Top 10 Things to Experience at Delhi Airport

A long hour layover flight can be really boring, especially if it extends to over 10-15 hours. Chilly night and foggy mornings are the root cause for a delay in flight. Sometimes, the connecting flights also have long layovers. One of the biggest problems which the travelers face is how to spend their remaining time.

If you are visiting Delhi Airport for the first time then you may not know some things which can make your time more enjoyable and useful. If you are finding a way to spend your time at Delhi Airport then here is what you can do:

1. Go and get some sleep

Your long hour flight may have hampered your sleep and you must be feeling fatigued and exhausted. It becomes really difficult to continue the remaining journey if the nap is not completed. Hence, Sam’s Snooze at My Space can be a perfect place for you at the airport. It provides the avenue to sleep on an hourly basis and the cost mostly ranges from Rs. 500 to Rs. 700 for a single or double head.

Even if you are getting a place to sleep at the airport, quality has never been compromised and that’s why the avenue comes with all the luxuries which you can get in a hotel and offers comfort and convenience for travelers.

Suggested tour - Yoga & Cooking Classes Delhi

2. Go to your favorite restaurant

You might be hungry due to the long journey and might want to taste some delicious foods. Don’t wait! In the newly-built Terminal 3, you will not be disappointed.

Choose any of your brands like KFC, Subway, McDonald's or your favorite continental dishes like Chinese, Thai, French, Italian, etc or if you are more like a traditional guy who loves to drink Indian tea, you will find that too at the airport.

Get to known more about Famous Restaurants in Delhi

3. Shop your favorite clothes from famous brands

Getting stuck at the airport might not be boring for you if you are a shopaholic. The New Delhi airport is no less than a mall when it comes to shopping.

The airport has stores of Armani, Fabindia, Marks & Spencer, Gini & Jony, Satya Paul, Shopper’s Stop, UCB, Tommy Hilfiger, Zodiac, COVO, Da Milano, Ethos, Hugo Boss, Metro, Tumi, and W. Pick your favorite store or brand and dive into the world of shopping.

You can also explore some of the famous shopping places in Delhi.

4. Read your favorite books at the airport

You didn’t read books while at home because you were busy wasting your time. At the airport, where you have so much time left to do and you don’t know how to spend it, then reading books can be a great thing to do. It will not only make your mind fresh and active but you will also learn a lot of things.

Suggested tours - 2 Days - Delhi Private Tour Package

5. Complete your unfinished Task

You might be traveling for the business purpose and might not have finished your presentations or any other stuff. Doing the unfinished task at the airport can be a great use of time. Wi-fi is easily available at the airport and you can use the free Wi-fi service for 45 minutes and if you can throw a little money on the internet services, you can pay for the Wi-fi at Rs. 60/hr after the free service concludes.

Suggested tours - 2 Days - Delhi & Agra Tour

6. Head to the lounge if you want to have some little rest

You will not feel bored if your airport is having a lounge and luckily Delhi airport has 5 lounges that offer a premium level of comfort, convenience, and luxury. Many lounges here in the airport offer access to any traveler, it does not matter in which class you were traveling – which means you can fly in Economy Class and can pay to enter. Simply pre-book your visit online or use your lounge membership program.

Read more - Best Day Trips to Take From Delhi

7. Experience the role of a pilot

Yes, you heard it right, you can experience the role of a pilot at the airport. Relax! No one is going to tell you to fly the real airplane. The Cockpit flight simulator available at the airport offers you the chance to fly your own Boeing 737. You don’t have to do much to get the chance. Just sign up for a 15 or 30 minutes option and experience what the real cockpit really feels like. The simulator is located in Terminal 3’s International Departure and it is recommended to make a reservation.

Suggested tours - 3 Days - Delhi & Agra Tour

8. Freshen Up

Nothing feels much better than having a shower just after the long journey. This service is also available in the Delhi airport. Terminal 3 has shower facilities though no idea about the pricing.

Explore - Fairs & Events in Delhi

If you are not feeling like staying at the airport and you want to roam around the streets of Delhi, then don’t worry. There are some places near the airport which you will like to roam around. Let’s have a look at these places:

Top Attractions to Visit Around Delhi Airport

1. Lal Quila (Red Fort)

Lal Quila or Red Fort is the historic fort in the city of Delhi and every year on Independence Day, the Prime Minister of India hosts the flag at the main gate of the fort. The fort’s massive curtain wall dominates the sky of Delhi. It was built by Saha Jahan who was the fifth Mughal emperor of India. The fort’s artwork showcase Persian, European, and Indian art resulting in a unique Sahajahani style rich in form, expression, and color.

It showcases a high level of ornamentation, and the Kohinoor diamond was reportedly part of the furnishings. The fort's artwork depicts Persian, European and Indian art, resulting in a unique Shahjahani style rich in form, expression, and color. Red Fort is one of the building complexes of India which has a long period of history and its arts.

The famous tourist spot is visited daily by thousands of people and it is a great place of attraction. It is only 19.9 km from Delhi airport.

Read more - What to do in Delhi for 2 Days

2. Qutb Minar

Qutb Minar is the famous tourist attraction in Delhi which is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an immense tower whose construction began at the end of the twelfth century by QutbUd Din Aibak, founder of Delhi Sultanate. The tower stands at the height of 72.5 m (238ft), built with fluted red sandstone and decorated with calligraphy representing the verses of the koran.

The general public was allowed to access the top of the minaret before 1974. But soon a disastrous incident happened there which closed the entrance of the public to the top of the minaret. On 4 December 1981, the staircase lighting failed through which the public used to access the minaret. Around 400 to 500 visitors rushed towards the exit while 47 were killed in the accident and some were injured. Hence, the entrance has been closed since then.

Even if you are not allowed to visit the top of the minaret, it can still be a great place to click photos and spend your time and it is only 13.5 km from the Delhi airport.

3. Air Force Museum

Getting a tour around the Air Force Museum can be great fun and unique thing to do at the airport. Located within the Airport, the museum has a large collection of historical aircraft used by the IAF.

The museum clearly depicts the bravery of our Indian Air Force and their power to the world. It is a tribute to the hundreds of people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country. Anyone who visits the museum will be mesmerized by the beauty of our country.

In one such wall of its sections, there is a Rolled of Honour in golden letters, of officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Kashmir Operation 1947, Chinese Aggression 1962, Indo-Pak war in 1965 and 1971. While visiting the museum, you will see the most important photograph ever happened in the history of India which clearly displays Lieutenant General Niazi of Pakistan Army signing an agreement to surrender during the Indo-Pak war 1971 with General Jagjit Singh Arora.

On the other side, you will see a full-size United States Appollo Lunar Module which recorded the history of a first man stepping on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin on 21 July 1969. Along with this, the hanger houses different types of military aircraft that have become the backbone of the Air Force since its inception in 1932. One of them is Westland, the first plane to fly through the Khyber Pass in 1929. Westland Lysander, Hawker Tempest, and Vickers Spitfire played havoc during World War II, particularly during the Battle of Britain against German War Machine.

The museum is worth visiting and you should visit this place if you ever get around the Delhi airport.

Read more - 20 Most Famous Temples in Delhi

4. Rashtrapati Bhavan

attractions nearby in Delhi Airport — Rashtrapati Bhavan

The official home of the President of India which is located at the end of Rajpath in Delhi is the prestigious Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is a 340 room main building where the president of India resides and the building also includes reception halls, guest rooms, and offices. The entire Bhavan spreads at 320-acre land with huge presidential gardens, large open spaces, residences of bodyguards and staff members, etc. In terms of area, Rashtrapati Bhavan is the largest residence of any head of state in the world.

A museum inside Rashtrapati Bhavan was inaugurated by the former President of India, Sri Pranab Mukherjee on July 2014. It was opened to help visitors to get the view of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, its art, architecture and get educated about the lives of past presidents of India.

The distance between Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Delhi airport is only 11.3 km.

5. Humayun’s Tomb

Situated at a distance of 17.7 km from the airport, Humayun’s Tomb is the tomb of Humayun, who was the second Mughal Emperor of India. The tomb was built in his memorial by his wife Bega Begum after he died on 27 January 1556 while felling from the staircase. After his death, Humayun’s body was first buried in his palace in Purana Quila but due to the attack of Hemu on Delhi and the capture of Purana Quila, it was taken to Sirhind in Punjab where Akbar was crowned. After the completion of Humayun’s Tomb in 1571, he was buried in his tomb in a grand way.

The Tomb is a stunning example of the Mughal architectural style, combining dome, mausoleum, and plinth in perfect proportion. The Tomb is set in a square garden that is designed along Persian lines and it is crisscrossed with waterways and paths. On the grounds, there are some other monuments, including the Tomb of Isa Khan.

6. Tughluqabad Fort

Tughluqabad Fort is situated at a distance of 20.6 km from the Delhi airport. It is a ruined fort in Delhi built by GhiyasUd Din Tughlaq who was the founder of the Tughlaq Dynasty. He established the fourth historic city of Delhi in 1321 which was later abandoned in 1327.

Tughluqabad fort consists of remarkable, massive stone fortifications, that surround the irregular ground plan of the city. The city was supposed to have 52 gates out of which 13 still stands today.

The fort is divided into three parts:

The wider city area with houses built along a rectangular grid between its gates
The citadel with a tower at its highest point known as Bijai-Mandal and the remains of several halls and a long underground passage
The adjacent palace area containing the royal residences.

As the city is ruined, most of the parts of the city are inaccessible today due to dense thorny vegetation. Today, the only thing which visitors can see is vast, barren, and sun-scorched sites.

But still, it can be a great place to visit.

7. Lotus Temple

Also known as Bahai Temple, it is highly appreciated for its flower like shape and its resemblance to the Opera house in Sydney, Australia. The temple is a Bahai House of Worship that was dedicated on December 1986. Similarly like all the other Bahai Houses of Worship, Lotus Temple is open to all people regardless of their religion.

Lotus Temple is composed of 27 free-standing marble-clad petals arranged in clusters with nine doors opening onto a central hall which has a capacity of 2500 people. The Bahai Faith teaches that the House of Worship should be a space for all people of all religions where they can unite with each other. Everyone is allowed to enter the temple irrespective of their background, caste, religion, etc.

Lotus Temple is holding a record for one of the most visited places in the world. The temple was opened for public on December 1986 and it was reported that the place has been visited by millions of visitors. According to the government of India, the temple received over 100 million visitors by April 2014. The temple is only 17.8 km from the airport and serves as one of the best tourist places to visit.

8. Jama Masjid

At a distance of 18 km from the Delhi airport, Jama Masjid in Delhi is one of the largest mosques in India. It was built by Saha Jahan, the Mughal Emperor of India between 1650 and 1656 at a cost of one million rupees. The mosque consists of three great gates, four pillars and two 40 meters high minaret made of red sandstone and white marble.

The mosque is considered as one of the largest mosques built during the Mughal Empire. The notable features of the Jama Masjid are its three gates and two tall minarets adorned by winding steps and cupola at the top for a paranomic view of the Delhi city. The main courtyard has a tank made of marble where the devotees wash themselves before settling for the prayers and as the time matters for the Namaz, there are two sundials in the courtyard for the purpose of the indicating the prayer time.

If you are visiting tourist spots in Delhi then you must not miss this place.

9. Chandni Chowk

The Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and the busiest markets in Delhi. The Red Fort is located within the market. Once you plan to visit Red Fort, don’t miss this place. Chandni Chowk was constructed by Saha Jahan, the then Mughal Emperor of India, in the 17^th century and the market was designed by his daughter.

The bazaars surrounding the Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi offers a colorful, heaving, pungent slice of Delhi life with shops and stalls portraying a spectacular array of goods from fish and poultry to second-hand goods or you can say stolen goods, gemstones, gold, turbans, etc.

The market was once divided by canals to reflect the moonlight but now it has been closed. The market remains one of India’s wholesale markets. So it is a recommended place to visit once.

Phew! That’s a lot to visit in Delhi in one day. In fact, it is quite difficult to visit all these tourist spots in one day. It is only possible in one case and that is when you will find all these places empty which is next to impossible. Still, it is the best way to spend your time if you are feeling bored and want to have some extra fun.

Read more -