Religious places in Delhi for a Spiritual Getaway

Built in a sprawling 100 acres of land, it is one of the largest Hindu temples in the country displaying the faith, spirituality and culture of Hinduism through generations. The temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan and the construction was completed in 2005. Elaborate reliefs with 20,000 deities, saints and mythical creatures have been carved into its walls. The centerpiece of the temple is a 3 m high gold statue of Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan.

Address: Noida Mor, Pandav Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110092
Nearest Metro Station: Askshardham Metro Station
Timing: 9:30 am to 8:00 pm
Note: Photography is strictly prohibited.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral in Connaught Place is based on Italian architecture and was designed by the British architect Henry Medd under the initiative of Father Luke, a member of the Franciscan first order. The church depicts exquisite colonial architecture.

Address: 1, Ashok Place, Sector 4, Gole Market, New Delhi, Delhi 110001
Nearest Metro Station: Patel Chowk
Timing: Monday to Sunday- 6:30 AM to 6 PM
Note: Holy mass is held every morning and evening. Major festivals are Easter and Christmas.

Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest and most famous Jain temple in Delhi, built in red sandstone in North-Indian architectural style. The temple has a veterinary hospital as well as a bird hospital known as Jain Birds’ Hospital in its premises which is the only one of its kind. Although the temple dates back to the days of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the present building was constructed in 1858.

Address: Netaji Subhash Marg, Opposite Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006
Nearest Metro Station: Chandni Chowk
Timing: Monday to Sunday- 6 AM to 12 PM and 5:30 PM to 9 PM.

The Jain temple in Mehrauli, Delhi is dedicated to the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, Mahavira. A huge statue has been carved out of granite in lotus position of 13 feet in height and 6 inches. The temple is surrounded with sprawling gardens and is an absolute place of tranquil amidst the chaos of the capital city.

Best time to visit: September to November and February to March
Address: Butterfly Park, Qila Rai Pithora, Sainik Farm, New Delhi, Delhi 110016
Nearest Metro Station: Saket
Timing: Monday to Sunday- 8 AM to 8 PM

Dargahs have always been an icon for peace and unity. The Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah houses the tomb of the 13th century poet, Amir Khusro, the 17th century Mughal Princess, Jahanara Begum, the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan and the 19th century Sufi musician Inayat Khan who was the founder of Sufi order in the west and is a revered site in Delhi.

Address: Boali Gate Rd, Nizamuddin, Nizammudin West Slum, Nizamuddin West, New Delhi, Delhi 110013.
Nearest Metro Station: Pragati Maidan or Indraprastha
Timing: 5:00 AM to 10:30 PM. Qawwali from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM to 10:30 PM every Thursday.
Note: Only men are allowed to enter the shrine.

The Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is one of the most revered places of worship for the Sikh community dedicated to the eighth Sikh guru, Guru Har Krishan. The gurudwara was originally a bungalow of Raja Jai Singh where the guru had resided and helped the poor recover from smallpox and cholera. Located at the center of Connaught Place, it is surrounded by a pool, called ‘Sarovar’ giving it a similar appearance as that of its sister temple in Amritsar.

Address: Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001
Nearest Metro Station: Rajiv Chowk Metro Station
Timing: Open 24/7. Langar offered 9 AM to 3 PM and 7 PM to 10 PM.

Built by the Delhi Sultanate in the 12th century from assortment fragments of 27 temples, the complex with the tomb and the mosque depicts a fine sample of the architecture of the time. It has now been declared a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Address: Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030
Nearest Metro Station: Qutub Minar Metro Station
Timing: Monday to Sunday: 7 AM to 5 PM

The Chattarpur Temple is just 4 km from Qutub Minar, and you can visit it on the way. Dedicated to Goddess Durga in her Katyayani form, the temple is constructed in South-Indian architecture by the self-proclaimed Baba Sant Nagapalji in 1974. It is the second largest temple in Delhi after Akshardham built in 24 hectares of land.

Best time to visit: Around Navaratri
Address: Mehrauli Gurgaon Road, Chattarpur – New Delhi, 110030
Nearest Metro Station: Chhattarpur Metro Station
Timing: 6 AM to 10 PM.

The literal meaning refers to ‘the most auspicious of houses’. Khairul Manazil is a historical mosque built in 1561 by Maham Anga, the wet nurse and the foster mother of the great Mughal Emperor, Muhammad Akbar. The gateway is constructed by red sandstone of Mughal architecture while the structure reminds one of the Delhi Sultanate. Address: Bapa Nagar, India Gate, New Delhi, Delhi 110003

Nearest Metro Station: Pragati Maidan
Timing: Sunrise to Sunset

The Jhandelwalan Temple near Karol Bagh is dedicated to goddess Aadi Shakti and is among the oldest temples in Delhi. It was constructed in the 18th century by a cloth merchant, named Badri Das after discovering the idol during excavation.  The daily prayers and rituals are held at lower level while upper level has the idol of Mata Jhandelwali along with those of goddess Kali and Saraswati. As per Hindu rituals, aarti is carried out 4 times a day.

Best time to visit: During ‘Navratri’ which is held twice a year.
Address: DB Gupta Road, Block E, Jhandewalan Extension, Paharganj, New Delhi, Delhi 110055
Nearest Metro Station: Jhandelwalan
Timing: Monday to Sunday: 5 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 10 PM.
Note: Photography not allowed.

Moti refers to ‘pearl’ and thus, pearl mosque. Situated inside the Red Fort, it was established by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb for his wife, Nawab Bai. The mosque is plastered in white on the outside while white marble is used for its construction on the inside.  A large part of the structure was destroyed by the British after they captured the Red Fort in 1857.

Address: Lal Qila, Old Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi 110006
Nearest Metro Station: Lal Qila Metro Station

The Hijron ka Khanqah is an Islamic styled monument. The Sufi spiritual retreat was constructed in the 15th century and gifted to Miyan Saheb and 49 other eunuchs of the Lodhi dynasty for their special powers where they were buried eventually. It is now maintained by the Transgenders of Turkman Gate in Shahjahanabad. During religious ceremonies, food is distributed by transgender to the poor.

Address: Paani Tanki Road, Zero Street, Sana'a
Nearest Metro Station: Qutub Minar Metro Station

The ‘Masjid e Jahannuma’ meaning, ‘the world reflecting mosque’, or commonly referred as Jama Masjid, is one of the largest mosques in the country which can accommodate up to 25,000 worshippers at a time. The Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan is known to have sanctioned its construction at the cost of one million rupees then, as a part of his construction of Shahjahanabad between1650-1656. The mosque is built of marble and limestone and is a fine example of Indo-Islamic Architecture.

Address: Jama Masjid Rd, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006
Nearest Metro Station: Jama Masjid Station
Timing: Monday to Sunday: 7 A.M-12 P.M and 1:30 P.M.-6:30 P.M

The Lotus Temple is among the must-visit places in Delhi. Named after its unique styled expressionist architecture, with 27 lotus petals in marbles arranged in concentric clusters, the temple belongs to the Baha'i faith, a monotheistic religion. Situated in the southern suburbs of Delhi, it stands as a symbol of peace which promotes love for all humanity.

Address: Lotus Temple Rd, Bahapur, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Kalkaji, New Delhi, Delhi 110019
Nearest Metro Station: Kalkaji Mandir Metro Station
Timing: Tuesday to Sunday: 9 A.M to 5 P.M.
Note: Maintain silence inside