Is Delhi Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons to Stay
Most visitors have to fly in or out of Delhi, it’s the major gateway to India. But is Delhi worth visiting? Should you spend a few days in Delhi, or get in and out as fast as possible?
Delhi is absolutely worth visiting, at least once in your life. I lived in Delhi for years (and still return regularly), and can tell you it’s one of the most diverse and historically significant cities in the world.
But you have to be able to see past the crowds, pollution and accept the general mayhem. If you can do that, you’ll begin to notice how fascinating Delhi is.
10 Reasons Delhi is Worth Visiting
Delhi is a pretty crazy city – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But this list will give you an idea of everything Delhi has to offer and why it is worth visiting.
1. Delhi is one of the most historic cities in the world
Delhi has been continuously occupied for 3,000 years. It’s the site of 8 historic cities, and some historians believe there is a 9th city called Indraprastha, buried below Old Delhi.
The first city of Delhi was built in 1052. After that seven more cities were built, each by successive rulers. And there are still many examples of these ancient cities strewn across Delhi.
Delhi is so historic, it is very common to happen upon forts, gates, mausoleums or masjids that are hundreds of years old, when you’re least expecting it. The whole city is a living history lesson.
The 8 Ancient Cities of Delhi & Best Sites of Each
- Qila Rai Pithora (1052): Lal Kot Fort (exterior walls remaining)
- Siri (1192): Qutub Minar (UNESCO)
- Tughlaqabad (1321): Tughlaqabad Fort
- Jahanpanah (1326): Khirki Masjid
- Firozabad (1354): Feroz Shah Kotla Fort
- Dinpanah or Shergarh (1533): Purana Qila
- Shahjahabad aka Old Delhi (1639): Red Fort (UNESCO)
- New Delhi (1921): India Gate
2. Delhi has amazing international and Indian restaurants
Delhi is famous for being the food capital of India and residents take their food seriously. Delhi is worth visiting just for the amazing food.
There are excellent Indian food restaurants like Bukhara, Naivedyam and Juggernaut, restaurants featuring international cuisine (thanks to the large expat and diplomatic community), and state sponsored eateries called bhavans.
3. The street food scene in Delhi is on fire
If you love to eat, the street food in Delhi is heaven. Because Delhi has residents from across India as well as immigrants and refugees from Afghanistan, Nepal, Tibet and what is now Pakistan, the street food is incredibly varied.
Food stalls are everywhere – outside metros, office buildings, in markets, outside monuments and tourist sites. It’s all delicious and very cheap.
If you learn how to eat street food safely, you can enjoy some of the best cuisine Delhi has at very little cost.
4. Delhi is very spiritual
India is one of the oldest and most spiritual countries in the world. It’s the birthplace of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
Religion and spirituality are part of everyday life for most people. Homes have temples, nearly every vehicle is decorated with some form of religious deity, shops have puja nooks, trees are deemed holy and there are places of worship everywhere.
Delhi is home to many famous and unique temples and mosques. Everyone is welcome as long as local custom is respected, like removing your shoes or covering your head in a gurudwara or mosque. Places of worship are always free.
For sincere spiritual seekers, Delhi has some wonderful ashrams for meditation and reflection. Many of these ashrams welcome visitors for daily meditation or satsang.
5. Delhi has fantastic shopping
If you love shopping, Delhi will seem like paradise. Not only does Delhi sell authentic Indian handcrafts like pashminas, hand-block prints, embroidery and miniature paintings, there are numerous amazing street markets, and beautiful malls.
Even if you’re not a shopper, Delhi street markets are a cultural experience and worth a visit.
If you’re shopping for pashmina shawls and scarves, here’s how to tell real pashmina from fake.
6. Delhi is one of the greenest capital cities in the world
This usually surprises most visitors, but it’s true. Over 23% of the city is covered in forest. Just take a look from almost any South Delhi rooftop and you’ll get an idea of how green the city is.
During the time of the Raj (British colonial rule), the British contributed to the greenery of Delhi by planting thousands of trees along the wide roads of what is known as Lutyens’ Delhi.
The city has huge parks and vast sections are covered in forest. The Central Ridge Reserve Forest (known locally as the Ridge), in the middle of the city, is over 864 hectares and is known as the green lungs of Delhi.
7. Delhi’s has a thriving night life
If you’re a night owl, Delhi is the place for you and worth visiting. Delhi has beautiful clubs and bars that stay open all night if the crowd is there.
Because of the milder weather most of the night life is outdoors. Many Delhi clubs have beautiful terraces and rooftops.
Delhi has a sort of tiered night life scene. Many clubs function as restaurants during the day, but once dinner is over around 10 pm the music cranks up and the bar scene takes over.
Lots of these clubs close at 1:00 am, but the high energy bars stay open later. Dance clubs are like ghost towns until midnight but keep going until as late/early as 6:00 am.
8. The Delhi metro is one of the best metro systems in the world
The Delhi metro is the lifeline of the city. It’s clean, modern, efficient, easy to use and cheap.
Even though it currently has 12 lines, 286 stations and is over 389 km long, it’s easy to navigate. All signage is in English and Hindi and all metro lines are colour coded. It’s almost impossible to get lost on the Delhi metro.
It’s also safe for women, the first coach in the moving direction of the train is for women only. See my step-by-step guide on how to use the Delhi metro.
9. Delhi is very affordable
Delhi can be extremely affordable for visitors. Don’t get me wrong – there are plenty of luxury 5 star hotels, restaurants and shopping, but you don’t need to spend a lot of money if you don’t want to.
Delhi has many free places to visit, cultural events and festivals. There are excellent mid-priced hotels and lots of inexpensive local restaurants. Transportation is cheap if you use Uber, the metro or auto rickshaws.
Are you starting to see why Delhi is worth visiting?
10. It’s easy to travel anywhere from Delhi
Delhi is a major transportation hub and it’s easy to travel domestically or internationally from the city.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport is the 9th busiest airport in the world, and handles over a thousand domestic and international flights daily. The Delhi metro has stops at Terminals 1 and 3.
Domestic train and bus travel is also easy from Delhi. There are 4 passenger railway stations and 3 inter-state bus terminals.
You can get anywhere from Delhi, including a day trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal or India’s Golden Triangle.
Where to Stay in Delhi
In Delhi, where you stay matters. Not only because the city is massive and you want to be near the sites, but also in terms of safety. The best area to stay in is South Delhi.
I am very familiar with these properties, and recommend them because they are exceptional and in good neighbourhoods. They are also well located for seeing Delhi.
- Leela Palace New Delhi (luxury): 5 star property and considered Delhi’s finest hotel. It’s beautiful and traditional, with exceptional service and comfort. Well located for seeing the sites in Delhi’s most exclusive neighbourhood near the embassies.
- Lutyens Bungalow (mid-range): Heritage boutique property in one of the best areas of the city next to Lodhi Garden. Fantastic area near many sites. Breakfast is included.
- Prakash Kutir Bed & Breakfast (budget): Family run guest house in a very good area of South Delhi, near the metro and easy to explore the whole city from. Spotlessly clean. Home-cooked breakfast is included.
Last Words on Is Delhi Worth Visiting: 10 Reasons to Stay
Delhi is the gateway to India, but it’s also a destination in its own right. Although it can feel overwhelming, Delhi is worth visiting and those that take the time to see the city will be richly rewarded.
