21 of the Best Picnic Spots in Delhi with Amazing Views
Delhi has some truly beautiful picnic spots. After all, it’s one of the greenest and most historic capital cities in the world. It’s also very easy to put together a picnic meal in Delhi, even for visitors.
I lived in Delhi for years and always saw lots of families picnicking on weekends and holidays. Everyone enjoys spending time outdoors in the cooler winter months.
I’m going to list all the popular spots, plus some hidden gems. I’ll also tell you where to get picnic supplies and what to look out for (monkeys).
Did you know that picnicking and spending time outdoors reduces anxiety and mental illness? So let’s get you ready for a picnic at one of the best spots in Delhi.
Here’s a quick list of the very best picnic spots in Delhi:
- Lodhi Garden: beautiful heritage park with historic monuments
- Sunder Nursery: heritage park with historic monuments and large children’s playground (admission fee)
- Nehru Park: large public park in South Delhi near embassy area
The Best Picnic Spots in Delhi with Amazing Views
There is no shortage of perfect picnic spots in Delhi. If you like the idea of having a picnic surrounded by Mughal buildings that are hundreds of years old, you’ll love some of these spots.
Most of these are free, but a few charge an entry fee. Keep in mind not all of these picnic spots will have public toilets or places to rinse dishes and wash hands.
1. Lodhi Garden
One of my favourite picnic spots in Delhi is Lodhi Garden. Every weekend during winter the park is full of families picnicking on blankets. Children play soccer on the vast lawns and there’s often an impromptu classical Indian music performance.
Lodhi Garden was originally the site of two villages that contained Mughal buildings from the 1400s. The villages were levelled to make way for the park, but the Mughal architecture was saved.
Today you can picnic with views of the historic mausoleums, mosque and madrasa. The park is also home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna, a rose garden, and duck pond with a 16th century arched bridge.
Free
2. Sunder Nursery
Sunder Nursery is a heritage park located in the most historic area of South Delhi. It has won UNESCO awards for heritage conservation and sustainable development.
The park is located on the site of a 16th century Mughal garden and the ancient Grand Trunk Road trade route. Within the park are beautiful historic monuments, and over 80 species of birds and 40 species of butterflies.
I always see Delhi families picnicking here, especially on weekends. There’s lots of shady areas, walking paths, children’s playground, washrooms, restaurant and amphitheatre.
Entrance fee INR 200
3. Nehru Park
Nehru Park is one of the largest parks in Delhi and one of my favourites. In the cooler weather it is full of families, people walking dogs, joggers and yoga enthusiasts.
Besides the two temples, the most unusual thing about Nehru Park is the large statue of Vladimir Lenin, unveiled by Mikhael Gorbachev before the fall of the Soviet Union.
There are picnic areas, numerous walking paths, fountains, a pond, toilets, tennis courts, an outdoor gym, children’s playground and parking. It’s a well serviced park and one of the most pleasant spots for a picnic in Delhi.
Free
4. India Gate
India Gate is a wonderful spot for a picnic in Delhi. The iconic war memorial is surrounded by green lawns, shallow pools, fountains and trees.
India Gate is one of the most visited sites in Delhi, and a favourite picnic spot of Indian families. It will be busy around the monument, but there’s lots of parkland surrounding the monument.
Free
5. Mehrauli Archaeological Park
This is one of the best historic parks in Delhi, and a picnic here will be a very atmospheric. The park is located just down the road from one of Delhi’s world heritage sites, the Qutub Minar, but only gets a fraction of the traffic.
The park is home to many remarkable monuments, like the peaceful Jamali Kamali mosque and the fantastic Rajon ki Baoli with its huge stepwell. In my opinion this is one of the very best sites in Delhi.
Many monuments are from pre-Islamic to late Mughal periods, as well as a huge area of unrestored ruins. There’s a wonderful interpretation centre in one of the historic buildings.
Entrance fee INR 500
6. Deer Park
Deer Park is a huge park in historic South Delhi. It is next to Hauz Khas Fort, which you can explore before or after you eat.
For an impromptu picnic, pick something up from one of the restaurants in Hauz Khas Village (next door) and walk over to Deer Park. The park gates are just outside the main entrance to Hauz Khas Village.
The park has several tombs and wall mosques from the Tughlaq and Lodhi periods built between the 14th and 16th centuries. I always walk along the path that goes around the royal reservoir – it has excellent views of Hauz Khas Fort.
Free
7. Safdarjung Tomb
This beautiful tomb makes a lovely view for a picnic. Mughal architectural experts have criticized Safdarjung Tomb for its lack of symmetry and florid design, but it remains one of the most visited tombs in Delhi.
Built at the end of the Mughal empire in 1754, it is the very last Mughal garden style tomb built in India.
Safdarjung Tomb is open early and makes a perfect spot for a breakfast picnic. At that time you might also see the peacocks that frequent the grounds.
Entrance fee INR 300
8. Garden of Five Senses
If you like public art, you will enjoy Garden of Five Senses. There are outdoor art installations all over the park.
It’s one of Delhi’s newer parks, constructed by Delhi Tourism in 2003. If you’re here in spring (February and March), the flower gardens are beautiful at that time, and it’s one of the best spots for a picnic in Delhi.
It’s a pretty park and interesting to explore, though don’t expect wide expanses of green lawns. There are plenty of benches for picnicking, and the park has relief facilities.
Entrance fee INR 50
9. Buddha Jayanti Park
This lovely park is in the middle of Delhi’s enormous Central Ridge Reserve Forest (known as the lungs of Delhi). Buddha Jayanti Park is a landscaped oasis and one of the best picnic spots in Delhi.
The park is famous for its large golden Buddha statue and for having a sapling from the holy Bodhi tree which Lord Buddha gained enlightenment under.
There are many walking paths, open lawn areas, rose, palm and bougainvillea gardens and over 100 types of trees and shrubs.
Free
10. National Rail Museum
This might seem like an odd place to have an al fresco meal, but this mainly outdoor museum is one of the best spots in Delhi for a picnic.
There’s loads of outdoor space and an open area near the children’s playground to set up your picnic.
The museum resembles a railway yard. There’s an extensive collection of steam, diesel and electric locomotives as well as historic carriages, many of which you can walk through. Railway enthusiasts and children will adore this museum.
Entrance fee 50
11. National Rose Garden
This lovely flower garden has the largest rose collection in India, with over 2,500 varieties. The best time of year to visit is November to February when the roses are in bloom.
Don’t bother coming here outside of these months – I’ve been when the roses are not in bloom and it’s not very interesting or lovely.
It’s one of the most perfect spots in Delhi for a picnic, and you may even see the very rare green and black roses.
Free
12. Priya Park
Priya Park is a very popular urban park that also happens to be the site of the last surviving Tughlaq era garden, built in the 14th century.
Ruins of a mosque, domed pavilion, stepwell and enclosure wall are still standing. About 100 years after the ancient garden was built, the Lodhis erected the Baro Lao Ka Gumbad tomb. It dominates the view of this part of the park.
There’s also an amphitheatre, children’s playground, yoga platform and outdoor gym.
It’s beside the Basant Lok Market (also called the Priya Complex) which has a Modern Bazaar where you can purchase picnic supplies.
Free
13. Dadi Poti Gumbad
Amid one of Delhi’s quietest and more affluent neighbourhoods is a treasure trove of forgotten 15th century tombs. The best of these for a picnic is the Dadi Poti tombs.
Very little is known about the tombs, but one theory is that they belong to a grandmother (dadi is Hindi for grandmother) and granddaughter (poti is Hindi for granddaughter).
The tombs are very close to Green Park market. You can easily pick up something from Evergreen Sweet House, Starbucks or Tim Horton’s and walk over to the tombs for a last minute picnic.
Free
14. Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan Tomb
Imagine having an outdoor meal overlooking this beauty? The gorgeous tomb is widely believed to be the inspiration for the Taj Mahal in Agra (along with Humayun’s Tomb). Abdul Rahim built the tomb for his wife in 1598.
The tomb was recently restored and I would often see the restoration work from the highway driving into Delhi. It’s lovely now and surrounded by green lawns. At one point the tomb was used as a quarry, which is hard to believe looking at it now.
Make sure you bring your picnic supplies with you, it might be hard to purchase food and drink close by, unless you want street food.
Entrance fee INR 300
15. Wazirpur Gumbad Complex
This is a wonderful complex of Lodhi era monuments built between 1451 and 1526. I really like this complex because the historic ruins are all in one compact park, and they’re in good condition.
It is not known who the tombs were built for, or even the dates the monuments were constructed. It is only from the style of architecture it is possible to discern they are from the Lodhi period.
It’s a quiet complex, only frequented by locals, and one of the perfect spots for a picnic in Delhi. In Google maps it’s marked as Sector 5, RK Puram Gumbad.
Free
16. Mohammad Wali Masjid
If you want a quiet picnic on green lawns while seeing one of the most obscure and least visited historic monuments in the city, this is the place.
I had never heard of the masjid before, and came across it completely by accident when an auto rickshaw driver dropped me off at a wrong location nearby.
This mosque was built in the Lodhi period (1451 – 1526) and is in beautiful condition. It’s in green parkland surrounding Siri Fort Sports Complex and surrounded by parts of the original wall of Siri (the second medieval city of Delhi).
Free
17. Qudsia Bagh
This hidden oasis was built for a Mughal queen in 1748. It’s a lush garden tucked quietly away amid one of the most congested and busy parts of Delhi.
Although it is a shadow of what it once was, it is still magnificent and has large gardens, walking paths and lovely ruins. This is probably the most off the beaten path of the picnic spots in Delhi.
The palace and most of the buildings in Qudsia Bagh were destroyed during the rebellion in 1857, but parts of the Shahi Masjid (Royal Mosque), the Hathi Darwaza (Elephant Gate) and two other pavilions survived.
Free
18. Waste to Wonder Park
This park has miniature replicas of the 7 wonders of the world made entirely from scrap metal. It’s the first park in the world to use 100% recycled material.
There is a small play area for children, a water station (water may not be filtered) and plenty of shaded areas to sit and have a picnic.
Food is officially advertised as being restricted, but I saw many people bring snacks and drinks into the park without issue. Just keep your food in a knapsack, and don’t spread out a huge blanket for one of those full blown picnics.
Entrance fee 50
19. Bharat Darshan Park
This is a wonderful park with over 21 replicas of Indian heritage sites. They are all constructed of scrap metal, using everything from old fans to nuts and bolts. Even the toilets are in an old shipping container.
Visiting Bharat Darshan Park lets you see the famous buildings you might not be able to visit in person, like the Taj Mahal of Agra, Char Minar of Hyderabad, Mumbai’s Gateway of India or the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.
The park is set on 8.5 acres and has plenty of shaded seating, walking paths, and areas for perfect picnic spots in Delhi.
Entrance fee INR 100
20. Sanjay Lake Park
Sanjay Lake Park is a large man-made parkland located on the east side of Delhi (the other side of the Yamuna River). It’s a perfect picnic spot if you’re staying on that side of the city.
You can make a full day of it and visit Akshardham Temple while you’re there.
The park is surrounded by green belt and offers a retreat from the general mayhem of Delhi. The park has jogging and walking paths and a children’s play area.
Free
21. OKHLA Bird Sanctuary
OKHLA Bird Sanctuary is on the other side of the Yamuna River. It’s a bit further away than most of the Delhi picnic spots on this list, but if you are a birder or just want to feel like you are out of the city for a little while, this is a great place.
The best time of the year for bird sightings are November to March. Migratory birds come through in those months and the weather is more pleasant for being outdoors.
There are plenty of spots to set up a picnic but make sure you bring everything you need – there isn’t much around for buying supplies.
Entrance fee INR 350 plus extra for a camera
Where to Buy Food and Drinks for your Picnic in Delhi
Stocking up on food for a picnic in Delhi could not be easier. There are numerous online and local shops to purchase everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to imported specialty items.
Local Fruit and Vegetable Markets
Practically every neighbourhood in Delhi has a local fruit and vegetable stand. Produce is delivered daily to these little shops and is super fresh.
It’s a very economic and healthy way to fill up a picnic hamper. Just make sure to wash all produce that is not being peeled in filtered water.
Supermarkets
Delhi has some great supermarkets (but don’t expect giant stores like the ones in North America) which sell all sorts of local and imported items.
Krishna Supermarche 37 and Nature’s Basket have stores across Delhi and offer online ordering. Modern Bazaar is also good.
App-based Supermarkets
Delhi has two main application based supermarkets: Big Basket and Blinkit.
Big Basket generally delivers the next day (they do offer an express delivery option but do not accept cash payment with this service), and Blinkit delivers within 30 minutes. I think Blinkit is one of the best things about Delhi!
Both apps are free to download on your mobile and are easy to use. Just set up an account with your delivery address, choose payment option and start ordering.
Both accept electronic and cash payments, though foreign credit cards don’t always work. They will deliver to a residence, business, hotel or Airbnb.
Bakeries
Delhi has wonderful bakeries where you can pick up breads, savoury pastries like quiche and stuffed croissants, sandwiches, cakes and cookies.
PAUL and Theos are probably the best ones for picking up picnic foods like sandwiches and savoury pastries. BreadTalk has a great selection of Asian style savoury pastry.
Street Food Stalls
Delhi is the street food capital of India. Street food is practically an official food group here. There are literally stands on just about every corner, and these are great places to grab something to take to a last minute picnic. Just ask them to pack the food.
Street food is safe to eat and absolutely delicious. See my tips on how to eat street safely.
When is the Best Time to Picnic in Delhi?
The cooler months of October to March are the best times for picnicking in Delhi.
Temperatures can rise to 45C in summer and it remains very hot and humid during monsoon season. Not exactly ideal picnic weather.
How to Get to Delhi’s Picnic Spots
The best way to get to picnic spots in Delhi is by metro. The Delhi metro is one of the best systems in the world and it goes everywhere.
It’s cheap, efficient and usually much quicker than driving. It’s very easy to use; read my step by step guide on how to use the Delhi metro.
If you’re carrying a lot of picnic gear, the metro may not be the best option. For short distances, grab an auto rickshaw.
For anything longer than a few kilometres, take an Uber. Uber is reliable and cheap in Delhi.
Watch out for Monkeys
There are monkeys in Delhi, though they don’t frequent New Delhi as much as other parts of the city.
I have intentionally left out some sites which would have made wonderful picnic spots, because I know they are frequented by monkeys. Monkeys can ruin a picnic!
If you happen to see a monkey while picnicking, keep your distance and don’t make eye contact or show your teeth (even if smiling) – these are both seen as signs of aggression.
You can tap a stick on the ground if the monkey gets too close, but do not threaten or attack a monkey. Monkeys can be aggressive.
I once had a monkey take a running leap at me at one of the historic sites. Thankfully, he playfully ran off after her tackled me.
Last Words on Best Picnic Spots in Delhi
Delhi has all sorts of picnic spots. Everything from popular heritage parks to under the radar monuments not even the locals seem to know about. And it’s so easy to grab food for a picnic, if the weather is good there’s no reason not to.
