Before the Taj Mahal there was Humayun's Tomb. (Shutterstock)

If there's one city you shouldn't miss on a trip to India, it's Delhi. The country's capital and the site of last year's Commonwealth Games, has arguably more attractions than any other Indian city. And though sites are concentrated in three distinct areas -- Old Delhi, New Delhi and South Delhi -- many can be visited on a day trip, if that's all the time you have. Lonely Planet also extols the city's charms. It selected Delhi as one of the top 10 cities to visit in 2011, saying Delhi "has not looked this smart and sparkling in centuries."

Red Fort

If you only have time for one attraction, the Red Fort is a good choice. Completed in 1648 at the peak of Mughal power, it covers a huge area -- close to 2 km. There are six gateways (the main entrance is through Lahore Gate) and sandstone walls as high as 33 metres in places. The fort remains a potent symbol of Indian nationhood. This is where the national flag was first hoisted when India became an independent nation on Aug. 15, 1947.

Humayun's Tomb

Before the Taj Mahal there was Humayun's Tomb. Built for the second Mughal emperor in the 16th century, many of its stylistic elements -- high arched entrances, a bulbous dome and formal gardens -- are believed to be the inspiration for features in the Taj Mahal in Agra. And there's a twist. Unlike the Taj Mahal, built by a man for his wife, Humayun's Tomb was commissioned by a woman -- Haji Begum -- for her husband. Haji Begum and Humayun's favourite barber are also buried there. The peaceful pleasant grounds see far fewer tourists than the Taj Mahal and admission is much less expensive.

Jami Masjid

It took six years and 5,000 workers to build India's largest mosque. The huge courtyard can hold up to 25,000 people during Friday prayers. The historic site, completed in 1658, has three black and white marble domes, twin minarets 40 metres high and three gateways. Build on a natural mound, it is one of the city's most dominant buildings.

Qutb Minar

Arabic for pole or axis, Qutb Minar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Monument and India's highest single tower. Sometimes called the Victory Tower, it marked the site of the first Muslim kingdom in North India, established in 1193. The sandstone tower is the most notable structure in the Qutb Complex of tombs and mosques.

Baha'i House of Worship

While many of Delhi's attractions are historic buildings, a few are strikingly modern. Chief among them is the Baha'i House of Worship, with its giant white marble "petals" that resemble a lotus flower, prompting some to refer to it as the Lotus Temple. The structure, designed by Iranian architect Fariburz Sahba and completed in 1986, seats 1,300 people, and is circled by nine pools and 92 hectares of lawns. Adherents of all faiths are welcome to pray or meditate here.

Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi

What's India without a visit to a market? The lively, albeit congested Chandni Chowk, is one of the oldest and best known. It's crammed with narrow lanes, each one specializing in a different commodity -- from carpets to jewelry. Within the market are also many shrines, as well as the Digambar Jain Temple at the market's entrance, and even a bird hospital. If your feet get sore, take a ride on a cycle rickshaw. There are plenty around.

India Gate

Tours of the city often start with a visit to this 43-metre-high stone memorial arch at the east end of Rajpath. It commemorates the more than 85,000 Indian army soldiers who died on the Northwest Frontier, in World War I, and the 1919 Afghan War. Not far from the Gate is the former Viceroy's House, now the official residence of India's president. Designed by Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens and completed in 1929, it's a blend of Mughal and Western architectural styles.

Jantar Mantar

This is one of five astronomical observatories built in India by Maharaja Jai Singh II to calculate planetary positions accurately so sacred rituals could be performed at times considered most auspicious. The large brick-and-plaster astronomical instruments constructed in 1724, performed many functions from reading the altitude of the sun to verifying the time of the spring equinox. The other observatories are in Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi.

For more, check incredibleindia.org.

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