Delhi is an international metropolis with excellent tourist spots, recreational facilities, and a history that goes back to antiquity. Delhi offers a multitude of interesting places and attractions to the visitor, so much so that it becomes difficult to decide from where to begin exploring the city. In Old Delhi, you'll come across many mosques, forts, and other monuments that depict India's Muslim history. The important places in Old Delhi include the majestic Red Fort, the historical Chandni Chowk, besides Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana, the last two being modern structures constructed after India's Independence in 1947. New Delhi, on the other hand, is a modern city designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. It is a spacious, open city that houses many government buildings and embassies, apart from places of historical interest.

Among the places of special interest to tourists in Delhi are the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Coronation Durbar Site, Raj Ghat, Jantar Mantar, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Qutab Minar, India Gate, Secretariat Building, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Nehru Museum, Rail Transport Museum, International Dolls Museum, Crafts Museum, Dilli Haat, Gandhi Darshan, Purana Qila, the Zoo, Safdarjung's Tomb and Bahai House of Worship amongst others.

India Gate
India Gate is a stone monument dedicated to the memory of the Indian soldiers who fought and died in the First World War It ranks as one of the primary places of interest in Delhi. The Indian soldiers were part of the British army and represented the military might of the British Empire at the height of its powers. India Gate was designed by Edward Lutyens and took 10 years to complete. The structure of India Gate is a triumphal arch, which is 42 meters high.

Red Fort (Lal Qila)
This red sandstone fort extends 2 km wide and differs in height from 18 meter on the river side to 33 meter on the city side. The fort was constructed by Shah Jahan in 1638 and was completed in 1648. Inside there are buildings, including the Hall of Public Audiences, the Drum House, the white marble all of Private Audiences, the Pearl Mosque, Palace of Color and the Royal Baths.Decorated with Persian, European and Indian art forms the fort is one of the brilliant pieces of architecture.

Humayun's Tomb
The famous Humayun's Tomb of Delhi is the first garden tomb in India. A complex commissioned in 1562 CE by Hamida Banu Begum Humayun's wife and designed by Mirak Mirza a Persian architect this monument is one of the first specimens of Mughal architecture in the Indian subcontinent. Located on the banks of the River Yamuna this structure was declared a UNESCO Heritage site in 1993. The famous Humayun's Tomb of Delhi is considered to be the precursor of the 'Taj Mahal' as far as the architectural structure is concerned. It represents the Mughal style of architecture at its best. One of the major attractions in the city this mausoleum serves as the burial ground of several Mughals apart from the emperor himself.

Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid located in Old Delhi is one of the principal mosques of Delhi. One of the last architectural extravagances of Emperor Shahjahan this is one of the largest mosques in India and its courtyard can hold around 25000 people. Construction of this mosque began in 1644 and was completed in 1658 by 5000 artisans. The Jama Masjid has three great gateways and four angle towers and two minarets standing 40m high and is constructed of alternating strips of red sandstone and white marble.

Jantar Mantar
Located on Sansad Marg in Connaught Place, this structure is one of Maharaja Jai Singh 2's observatories. This ruler from Jaipur constructed this observatory in 1725 and is dominated by a huge sundial known as the Prince of Dials. Other instruments in this observatory follow the course of heavenly bodies and predict eclipses. It was built in 1724 by Raja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in Delhi. Jantar Mantar of Delhi, is an astronomical observatory with masonry instruments. Jantar Mantar has instruments that can graph the path of the astronomical universe.

 

Qutub Minar
The Qutub Minar located in Delhi is the world's tallest brick minaret, standing at a height of 72.5 meters. Commissioned by Delhi's first Muslim ruler, Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1193, Qutub Minar then had only a basement. Three more towers were added to the structure by his successor and son-in-law Shamsu'd-din Iltutmish. The Qutub Minar is known to be the earliest and most evident example of Indo-Islamic architecture and is surrounded by several other ancient structures collectively known as the Qutub Complex.