Dating from the 3rd-century-BC reign of the Buddhist emperor Ashoka, the pillar was brought here by Feroz Shah, and is incredibly well preserved.
Ashoka Pillar
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
10.52 MILES
There are extraordinary riches scattered around Mehrauli, with more than 440 monuments – from the 10th century to the British era – dotting a forest and…
2.16 MILES
Founded by Emperor Shah Jahan and surrounded by a magnificent 18m-high wall, this fort took 10 years to construct (1638–48) and is rumoured to have had…
6.03 MILES
Humayun’s tomb is sublimely well proportioned, seeming to float above its symmetrical gardens. It's thought to have inspired the Taj Mahal, which it…
2.05 MILES
A beautiful pocket of calm at the heart of Old Delhi's mayhem, the capital's largest mosque is built on a 10m elevation. It can hold a mind-blowing 25,000…
5.92 MILES
Visiting the marble shrine of Muslim Sufi saint Nizam-ud-din Auliya is Delhi's most mystical, magical experience. The dargah is hidden away in a tangle of…
10.35 MILES
If you only have time to visit one of Delhi's ancient ruins, make it this. The first monuments here were erected by the sultans of Mehrauli, and…
4.81 MILES
Shh, whisper it quietly: this place is better than the Red Fort. Delhi's 'Old Fort' isn't as magnificent in size and grandeur, but it's far more pleasant…
11.51 MILES
This magnificent 14th-century ruined fort, half reclaimed by jungle and gradually being encroached on by villages, was Delhi's third incarnation, built by…
Nearby Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) attractions
0.07 MILES
Erected in 1863, this red sandstone gothic tower was built by the British to commemorate the Indian and British soldiers who died in British service…
0.89 MILES
Close to Kashmere Gate, this forgotten cemetery is the last resting place for hundreds of Delhi’s colonial-era residents, many of whom perished in…
1.18 MILES
This northernmost gate (leading to Kashmir) was the largest of all the entrances to the walled city. It was only built in the 19th century, and was…
1.35 MILES
Built by Fatehpuri Begum, one of Shah Jahan’s wives, this 17th-century mosque is a haven of tranquillity after the frantic streets outside. The central…
1.45 MILES
Established in 1951, Delhi's library is open to all those with proof of residency, and has 1.6 million books in various languages.
1.49 MILES
Built in 1864, Delhi's Town Hall originally housed a library, the European Club and the Lawrence Institute. There was once a statue of Queen Victoria in…
1.76 MILES
Old Delhi’s main drag is lined by Jain, Hindu and Sikh temples, plus a church, with the Fatehpuri Masjid at one end. Tree-lined and elegant in Mughal…
1.77 MILES
The icing-sugar-white 18th-century Sisganj Gurdwara marks the martrydom site of the ninth Sikh guru, Tegh Bahadur, executed by Aurangzeb in 1675 for…