its expertise in traditional crafts and textiles. Situated in the heart of Delhi, Dilli Haat is a popular destination for both tourists and locals.

Address: Sri Aurobindo Marg, Laxmi Bai Nagar, New Delhi, India.

Garden of Five Senses

The Garden of Five Senses is a little piece of heaven in Delhi. The greenery all around is enough to calm a noisy mind, but a garden like this gives more than just calmness. It awakens all the senses with beautiful sights, noises and scents – hence its name. Developed by the Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation, it is the most beautiful garden in New Delhi. With skillful art works done on the plants, a great view of the garden from a hilly terrain, and small plots of land featuring water lily pools and a solar park with restaurants and water stands, joggers, sightseers and nature-lovers will all be satisfied.

Timing: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

Address : Said-ul-Ajaib, M.B. Road, South of Saket, New Delhi, India +91 11 2953 6401

Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk is a chaotic market that shows the true flavors of New Delhi. Ranging from wholesale materials to delicious street foods, Chandni Chowk is very well known for offering the best buys in huge quantities. Chandni Chowk shows you the old side of Delhi with the people bustling around, the smoke of grill wafting through the air, and the potholes in the road occasionally tripping passers by. Chandni Chowk is a market to visit to experience the rawness of New Delhi. The Red Fort and Jama Masjid are at a close distance from Chandni Chowk, making it the perfect place to stop off on a touristy day.

Address: Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, India