24 hours in Delhi: a perfect day in the Indian capital

27.07.2024 - 13:32 / lonelyplanet.com

Jul 26, 2024 • 5 min read

For many international travellers, Delhi’s best quality is its transport links. Visitors touch down in its large international airport and often make a beeline for its bustling central train station, hopping on the fastest train to the mesmerizing desert landscapes of Rajasthan, the emblematic Taj in Agra or frenetic, fantastic Varanasi.

But the Indian capital is so much more than a travel springboard. Give Delhi and its fabled street food markets, awe-striking monuments and fizzing nightlife half a chance and the city may surprise you. Here’s a perfect one-day itinerary to help you make its acquaintance; though you may end up staying for a lot longer.

It's also worth noting one of the age-old qualms about Delhi, the difficulty of traversing the city, is now less painful than ever, with the Metro bringing the suburbs close and app-hailed cabs providing an easy alternative to fare-haggling in taxis and autorickshaws – meaning tourists are much less likely to be taken for a ride, so to speak. The best time of the year to explore Delhi is October to March.

There’s no better start to a day than a wholesome repast in the by-lanes of Chandni Chowk, whether you sign up for a food walk or go it alone. A famous street food haven, this bustling district serves everything from ghee-soaked stuffed parathas (fried flatbread) at Paranthe Wali Gali (the paratha lane) to fresh fruit sandwiches in the Chawri Bazaar.

The freshly made nihari (meat stew) at Haji Shabrati Nihari Wale (south of the Jama Masjid), and the bedmi-puri  (lentil-stuffed puffed bread) and halwa nagori (puffed bread with almond pudding) at Shyam Sweets in the Chawri Bazaar are year-round breakfast favorites. For a classic serving of chole-bhature (chickpeas with fried bread), head to Haldiram’s or, for something a little fancier, step into Lakhori at Haveli Dharampura; a restaurant housed in one of the city's old characterful mansion houses. This restaurant also serves Indian high tea everyday on the rooftop (4pm to 6pm). Get to Old Delhi early before the neighborhood fully wakes up to ensure seats on the Metro, walking space in the street and a short wait for a morning munch.

Breakfasting early in the old city of Shahjahanabad gives you a head start when it comes to visiting prominent attractions, providing an enviable chance to beat the crowds. Start at the Sisganj Gurdwara, marking the site where the 9th Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur, was publicly beheaded for refusing to abandon his faith. Wind your way through bustling bazaars to the elegant Jama Masjid built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. An architectural study in red sandstone and white marble, this is one of the largest and grandest mosques in all India. Your next stop, the