New Delhi Travel Guide: India Gate, Kartavya Path & More

Why New Delhi?

A lot of first-time visitors arrive expecting "New Delhi" and "Delhi" to mean the same thing — they don't, and understanding the difference makes the whole city click into place. Delhi, formally the National Capital Territory of Delhi, is the entire sprawling metropolis of over 30 million people. New Delhi is one specific district within it: a compact, deliberately planned administrative core built by the British between 1911 and 1931, home to the President's residence, Parliament, and the central government secretariats. For the full picture of the wider city, including Old Delhi's Mughal monuments and South Delhi's neighbourhoods, see our complete Delhi travel guide.

New Delhi is also distinct from Old Delhi, the walled Mughal city of Shahjahanabad built by Emperor Shah Jahan roughly three centuries earlier, centred on the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Where Old Delhi is dense, narrow-laned, and Mughal in character, New Delhi — often called Lutyens' Delhi after its chief architect, Edwin Lutyens — is defined by wide radial avenues, roundabouts, government buildings in red and cream sandstone, and generous green space. It was formally inaugurated in 1931 as the new capital of British India, replacing Calcutta, and has remained the seat of India's government ever since independence in 1947.

This guide covers New Delhi's core sights specifically — India Gate, Kartavya Path, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, Jantar Mantar, and the National Museum — along with practical logistics for visiting them. Nearby districts worth combining with a New Delhi day are covered in our separate guides to Connaught Place, the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, and the green, ruin-dotted Lodhi Garden.

Best Time to Visit New Delhi

Because so much of New Delhi's sightseeing happens outdoors, on wide open avenues with little shade, the season you visit in matters more here than almost anywhere else in the city.

Our pick: October to March, ideally on a weekday morning. The light on the sandstone government buildings is best in the early morning and just before sunset, and the wide avenues are far more pleasant to walk when temperatures are cool.

How to Reach & Get Around New Delhi

New Delhi sits at the geographic and administrative centre of the city, which makes it unusually easy to reach compared to more far-flung neighbourhoods.

• By Air: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is around 16 km from India Gate — roughly 30–45 minutes by road, or a similar time via the Airport Express Metro Line to New Delhi Railway Station followed by a short cab or auto.
• By Rail: New Delhi Railway Station is only a few kilometres from India Gate and Kartavya Path, making it the most convenient station to arrive at if your sightseeing is focused on this district.
• By Metro: The Yellow Line's Central Secretariat station sits right at the edge of the government core, close to Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament House. The Blue Line's Janpath station and Yellow Line's Udyog Bhawan station are both within easy walking distance of India Gate, Kartavya Path, Jantar Mantar, and the National Museum.
• On foot / by auto: Once inside the district, distances between individual sights are short enough to walk (roughly 1.5–2.5 km between most points), though app-based autos are useful in peak heat or if you're short on time.

India Gate & the National War Memorial

India Gate is a 42-metre sandstone and granite triumphal arch designed by Edwin Lutyens, completed in 1931 as a war memorial commemorating around 70,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Their names are inscribed on the arch itself, and the monument has remained one of Delhi's most recognisable landmarks and a favourite evening gathering spot, especially when it's lit up after dark and the surrounding lawns fill with families, food carts, and boat-ride vendors on the adjacent canal.

Immediately behind India Gate sits the National War Memorial, a separate and more recent structure completed in 2019 to honour Indian armed forces personnel who died in conflicts since independence in 1947 — a distinction worth knowing, since visitors sometimes assume the two memorials are the same thing. The War Memorial's design, arranged in concentric circles with an eternal flame, and its sombre Wall of Honour make it a quieter, more reflective counterpart to India Gate's livelier public-square atmosphere.

• Entry: Free, open to the public at all times.
• Best time to visit: Early morning for photography and quiet, or evening (after 6 PM) for the illuminated arch and the liveliest atmosphere.
• Nearby: Boat rides on the canal, ice cream and street food carts, and the start of Kartavya Path heading toward Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath)

The ceremonial boulevard running roughly 3 km from Rashtrapati Bhavan, past Parliament House and India Gate, was known as Rajpath ("King's Way") for most of its existence. In September 2022, as part of a broader redevelopment of the Central Vista area, it was officially renamed Kartavya Path ("Path of Duty") — the road itself, its layout, and its role in the city are unchanged, only the name and some of the surrounding public realm (new lawns, walkways, and lighting) were updated.

Kartavya Path is best known as the route of the Republic Day parade held every 26 January, when it's lined with military processions, state tableaux, and cultural performances marking the anniversary of India's constitution coming into force in 1950. Outside of that one day, it functions as a wide, largely pedestrian-friendly avenue — popular for evening walks, cycling, and simply taking in the scale of the surrounding government architecture from India Gate at one end to Vijay Chowk, near Rashtrapati Bhavan, at the other.

Rashtrapati Bhavan & Amrit Udyan

Sitting at the western end of Kartavya Path on Raisina Hill, Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India — a vast, 340-room sandstone palace designed by Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1929, originally built as the Viceroy's House for the British Viceroy of India. Flanked by the twin Secretariat buildings (North Block and South Block, designed by Herbert Baker) and fronted by the ceremonial Vijay Chowk, it remains one of the largest residences of any head of state in the world.

• Exterior viewing: Free and unrestricted — the sweeping view from Vijay Chowk down Kartavya Path is one of New Delhi's signature sights, and the annual Beating Retreat ceremony is held here in late January.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex: Select galleries within the estate are open to the public on specific days, requiring free advance booking online along with a valid photo ID and security screening.
• Amrit Udyan (formerly Mughal Gardens): A Mughal-influenced formal garden within the estate, renamed in 2023, typically opened to the public for a few weeks each year around February–March during the annual "Udyan Utsav" — book a free online slot well ahead, as demand is high during the short open window.

Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan)

The original Parliament House, designed by Herbert Baker and completed in 1927, is instantly recognisable for its circular colonnaded design — 144 cream sandstone columns ringing a building roughly 170 metres in diameter. It served as the seat of India's legislature from independence in 1947 until a new, triangular Parliament building was inaugurated nearby in 2023 as part of the Central Vista redevelopment; the older circular building, now referred to as Samvidhan Sadan ("Constitution House"), continues to be used for ceremonial and constitutional functions.

Neither building is generally open to casual tourists. Access is restricted to those with an official appointment, a Member of Parliament's pass, or accredited press during a sitting session, and security around both structures is strict year-round. Most visitors simply view the circular facade of the old Parliament House from Sansad Marg or the streets bordering the complex — still an impressive sight, even from outside the gates.

Jantar Mantar

A short walk from Connaught Place and Parliament Street, Jantar Mantar is an 18th-century astronomical observatory built in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, one of five such observatories he constructed across northern India (the others are in Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura). Its striking, geometric masonry instruments — including the towering Samrat Yantra sundial, capable of reading solar time to within seconds — were used to track celestial positions, predict eclipses, and maintain calendars well before modern telescopes reached India.

• Entry: A modest ticketed fee applies, with a separate (higher) rate for foreign nationals; open daily during daylight hours.
• Time needed: 30–45 minutes is enough to see the main instruments and read the on-site information boards.
• Good to combine with: Connaught Place's shops and restaurants sit just a short walk away — see our Connaught Place guide for a natural next stop.

National Museum

On Janpath, close to India Gate, the National Museum holds one of India's largest collections of art and antiquities, spanning Harappan-era artefacts, Buddhist sculpture, Mughal miniature paintings, textiles, and arms and armour across multiple floors. It's a useful, air-conditioned counterpoint to a day spent largely outdoors, and a genuinely worthwhile stop for anyone wanting context on the civilisations and empires referenced throughout the rest of Delhi's monuments.

Budget at least 1.5–2 hours for even a focused visit; history enthusiasts can easily spend half a day. Check current hours before visiting, as the museum is typically closed one day a week (Mondays, at most Indian national museums) and hours can shift seasonally.

Suggested New Delhi Itinerary

New Delhi's core sights are compact enough to cover in a single half-day, though a full day allows a more unhurried pace with time for the National Museum.

Bookend a New Delhi day with a wander through the ruins and street art of Lodhi Garden or an evening in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri — both sit within easy reach and round out the picture of Lutyens' Delhi beyond the government core.

Where to Eat Nearby

The government core itself has few restaurants, but Connaught Place — a short metro ride or 15–20 minute walk from India Gate — has by far the widest range of options within easy reach.

• Street carts near India Gate: Ice cream, roasted corn (bhutta), and light snacks from the vendors along the canal — casual, cheap, and part of the evening atmosphere.
• Connaught Place restaurants and cafés: Everything from long-running Indian institutions to international chains and modern cafés — see our Connaught Place guide for specific recommendations.
• Khan Market: A short cab ride away, popular for a more upscale dining scene spanning Indian regional cuisine, Italian, and modern fusion.
• Hotel restaurants near Janpath: Several of Delhi's well-known heritage hotels sit within a short distance of India Gate, useful for a sit-down meal without straying far from the sightseeing route.

Budget Breakdown

New Delhi's core sights are largely free to view from outside, which keeps a sightseeing day here relatively inexpensive compared to monument-heavy days elsewhere in the city.

* Excludes accommodation, which is best budgeted as part of your wider Delhi stay. Foreign nationals pay higher entry fees at ticketed sites like Jantar Mantar and the National Museum — always check current rates on-site or online before visiting.

Essential Tips for Visiting New Delhi

• Book Rashtrapati Bhavan access in advance: The Museum Complex and Amrit Udyan both require free online booking ahead of time — walk-in access isn't available.
• Don't expect to enter Parliament House: Both the old and new buildings are restricted to those with an appointment, MP's pass, or press accreditation — plan on an exterior view only.
• Carry a valid photo ID: Required for any Rashtrapati Bhavan booking and useful generally, given the level of security around this district.
• Time your walk around the heat, not the crowds: Kartavya Path and India Gate see steady footfall throughout the day, but the bigger factor is shade — plan the walking-heavy parts for early morning or evening.
• Expect closures around Republic Day: If visiting in mid-to-late January, check for road closures and rehearsal schedules around Kartavya Path and India Gate well ahead of your visit.
• Combine with a metro-connected neighbour: Connaught Place, Lodhi Garden, and Chanakyapuri are all close enough to fold into the same day without much extra travel time.

Frequently Asked Questions