Things to see in Delhi

Birla House is where Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead by a Hindu extremist on 30 January 1948. The house is now a poignant shrine to the Father of the Nation with a comprehensive indoor museum with photographs and paintings depicting Gandhi's life. Gandhi's possessions are on display in his bedroom (he had been staying at the house as a guest), and concrete footsteps trace the path of his final walk. A small pavilion, known as the Martyr's Column, marks the exact spot where he died.

Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque and is one of Shah Jahan's masterpieces. Building began in 1644 but was not completed until 1658 and when you see the size of it, it's easy to understand why; the enormous courtyard can accommodate a massive 25,000 worshippers. There are three gateways, four towers and two red-and-white-striped sandstone and marble minarets, each standing 40m (130ft) tall. Visitors who climb the 122 narrow steps to the top of the southern minaret will be rewarded with magnificent views. Dress conservatively; women should bring a scarf to cover the head and must be accompanied by a male when climbing the minaret.

Occupying the Maharaja of Jaipur's former palace, Delhi’s National Gallery of Modern Art contains an extensive collection of contemporary Indian artwork including works by one of India's best known contemporary artists MF Husain. There are also works by painters of the Bengali Renaissance and 19th and early 20th-century paintings by British artists Thomas Daniell and his nephew William. There is also an art reference library on site. Regular special exhibitions take place in the gallery.

Dedicated to the remarkable story of the world's biggest railway system, Delhi’s National Rail Museum reflects the social and historic importance of what effectively bound India into a single nation. Trainspotters of all ages will love it, with its open-air display of old steam locomotives and rolling stock. Spread over 4.5 hectares (11 acres), this excellent museum houses 30 trains and old carriages and includes an 1855 steam engine and lavish carriages belonging to British and Indian grandees. There's a 'Joy Train' ride (great for kids), and on Sundays the Steam Mono Rail is open to all. The somewhat down-at-heel indoor gallery features train models, antique clocks, railway furniture, and historical photographs.

The Qutb Minar complex houses the oldest Islamic monuments in India. Built towards the end of the 12th century to commemorate the Muslim conquest of Delhi, the Qutb Minar is a grand tower that rises 72.5m (238ft) high. At its foot stands the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid, the first mosque to be built in India in 1193. So anxious were Delhi's new rulers to erect a mosque, they shamelessly pilfered 27 Hindu and Jain temples for building materials. Consequently, many of the pillars surrounding the courtyard are carved with Hindu iconography. In the courtyard is a 7m-high (23ft) Iron Pillar, dating back to AD375.