Old Hanuman temple on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, linked by legend to the Mahabharata. Unusually, its spire carries a crescent moon. It is busiest on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Photo: Nvvchar

Laxminarayan Temple

temple · 19.5 km

Hindu temple to Laxmi and Narayan near Connaught Place, built by the Birla family and opened by Mahatma Gandhi. Free entry; no phones or cameras.

Photo: Vinayaraj

Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

temple · 20.8 km

Delhi's oldest Jain temple, a red sandstone shrine facing the Red Fort. A charitable bird hospital runs behind it.

Photo: Art Poskanzer from Berkeley, USA

Lotus Temple

temple · 30 km

Lotus-shaped Baha'i House of Worship in South Delhi, open to people of every faith for silent prayer and meditation. Entry is free.

Photo: Vandelizer

Swaminarayan Akshardham

temple · 26.8 km

Vast BAPS temple complex by the Yamuna with a carved stone mandir, paid cultural exhibitions and an evening water show. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside.

Photo: Swaminarayan Sanstha

Chhatarpur Temple

temple · 31.7 km

Large marble and sandstone temple complex in South Delhi dedicated to Goddess Katyayani. Completed in 1974, it is very busy during Navratri.

Photo: Mahabalaindia

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

gurudwara · 20.7 km

Delhi's best-known Sikh gurdwara, linked to Guru Har Krishan. It has a sacred sarovar, a free community kitchen (langar) and gold domes near Connaught Place.

Photo: Ken Wieland from Philadelphia, USA

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib

gurudwara · 20.5 km

Historic gurdwara on Chandni Chowk marking where the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was executed in 1675. It runs a daily free langar.

Photo: Supreet Sethi http://supreetsethi.net