Lodhi Garden Delhi: Timings, Tombs and How to Visit (2026 Guide)

Short answer: Lodhi Garden (also spelled Lodi Gardens) is a free, 90-acre public park on Lodhi Road in central New Delhi, laid out around 15th- and 16th-century tombs of the Sayyid and Lodi sultans. The NDMC, which runs it, opens the gates at 6:00 am from October to March and 5:00 am from April to September, closing at 8:00 pm every day. Allow 60–90 minutes; the best light is the first hour after opening.

What is Lodhi Garden, and is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you want a calm hour among real medieval monuments without a ticket queue. Lodhi Garden is where Delhi residents walk, jog, practise yoga and picnic, and it happens to contain four of the city’s finest pre-Mughal tombs. Time Out describes it as a 90-acre green space with a 2.5-kilometre running track, a rose garden, a bonsai park and a small lake with ducks. For a visitor it is a good counterweight to the big ticketed sites: no touts, no entry fee, and you see how New Delhi actually lives.

The park itself is relatively young. It opened as Lady Willingdon Park on 9 April 1936, inaugurated by the wife of the then Viceroy, after the village around the tombs was moved out. It was renamed Lodi Gardens after Independence, and in 1968 it was redesigned by the American architect Joseph Allen Stein with landscape architect Garrett Eckbo, which gave it the lawns, tree avenues and paths you walk today. A local paper marking its 90th anniversary in April 2026 counted over 5,400 trees.

Which monuments should you see inside Lodhi Garden?

Four buildings matter most, and they are all within a 10–15 minute walk of each other. Dates below are from the Wikipedia articles on the individual monuments and CPREEC’s heritage notes; the Sheesh Gumbad’s date is disputed, so we give the range.

Why does this matter on a wider trip? The walled garden around Sikandar Lodi’s tomb is one of the ideas that grew into Humayun’s Tomb a few decades later, and eventually the Taj Mahal. Seeing Lodhi Garden first makes the Mughal sites easier to read, and the last chapter of the story, Safdarjung Tomb, is only about 1 km west along Lodhi Road.

What are Lodhi Garden’s timings, and when should you go?

The NDMC’s garden schedule gives two seasons: 5:00 am to 8:00 pm from 1 April to 30 September, and 6:00 am to 8:00 pm from 1 October to 31 March. Some travel sites print a flat “6 am–8 pm” all year, which is only right for winter. There is no weekly closing day; the Delhi Tourism listing says “open daily”.

• Early morning (6–8 am in winter): the best time. Soft light on the domes, mist in December and January, and you see the city’s joggers and yoga groups.
• Late afternoon: golden light on Bara Gumbad and families on the lawns. Busy at weekends.
• Midday: fine from November to February; hot and shadeless from April to June.
• Best months: October to March. Delhi’s air quality can be poor in November and December, so check the AQI on the morning you go and keep a mask if you are sensitive.

How do you get to Lodhi Garden?

Lodhi Garden sits on Lodhi Road, next to the India International Centre and a short walk from Khan Market. Time Out notes the park has several entry gates, so you can enter on one side and leave by another.

• Metro: Delhi Tourism lists JLN Stadium on the Violet Line as the nearest station. Khan Market station, one stop away on the same line, works well if you plan to eat there afterwards. From either, take an auto-rickshaw or walk 10–20 minutes.
• Taxi or app cab: ask for “Lodhi Garden, Lodhi Road”. Easy from Connaught Place, Aerocity or South Delhi hotels.
• Private car with driver: the simplest option if you are combining it with other sights. The driver drops you at one gate and collects you at another. Our page on arriving at Delhi airport covers SIMs, cash and cabs for your first day.

How do you fit Lodhi Garden into a Delhi day?

It slots naturally between the big South Delhi monuments. Here is a sample one-day route we often suggest to first-time visitors; times are approximate and depend on traffic.

If you only have one Delhi day before heading to Agra and Jaipur, the Golden Triangle tour page shows how we pace the three cities.

What are the rules and practical tips?

• Dress: no dress code for the park; it is not a religious site. Comfortable shoes for gravel paths.
• Climbing: do not climb on the monuments; guards will whistle. The tombs are protected heritage structures.
• Water: carry your own bottle; facilities inside are basic.
• Food: picnics on the lawns are normal; there are no food stalls inside, so buy snacks in Khan Market.
• Photography: free for phones and cameras. Commercial or drone shoots need separate permission.
• Safety: busy and safe in daylight. Lone visitors after dark are better off on the main paths near the gates.

What this means for your trip

Treat Lodhi Garden as your gentle first morning in Delhi: it costs nothing, shakes off jet lag, and gives you context for the Mughal monuments you will see later in Delhi and Agra. Go early, pair it with Humayun’s Tomb, and leave the crowded sites for later in the day.

Lodhi Garden FAQs

Is there an entry fee for Lodhi Garden?

No. Lodhi Garden is a free public park run by the New Delhi Municipal Council, and Delhi Tourism lists both entry and photography charges as nil. That applies to foreign visitors too. You only pay for transport to get there, and for food or drinks outside the gates, since there are no stalls inside.

What time does Lodhi Garden open?

According to the NDMC garden schedule, it opens at 6:00 am from 1 October to 31 March and at 5:00 am from 1 April to 30 September, and closes at 8:00 pm all year. It is open every day of the week. Timings can change for maintenance or events, so treat them as a guide.

How much time do I need at Lodhi Garden?

About 60–90 minutes covers the Tomb of Mohammed Shah, Bara Gumbad, Sheesh Gumbad, Sikandar Lodi’s tomb and the Athpula bridge at a relaxed pace. If you want to sit on the lawns, picnic or walk the full 2.5 km path, allow two hours.

Which metro station is nearest to Lodhi Garden?

Delhi Tourism names JLN Stadium on the Violet Line. Khan Market station, also on the Violet Line, is close to the northern gates and handy if you plan to eat in Khan Market afterwards. From either station it is a short auto-rickshaw ride or a 10–20 minute walk.

Who is buried in Lodhi Garden?

The two named tombs belong to Mohammed Shah of the Sayyid dynasty (built 1444) and Sikandar Lodi (built 1517 by his son Ibrahim Lodi). The occupant of Bara Gumbad is unknown, and some historians think Sheesh Gumbad holds Bahlol Lodi, founder of the Lodi dynasty, though that is not settled.

Is Lodhi Garden safe for solo and female travellers?

In daylight it is one of central Delhi’s calmer, safer public spaces, full of walkers, families and joggers. As anywhere, keep to the main paths, avoid deserted corners after dusk, and keep valuables out of sight. Early morning and late afternoon are the busiest and most comfortable times.

Can I combine Lodhi Garden with Humayun’s Tomb?

Yes, it is the most natural pairing. Humayun’s Tomb is a short drive east, and seeing the Lodi tombs first helps you see how the Mughal garden tomb developed. Many visitors do Lodhi Garden at 7 am, breakfast in Khan Market, then Humayun’s Tomb when it is still cool.