Four hours is not enough for Delhi and never will be. It is, however, enough for one thing done properly, and the mistake most visitors make is trying for three.
Option one: Old Delhi
Chandni Chowk is twenty minutes from Paharganj. Walk the spice market at Khari Baoli, climb the steps of Jama Masjid for the courtyard, and eat something fried before you leave. Go in the afternoon and stay until the light goes amber on the sandstone. Take the Metro back rather than a taxi; the traffic at dusk is not worth the comfort.
Option two: the green city
Lodhi Garden and Humayun's Tomb sit within a short ride of each other and belong to a completely different Delhi — quiet, planted, and mercifully unhurried. Humayun's Tomb rewards an unhurried hour more than a quick photograph. Carry water.
Option three: shopping without the sprawl
Connaught Place and the Janpath market are the closest thing to a one-stop afternoon: colonnades, bookshops, a cup of coffee sitting down, and stalls for whatever you forgot to pack. It is the easiest of the three to fit around a train.
What to skip on a short visit
- Anything requiring more than forty minutes of travel each way.
- Two monuments in the same afternoon.
- A guided tour sold on the street.
Leave your bags with us, take a light day pack, and give the one thing you chose the whole afternoon. Delhi will still be here on your next trip.
