Lodhi Garden

Lodhi Garden is central Delhi's favourite green space and one of the most enjoyable places in the city to combine a walk with history. The park covers about 90 acres on Lodhi Road, between Khan Market and Safdarjung's Tomb, and its lawns, trees and paths frame a series of tombs built by the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties that ruled Delhi in the 15th and early 16th centuries. The monuments are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The oldest is the tomb of Muhammad Shah, a ruler of the Sayyid dynasty, built in 1444 by Ala-ud-din Alam Shah. Its octagonal form is one of the earliest of its kind in the city. Further into the park, the Bara Gumbad, completed in 1494 during the reign of Sikandar Lodi, is a large domed building that served as a gateway rather than a tomb, with a mosque beside it. Close by stands the Shish Gumbad, which contains graves whose identity is uncertain. The tomb of Sikandar Lodi himself was built in 1494. The Athpula, a stone bridge from Akbar's reign with seven arches, is another of the park's older structures.

Entry is free and the park is used throughout the day. Early morning and the hour before sunset are the best times, when it is cooler and the light is good for photographing the domes. A loop taking in all the main tombs takes about an hour at an easy pace, or longer if you stop to sit on the lawns. The paths are mostly paved and level, which suits pushchairs and older visitors.

The garden suits nearly everyone: walkers and runners, families with children who need space to play, couples, birdwatchers and anyone who wants a break from traffic and sightseeing queues. It is a good place to slow down between busier sights, and a picnic on the grass is a simple pleasure here. There are no large cafés inside, so bring water.

Practical tips: wear comfortable shoes, carry insect repellent in the monsoon months, and keep to the paths around the monuments. Treat the tombs with respect and do not climb on fragile stonework. Weekends are busier with families, so a weekday morning gives you the quietest walk.

Khan Market, with its cafés, shops and restaurants, is close by on one side and Safdarjung's Tomb on the other. Humayun's Tomb and India Gate are a short taxi ride away, so the garden fits easily into a day in central New Delhi.