New Delhi Activities: Monuments and Temples
New Delhi’s best days out are built around a handful of large monuments and temples, spread across the city and joined by the Metro. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) sites charge foreign visitors roughly twelve times the Indian rate, so plan for tiered tickets, and buy online where the ASI ticket portal offers it, because the online foreigner price is a little lower than the counter price. Amounts are in Indian rupees.
Humayun’s Tomb
Commissioned in 1565 by Bega Begum and finished in 1572, this was the first monumental Mughal garden tomb. It sits in a four-part garden with water channels, and the restoration by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture is visible in the clean stonework. It is open every day with no weekly closure, and foreigners pay about Rs 550 online or Rs 600 at the counter. Sunder Nursery, a restored heritage park, is next door.
Qutub Minar complex
The 72.5 m brick minaret in Mehrauli was begun around 1200. Around it stand the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the unfinished Alai Minar and the Iron Pillar. The inside staircase is closed to visitors, so everything is viewed from the ground. The site is open daily, and the foreigner ticket is in the same range as Humayun’s Tomb.
Swaminarayan Akshardham
This large temple complex in East Delhi is closed on Mondays. Entry to the mandir is free, with darshan from 10:00 to 20:00, while the exhibitions cost Rs 260 for adults, Rs 210 for seniors and Rs 160 for children aged 4 to 11. The evening water show is Rs 110 for adults and Rs 80 for children and starts after sunset. Phones, cameras, bags and electronics are not allowed inside, and a free cloakroom at the entrance holds them, so leave time for security. Details are on the Akshardham visitor page .
Temples and gurdwaras
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib on Ashoka Road is open around the clock. Cover your head, remove shoes and socks, and expect the langar, a free vegetarian meal offered to everyone, to be busy at midday. The Lotus Temple in Kalkaji is a silent Baha’i House of Worship, completed in 1986 and closed on Mondays; entry is free. Keep voices low at all of these sites.
Getting around and timing
The Delhi Metro covers most of these stops. Since August 2025, fares run from Rs 11 for the shortest trips up to Rs 64 beyond 32 km, with lower fares on Sundays and national holidays. The first coach in the direction of travel is reserved for women. From about mid-October to January, air quality is often poor, so pair outdoor sites with indoor stops such as Akshardham’s exhibitions or the museums, and check the daily air quality index before you set out.
Visitors who do not know the city well can compare guided options on Viator . Read more: sightseeing in New Delhi , walking tours in New Delhi and the 3-day itinerary .