French
Deutsch
South New Delhi (दक्षिण नई दिल्ली Dakshiṇ Naī Dillī) is the city's residential and diplomatic enclave, south of the Kartavya Bhavan Complex.
Understand
[edit | edit source]- Lodhi Estate — a residential estate for government officers, built in the 1940s. It has places of interest like the Sai Baba Temple of Lodhi Road, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, the 16th century Tomb of Sikander Lodhi (situated in Lodhi Gardens) and the India Habitat Centre. There are several municipal parks including Charbagh which features the Lodhi Gardens. The three main shopping markets in this area are Khanna Market, Khan Market (one of Delhi’s most expensive markets), and Meherchand Market. Chocolate Wheel Confectionary in the Jor Bagh area is a very popular bakery.
Get in
[edit | edit source]
See
[edit | edit source]Chanakyapuri
[edit | edit source]Chanakyapuri (चाणक्यपुरी Chāṇakyapurī), literally the "City of Chanakya", is an affluent neighbourhood where many embassies and ministerial residences are located. Named after the famed prime minister of the Maurya Empire, Chanakyapuri was developed as the official residence for both politicians and civil servants of the Union Government. As such, it has numerous parks and open spaces and suffers few utility disruptions. It is served by local trains at Delhi Safdarjung NR .
- 1 Indo-Africa Friendship Rose Garden (National Rose Garden), ☏ +91 11 2336 5358. 6AM–8PM. A lush garden with roses from different parts of the world. It was developed to mark as a symbol of friendship between India and Africa.
- 2 BRICS Friendship Rose Garden. 6AM–7PM. A newer rose garden developed to symbolise the friendship between the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and others),
- 3 National Police Memorial (राष्ट्रीय पुलिस संग्रहालय Rashṭrīya Pulis Sangrahālay). A memorial dedicated to the police personnel who died in the fight against terrorism, militancy and insurgency since 1947. There's an underground museum as part of the memorial. There are sections dedicated to various central and state police forces in India. Police forces from all 28 states and 8 Union territories are presented, including a special mention for women squads, police bands and animal squads (camel, dog and pigeon post).
- 4 National Rail Museum (राष्ट्रीय रेल संग्रहालय Rashṭrīya Rel Sangrahālay), ☏ +91 11 2688 1816. Apr–Sep 9:30AM–7:30PM, Oct–Mar 9:30AM–5:30PM, closed Mon and national holidays. Houses a collection of Indian trains from the past to the present - a worthwhile look into India's proud railway heritage. The collection includes carriages belonging to Indian potentates and British viceroys. Children can ride the small train that circumnavigates the museum. There is a small café on the premises.
- 5 Panchvati, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Closed to public. The official residence of the Prime Minister of India, consisting of five bungalows. It does not house the Prime Minister's Office, which is at Seva Teerth. Only those visitors whose names have been given to the Special Protection Group (SPG) by the Prime Minister's personal secretaries are allowed in.
Lodi Gardens
[edit | edit source]
The Lodi Gardens is a huge urban open space with an interesting mix of nature and history. The park contains several historic monuments like Muhammad Shah's Tomb, Bada Gumbad, Sesha Gumbad, Sikandar Lodi's Tomb and Athpula.
- 6 Muhammad Shah's Tomb, South eastern corner of Lodi Gardens. The huge tomb crowned with a massive dome has an octagonal plan with an octagonal chamber. Each of the eight sides have triple arched entrance and the eight corners are occupied by slopping buttresses. The chamber has doors on seven sides, the lone exception is the western side. The interior of the western wall contains a mihrab, so the tomb can also function as a Mosque. The massive dome stands on a sixteen sided drum and is crowned with a sprawling lotus. The dome is flanked by eight chatris, each of which occupy the mid point of the eight sides. The interior contains seven graves, the central one is believed to be of Muhammad Shah. The interior of the dome has a colourful fresco. The mihrab contains decorative stucco work so does the other seven arched gates. Short tapering minarates on the two back corners and jhakoraha (oriel) windows on the north and south ends are some special architectural features of the Bada Gumbad Mosque. Opposite the mosque is an elongated hall, which served as a sarai or guest house. It is devoid of any ornamentation and is a striking contrast with the mosque.
- 7 Lodi Period Mosque (E of Muhammad Shah's Tomb and SW of Bara Gumbad). Lodi Period Mosque is a small red mosque with a triple arched entrance. Although small in size it has an elegant appearance. It was once housed within a walled complex but majority of the boundary wall have long disappeared. The mosque is crowned with a vaulted roof, with stucco ornamentation.
- 8 Bara Gumbad (Large Dome) (Central part of Lodi Garden). Probably the most imposing structure of Lodi Gardens. The structure stands on a square base topped with a huge dome. Although the structure looks two storied from the outside it is actually a single storied structure. It is built of grey sandstone with traces of black and red stones. On the north west corner is a mosque and on the north east corner is a sarai (guest house). Some historians believe that the Bara Gumbad served as a gate way to the mosque, while other believe it was a tomb. Sadly the occupant of this magnificent tomb can no longer be traced, but he was quite likely to be a high official of Sikandar Lodi's court. The three domed mosque is approached from the east by five arched gateway. The central arch is the largest and the arches diminish in size as one moves away from the centre. The mosque is built in 1494 and is richly ornamented with stuccoes and frescoes. The stuccoes consists of elaborate geometrical designs and inscriptions from the Koran.
- 9 Sheesh Gumbad (Glazed Dome) (central part of Lodi Gardens, Opposite Bara Gumbad). Sheesh Gumbad, was a similar structure to Bara Gumbad and is located just south of it. It literally meaning glazed dome, and the structure was once covered with glazed tiles, but majority of it has gone missing. The interior of the Sheesh Gumbad houses several graves but the occupants can lo longer be traced. The western wall of Sheesh Gumbad has a mihrab, so the tombed doubled up as a mosque.
- 10 Lodi Period Turret, South east of Bada Gumbad and next to eastern wall of Lodi Gardens. The 8.5-m Lodi Period Turret probably served as a corner tower of a walled enclosure, but the walls have long vanished. The two leveled tower is crowned with a ribbed dome. The lower level contains the doorway and stairs lead to the second level containing a decorated Jharokha (Oriel) styled balcony.
- 11 Mughal Period Mosque and Gateway (North east of Sheesha Gumbad). The small mosque and a small gateway stands on the north east of Sheesha Gumbad. Both the structure date back to the Mughaal Period. The gateway probably served as an entrance to walled garden, sadly the walls no longer exist. The double storied arched gateway is topped with a Bengal type sloped roof. Next to the gateway is a small mosque with arched entrance and crowned with three domes. The mosque is devoid of ornamentation, and has a platform on its eastern side.
- 12 Sikandar Lodi's Tomb (northern part of Lodi Garden). The Tomb of Sikandar Lodi is similar in structure to the Muhammad Shah's Tomb, but is housed in side a walled complex. The tomb is octagonal with triple arched entrance on all sides and sloping buttress at the corners, however there are no chatris round the giant dome.
- 13 Athpula (east of Sikandar Lodi's Tomb, near north east gate of Lodi Gardens). The Athpula, literally meaning eight bridge, consists of seven arches supported by eight pillars. The bridge spans over a water body and is still in use. Visitors entering the Lodi Gardens from the north east gate uses the bridge.
- 14 Lodhi Art District.
Teen Murti Complex
[edit | edit source]- 15 Teen Murti Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, Teen Murti Marg, ☏ +91 11 2301 758. 9AM–5PM (closed Mon). Former residence of the first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, previously used by the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army before India's independence in 1947. After Nehru's death in 1964, it was converted into a museum of his life, plus a library. It is one of the biggest libraries of Delhi with 100,000 photographs, 18,000 microfilm rolls, and over 10,000 manuscripts. Free.
- 16 Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (प्रधानमंत्री संग्रहालय Pradhānmantrī Sangrahālay, Prime Ministers' Museum). Established in 2022, the museum is a tribute to all the Prime Ministers of India since independence. ₹100 per head.
- 17 Nehru Planetarium. A planetarium where they show a movie on astronomy and the universe. ₹50 for adults, ₹25 for children.
Heritage monuments
[edit | edit source]- 18 Khairul Manzil.
- 19 Sher Shah Suri Gate, Mathura Rd (Opposite Purana Qila). A gate opposite Purana Qila built by Sher Shah Suri. Some historians believe that this marked the boundary of Sher Shah's empire, though others doubt that his empire extended till Shergarh. Nevertheless, it must have marked some boundaries.
Monuments and memorials
[edit | edit source]
- 20 Lal Bangla, Delhi Golf Club, Dr, Zakir Husain Marg (metro: Khan Market 6 , then 10-minute walk E). 5AM-10:30PM. This contains two mausoleums which have the tombs of Lal Kunwar and her daughter Begum Jaan. Lal Kunwar was the wife of Mughal ruler Jahander Shah and the mother of another Mughal ruler Shah Alam II. Lal Kunwar is similar to Nur Jahan, who monopolised power and gave important posts to members of his family.
- 21 Tomb of Mirza Najaf Khan, Main Aurobindo Marg, Safdarjung (opposite to Safdarjung Airport, metro: Jor Bagh 2 is further 0.5 km south). Mirza Najaf Khan was a Persian traveller who came to Delhi during the rule of Mughal ruler Muhammad Shah around 1740. He was later awarded deputy minister of Awadh. His tomb is accompanied by the tomb of his daughter. This tomb is laid in the traditional Mughal Char Bagh (Four Gardens) style.
- 22 Tomb of Safadar Jang, Lodi Rd, Safdarjung (near Lodi Gardens, about 500 m (1,600 ft) N of Jor Bagh 2 ). 5:30AM - 7PM. A tomb with an onion-shaped dome and a garden. It houses the tomb of Safdar Jang, the Mughal Prime Minister (Grand Vizier) during the rule of Ahmad Shah Bahadur. He was also the second Nawab of Awadh. It is similar to the imperial tombs like the Humayun's Tomb or the Taj Mahal, and it was the first time someone outside the immediate Mughal family built themselves such a tomb and garden complex, reflecting the greatly diminished powers of the emperors by that time. ₹5 for Indians, ₹100 for foreigners.
Museums
[edit | edit source]
- 23 Dholpur House (धौलपुर हाउस Dhaulpur Hāus), Shahjahan Rd. 10AM–7PM (closed Sat, Sun). Requires prior permission for videography. It was built in 1920 by Dholpur ruler Rana Udaibhan Singh as his New Delhi residence. TheIt was built in the Art Deco style, with the exterior walls being painted white. After India's independence, the building houses the headquarters of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), who conduct interviews here to recruit civil servants. There's also a museum with collections of original pamphlets, documents, reports and other records that are otherwise not easily accessible to the public.
- 24 Gandhi Smriti (previously Birla House), ☏ +91 11 2301 2843. 10AM-5PM (closed Mon). This estate is the site of Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom. Includes a museum celebrating his life and the room he lived in during his final days. It had been the house of the Birla family, Indian business tycoons. Outside the house stands a pillar that contains a swastika symbol, which is used as a visual example of the way the ethical meaning of the swastika symbol has changed in the Western world in the 20th century.
- 25 Indira Gandhi Memorial (इंदिरा गांधी स्मृति Indirā Gāndhī Smr̥ti). A museum dedicated to the said person who served as India's only female Prime Minister. She lived in the building during her premiership till 1984, when she was assassinated there. The museum contains material remains of Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi.
- 26 Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, 1, Motilal Nehru Place. A museum dedicated to the said person who served as India's second Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru. He lived at 10 Janpath, next to the present memorial, during his premiership till his death in 1966. As of 2026, his original residence is occupied by Sonia Gandhi, widow of Rajiv Gandhi, and her son Rahul Gandhi.
Do
[edit | edit source]Clubs
[edit | edit source]- 1 Delhi Golf Club. A prominent golf club, reportedly with 50 years of waiting to become a member, but non-members can also play as "casual members" by paying a fee.
- 2 Delhi Gymkhana, 2, Safdarjung Rd.
Parks
[edit | edit source]- 3 Nehru Park, Vinay Marg, Chanakyapuri (local: Delhi Safdarjung ). It is a large park in the New Delhi neighbourhood of Chankayapuri, lying in the southwest. The park is one of the most famous landmarks of New Delhi and a beautiful place to hang out during a sunny winter afternoon in New Delhi. An absolute must see for anyone visiting the city.
Learn
[edit | edit source]- 1 Alliance Française du Delhi, 72, KK Birla Ln, Lodhi Estate, ☏ +91 98735 15610. 8:30AM-5:00PM (closed Sun). The French language school in New Delhi, promoting the study of French in India and encouraging international cultural exchange and relations.
Buy
[edit | edit source]
Bazaars
[edit | edit source]- 1 Dilli Haat (metro: Dilli Haat - INA 2 ). A paid-entrance open-air market, food plaza, and craft bazaar. It is a wonderful place to get crafts from all over the country. What is distinctive here is that the artists themselves come to sell their goods, so your money goes directly to them, rather than to middlemen. Some bargaining may be necessary if you want the best price. Prices are higher than elsewhere, but the modest entry fee keeps out beggars, ripoff artists, and most touts. Many visitors find the mellow atmosphere worth the extra cost of shopping here. It also has a section called Foods of India. This has a huge number of restaurants, each showcasing the food of a particular state of India. (Most of them give a mix of Chinese and Indian food, but state delicacies are also included). This section is a must-go for the foodie-cum-tourist.
- 2 Khan Market, Rabindra Nagar (Metro Violet 'Khan Market' 0.3 km NE - Bus 26, 47, 56, 173, 181, 326, 336, 344, 375, 408, 430, 440, 445, 450, 522SPL -). This upscale area of independent shops is where foreign diplomats go for lunch and to shop for dog supplies, groceries (great choice of vegetables), clothes (upper class Indian style, not expensive, Fabindia and Anohki for women's clothing), housewares (Good Earth), jewellery/accessories, and books (many bookshops that have a wide selection at reasonable prices).
- 3 Sarojini Nagar Market, Sarojini Nagar (Bus 53, 56, 89, 512, 536, 544, 544A, 615, 615A ro stop 'Sarojini Nagar Market' or 'Sarojini Nagar' Stn 0.4 km N). This market is great for export surplus garments, and green grocery.
Books
[edit | edit source]- 4 Faqir-Chand & Sons, 16-A Khan Market (a short walk from Khan Market Metro), ☏ + 24645540, faqirchandandson@gmail.com. A wonderfully chaotic bookshop. Excellent selection of titles. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 1 Slice of Italy, Shop No. 90, Lodhi Road, Mehar Chand Market (near Nehru Stadium), ☏ +91 11 2464 0333. 10AM-1AM. near Lodhi Road and various other locations in Delhi. Italian style food.
- 2 Ottimo At West View (The West View), Sardar Patel Marg, Akhaura Block, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri (Maurya Sheraton). Italian style food.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 3 Mamagoto (Khan Market). One of Delhi's most popular Japanese restaurants, the fun manga style interiors and great food are a great experience.
Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 19/48, Malcha Marg, Block C, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri. 10AM - 10PM. A standard chain coffee shop. Friendly and helpful staff.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹4,000 |
| Mid-range | ₹4,000–8,000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹8,000 |
For Hauz Khas, see Delhi/South#Sleep.
Budget
[edit | edit source]- 1 International Youth Hostel Delhi, 5 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri (near Sri Lanka embassy and Norway embassy), ☏ +91 11 45999000, +91 11 26110250, +91 11 26871969, fax: +91 11 26113469, contact@yhaindia.org. Check-in: 11AM, check-out: 10AM. It is a member of the Hostelling International federation. Dorm bed: ₹300 (Non air-con) to 600 (air-con). Double: ₹900 to ₹1,600.
Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 2 Maulsari Bed & Breakfast, 142 Sunder Nagar, ☏ +91 9810808281, info@maulsari.com. Maulsari is a B'n'B in the posh colony of Sunder Nagar. Conveniently located near heritage monuments, Delhi High Court, Supreme Court and major markets. From ₹4,500.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]
- 3 The Ashok Hotel, 50-B, Niti Marg, Chanakayapuri, ☏ +91 11 2611 0101, roomreservations@theashok.com. Built by PM Nehru on 25 acres in the diplomatic enclave. From ₹10,000. Discounts of 25%+ given for stays of 3+ nights.
- 4 The Claridges New Delhi, 12 Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Rd, ☏ +91 11 4133 5133, corporate@claridges.com. Built in 1952 and renovated. From ₹13,000.
- 5 ITC Maurya, Sardar Patel Marg, ☏ +91 11 2611 2233, reservations@itchotels.in. One of the best hotels in the city. Great restaurants, including the Bukhara. From ₹8,100 during low season and ₹12,000 during high season.
- 6 The Leela Palace New Delhi, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 39331234, reservations@theleela.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. The hotel building has been awarded an L.E.E.D. Platinum certification.
- 7 Oberoi Delhi, Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg, ☏ +91 11 2436 3030, reservations@oberoigroup.com. Mostly a business hotel. 5 stars. Includes a luxury retail complex. Views of Humayun's Tomb and the New Delhi Golf Course. From ₹9,500 during low season and ₹12,000 during high season.
- 8 Taj Mahal Hotel, 1, Man Singh Rd, ☏ +91 11 2302 6162. 294 rooms. From ₹13,200.
- 9 Taj Palace, Sardar Patel Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 2611 0202. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. 403 rooms on 6 acres. Discounted rates from ₹19,200.