Discover New Delhi: Monuments, Gardens and Culture

New Delhi combines important national memorials with historic buildings and gardens. This makes the city interesting for travellers who want to fill their days with a variety of experiences: one visit might focus on India’s republican traditions, another on architecture or life in its green spaces. To help plan your stay, it is worth deciding in advance which of these aspects of the city interests you most.

Monuments and national history

Rashtrapati Bhavan is an important national monument and embodies India’s republican and democratic traditions. The main building has fixed visiting hours: it is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; last admission is at 4:00 p.m. If you plan a visit, you can take this time window into account when arranging your day. Gate 38 of Rashtrapati Bhavan is 1 km from Central Secretariat metro station and 2 km from Patel Chowk metro station. These distances provide a specific point of reference when planning your journey to the site.

Another focal point is the National War Memorial. It lies east of India Gate and covers 40 acres across three lawns of the C Hexagon in New Delhi. Its Param Yodha Sthal features bronze busts of all 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra to date. A retreat drill ceremony takes place there every evening. The memorial therefore offers several points of interest: its grounds, the tribute to the award recipients and the evening ceremony.

Art, religious architecture and historic buildings

The National Gallery of Modern Art is located in the heart of New Delhi, at the India Gate Hexagon, and covers eight acres. Together with the memorial and the grounds around India Gate, it shows how strongly individual places in New Delhi are shaped by their own themes. If you are interested in art, you can make the gallery a focus of your visit; those primarily interested in memorials might instead choose to focus their itinerary on the National War Memorial.

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is also one of the city’s notable cultural sites: it is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in New Delhi. Those interested in history can also visit buildings from different periods. Jantar Mantar was built in 1724. Bara Gumbad, whose name means “large dome”, was built in 1490 AD during the rule of the Lodhi dynasty. The tomb of Sikandar Lodi was built later, in 1517–1518 AD, by his son Ibrahim Lodi. These dates give each building its own historical context without placing them all in the same period.

Gardens and a different perspective on the city

Talkatora Garden is a Mughal-era garden on Mother Teresa Crescent, formerly known as Willingdon Crescent. At Lodhi Garden, the city’s natural side takes centre stage: the grounds provide a habitat for numerous migratory birds and many resident birds. Those who want to include green spaces as well as monuments in their trip will find a different focus here than at the historic buildings. The lawns around India Gate are also a popular picnic spot. The experiences described therefore range from a stroll through a garden and time spent outdoors to exploring history and remembrance.

When choosing a holiday apartment in New Delhi, your planned visits can provide a useful point of reference. Consider whether you want to focus on art, monuments, historic buildings or gardens, and keep the fixed visiting hours at Rashtrapati Bhavan in mind if it is on your itinerary. If travelling to Gate 38 is important to your plans, the distances given to Central Secretariat and Patel Chowk can help you compare your options.

For further orientation: New Delhi, North West Delhi.

For the broader travel overview: Delhi.