Spring has sprung in the national capital of Delhi so it's time to get outdoors and enjoy the sun, breeze and lush greenery. Flowers are blooming and birds are chirping – if you can hear them above the traffic din – and while evergreen hotspots like Lodhi Gardens and Sunder Nursery will be full to bursting, we decided to clue you in to some underrated spots to enjoy the spring air with loved ones.
Take a hike, picnic by the lake, go on a run, play a sport or simply breathe deeply in these five green spaces.
Amrit Udyan is a 15 acre garden in front of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the residence of the President of India, and is one of the best places to visit in Delhi. Formerly known as the Mughal Gardens, they play host to an annual flower show called the 'Udyan Utsav'. This year's edition will run till 31 March and the centrepiece is a section featuring 42,000 tulips of 18 varieties. In addition to this visitors will be treated to daffodils, Asiatic lilies and over a hundred varieties of roses. For children there is a specially curated garden called 'Bal Vatika' which has a treehouse under a 225-year-old sheesham tree. There is also a food court for visitors to have refreshments.
The gardens are open from 10AM to 5PM and entry is free. Visitors can purchase a ticket on-site at gate number 35 or online. A shuttle bus service takes you to the gardens from Central Secretariat.
Roshanara Garden, or Roshanara Bagh, is a Mughal-style garden built by Roshanara Begum, the second daughter of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is one of the biggest gardens in the city and is situated in Shakti Nagar near Ghanta Ghar Chowk. You are likely to find games of badminton and cricket being played here and the lake is a nesting spot for migratory birds during the winter. In the spring the park bursts with orchards and shrubs and the recent addition of a rose garden has beautified the space even more – truly, one of the best places to soak in the spring of the national capital.
Entry is free to the park and open from 5AM to 8PM.
The so-called 'Green Lungs of Delhi', the Northern Ridge or Kamla Nehru Ridge is part of the Aravalli mountain range and was a key site in the first war for Indian independence. According to Delhi Tourism, growing urbanisation had led to the loss of the natural heritage of the area but through ecological restoration it has been restored to its pristine glory. Notwithstanding the gory history of Khooni Jheel, the tiny pond is an abode for ducks and cranes that take shelter there. The topography and terrain of the ridge makes it a major recharging zone for ground aquifers. The area is best enjoyed during the spring and summer as the vegetation cover provides relief from the harsh sun.
According to the Delhi Tourism website the Kamla Nehru Biodiversity Park opens from 5AM-11AM and 4:30PM-7PM.
Sanjay Van is part of the Mehrauli South Central Ridge and covers an area of 443 acres. It is a thickly wooded forest and offers peace and quiet from the maddening rush of Delhi. Birdwatchers and nature lovers can spot a variety of avian species such as the white-throated kingfisher, Eurasian sparrowhawk, and red-wattled lapwing, and even nilgai, golden jackal and butterflies. This biodiversity hotspot lends itself to picnics by Neela Hauz lake and hikes and so is one of the best places to visit in Delhi this spring.
The forest is open to visitors from 6AM to 8PM.
Spread over 435 acres the Jahanpanah City Forest in South Delhi combines a thriving natural ecosystem with historical ruins. Peacocks, kingfishers, parakeets, jackals, wild boar, nilgai and mongooses call the forest home and it abounds in trees like neem, mango, jamun and banyan. Bougainvilleas are plentiful and the nature trails of this forest make it a perfect escape from Delhi's pollution and traffic snarls. Your spring joy will have an extra pep as you step into this green paradise.
Entry is free and the park is open from 5AM-6PM.