Delhi
Discover Delhi
Delhi (Hindi: दिल्ली Dillī, Urdu: دلّی Dillī, Punjabi: ਦਿੱਲੀ Dilī) is one of India's largest cities. This city, along with the capital New Delhi, forms the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), rather than being part of a state. It is the core of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. with over 30 million inhabitants (2025). Delhi is India's major centre of arts, commerce, education, tourism, and transit. As the capital of several empires over the last 2000 years, the city also contains a striking array of well-preserved historic sites for tourists to visit. For travel purposes, this article divides Delhi into seven districts, ordered largely from the densest to the sparsest, with New Delhi being listed first. The colours represent the respective colours of the main metro lines that travels through them:
What to Experience in Delhi
The India Gate is a war memorial located astride the Rajpath,
yellow bus on road during daytime
white dome building near palm trees during daytime
white dome building under blue sky during daytime
a building with a pond in front of it
Delhi, India
Red Fort in New Delhi 🇮🇳
Delhi Humanyun's Tomb.
Red Fort, Delhi!
The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of 1 million rupees, and was inaugurated by an Imam from Bukhara, present-day Uzbekistan. The mosque was completed in 1656 AD with three great gates, four towers and two 40 metres high minarets constructed with strips of red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate more than 25,000 people. There are three domes on the terrace which are surrounded by the two minarets. On the floor, a total of 899 black borders are marked for worshippers. The architectural plan of Badshahi Masjid, built by Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb at Lahore, Pakistan, is similar to the Jama Masjid.
Taste of Delhi...
Delhiites complain about many things in their city, but the food will satisfy even the most demanding gourmet. Not only can you find some of the best Indian food on the subcontinent, but there is also an increasing number of excellent (if often pricey) international restaurants offering cuisine from around the world. When ordering, do remember that Delhi is about 1,000 km from the nearest ocean, so vegetarian, chicken and mutton dishes are the way to go. Do visit Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandni Ch
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Delhi into what it is today.
With evidence of continuous settlement dating back to the 6th century BCE, Delhi is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Thought to have been built and destroyed eleven times, evidence of at least eight distinct settlements can still be seen in Delhi. The most well-preserved historic sites are from the periods of Muslim and British rule, between 1193 and 1947. The legendary city of Indraprastha from the epic Mahabharata is said to have been situated where Delhi now lies, but no remains of it have been found. From the 10th to 14th century, the city was centred in what is now South Delhi: Starting in the 14th century, new areas were built further north, near the current city centre: Not all descendants of the builders of Delhi's many Muslim monuments live here. Many of them migra...
Climate
The climate in Delhi goes through five distinct seasons. Winter, from December to January, is cold (the temperature drops to near freezing at night though the days are warm) and is notorious for the thick layer of smog that hangs over the city, resulting not only in cancelled flights and delayed trains, but also warnings to stay indoors and wear high-quality masks if you need to venture out. Spring, in the months of February and March, is pleasant with warm days and cool evenings. Summer, in April and May, is uncomfortably hot with temperatures soaring as high as 45 °C. Temperatures moderate d
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsBuses arrive from Kathmandu and Chitwan in Nepal (36 hr+) and virtually every city in India. Although not as comfortable as the trains, buses are the only choice for some destinations, mainly those in the mountains. Delhi has three major Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs) - Kashmere Gate ISBT, Sarai Kale Khan ISBT, and Anand Vihar ISBT. The Delhi Transport Corporation is the major operator, but every state also runs its own buses and there are some private operators too. Once you have purchased a...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Getting around Delhi is always an adventure. Traffic is, by and large, horribly congested and many drivers will think nothing of quoting ten times the going price to a tourist. Use the prices below as broad guidelines and agree on prices before setting off. The best way to travel is via metro, where there are separate cabins for women (which prove to be very useful during rush hour). Metro is clean, efficient, and typically ridden by relatively affluent middle-class students or commuters en rout
Where to Stay
Prices quoted may not include taxes of up to 22.5%, calculated based on the published rack rates - not necessarily the price that you actually pay, which could be discounted. Smoking is not allowed in Delhi hotels. Delhi has plenty of budget accommodation options, priced from ₹400-2,500. Many of them are located in the city centre (Central Delhi and New Delhi), while others are further south, in the affluent southern areas or towards the airport. Delhi's chronic lack of quality hotels has led to
Money & Budget
If you're not afraid to haggle and bump elbows in bazaars, Delhi is a great place to shop. Most of the well-known bazaars are located in the most central parts of Delhi, both Central Delhi and New Delhi. Western-style malls are plentiful and are found further south - in South Delhi and South East Delhi, as well as the suburbs of Gurgaon and Noida. Many shopping districts are overcrowded on Saturda
Language & Talk
The native language of the Delhi area is Hindi, which also happens to be the main official language of the Union Government. Hindi is spoken by almost all locals, quite often with Bihari and Punjabi accents. Most educated people are also fluent in English, and many shopkeepers and taxi drivers have a functional command of English. Punjabi and Urdu are also the official languages of Delhi, both of
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Many first-time travellers to India find themselves falling victim to scams and touts, and unfortunately Delhi has a lot of both. Be on guard for anybody trying to help you by giving you unsolicited directions or travel advice. Do not blindly rely on the advice of taxi and auto drivers. If this is your first time to India, do not openly admit it, as this will make you more vulnerable to touts. Delhi is among the three unsafest cities for women in India. It is considered as the 'rape capital of the world'. It is not uncommon in some areas to receive lewd remarks or even physical touching. If yo
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Delhi
The India Gate is a war memorial located astride the Rajpath,
yellow bus on road during daytime
white dome building near palm trees during daytime
white dome building under blue sky during daytime
a building with a pond in front of it
Delhi, India
Red Fort in New Delhi 🇮🇳
Delhi Humanyun's Tomb.
Red Fort, Delhi!
The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of 1 million rupees, and was inaugurated by an Imam from Bukhara, present-day Uzbekistan. The mosque was completed in 1656 AD with three great gates, four towers and two 40 metres high minarets constructed with strips of red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate more than 25,000 people. There are three domes on the terrace which are surrounded by the two minarets. On the floor, a total of 899 black borders are marked for worshippers. The architectural plan of Badshahi Masjid, built by Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb at Lahore, Pakistan, is similar to the Jama Masjid.
The India Gate is a war memorial located astride the Rajpath,
yellow bus on road during daytime
white dome building near palm trees during daytime