Parks and the outdoors in Delhi

393 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Delhi.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 393.

Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim, GFDL 1.2 (licence)

SeeHistoric siteSouth East
Humayun's Tomb
Hindi: हुमायूँ का मक़बरा Humāyūn kā Maqbarā; Urdu: ہمایوں کا مقبرہ Humāyūn kā Maqbarā
is one of Delhi's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. - The tomb is in large, immaculately maintained gardens in the Persian Char Bagh (four corners) style that were thoroughly renovated in 2003 with the Aga Khan's help and are probably the best in Delhi. As you pass through the first gate, you will glimpse the dome of the tomb and enter a floral path leading to the second (West) gate, which now acts as the entrance to the giant central garden. - The centrepiece is the eponymous tomb of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. Built starting in 1562, it was the first major Mughal structure in the city and has been described as a predecessor or prototype of the Taj Mahal. The structures are, indeed, stylistically similar, although Humayun's Tomb is built from red sandstone, not white marble, and was built by a wife grieving for her husband, not the other way around. You can climb up to the second level (the stairs on the west side are very steep, those on the south side less so), and on the south side you will find the entrance into the main crypt where Humayun is buried. Before you leave, be sure to visit the South Gate, the original royal entrance, from where you can get picture-postcard views without too many tourists in the way.
daily from sunrise to sunset₹ 40/600, Indians/foreigners · Built 1570 · Heritage listed
SeeAttractionOld Delhi
Jama Masjid
जामा मस्जिद Jāmā Masjid
The largest mosque in India and a must-see while in Delhi. Beware of dishonest guides who will try to convince you that a tour guide is mandatory and is included in the ₹200 camera fee; they will give you an extremely hurried "tour" of the mosque and then demand a further payment of ₹200-300 for the tour. You can climb to the top of the minaret for ₹100 (locals maybe ₹20). The climb is steep, dark and somewhat claustrophobic, but you'll get great views over the complex and the city. You'll need to cover up your shoulders and legs (scarves and lungis available for rental - about ₹10), and take off your shoes (expect to tip the shoe minder, ₹5 is plenty, or carry your shoes with you in your own bag). Pictures should not be taken during prayer hours. If you're going to sit down don't look too comfortable. Certainly don't eat or become too engrossed in any reading material you may be carrying, the rule is that non-Muslims must make their visits brief and guards will usher along visitors who linger.
7AM-sunset, tourists are not allowed in from 12:15PM-1:45PM or in the half-hour before sunset.Entry is officially free, although if you have a camera with you (even if deep in your bag) the aggressive "guards" will not let you go in without paying the ₹300 fee (this includes the ₹100 minar climb), and this includes camera phones. If you just walk in they will grab you and "carry" you out
SeeAttractionOld Delhi
Red Fort
लाल क़िला Lāl Qilā
One of Delhi's top tourist sights and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A brilliant red sandstone fort was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (who also built the Taj Mahal) as his ruling palace. Completed in 1648, the years since have not treated the buildings kindly: the rooms have long since been stripped of all objects, the marble inlays are long gone and quite a few buildings are off-limits. Still, the scale remains imposing and the gardens are kept lush and green even in midwinter.
Wheelchair accessible
SeeMonumentOld Delhi
Raj Ghat
Royal Platform
The memorial to Mahatma Gandhi at the site of his cremation. Check for closure dates/security checks around national holidays/Gandhi's death anniversary.
9:30AM-5:30PM
SeeMonumentOld Delhi
Shantivan
Peace Garden
The memorial to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.
SeeAttractionSouth East
Bahá'í Lotus Temple
Shaped like a lotus bud with 27 petals, this stunning temple suspended above milky-blue ponds is surely one of the most magnificent monuments ever made from concrete, however, there is very little to see inside. The lush park around is well landscaped but mostly off-limits.
Tue-Sun: Apr-Sep 9AM–7PM, Oct-Mar 9:30AM–5:30PMFree
DoZooSouth East
National Zoological Park
NZP
The Delhi Zoo is a very large and sprawling park dedicated to preserving the rich biodiversity of the country. This park may be the only chance of seeing a tiger or elephant for some travellers. Be prepared to do a lot of walking.
9:30AM-4PM (closed Fri)Foreigner: ₹ 100, Indian: ₹ 20 · Wheelchair accessible
SeeCastleNorth
Qudsia Bagh
Qudsia Bagh was constructed by Qudsia Begum. wife of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah and mother of Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur. She was born as a Hindu and her initial name was Udham Bai. She was a dancing girl in the court of Muhammad Shah, who later married her as his third wife. After Muhammad Shah's death in 1748, her son Ahmad Shah Bahadur (1725–1775) became emperor. As a widow, she took the title Qudsia Begum. She constructed the Qudsia Bagh in 1748. Formerly a splendid palace, has now much dilapidated and neglected.Large part of it was destroyed during the Revolt of 1857. Today the entrance gate, the Sahi (Royal) Mosque and remains of the stables are all that is left of the spectacular Mughal gardens.
DoSouth East
Bharat Mandapam
formerly Pragati Maidan
A venue for large exhibitions and conventions in New Delhi, and one of the largest in India, overlooking the Purana Qila opposite gate number 1. It houses exhibition halls, eateries, performance spaces and compounds and hosts over 70 national and international exhibitions annually, with the largest being the India International Trade Fair (IITF). During the exhibitions, entry of visitors is also allowed through Gate No. 4 on Bhairon Marg. Rock shows and plays are held quite frequently. There is also an internal shuttle service for those who do not wish to walk.
SeeAttractionSouth East
Sunder Nursery
Central Park, Azim Bagh, Bagh-e-Azeem
A 16th-century heritage park complex. During British rule, the nursery was established to grow experimental plants. Today the nursey still operates. It is an interesting mix of landscape gardens coupled with wilderness. The park is a favourite among morning and evening walkers and has special play zones for kids.
Closed · opens 7 am₹200 for foreigners
DoParkSouth
Deer Park
Aditya Nath Jha Deer Park
A fantastic park for a relaxing. There are some good restaurants near this park and has Tomb of Firoz Shah Tughlaq at one of its corners. Has a boating lake. It is also the home to many deer, peacocks, monkeys, ducks and other wildlife. It's a paradise for morning walkers and has picnic huts. It is near Delhi Lawn Tennis Association.
5:30AM-7PMFree
SeeHistoric siteOld Delhi
Feroz Shah Kotla
Feroz Shah Kotla is the fifth citadel of Delhi and was built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 1354. The previous citadels of Delhi were abandoned due to lack of water, so Feroz Shah Kotla was built right next to the Yamuna River. Today the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla lie nestled between the cricket stadium, of the same name, and the Ring Road. The ruins of the Feroze Shah Kotla are said to be the abode of friendly djinns (spirit) and every Thursday hordes of devotees, irrespective of religion, visit the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla with photocopies of letters, citing their problems. They stick the letters on different strategic spots of the citadel and offer prayers to the Djinns. Feroz Shah Kotla still houses several interesting ruins. Although minimalist in nature, they still reveal the former glory and splendor of the ancient citadel. The ruins of the citadel are scattered over a large area and consist of a handful of prominent structures like the Hawa Mahal, Jami Masjid and Circular Stepwell.
Sunrise - Sunset
SeeMonumentOld Delhi
Khas Mahal
Private Palace
The emperor's main residence. The octagonal Mussaman Burj tower looks out toward the Yamuna River and is where the Emperor used to appear before the public each morning.
SeeNorth
Roshanara Bagh
Begum Roshanara was Aurangzeb's sister. She was the second daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaj Mahal. She was a supporter of her younger brother Aurangzeb and played an active role during the war of succession which took place after Shah Jahan's illness in 1657. She was a talented poet and a powerful lady in Mughal politics.However she is best remembered for Raoshanara Bagh, a pleasure garden laid out by her in 1650. She was discretely poisoned by her brother Aurangzeb. She died in great pain in 1671. She was laid to rest in a tomb inside her favourite garden. The tomb is popularly known as baradari (literally meaning 12 doors). The brick built structure houses four domed chhatris in the corners. The garden is centred round a lake, which attracts migratory birds during winter. The garden is laid out in Japanese style.
DoParkSouth East
Indraprastha Park
It includes a children's park, an amphitheatre and a food court. The park was constructed in 2004 by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
6AM–7:15PM
SeeSouth
Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir
It is a forty-year-old temple complex and Bengali community cultural centre. The compound has three temples - that of Lord Shiva and Radha Krishna and the Main temple in the middle. Built on a small hill, it started as a Shiva temple, which still stands within the complex, the larger shrines dedicated to Kali, Shiva and Radhakrishna were added in 1984. The temple also hosted its first Durga Puja in 1977, the tradition that continues to date.
SeeGardenOld Delhi
Hayat Bakhsh Bagh
Life-Bestowing Garden
Once a grand garden full of fountains and streams, now sadly all dry, only dry channels and acres of green grass remain. Near here will you find the Sawan Pavilion.
SeeHistoric siteOld Delhi
Ajmeri Gate
The southwestern gate built in 1644 with high arched openings, and one of the battlefields of the 1857 rebellion. The road through this gate leads to Ajmer in Rajasthan, hence the name. A lovely park surrounds the gate.
SeeHistory museumOld Delhi
Shaheedi Park
शहीदी पार्क Śahīdī Pārk
An open-air museum with a vast collection of sculptures of famous personalities in Indian history, including freedom fighters, soldiers, thinkers, monarchs, and even rishis (Hindu sages) and deities. The sculptures range from bas-reliefs and busts to full statues.
SeeNorth
Coronation Park
The venue of the three Delhi durbars. A durbar (दरबार darbār, meaning "court") is an Indian imperial-style mass assembly organised by the British to mark the succession of an Emperor or Empress of India. The first durbar was held in 1877 and proclaimed Queen Victoria as the Empress of India. The second durbar was held in 1903 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII. The third and final durbar was held on 12 December 1911 to commemorate the coronation of George V (the original coronation was held on 22 June 1911 in London). It was also where the King-Emperor announced the move of India’s capital from Calcutta to Delhi. After the three durbars, a towering coronation memorial was built. Built in obelisk style the sandstone memorial is approachable from all sides by a flight of stairs. The memorial contains English and Urdu inscriptions on both sides about the final durbar. The park also contains a 15 m high (including a pedestal) marble statue of King George V. The statues of four viceroys (Lord Hardinge, Lord Willingdon, Lord Irwin and Lord Chelmsford) occupy the four corners of the park.
DoSouth
Garden of Five Senses
Partly built over a rocky terrain, the garden has various theme areas, including a section on the lines of Mughal Gardens, plus pools of water lilies, bamboo courts, herb gardens and a solar energy park.
DoSouth East
Kalindi Kunj
A public garden, named after Kalindi (another name for the river and goddess Yamuna), as it is next to the Yamuna River. It consists of the Delhi Eye, a Ferris wheel named after the one in London. Several tourist attractions are visible from the Delhi Eye.
SeeSouth
Sanjay Van
A ridge forest and part of the Aravalli Range. There are multiple entry and exit points, but the ones at the Qutub Institutional Area and Neela Hauz Bridge near Vasant Kunj provide the easiest access and the least confusion. You are advised to wear shoes and full-length trousers as protection against the thorny shrubbery and to take sufficient fluids and snacks, as there is no kiosk or shop in the quiet of the woods.
SeeNorth
Gurdwara Nank Piao
Built at the site, in the garden where Guru Nanak Dev camped when he visited Delhi in 1505 during the reign of Sultan Sikandar Lodi.
DoEast
Sanjay Lake Park
संजय झील Sañjay Jhīl
A newly built adventure park comprising a range of outdoor activities, from water sports and treetop courses to archery and beach volleyball. The adventure park also has an artificial lake which attracts migratory birds and is surrounded by indigenous trees.
10:30AM–7:30PM
DoNorth
Yamuna Biodiversity Park
A biodiversity park developed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). It serves as an ideal habitat for migratory and resident bird species.
DoParkOld Delhi
Mahatma Gandhi Park
Company Bagh
An early British-era garden, later rededicated in memory of Gandhi.
DoAmusement parkSouth East
Waste to Wonder Park
Opened in 2019, this theme park has replicas of some of the world's wonders including the Colosseum, Taj Mahal, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Great Pyramid of Giza, Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer Statue and the Statue of Liberty. All the replicas are made of industrial waste and scrap.
SeeAttractionSouth
Bagh I Alam
Bagh I Alam ka Gumbad is a tomb belonging to the Lodi era. It is a mixture of local stones, red sandstones and blue ceramic tiles. It is surrounded by lush green scenery of gardens with a variety of birds and deer flocking. The interior is full of sunlight filtered through the framework. It also houses three tombs, whose identities are unidentified.
BuyNorth
Metro Walk
An open shopping mall with an amusement park called Adventure Island. There are many stand-alone restaurants as well as food court kiosks.
SeeNorth
Shalimar Bagh
Shalimar Gardens
A Mughal garden with shade trees, majestic parterre and the garden pavilion.
SeeSouth
Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park
A biodiversity park northwest of Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. It was developed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from 2015 to 2018.
BuyBookshopOld Delhi
Nai Sarak Bookshop Area
Narrow alleys where most publishers are based. This is very popular with students, particularly college students as course books are available here. They carry books in nearly all major languages spoken in India. Don't expect bargaining to work here as shopkeepers are too busy to argue. The shopkeepers do more business than any proper branded shop, selling at least 5,000 books daily. There are also many wholesalers. Very few books will be on display and you need to ask for a particular type of book as the variety of books sold is huge. Most books are original and the shopkeepers get very irritated if you question the book's genuineness. You can either take a rickshaw or walk. One of Delhi's oldest shopping complexes, you can find any book there after a day of searching. Also good areas for sightseeing.
EatNorth
Amritsari Kulcha King (Karol Bagh wale)
Amritsari Kulcha Wala
If you are into amritsari kulcha, you probably can't miss this. People on dieting beware: the amount of butter that the vendor puts in is huge. However, without it you will not enjoy the Amritsari Kulcha so much. It is kind of a road side dhaba or shack. ₹60 for two kulchas is what he charges. It is actually on Outer Ring Road, Adjoining to a park wall. You can ask anybody about the Kulcha wala and they will be able to tell you the direction in Paschim Vihar/Meera Vihar Outer Ring Rd.
SeeNorth
Chauburja Mosque
From the Hindu Rao Hospital gate a long walk northwards along the North Ridge leads to the park maintained by Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Next to the entrance of the park is the Chauburja Mosque. This was also constructed by Feroz Shah Tughlaq and along with Pir Ghaib and the baoli was part and parcel of the hunting expeditions. Literally meaning the Mosque with four towers (or probably domes), sadly only the dome of the south – east corner survives to this day. The eastern side has three arched entrances and four bastions.
BuyWest
Rajouri Garden Market
A famous shopping area, the largest mall complex in Delhi. It offers a variety of both national and international clothing brands, such as United Colors of Benetton, Levi Strauss, Marks & Spencer and Bossini. Excellent place to shop for weddings as well as everyday clothing.
SeeNorth
Southern Gurad House
A walk along the wanding roadways of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) park leads to the Southern Guard House and then to the Flagstaff Tower. A couple of yards to the left of the main walkway is the Southern Guard House. A small rectangular structure with a pedimented roof. Built in the first part of the nineteenth century the Southern Guard House along with the nearby Flagstaff Tower, was part of the cantonment area of the armed forces of the British East India Company.
SeeSouth
Tohfe Wala Gumbad
This is the third tomb in the dear park area. It lies further north of the other two tombs. The Tohfe Wala Gumbad is a small tomb standing on a raised platform, with a domed ceiling and a battlement, and houses several graves inside.
SeeOld Delhi
Yamuna Ghat
Enjoy the scene of ritual bathing and sunset on the Yamuna River, which is considered sacred to Hindus along with the Ganges.
DoPark
Safdarjung's Tomb
The Tomb of Safdar Jang is a sandstone and marble mausoleum in Delhi, India. It was built in 1754 in the late Mughal Empire style for Nawab Safdarjung. Safdarjung, Nawab of Awadh, was made prime minister of the Mughal Empire (Wazir ul-Mamlak-i-Hindustan) when Ahmed Shah Bahadur ascended the throne in 1748.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Delhi (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).