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Free Places to Visit in Delhi

A beautiful park acts as a favourite ornament on the body of the city of Delhi is Lodhi Garden that holds back several architectural works of 15th century. During the Lodhi reign was the construction of the garden took place and it is located in between Khan Market and Safdarjung tomb. The park possesses Mohammed Sha’s Tomb, Sikandar Lodi’s, Shisha Gumbad’s and Bara Gumbad’s tombs within it. It is considered to be a special place of preservation since it protects the last imprints of Sayyid rulers and it is one of the best places in north Delhi.

The architectural works of the park were done by Sayyidis and Lodhis. There is an old waterway connecting the Yamuna River to the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi. The echoes of the 15th century prevail in the park and thus it acts as the epitome of an astounding architecture. Before becoming Lodhi Garden, the park had another name as Lady Willington Park and after the independence, it was declared to be known as Lodhi Garden. Since the park demonstrates the ancient architectural styles aplenty, it was a talk of the town for long.

There are some amusing sites to be watched in and around the park apart from the historical tombs. It is a centre space for morning and evening joggers as well as exercise lovers. It is the best place to enjoy a peaceful time and if you want to get away from the city’s hustles then you should definitely plan a 2 days trip near Delhi. The lush greenery around the park is promised to keep the atmosphere pleasant always. Lodi, the Garden Restaurant has enough prominence among the natives and the tourists as it is located close to the park and there you get fresh, authentic delicacies of Europe. To reach the park easily, you can depend on JLN metro station which is the nearest one to the park.

Lodhi Garden entry timings:
It will be open from 06:00 am to 07:30 pm on all days.

Lodhi Garden entry fee:
You have to pay no entry fee to enter the park.

Lodhi Garden location:
Main Lodi Road, Beside India International Centre, New Delhi, Delhi – 110003.

Insider Tips:

    -To reach Lodhi Gardens easily, take the Metro to Jor Bagh station. From there, walk north on Sri Aurobindo Marg and turn east on to Lodhi Road; the gardens will appear on the left. If you hire a taxi or cab, you will be dropped at the entrance of the garden but the cost will be quite higher when compared to the train fare.

    -It will be crowded on weekends. If you look forward to have a peaceful time, then choose a weekday.

Hazrat Nizamudin Dargah or simply called Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi is a famous tourist destination in India. It is a mausoleum of one of the famous Sufi saints, Hazrat Khwaja Syed Nizamuddin Auliya who lived from 1238 to 1325. It is situated in the Hazrat Nizamuddin West area of Delhi and visited by thousands of Islam believers every week but since it was declared to be an attraction, many other people also visit the Dargah.

The complex is comprised of the tombs of poet Hazrat Amir Khusro and the Mughal princess Jehan Ara Begum and also, the tomb of Inayat Khan is located in the corner. Near the dargah, the neighbourhood was divided into two parts along Mathura Road; one is Nizamuddin West where the complex is located and a lively market dominated by Muslim vendors and the other one is Nizamuddin East.

There are other important monuments in the area like Humayun’s Tomb, Chausath Khamba, Mirza Ghalib’s tomb etc. The Dargah is a socially committed society of people which provides assistance for arranging marriages and extending helping hands to those who are needy of basic stuff, utensils, furniture, clothes etc. The community helps students, media person and professors to do their projects related to Sufism.

Also, they provide food at Khanqah for those who need it in seclusions and Am’ls. Jangpura Metro Station is the nearest metro railway station to the Dargah which is about 1 kilometer away. Qawwali performance happening here every night is a charming attraction but the performance on Thursdays are considered special.

Nizamuddin Dargah entry timings:
The entry to the Durgah is from 05:00 am to 10:30 pm.

Nizamuddin Dargah entry fee:
There is no entry fee.

Nizamuddin Dargah location:
Old Nizamuddin Bazaar, Nizamuddin East, New Delhi, Delhi 110013, India.

Insider Tips:

    -There will be weekly qawwalis on Thursday, reach early as possible to avoid missing the qawwali from the start.

    -Take care of your belongings as Thursdays will be uncontrollably crowded.

    -Do not wear footwear inside and you can keep them at the shoe counter at the entrance and get a token for your shoes.

    -Parking will be difficult near the Dargah. Hence try to park at some distance and walk to the temple.

    -Cover your head before entering the Dargah.

    -Women are not allowed to enter the main shrine.

    -Relish some lazeez (delicious) kebabs in the market nearby.

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A prominent Sikh Gurudwara in India is Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Kishan. It is a worship house for the Sikh religion believers but now it is a primary pilgrimage and tourist attraction in Delhi. There is a beautiful pool as well inside its complex which is named as Sarovar. It had come into existence as a small shrine by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783 who was supervising the construction of nine other Sikh shrines in Delhi in the same time.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is located near Connaught Palace on Baba Kharak Singh Marg and it is recognizable easily from a distance due to its golden dome and tall flagpole. Next, to it, there is the famous Sacred Heart Cathedral. The building was actually a bungalow belonged to Raja Jai Sing and got the name as Jaisinghpura Palace. Guru Har Kishan was living in Delhi during 1664 when there was smallpox and cholera epidemic spread in the society.

Guru helped the people by giving aid and fresh water from the well at his house. But he was also affected by the disease and died on March 30th, 1664. But Sikhs believed that the water from the well at Guru’s house had healing powers and they had taken the water to their homes. Gurudwara and its Sarovar are a prominent place for Sikhs now and they pay tribute to the eighth Guru on his birth anniversary.

The complex included the Gurudwara, a kitchen, a pond, a school and an art gallery. The concept of langar is practised and regardless of race or religion, all people can eat in the Gurudwara kitchen. If you wish to enter the Gurudwara, you should cover your hair and avoid wearing shoes inside. There is a higher secondary school, Baba Baghel Singh Museum, a library and a hospital situated inside the complex. Patel Chowk, Rajeev Chowk, and Shivaji Stadium Metro station are the major metro railway stations near to the Gurudwara.

Gurudwara Bangla Saheb entry timings:
The Gurudwara is open on all days 24 hours.

Gurudwara Bangla Saheb entry fee:
No entry is needed to visit the Gurudwara.

Gurudwara Bangla Saheb location:
Ashoka Road, Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi – 110001.

Insider Tips:

    -Dress modestly and cover your head while participating in the rituals.

    -Remove your shoes before entering the gurudwara.

    -There will be special prayers and gathering on the birth anniversary of Guru Har Krishan.

    -The nearest metro station is Patel Chowk which falls on the Yellow Line of the Delhi Metro.

    -Do not forget to try Langar and sprinkle some drop from the holy water tank.

India Gate is an important site to visit when on your tour to Delhi. India Gate has its original name as All India War Memorial that was built in order to commemorate the 82000 soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives during the First World War happened from 1914 to 1921 as well as in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The war memorial is situated at Rajpath where you can reach by getting down at Barakhamba Road Metro station in Delhi. India gate is also known to be one of the best places to visit with friends in Delhi.

India Gate is located on the eastern edge of the ceremonial axis of Delhi and it was formerly called Kingsway. The names of around 13300 servicemen including some soldiers and officers from the United Kingdom are displayed on the gate. The architecture of India Gate is world famous as the triumphal arch that looks like the Arch of Constantine and also compared to the Arc de Triomphe and the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

The designer of the memorial was Sir Edwin Lutyens. After the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, there was a simple structure including a black marble plinth with a reversed rifle which was capped by a war helmet and bounded by four eternal flames built under the Memorial Archway. This one was the Amar Jawan Jyoti or the Flame of the Immortal Soldier.

The construction of India Gate was started in 1921 and completed in 1931. The architectural dimensions of the structure say that it is 42 meters tall and 9.1 meters wide. It was constructed using yellow and red sandstone along with granite. In 2014, the Government announced the plans to construct a National War Memorial around the canopy as well as a National War Museum at the park nearby.

India Gate Parade or the Republic Day Parade is the most ceremonious and prestigious event happen in front of India Gate every year. On January 26th, each year, India commemorates the day it became a republic with an esteemed presence of many national as well as dignified guests from other countries.

India Gate entry time:
Anyone can visit India Gate anytime as it is open on all days 24 hours.

India Gate Entry fee:
There is no entry fee to visit the structure.

India Gate location:
Rajpath Marg, India Gate, New Delhi, Delhi 110001.

Insider Tips:

    -The climate during the months from October to March will be favourable for sightseeing tours in Delhi. You can enjoy visiting India Gate with your family and friends peacefully during that time.

    -It will be fun if you bring cooked or packaged food with you, and have a picnic. You can also go for boating at the Boating Club adjacent to India Gate grounds.

    -The nearest metro station to India Gate is Central Secretariat (Yellow Line). The metro station has more than one exit gate so that you can seek the help of customer service about the closest gate to India Gate.

    -Take an auto rickshaw or the shuttle rickshaw/rickshaw service to India Gate from the metro station. Bus service can also be availed depending on your boarding point.

    -In case you are there in January, you can attend the Republic Day parade on 26th January.

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Among the temples in Delhi, Akshardham Temple or Swaminarayan Akshardham Complex is amazingly famous as it is known to be a spiritual and cultural campus in Delhi and also one of the famous places to visit in east Delhi. This complex showcases the traditional Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality and architecture. Tourists from all over the world come to Delhi will visit the temple to understand the spiritual facts of India. The temple was opened in 2005 by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. It is one of the most religious places to visit in Delhi with family.

Sitting on the banks of the Yamuna River in eastern Delhi, the complex possesses the temple at the center and the construction was according to the Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra. There are an Abhishek Mandap, Sahaj Anand Water Show, a theme based garden, and three exhibitions like Sahajanand Darshan, Neelkanth Darshan and Sanskruthi Darshan which is a cultural boat ride.

Among the attractions inside the complex, Akshardham Mandir is quite famous and more charming. The architectural measures prove that the temple is 141 foot high and 316 foot wide. The walls of it are explicitly carved with the images of flora, fauna, musicians, deities etc. It has an intricate architectural style of Maharishi Vastu concepts and for the construction of the temple, the pick sandstone from Rajasthan and Carrara marbles from Italy was used. It accommodates 234 adorned pillars, nine domes, 20000 murtis of sadhus, devotees, and acharyas.

Akshardham temple entry timing:
Entry: 09:30 am to 06:30 pm
Exhibition: 10:30 am to 06:00 pm and the tickets for the exhibition will be available from 10:00 am to 05:00 pm.
Musical fountain: 07:45 pm

The temple will be closed on Mondays.

Akshardham temple entry fee:
Complex entry is completely free.
Exhibition rates are Rs. 170 for adults, Rs.125 for senior citizens, Rs.100 for children between 4 and 11 years.
Musical fountain: Rs. 80 for adults, Rs.80 for senior citizens, Rs.50 for children between 4 and 11 years.

Akshardham temple location:
NH 24, Akshardham Setu, New Delhi, 110092.

Insider Tips:

    -Akshardham Metro Station is the closest metro rail on the Blue Line that connects Dwarka to Noida. From the station, you can reach the temple in five minutes by an auto rickshaw.

    -The best time to visit Akshardham Temple is from February to April and from October to early December. It will be very hot during summer and rainy during monsoon. You can also enjoy amazing places to visit near Delhi in December which encircles Shimla, Rishikesh, Manali, Lansdowne, Auli, Alwar and countless others

    -There is a restaurant within the complex that is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

    -Get some souvenirs from a souvenir shop and it will be open from 11 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

    -You cannot take valuable possessions inside the temple. You have to keep it with the securities outside and there will be a long queue for that. Hence it is advised to keep them in your car or with the driver. Mobile phones are also not allowed inside.

    -There is a huge space for parking as well for cars, vans, minibuses, coaches, and other vehicles.

Musical Fountain - Circle of Life can be witnessed in the evening during sunset for 15 minutes.

One of the major places to visit with friends in Delhi add Hauz Khas in their list for sure. A transition between historic ruins of Khalji era to a newly glamorous city lane is evident where a number of clubs, cafes, stalls, tattoo parlors are bringing a hippie and party side out in front which makes it a fun place to visit in Delhi for youngsters.

Grab your friends and hit the location for an ultimate evening at the historical front, boating in the lake, getting mesmerized with the view and ending the day by partying in pubs.

Timings: The village complex opens from Monday to Saturday, 10.30 AM to 7.00 PM. The lane connecting to the complex remains filled with music and party people till late at night.

Location: South Delhi neighborhood.

Cost: Free!

The super hit Bollywood film PK gave a supreme turning point for an important architectural monument of India that is Agrasen ki Baoli in Delhi. It is a protected monument under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. Agrasen ki Baoli is a 60 meter long and 15-meter wide historical step well on Hailey Road near Connaught Place and it is one of the fun places in north Delhi.

There are a lot of legends and stories roaming around the natives regarding the existence of this well though there is no perfect citation proving the brain behind the construction of this well. But it is said to be built by the legendary king Agrasen and it was rebuilt in the 14th century by Agrawal community. Baoli is referred to Jassi or bauri. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, words for step well sounded like baoli, bavadi, vav etc.

India is quite famous for its water temples and step wells and this particular step well has 108 steps and a major example for the architectural brilliance of ancient Indians. There are three levels placed at the visible parts of the step well. Each level had arched niches on either side of it. Even, there are stories saying the well is haunted but it never proved to be true.

Agrasen ki Baoli Entry Timing:
It will be open all days of the week from 07:30 am to 06:00 pm.

Agrasen ki Baoli Entry Fee:
There is no entry fee needed to visit the well.

Agrasen ki Baoli Location:
Hailey Road, Near KG Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001, India.

Insider Tips:

    -Nearest metro station is Barahkamba Road.

    -While you come out of the narrow alley, you will be able to see the graffiti done by Harsh Raman and several others.

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