Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Red Fort, Qutub Minar top tourist draws in Delhi, survey shows

Delhi is known as the ‘City of Seven Cities’ due to its rich history and the layering of various empires and settlements.

Red Fort, Qutub Minar top tourist draws in Delhi, survey shows

The Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun's Tomb were the most popular historical sites among domestic tourists visiting India, according to a recent Delhi Economic Survey.

These three historical landmarks in Delhi attracted the highest number of domestic visitors (Indians) as of February 2023. Red Fort received the most visitors (22.01 lakh), followed by Qutub Minar (15.24 lakh) and Humayun's Tomb (10.81 lakh).


Delhi ranked fourth among Indian states and territories in attracting foreign tourists with 8.20 lakh visitors in 2022. The top entry points for foreign tourists arriving in Delhi were Delhi Airport, followed by Mumbai Airport, Haridaspur border crossing, and Chennai Airport.

The survey also highlights the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism. While domestic tourist arrivals had been steadily increasing from 2012 to 2019, they witnessed a significant drop in 2021. The domestic visitor numbers reaching 3.65 crore in 2019, up from 1.85 crore in 2012.

The latest Delhi Economic Survey reveals a thriving tourism sector in the city.

qutub-minar-delhi-tourist-attraction The Qutb, Lal Kot was founded by the Tomar Rajputs and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Representative image: iStock)

Delhi's iconic monuments, the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun's Tomb, were the most visited destinations, attracting millions of visitors until February 2023.

The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is a historic fort in the Old Delhi neighbourhood of Delhi, India. It served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort in 1639.

The fort's design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also constructed the Taj Mahal. The fort is considered the peak of Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan and combines Persian palace architecture with Indian traditions.

Whereas, the Qutb Minar also spelled Qutub Minar and Qutab Minar, is a minaret and victory tower that is part of the Qutb complex. It is made of red sandstone and marble, and its surface is decorated with intricate carvings and calligraphy.

This data showcases Delhi's significance as a global city and a gateway to India, offering international visitors easy access and excellent infrastructure.

As the city recovers from the pandemic, the survey's findings offer a positive outlook for the future of tourism. Delhi's unique blend of history, culture, and modernity positions it to reclaim its status as a premier global and domestic tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world.

As Delhi emerges from the pandemic, the survey's findings offer hope for a strong tourism revival. The city's rich  history, culture, and modern life positions it to regain its status as a premier tourist destination, attracting visitors worldwide to its captivating monuments and vibrant streets.

More For You

Rachel Reeves

'This fund will give hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their families a better chance,' Reeves said in a statement. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Government launches £500 million fund for vulnerable children

THE UK government on Sunday launched a £500 million Better Futures Fund aimed at supporting up to 200,000 vulnerable children over the next 10 years.

According to the government, the fund will focus on helping struggling families by improving children's access to education and ensuring a safe home environment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Norman Tebbit
Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.

Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian-inspired garden earns
five awards at Hampton Court

(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals

Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.

Keep ReadingShow less