4 Places You Must See in Delhi (If You Love Art & History)

Delhi has the most beautiful sights, sounds, colors, and culture imaginable. The bustle and movement of 33.8 million people counterbalance the peace and permanence of its stunning multi-faith architectural offerings and the delicate traditions of its artisans and craftspeople. For first-time visitors, there are a few places that are absolute must-sees to provide an insight into the scope of the richness of the city’s art and architecture. These are all within easy reach of a subway ride or the ubiquitous and brilliant yellow and green auto Tuk-Tuks.

India boasts 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites, three of which can be found in Delhi. The Qutub Minar complex is a wonderful example. An ideal time to visit is late in the day (depending on the season). This gives the visitor the opportunity to see the whole complex in daylight and then witness the absolute delight of the atmospheric lights being turned on at dusk, illuminating the complex to highlight many incredible features. Multiple tour guides clamor for business at the entrance, but the complex offers a comprehensive online option, accessible via scanning a QR code once inside. This provides the visitor with stories, information, and historical details about each of the different structures and buildings around the site.

Inside the complex, there is so much to see, starting with the Qutub Minar itself, which is the tallest brick minaret in the world. Inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, created ten years earlier, Qutb-ud-din Aibak laid the foundations for the Victory Tower in 1199. Successors added levels to the tower, finally completing it in approximately 1368. It stands proudly at 237 feet high with a base diameter of 46 feet.

The Iron Pillar, which also stands on the site, is certainly an enigma. Dated to the 4th century CE, it had been located on two different sites prior to its Delhi resting place. Constructed of almost chemically pure iron (approximately 98% pure), the 22-foot column has remained almost completely resistant to corrosion for more than 1600 years.

The complex also contains the tomb of Iltutmish (1121-36 CE) which has the most wonderful carved inscriptions and patterns on its red sandstone chamber. Alongside this is the complex’s second tower, the Ala’i Minar which in its current state stands at 82 feet high. It was originally intended to be taller than the Qutub Minar, but only the first level was ever completed.

One of the most visited sites in Delhi, Qutub Minar provides a wonderful introduction to the architectural heritage, and a fascinating space to come up close to buildings and history.

If serenity is what you seek in such a bustling city, there are two main options. Firstly, the beautiful and incredibly silent experience of visiting the Baha’i faith Lotus Temple in the South of the city. Secondly, you could visit the more central Hindu temple or mandir of Akshardham.

One of the most unusual aspects of a visit here is that phones and cameras are not allowed inside. You queue to check your devices in for safe storage on entering the complex and then collect them at the end of the visit. Somehow, this changes and focuses the experience in a way that is difficult to define. To see images of the temple, you’ll have to visit the Akshardham website or, of course, go to the temple yourself.

Akshardham is genuinely a place to explore, learn, and experience traditional and modern architecture and art. Akshardham means “the divine abode of God.” Opened in 2005, according to the Akshardham website, over 8,000 volunteers from across the world built it, taking 300,000,000 hours of work to complete. If traveling with family, it is certainly a wonderful introduction to contemplation, spirituality, learning, and entertainment in equal measure.

The grounds provide the visitor with a walk through architecture, pools and rivers, with many places to pause and reflect. The mandir itself is impressive in size and detail. The carvings of flowers, animals, dancers, and deities hold your attention as you walk around, allowing you to follow stories visually. Through dance and performance these narratives are also played out in the evening show held around the musical fountain. Eat in the large and reasonably priced restaurant, then sit with thousands of other visitors in the largest stepwell in India and enjoy the atmosphere, light show, and performances telling spiritual stories.

At the center of the complex, which covers sixty acres of lush gardens, sits the 327-foot-high bronze statue of Neelkanth Varni. Although not among the tallest statues in the world, it is imposing and inspiring nonetheless. A film screened in one of the visitor halls is included in the ticket price, taking visitors through the history of India. There is also a cultural boat ride which, over the course of a gentle 15-minute floating journey, takes you through 10000 years of India’s heritage of invention, discovery, and innovation. This is followed by a visit to the Hall of Values, presenting and reinforcing Hindu principles of nonviolence, honesty, spirituality, and family harmony.

The sheer scale of Qutub Minar and Akshardham are impressive. But to best explore the art, skill and craftsmanship of the people, a visit to the National Crafts Museum complex is essential. Although one of the largest crafts museums in India, it is less visible than the large architectural sites. The textiles collection stands out, but the entire museum will delight your senses.

The museum holds approximately 30,000 artifacts. On entry, visitors can explore either outside or inside spaces. In the Courtyard, they’ll first be met by giant terracotta statues of horses and warriors. These are examples from the Aiyanaar shrines, commonly found on the outskirts of rural villages in India.

The external buildings in the outdoor Village Complex—a wonderful, shaded courtyard to wander through—are life-size examples of different styles of regional village dwellings, shrines, and other structures. Wander round, and you get a sense of living in different regions and how the land and landscape affect the architecture.

The walls of the museum are decorated using the painted traditions of local craftspeople and traditional artisans from further afield. There is also a space for contemporary artists and makers to show, talk about, and sell their work, creating additional interesting interaction as part of the visitor experience.

Inside, several galleries explore the artifacts and history of each medium. The textiles gallery is a gem, providing a tour of India through silk and cotton. The gallery encompasses every region and style, with beautiful colors and styles covering more than 200 types of textile art and objects such as scarves and sarees.

Other galleries include tribal and folk art, ritual craft, and paintings, and a Courtly and Cultic Craft Gallery with a reconstruction of a beautiful Haveli and artifacts related to the religious and spiritual beliefs of Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Muslim religions. Finally, visitors will find the all-important gift shop and wonderful café, Café Lota. The name and look are inspired by the film Lota, based on the India Report by Ray and Charles Eames. The food is delicious and not to be missed, and the gifts, of course, reflect the cultural heritage skills and crafts of the museum displays.

For more inspiration and innovation, a visit to Humayun’s Tomb is another UNESCO-listed Delhi must-do. Built in 1570, it was commissioned by Humayun’s first wife, Empress Bega Begum. It was the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent and shows the Mughal architectural style, which developed into the epitome of architectural beauty that is the Taj Mahal, built eighty years later in Agra.

The signs for visitors explain that in Farsi, the term for a walled garden is pairi daeza, which became paradise in English. The gardens and the structure certainly reflect these idyllic aspirations. The gardens are in the form of a charbagh, a four-quadrant garden representing the four rivers of Qur’anic paradise, divided into further smaller squares. The four squares at the center house the mausoleum for the tomb of Humayun and his family. The garden-tomb is also known as the dormitory of the Mughals, as approximately 150 family members are buried here.

The sheer beauty of the building lies in the expanses of Dholpur red sandstone with marble decoration and the wonderful exacting symmetry of the building, culminating in the 140-foot-high double dome. Black kites and other birds circling high above on the thermal currents against the pure blue of an Indian sky add extra atmosphere to such a beautiful place to visit.

Delhi is a city full of must-see architecture, museums, galleries, and crafts—so much so that it would take forever to see it all. But if you just have a few days, then Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Akshardham, and the National Crafts Museum will certainly whet your appetite with just a taste of what this beautiful, warm, and welcoming city has to offer. You may well be very keen to return.