Introduction
Delhi’s night–time rhythm is one of honking horns and crowded streets, but if you take a moment to stop and listen, there is something else besides all those sounds. There is an ancient rhythm; an old heartbeat that has existed for centuries, long before there were any flyovers or metro lines. Delhi was once home to Mughal emperors, Sikh Gurus, Sufi Saints and Hindu sages. Their prayers are absorbed into the land, and their devotion created the city‘s skyline. Now, hidden under the din of traffic and within the food stalls, are some of the most significant spiritual destinations in India. However, one travel guide doesn‘t mention that trying to visit all of these different sacred sites in a single day can be stressful, frustrating and exhausting because of Delhi‘s size. Traveling through the metro system, searching for an auto rickshaw and carrying your luggage through both auto–rickshaw and pedestrian areas diminishes the tranquillity of what you hope to attain during your visit.
Start your journey with SmartCabHire! SmartCabHire provides an excellent way for you to get around town this weekend while visiting any of the 10 most important temples or religious sites in Delhi. You leave the driving to us so that you can concentrate on your prayers. Let the adventure begin!
1. Akshardham Temple — Where Heaven Meets Earth
Akshardham is located along the banks of the Yamuna River and is one the largest Hindu temples in the world. The pink sandstone and white marble structures are composed of intricately carved figures including dancers, elephants, deities, and floral motifs. To fulfill this vision, approximately 11,000 artisans worked together over five years to complete this stunning monument. In the temple, there are exhibitions showcasing 10,000 years worth of India’s spiritual history. These exhibitions are composed of boat rides, large format films, and dioramas representing events from the past. The Sat Chit Anand water show takes place at night and is a spectacular multimedia experience using light, fire and water, resulting in emotional reactions from the majority of visitors. Best Time to Visit: Evening hours, to see the water show (Tuesday through Sunday). Travel Tip: Do not bring cell phones or cameras into the temple. You should allow at least 3 – 4 hours to visit the grounds.
Travel with SmartCabHire: Akshardham’s location near the Yamuna can be tricky by public transport, especially in the evening when the water show ends late. Book a SmartCabHire cab for a smooth drop and pick-up — your driver will wait while you explore.
2. Jama Masjid — The Grand Mosque of Old Delhi
Jama Masjid becomes one of the world‘s most beautiful places when it hears azaan echoing through Old Delhi at about sunrise every Friday morning. Also known as “The Great Mosque of Delhi“, Jama Masjid (built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan from 1644 to 1656) is the largest mosque in India. With a total area of over 120,000 square feet, three domes reaching skyward, two towering minarets and a capacity that can hold up to 25,000 worshippers, Jama Masjid is truly stunning. The red sandstone and gleaming white marble are beautiful in the sunlight; while from the height of the south minaret you have a panorama of Old Delhi that looks very similar to a painting. The beauty of Jama Masjid isn’t just because it‘s so big; but it’s the life that flows through it. Pigeons fly around the minarets, men are praying, and right outside the gates, the traffic of Chandni Chowk is the sound of a second heartbeat! When you Should Visit Sr. Masjid : First thing Friday mornings or during Friday Prayers. Things to Know: Wear proper clothing– women wear to have head–covered. Get you to experience the beauty of both Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid together by travelling with SmartCabHire, that way you don‘t have to deal with parking, the streets and the craziness of traffic , while enjoying a great meal and some fresh air after leaving your car.
3. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib — The Golden Dome of Peace
In New Delhi’s bustling Connaught Place, one can find an oasis of pure tranquillity. You will know it by its radiant golden dome, which shines like a sun over the city skyline. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the holiest Sikh temples in Delhi. The large, sacred pond, known as the holy sarovar, is said to have healing powers, and every day thousands of devotees come to take a holy dip in its waters. As soon as you enter the temple, Gurbani, the Sikh holy scripture, constantly fills the air day and night, and this beautiful, rhythmic, devotional music unknots something tight in your chest. Langar, the free community kitchen that serves hot meals to thousands each day without regard to caste, religion or background, is also part of the spirit of Bangla Sahib. When you are sitting on the floor, cross–legged, eating with other people who were formerly strangers, a connection is forged that goes beyond your individual identity. Best time to visit: Early morning, 4am – 6am. Travel Tip: A head covering is required. Don’t miss the Langar; it is a truly humbling experience.
Travel with SmartCabHire: If you go to Bangla Sahib at that early hour, it feels like the whole city is still sleeping. You can rely on SmartCabHire. They have cabs available 24/7. Your cab will be waiting for you whenever you‘re ready to go — even as early as 4 AM!
4. Lotus Temple — A Flower for Every Faith
No specific religion, no rituals, no clergy, only silence and your breath being the only sound. The Bahai House of Worship, which is commonly referred to as the Lotus Temple, is completely different from any other place of spiritual significance in Delhi. It is the shape of a blooming lotus flower surrounded by nine pools that reflect the temple’s form, and made from beautiful white marble; it is also one of the most magnificent examples of construction in modern–day Asia. It may not matter if you believe in any specific faith or not; the temple has been built with the intent of providing an open space for people of all backgrounds to enter, to sit and enjoy being alone without distraction. The temple does not have any prayers or sermons; you are simply a witness and participant in your own experience as you take a moment to breathe and be still. In a city as noisy as Delhi, this space of solitude is a gift in itself. Best time to visit is during early morning on a weekday when there are fewer visitors and more peace. Travel advisory: You may take pictures of the temple from outside but not inside. There is no charge for entering the temple. Travel using SmartCabHire: The Lotus Temple is located in southern Delhi and is best combined with other temples, such as Kalkaji Mandir and Chhatarpur Temple, to create a complete south Delhi spiritual circuit. SmartCabHire will provide you with a personalised, multi-stop tour that includes one vehicle, several divine stops at your convenience, and no stress!
5. ISKCON Temple — The House of Lord Krishna
Walk through the ISKCON Temple gate in South Delhi, and you‘ll enter a space of colour, devotion, and joyful sounds. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna/Radha and is one of the most colourful temples in the city full of spiritual energy from walls covered with imagery from the Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata and the bright colours of the deities all bathed in the beautiful aroma of fresh flowers, the experience feels as though you have entered into an ancient text. The most magical experience occurs when aarti happens about 7 PM — when the lights dim, the curtains open, the conch is blown, and the room goes from silence to music, chanting and clapping hundreds of times in perfect rhythm. Even the most cynical person who would be there for just curiosity usually feels something deep within them during that 20 minutes of time. Best time to go: Evening Aarti at 7 PM. Janmashtami (the birthday of Lord Krishna) is truly special. Tip for your travels: After Aarti, prasad will be given. Be sure to get some before you leave. Travel with SmartCabHire: After an emotional evening aarti, you will not want to squeeze into a crowded metro. Your SmartCabHire cab will be right outside waiting for you — you will have the benefit of a private driver, air conditioning, etc.
6. Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah — Where Sufi Music Dissolves the Soul
There are places in the world where the boundary between the earthly and the divine becomes very thin. Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah is one of them.
Tucked inside a narrow, incense-filled lane in central Delhi, the dargah of the great Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya has been drawing pilgrims for over 700 years. Thursday evenings are when something extraordinary happens. As the sun sets, the Qawwali singers gather, and the music begins — and when those voices rise, when the tabla and harmonium join them, something shifts in the air. People close their eyes. Some weep. Some sway. The music doesn’t just enter your ears; it enters something deeper.
Best Time to Visit: Thursday evenings for the Qawwali. Arrive early for a good spot. Travel Tip: Remove footwear before entering. The Dargah is best reached by foot from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station.
🚖 Travel with SmartCabHire: The narrow lanes near Nizamuddin can feel overwhelming at night, especially after an emotionally moving Qawwali session. SmartCabHire will drop you as close as possible and pick you up from a convenient point — so you can walk out of that experience still carrying its peace with you.
7. 🛕 Kalkaji Mandir — The Ancient Goddess at the Heart of Delhi
Kalkaji Mandir (in Delhi) is one of the oldest temples known in existence to date (over three thousand years old) and is a temple for all worshipers of the Goddess Kaali. When you walk into the inner sanctum, you are surrounded by oil lamps lit with the sent from marigolds, making this place feel as ancient as it actually is. The worship of Kaali is so incredibly powerful that when you visit Kalkaji Mandir to worship, you feel like you are connected (through your bones) to the ancient history of the temple and goddess. The energy at Kalkaji appears to have a very strong (feminine) energy. Worshipping at this time, you will feel a strong power which may feel different from worshipping at other more modern temples. Those who come to Kalkaji Mandir to worship do not come for the purpose of posting their visit to Instagram; rather, they come for the purpose of connecting with their hearts. Best Time to Visit: During the Navratri, when there will be many celebrations occurring at Kalkaji and many thousands of pilgrims visiting. Travel Tip: If you wish for a more quiet and meditative visit, visit at an early hour on a weekday. Travel with SmartCabHire: Kalkaji is an ideal destination to pair with the Lotus Temple & ISKCON for a complete spiritual tour of South Delhi. Check with SmartCabHire for their curated South Delhi Spiritual Circuit package. This will provide you with a smooth ride to each of the three locations.
8. Chhatarpur Temple — A City Within a Temple
Most temples ask you to step inside. Chhatarpur asks you to get lost.. Located in southern part of Delhi, Shri Adya Katyayani Shakti Peeth (Chattarpur Temple) is one of India‘s largest temple complexes at over 70 acres. In addition to the size of this temple complex, there is also the feeling that spirituality is part of how life is lived here, and that it is not done as a performance to tourists, but rather as an everyday occurrence. Every day, at all times, there are people praying, there are people older than myself using their rosary beads or there are children running through the pillars wide–eyed and in wonder at everything around them. Best time to visit is early in the morning, approximately 6–9 a.m. During the festival of Navratri, the celebrations level is even greater than normal. Travel Tip: The temple complex is extremely large; wear some comfortable shoes and budget at least 2 hours (and probably more) to see everything. SmartCabHire – The temple complex is very large, and you will find parking to be extremely chaotic during the festival. SmartCabHire takes care of everything for you – drop–off, waiting, pick-up. You will not have to spend an extended time looking for a cab after you have walked for at least 2 hours inside this temple complex.
9. Sacred Heart Cathedral — Gothic Grace in the Heart of Delhi
In a city that speaks so many spiritual languages, the Sacred Heart Cathedral speaks in soaring arches and golden light.
Built in 1934 in a striking Gothic Revival style, this Catholic cathedral in central Delhi is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the city. Step inside and the noise of the outside world disappears almost immediately. The high vaulted ceilings, the brilliant stained glass windows casting coloured light across the stone floor, the faint scent of candles — it is a space designed to make the sacred feel close.
The cathedral is not just a tourist attraction; it is a living, breathing place of worship with daily Masses and a congregation that has called this church home for generations. Sitting in one of its wooden pews during a Sunday morning service — surrounded by music and prayer and community — is a quietly profound experience, regardless of your own faith.
Best Time to Visit: Sunday morning Mass (7 to 9 AM) for the full spiritual experience. Travel Tip: Silence is strictly maintained inside. Dress modestly. Nearest Metro: Patel Chowk (Yellow Line).
10. Sis Ganj Gurudwara — A Shrine Built on Sacrifice
When you enter a place steeped in history, such as the Sis Ganj Gurudwara, which is located at Chandni Chowk, you most definitely will feel it the moment you step through its doors. This Gurudwara marks the spot where Guru Tegh Bahadur (the 9th Guru of Sikhism) was executed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675. The Guru was martyred for refusing to give up his faith and because he would not allow the Kashmiri Pandits to be forced into converting to Islam. He gave his life so that people may continue to have the ability and choice of exercising their own beliefs. The Gurudwara was constructed as a monument in honour of the martyrs and is more than simply a place of worship; to many, it is a symbol of courage. As devotees visit not only to pray but also to remember and, in doing so, to be reminded of how to stand for something much larger than themselves. There is an ambience of peace, stillness, and comfort that can be sensed from the walls‘ content. The sound of the Gurbani (Sikh hymns) softly played, the gold–embellished decorations, and the overall feeling of serenity provide the perfect atmosphere to reflect on your beliefs and what they represent. Best Time To Visit: Early morning, between the hours of 4am–7am Travel Tip: The Gurudwara may be easily combined with the Jama Masjid and within walking distance through Chandni Chowk