Things to do in Delhi

Most tours that start in Delhi leave it again by road. The city is worth a day first. Old Delhi is the walled city that Shah Jahan built in the seventeenth century, and sightseeing in Delhi starts there.

Old Delhi in a day

• Red Fort. Shah Jahan's fort, built between 1639 and 1648. It is closed on Mondays.
• Jama Masjid. The great mosque, completed in 1656. Cover shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off.
• Chandni Chowk. The main street of the old city. A cycle-rickshaw is the traditional way in, and the spice market lies at its western end.
• The city tour. A private car and driver cover Old and New Delhi in about seven hours, adding Humayun's Tomb, India Gate and the Lotus Temple.

Leaving Delhi by road

Road times decide what fits in a day. Check them before you pick a tour.

• Agra. Three and a half to four hours by the Yamuna Expressway. Taj Mahal day trips run from eight to fifteen hours, depending on the route. Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's abandoned capital, is an optional stop.
• Jaipur. About six hours.
• Ranthambore. A long drive to the tiger reserve.
• Pushkar. About eight hours by road.
• Longer tours. A six-day Golden Triangle covers Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The eight-day version adds Varanasi.

Practical

• Weather. January days reach about 20C, with nights near 7C and morning fog. April to June brings 38 to 45C. The monsoon drops over 200 mm in July and August.
• Air. From October to January smog can push air quality into the unhealthy range.
• Metro. Stations at Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk make the old city easy to reach.
• Fridays. The Taj Mahal is closed then, so plan the Agra day for another weekday.
• Crowds. Keep bags in front of you in the lanes around Chandni Chowk.