We visited New Delhi over Aleah’s spring break. Temperatures were high, but braving the heat was absolutely worth it because New Delhi’s ancient architecture simply blew us away. Below are the highlights from our four days in the city.
-Day 1-
-Make a trip to Agrasen ki Baoli, a step well thought to be originally built between 1000 and 600 B.C. and reconstructed in the 14th century. This well was used for a source of year round ground water as well as leisure. Pro Tip: If you venture down to the bottom of the well, you can step into a tower that now serves as a home for hundreds of bats.
-Visit the beautiful 90 acre outdoor space that is Lodhi Gardens. Popular for morning walks and exercise, this park contains the tombs of Mohammed Shah and Sikandar Lodhi, also hosting the Bara Gumbad, and Shisha Gumbad, medieval monuments built near the end of the Lodhi reign.
–Everyday Honeymoon Tip: Lodhi Gardens is the perfect venue for a picnic for two. Once you’ve found your favorite spot, relax with your beau and try to keep track of how many couples you run into who are taking their engagement photos. We took ours at a park in DC, so it was really fun to reminisce on our own experience while in India.
-Visit Humayun’s Tomb. This garden-tombs construction began in 1565 to honor Mughal Emperor Humayun which was commissioned and entirely paid for by his first wife.
-Get some shopping in at Janpath Market where you can find all of the souvenirs, clothing, and trinkets that your heart desires.
-Day 2-
-Take a day trip to Agra. It’s about 3 hours by car and 2 hours by train to which I still highly recommend the car. Even though the train saves you an hour and a few dollars, the train station is full of scammers looking to fool tourists and a car is able to take you directly to your destinations unlike a train.
-Stating the obvious here, but get to the Taj Mahal to take in its unmatched beauty. The list of things allowed through the gates of the complex is far shorter than the list of things prohibited so pack light, but not to fear, there are lockers on site to store your “contraband” i.e.) a camera tripod, or chocolate.
-Afterwards, pop over to the Red Fort to see the palace commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan when he transferred the capital from Agra to Delhi.
–Helpful Link: IRCTC (India’s railway authority) is a gigantic pain to use and even once you pay your foreign transaction fee for not being a resident, there is no guarantee you will be able to book your train ticket and customer support is rather useless. We ended up booking our train tickets and a private car with Raj from Train Ticket Please. We found him on TripAdvisor after reading some forms regarding other travelers issues with IRCTC’s website.
-Day 3-
-Get a cab or a tuk tuk to Lodhi Colony for vibrant and fun street art. If it’s time for lunch and you’ve had your fill of murals, stop into Guppy for some sushi. The staff went above and beyond to provide us with the best service.
-Take a stroll around the Qutb Complex and snag some awesome pictures of the Qutb Minar and surrounding monuments and artifacts of Indian history. Take your time here as there are many interesting things to learn about.
–Everyday Honeymoon Tip: After a day of exploring, make the most of your last night in New Delhi and catch the sunset from the rooftop of Old Delhi Spice Market.
-Day 4-
-If you’re staying in Connaught place, taking a stroll through Central Park is the perfect way to spend some time before your flight. Conveniently located in the center of the circle, this park is a bustling venue that is popular with Delhiites who want to take a break from the everyday grind. Everyday Honeymoon Tip: Pick up some coffee on your way to the park, grab a bench, and enjoy some green space and people watching in the middle of the city.
