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.
Website >
Overview >Bucket list experience:
Qawwali singing
Delhi, India
Last updated: 10 November, 2022
In south Delhi, near Humayun’s Tomb, compact Nizamuddin is an earthy, almost medieval neighbourhood of tight lanes and jumbled houses. At its heart stands the 16th-century tomb-shrine of a 13th-century Sufi saint. It’s a particularly sacred place for Muslims, especially those drawn to the Sufi tradition, where devotional music and song play a significant role in spiritual life.
Most evenings (Thursdays are the most charged) see groups of qawwals, or bards, and musicians gathered to sing qawwalis (hymns) in the shrine’s courtyard. It’s a memorable experience; enthusiastic audiences are almost intoxicated by performances and for many outsiders, too, it seems to reinforce the strange power of music to ‘connect’ in unexpectedly profound ways.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
Frequency: daily
When: Daily
Duration: 1 hour
Getting there & doing it
Taxi or auto-rickshaw is the most convenient way to reach the area. Alternatively Hazrat Nizamuddin or Jangpura metro stations are the closest options though you’ll still need a 10-minute walk to reach the neighbourhood. Ask for directions to the dargah auliya, or shrine.
Entry to the shrine and its qawwali night is free. The sessions last for about an hour; sometimes there are two sessions in an evening.
No shoes are allowed inside the shrine so be prepared to go barefoot or with socks; any number of local stall-holders will look after your footwear for a nominal fee. You’ll need to cover your head, too, with a small scarf or cloth – local vendors can happily supply these too.
When to do it
Performances take place most evenings, but Thursdays or Friday evenings are the best times to go; plan to arrive early to get a good viewing spot.
Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Imperial New Delhi Hotel
Delhi, India[4.4 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:
Thikana Delhi
Delhi, India[4.7 miles]
A small but comfortable B&B with the ambience of a homestay, featuring recently-renovated rooms and super-friendly hosts.
Official star rating:
Leela Palace
Delhi, India[5.3 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.
Official star rating:
ITC Maurya Hotel
Delhi, India[6.7 miles]
A solid and dependable luxury hotel with top-notch facilities, including an ayurvedic spa, a lovely swimming pool and famous restaurants.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Delhi
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.
Website >
Overview >
India’s Golden Triangle
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.
Website >
Overview >Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Humayun’s Tomb
Delhi, India[0.9 miles]
Stunning mausoleum and precursor to the Taj Mahal, with tranquil well-maintained gardens.
Best for ages: 13+ | £1
Website >
Overview >
National Museum of India
Delhi, India[3.2 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
Akshardham Temple
Delhi, India[4.2 miles]
An extraordinary modern temple complex, drawing on traditional religious architecture and design.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Friday Mosque
Delhi, India[6.6 miles]
Completed in 1656 by Emperor Shah Jahan, this is one of India’s largest and most beautiful mosques.
Best for ages: 18+ | £3
Website >
Overview >Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Experience
National Gallery of Modern Art
Delhi, India[2.2 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
Website >
Overview >
Experience
Lodi Garden
Delhi, India[2.2 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
Website >
Overview >
Experience
Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum
Delhi, India[3.6 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
Website >
Overview >