Places to Chill in Delhi

As the name suggests, Humayun's tomb is the final resting place of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. Located in the Nizamuddin East area of Delhi, it is the first garden tomb in the Indian subcontinent. This splendid piece of architecture was commissioned for construction by Humayun's chief consort empress Bega Begum in the year 1569-70 and is one of the very few structures that used red sandstone on such a massive scale at that time.

An affluent neighbourhood in South Delhi, Hauz Khas has been well known since medieval times. A reservoir is circumferenced with beautiful buildings and a well-maintained park around.  View of the fort during sunset and sunrise is beyond words. There are remnants of Islamic architecture roughly coloured by splotches of urban culture. The existing status of the village retains the old charm of the place along with an enhanced aesthetic appeal through the well-maintained green parks all around with walkways, and the urbane refurbished upmarket and quirky places of interest that have spruced up the old Mughal surviving structures.

Inaugurated in 1959, National Zoological Park is situated near The Old Fort in Delhi and is a favourite weekend spot among adults and children alike. From biggest cats to the tiniest birds, the zoo has all kinds of animals and birds. Initially, it was known as Delhi Zoo when in 1982 it was renamed The National Zoological Park with the idea of making it the model zoo of the country. At the Zoological Park, birds and animals live in an environment that in many ways resemble their natural habitat.

Located near the Safdarjung tomb and Khan Market of Delhi, the Lodhi Garden is a luscious garden that houses the tombs of Sayyid ruler Mohammed Shah and Lodhi king Sikandar Lodhi. The construction of this great work of architecture took place under the Lodhi reign sometime in the 15th century. In addition to encompassing the final resting place of two great leaders, the Lodhi Garden also has the Shisha Gumbad and Bara Gumbad within its perimeter. The architecture here shows a mix of work by Sayyidis and Lodhis and is the epitome of magnificent engineering that echoes of Delhi's illustrious history.

The soaring and brave tower that allures tourists despite being destroyed by ravages of natural apocalypses several times, Qutub Minar is the tallest individual tower in the world and second tallest monument of Delhi. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is located in Mehrauli and its construction was started in 1192 by Qutb Ud-Din-Aibak, founder of Delhi Sultanate. Later, the tower was built by various rulers over the centuries. The sight of this glorious monument takes you back to the rich history of India.

Stoically standing in the placid vicinity of Indraprastha, Purana Qila or the Old Fort is a masterpiece of the ancient glory and sterling architecture of the bygone Mughal Empire, and is one of the oldest forts in Delhi. Built on the banks of river Yamuna and spread over a vast 1.5 kms of area, the monument has tons of myths and legends of the medieval era attached to it. The most interesting of which suggests that the historical city of the Hindu religion- Indraprastha was built here, by Pandavas and the fort was the famous assembly hall, mentioned in the epic Mahabharat.

Popularly known as the “soul” of the Presidential Palace, the Mughal Gardens are located inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan Complex. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the year 1917 for Lady Harding, the gardens cover a vast area of 13 acres and are a wonderful incorporation of Mughal architecture with that of British style. Inspired by the Mughal Gardens in Jammu and Kashmir, the ones in Delhi have succeeded in replicating the same charm and creating the picture perfect verdure panorama.

Located in the poised Said-ul-Ajaib, away from the din of the city, the enticingly alluring park brings together an evocative bouquet of colour and fragrance, texture and form. Aptly called as the Garden of Five Senses, the park sprawling over 20 acres of land is designed to stimulate your senses of touch, sight, smell, sound and taste and is a paradise for nature’s lovers. Conceptualized on the theme of natural beauty to provide the locals with a leisure space, this enchantingly beautiful garden is a celebration of aesthetic expression and fabricated design.

Located in Moti Bagh in Patiala, Moti Bagh Palace is an ancient magnificent palace that attracts a lot of tourists to the place. Originally built in the 1840s by the Maharaja of Patiala, the premises of the palace were expanded in 1920 under the rule of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. Boasting of striking architecture with chhatris and jharokas, and exuding old world charm, it is home to 15 dining halls. Lately, a part of the palace has been converted into a museum and the remaining into National Institute of Sports.

No matter how cliché sunsets are, nothing beats their beauty and the golden and violet hues that colour the sky post the sun is off to sleep. The Parthasarathy Rocks is an open-air auditorium in the JNU Campus surrounded by some rocky hills. Gazing at the horizon with ton amour, while the sun drowns below it is a sight to behold here and to be locked away in your memories for eternity.

Sunder Nursery (also known as Central Park) is a park complex situated adjacent to Humayun's Tomb, Built in the 16th century, the park was originally known as Azim Bagh. Sprawling over a whopping 90 acres of land, the park is home to 300 types of trees.

Popularly known as the "lungs of Delhi", Deer Park is a verdant green park situated in the heart of the very crowded Hauz Khas Village area of New Delhi. Consisting of a deer park, duck park, art market, rabbit fields, fountain, lake and an enclosed old heritage monument area, the park is a common favourite and a respite among Delhites looking for a break from the pollution and dust of the city.