The sheer scale of the red sandstone walls at sunrise is unbeatable — go early to beat both the heat and the crowds. Entry is ₹35 for Indians, ₹550 for foreigners, plus a small camera fee if you're bringing a DSLR. Restrooms near the entrance were clean but queued.

Climbed the south minaret for a rooftop view over Old Delhi's rooftops and satellite dishes — worth every step. Free to enter the courtyard but there's a ₹300 camera fee and a ₹200 fee to climb the minaret; shoe check-in area was a bit crowded but the attendants keep it orderly.

Total sensory overload in the best way — parathas, jalebis, and a cycle-rickshaw ride through impossibly narrow lanes. Rickshaw ride was ₹100 for about 20 minutes, negotiate before you get in. Street food stalls vary a lot on cleanliness — stick to the ones with a steady line of locals.

A quiet, contemplative close to the first day — the black marble platform is simple but genuinely moving. Free entry, no ticket needed, and the lawns around it are some of the best-kept public grounds we saw in Delhi.

We treated ourselves for our last night — around ₹18,300 (~$220), well above what we spent anywhere else on this trip, but The Imperial is one of Delhi's genuine heritage landmarks and it shows: colonial-era architecture, art deco details, and a location a short walk from Connaught Place and the Rajiv Chowk metro. Breakfast was an excellent spread, both Indian and continental. Hot water was reliable and the room was spotless. Some street noise from Connaught Place after dark, easily worth it for one night to end the trip.

Even better than photos suggest — the 42m sandstone arch anchors the entire Rajpath boulevard. Free and open 24/7, but the surrounding lawns get littered fast on weekend evenings when vendors and crowds pile in — go on a weekday morning if you want it quiet.

The Mughal Gardens tour needs advance booking, but even the exterior view up Raisina Hill is grand. Garden entry is free but slots fill up online days ahead; security screening at the gate took about 20 minutes.

The blueprint for the Taj Mahal, and far less crowded — the charbagh gardens are a great spot to slow down. ₹35 for Indians, ₹550 for foreigners. Paths and lawns were noticeably well-maintained compared to some of the smaller monuments nearby.

The 27 marble 'petals' glow at golden hour — sit inside for a few minutes of genuine silence. Free entry, no ticket at all, and it's spotless inside — shoes off before entering, lockers provided. Queue can run 30-45 minutes on weekends.

The intricate carvings up close are incredible — the 73m minaret is the tallest brick minaret in the world. ₹35/₹550 entry, and the lawns around the complex are genuinely well-kept, good spot for a picnic after.

The stone carving detail took nearly a decade to complete — allow a couple of hours, and note phones aren't allowed inside. Entry itself is free, but there's a mandatory ₹100 locker fee for phones/bags/cameras. Whole complex is immaculately clean, some of the tidiest grounds in Delhi.

Perfect midday breather — 15th-century tombs scattered through a genuinely well-kept city park. Free entry, no ticket, and it's one of the cleanest public parks in the city — locals jog here every morning.

Far quieter than Humayun's Tomb but just as beautiful — often called the last flicker of Mughal architecture. ₹25 entry, barely anyone there on a weekday, and it's clean and peaceful enough to just sit and read for an hour.

The white colonnaded circle is great for a coffee break between bookshops and flagship stores. No entry fee obviously, but parking is a hassle and pricier than expected — better to take the metro straight to Rajiv Chowk station.

14th-century madrasa ruins overlooking a lake, wrapped by a neighborhood full of cafes and design studios — an unbeatable combo. Free to wander the ruins themselves; the lake water isn't great for swimming but the deck cafes around it are clean and worth the slightly higher prices.

A great final stop to tie the whole trip together — the Harappan civilization gallery alone needs an hour. ₹20 for Indians, ₹650 for foreigners, and an audio guide rental is an extra ₹150 — worth it. Galleries were clean and well air-conditioned.