Delhi 3-day Itinerary
India
Where to go and what to see in Delhi to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and leading travel writer Amar Grover.
Bucket list experience:
Five years in the making with a vast workforce, the huge Akshardham Temple complex was completed in 2005 by the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism. Drawing on the venerable traditions of temple architecture, colossal amounts of carving were augmented by spacious parkland and gardens.
Yet it’s more than just a temple – a musical fountain, animatronic displays and a ‘Hall of Values’ aims to distil the wisdom and spirituality of India in a kind of cultural campus, all infused with Swaminarayan’s philosophy.
It was built according to ancient Hindu texts, which describe specific methods for constructing Hindu temples. 7,000 artisan sculptors and thousands of volunteers helped build the vast building, adorned with thousands of intricate carvings including sages, rishis, devotees and playful elephants.
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Destination Guide >Akshardham stands on the eastern edge of New Delhi – there’s plenty of car parking available, but the roads in this area are often congested during morning and evening rush hour. You may find it faster and simpler to use the Delhi Metro and make for Akshardham station.
The temple complex is free to visit (though tickets are required for exhibitions and the water show); there are no guided tours. Dress modestly – in particular no shorts, short skirts or tank tops.
It’s open all year Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays.
Mornings and late afternoons are the most pleasant times with the latter being more practical for catching the musical fountain. May and June are ferociously hot and uncomfortable.
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Where to go and what to see in Delhi to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and leading travel writer Amar Grover.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Delhi, India[5.9 miles]
Superb, centrally-located property whose refined ambience and vintage decor distills the glamour and flair of the Raj’s high-point in creating New Delhi.
Official star rating:
Delhi, India[6.3 miles]
Elegant boutique hotel in the heart of Old Delhi which lends a more immersive experience to this fascinating corner of the capital.
Official star rating:
Delhi, India[8.7 miles]
A small but comfortable B&B with the ambience of a homestay, featuring recently-renovated rooms and super-friendly hosts.
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Delhi, India[9.4 miles]
Modern, high-rise and self-consciously palace-styled hotel, set beside the capital’s genteel diplomatic enclave with an ‘Indo-baroque’ vibe, slick service and rooftop infinity pool.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
India
India’s intense sight- and monument-filled capital is a compelling blend of the modern Raj-influenced New Delhi, and the sights, sounds and smells of Old Delhi’s heaving and exotic lanes and bazaars.
India
India’s cultural essence combined with its most iconic sights and greatest bucket list experiences, all distilled into one compact, diverse and vibrant region.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Delhi, India[3.4 miles]
Stunning mausoleum and precursor to the Taj Mahal, with tranquil well-maintained gardens.
Best for ages: 13+ | £1
Delhi, India[5.6 miles]
The National Museum houses five millennia’s worth of Indian culture alongside an eclectic collection of its celebrated art forms.
Best for ages: 13+ | £7
Delhi, India[6 miles]
Vast sandstone-walled fort with gardens, audience halls and royal apartments – a high point of Mughal military architecture.
Best for ages: 13+ | £5
Delhi, India[6 miles]
Completed in 1656 by Emperor Shah Jahan, this is one of India’s largest and most beautiful mosques.
Best for ages: 18+ | £3
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Delhi, India[4.2 miles]
A unique opportunity to experience traditional devotional music, performed in the courtyard of an ancient Sufi tomb-shrine in south Delhi.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 1 hour
Delhi, India[4.2 miles]
Formerly a palace belonging to the Maharaja of Jaipur, the gallery is now a superb repository of Indian paintings, sculpture and even photography.
Best for ages: 18+ | £5
Delhi, India[6.1 miles]
Among Delhi’s quietest and leafiest parks, Lodi Gardens contain several 15th- and 16th-century tombs and monuments, most relating to the Afghan Lodi dynasty, which was eventually replaced by the Mughals.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Delhi, India[7.1 miles]
The former bungalow residence of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is now a slightly macabre museum. Assassinated here in 1984 by her bodyguards, even that very spot remains spotted with blood.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.