Delhi is the distillation of all that is India. Full of contrasts, colors, aromas, and the heaving masses of ever-present humanity, a visitor could spend years here and still not even scratch the surface of everything the city has to offer.

The city is full of temples and shrines and these are mostly all well worth a visit. Swaminarayan Akshardham is a good introduction to Indian worship, as it is not only beautiful but relatively well-geared towards visitors. Guides are available, and although the site is fairly commercialized it is still a great first taste of Delhi culture. Lakshmi Narayan Mandir is a little like a Beginners Guide to the pantheon of Indian gods. Visitors can see priests engaged in prayer rituals and guides can help explain the names of each god and goddess, as well as a little about them. The Lotus Temple, the home of Bahai worship in India is a beautifully built center for this religion that emphasises equality and harmony among the genders as well as the world's faiths. Located on the Bahapur Hills (South Delhi), this marble, lotus-style structure is visited by more than seven million people each year. Birla Mandir, or the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, is dedicated to the goddess of wealth and was opened by Ghandi himself. Bala Hanuman Temple is positioned on the edge of Lake Ranmal and the continuous chanting of the mantra  Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram has been going since the 1st of August 1964.

The shopping in Delhi is a bargain-hunter paradise, although the constant haggling can be pretty draining after a while. Dilli Haat sells silk, carvings of marble and wood, as well as traditional-style puppets. The range is good and the prices are relatively moderate. Chandni Chowk is a truly old-world Delhi market experience and is a crowded, noisy throng all battling for the best prices and highest quality clothes, fresh produce, and artifacts. Women alone will probably find themselves the object of fascination here, and many may feel a little harassed by all the attention.  Karol Bagh Shopping Market and Sarojini Nagar Market are the other two top spots to buy fresh ingredients as well as souvenirs and other locally crafted goods.

No trip to Delhi is complete without a sidetrip to Agra to see the infamous Taj Mahal. A monument to love, this stunning memorial commissioned by the fifth Mughal emperor Shahjahan to his wife Mumtaz took 22 years, 50 kilos of gold and twenty thousand workers to complete. Sunset is the best time to see the shrine, when the dying rays give the impression of a flaming roof. To get to Agra, take the train. The Shatabdi or Taj Express both lead to the monument's nearest stations.

Off the beaten path in Delhi is Chor Minar, in South Delhi. Literally translating as Thieves Tower, Chor Minar is the former display tower for the severed heads of thieves and was built as a deterrent and a warning to other potential criminals. A grisly but interesting slice of Delhi's history, Chor Minar is almost unknown to tourists and you will likely have the place to yourself.

Accommodation in Delhi is plentiful and fits a wide range of budgets. From the backpacker hostel-style rooms where a guest can sleep in a shared room for as little as $7 per night to the luxurious suites of chains like the Sheraton (closer to $400 a night). Beware though that midrange accommodation is often not of the same standard as elsewhere, and if three or four star is usually your target, you may want to hunt at the lower end five star hotel, at around $200 per night.

Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder on the left to find cheap hotels in Delhi.

(Photo:Fotolia/Tommy Schultz)