Delhi Mughal Monuments: Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb & Qutub Minar

Delhi contains more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than almost any city on Earth — the legacy of successive empires that made it their capital for 1,000 years. The Mughal monuments in particular are extraordinary: architectural wonders that set the template for what the world thinks of as "Indian" architecture.

Red Fort (Lal Qila)

Shah Jahan's imperial palace-fortress on the Yamuna River (1648) — a vast red sandstone complex of audience halls, private apartments, gardens and the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences) where the Peacock Throne once stood. Sound-and-light show in the evenings. Entry ₹600 for foreigners. Avoid Mondays (closed).

Humayun's Tomb

Built 1570 — the architectural prototype for the Taj Mahal, 85 years earlier. Set in a formal Charbagh garden (the first of its kind in India), this double-domed red-and-white sandstone mausoleum is one of the subcontinent's most beautiful buildings. Far less crowded than Agra. Entry ₹600.

Qutub Minar

A 73-metre victory tower begun in 1193 — the world's tallest brick minaret and India's oldest mosque complex. Entry ₹600. Allow 2 hours for the full complex including the famous Iron Pillar (1,600 years old and rust-free).

Agra Day Trip

The Taj Mahal is just 2 hours by Shatabdi Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin station.