INDIA UNFOLDEDYour first guide, on us

The Shot List™ · Delhi

Your Delhi story, told in twelve photographs.

India Unfolded is the creative director. You are the photographer. These aren’t photo spots — the twelve follow a narrative arc, so that together, in order, they tell the whole of Delhi in one album.

SHOT 01 OF 12 · ARRIVAL

Humayun's Tomb at opening

Begun in 1569 for an emperor who died on his library stairs — the first great Mughal garden-tomb.

The place

Humayun's Tomb, the west gate threshold, at sunrise — Humayun's Tomb, west gate; The south-west corner of the upper platform, for the side-light on the sandstone

Stand here

The west gate's threshold. Stand in the gate's shade, phone upright, centred on the arch.

People

Yours — the dome framed by the gate's arch; your family in the gateway, looking in.

The light

Sunrise to an hour after — the window this frame wants.
SUNRISE TO AN HOUR AFTER
Oct–Nov ≈ 6:30am – 7:30am · Dec–Jan ≈ 7:10am – 8:10am · Feb–Mar ≈ 6:45am – 7:45am

The frame

Arch as frame; dome centred; family in the gateway

Portrait · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 02 OF 12 · THE GARDEN

Isa Khan's garden

A Sur-dynasty noble's tomb of 1547 — the style the Mughals replaced, in the same garden.

The place

Isa Khan's tomb enclosure, just inside Humayun's Tomb's main gate, first half hour — Isa Khan's tomb, Humayun's Tomb complex

Stand here

The path's start. Phone sideways, low, the path leading to the tomb.

People

Yours — the octagonal tomb; one child on the path ahead.

The light

First half hour after opening — the window this frame wants.
FIRST HALF HOUR AFTER OPENING
Oct–Nov ≈ 6:30am – 7:30am · Dec–Jan ≈ 7:10am – 8:10am · Feb–Mar ≈ 6:45am – 7:45am

The frame

Path → child → octagonal tomb

Landscape · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 03 OF 12 · THE LANES

Chandni Chowk waking

A street designed by a Mughal princess in 1650 around a canal whose moonlit pool named it.

The place

Kinari Bazaar or Dariba Kalan, Old Delhi, 9–11am — Kinari Bazaar; Dariba Kalan, the silver lane; Paranthe Wali Gali

Stand here

The lane's centre. Phone upright, from the lane's centre, let them walk.

People

Yours — the lane receding under the wires; your family walking ahead.

The light

Mid-morning — the window this frame wants.
MID-MORNING
Oct–Nov ≈ 8:30am – 11:30am · Dec–Jan ≈ 9:10am – 12:10pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 8:45am – 11:45am

The frame

Lane to a vanishing point; wires; family walking

Portrait · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 04 OF 12 · THE SPICE MARKET

Khari Baoli from above

The caravan trade's last wholesale market, still sold by the sack.

The place

The Gadodia Market rooftop, Khari Baoli, 11am–1pm — Gadodia Market rooftop, Khari Baoli (closed Sundays)

Stand here

The rooftop parapet. Phone sideways, shoot down into the courtyard, then out.

People

Yours — the courtyard of sacks below; the minaret skyline beyond; your family at the parapet.

The light

Late morning — the window this frame wants.
LATE MORNING
Oct–Nov ≈ 8:30am – 11:30am · Dec–Jan ≈ 9:10am – 12:10pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 8:45am – 11:45am

The frame

Sacks below → family → minaret skyline

Landscape · 0.5×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 05 OF 12 · THE MINARET

Jama Masjid from above

India's great congregational mosque, 1650–56, five thousand workers, one million rupees.

The place

Jama Masjid's south minaret, between prayer times — Jama Masjid, south minaret (≈ ₹100)

Stand here

The minaret top. Climb the 130-odd steps; phone sideways at the top.

People

Yours — the courtyard below and the Red Fort beyond; your family at the minaret's rail.

The light

Midday, between prayers — the window this frame wants.
MIDDAY, BETWEEN PRAYERS
Oct–Nov ≈ 11:00am – 1:30pm · Dec–Jan ≈ 11:40am – 2:10pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 11:15am – 1:45pm

The frame

Courtyard below → family → Red Fort

Landscape · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 06 OF 12 · THE COURTYARD

Jama Masjid's east steps

The east gate was the emperor's; the steps faced his fort.

The place

Jama Masjid's east gate steps, after the climb — Jama Masjid, east steps (Meena Bazaar side)

Stand here

The bottom of the east steps. Phone upright from the bottom step, looking up.

People

Yours — the steps sweeping up; your family seated on them.

The light

Midday — the window this frame wants.
MIDDAY
Oct–Nov ≈ 11:00am – 1:30pm · Dec–Jan ≈ 11:40am – 2:10pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 11:15am – 1:45pm

The frame

Steps → family → gate

Portrait · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 07 OF 12 · THE MINAR

Qutb in the late light

The first Sultan's tower; the stump beside it was meant to be twice its height.

The place

The Qutb complex, the Quwwat-ul-Islam colonnade, 3–4:30pm in winter — Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque colonnade, Qutb complex; The lawn by the Alai Darwaza, for the whole tower

Stand here

Inside the colonnade. Phone upright, from inside the colonnade, tap on the minar.

People

Yours — the minar framed through an arch; your family beneath the columns.

The light

Late afternoon — the window this frame wants.
LATE AFTERNOON
Oct–Nov ≈ 4:30pm – 5:35pm · Dec–Jan ≈ 4:20pm – 5:25pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 5:05pm – 6:10pm

The frame

Arch frame; minar; family beneath

Portrait · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 08 OF 12 · THE GARDENS

Lodi Gardens at golden hour

The last Sultanate dynasties, buried in what became the city's favourite park.

The place

Lodi Gardens, the south lawn before Bara Gumbad, the last hour of light — Bara Gumbad and Shish Gumbad, Lodi Gardens; Sikandar Lodi's tomb at the north end

Stand here

The south lawn. Phone sideways, low, from the lawn.

People

Yours — the dome in the low sun; your family on the lawn in front.

The light

Golden hour — the window this frame wants.
GOLDEN HOUR
Oct–Nov ≈ 4:30pm – 5:35pm · Dec–Jan ≈ 4:20pm – 5:25pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 5:05pm – 6:10pm

The frame

Lawn → family → glowing dome

Landscape · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 09 OF 12 · THE STEPWELL

Agrasen ki Baoli

Tughlaq-era fabric, a legendary founder, 103 steps — and free.

The place

Agrasen ki Baoli, Hailey Road, harsh midday — Agrasen ki Baoli, Hailey Road (free)

Stand here

The top step, centred. Phone upright, centred, shoot down the axis.

People

Yours — the steps descending on the axis; your family at the top.

The light

Midday — the window this frame wants.
MIDDAY
Oct–Nov ≈ 11:00am – 1:30pm · Dec–Jan ≈ 11:40am – 2:10pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 11:15am – 1:45pm

The frame

Steps stacking down; family near the top

Portrait · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 10 OF 12 · THE SUNSET

India Gate at blue hour

Lutyens' war memorial of 1931, and behind it the canopy that stood empty for fifty-four years.

The place

Kartavya Path's south lawns, 200 m west of the arch, at blue hour — Kartavya Path south lawns; The canal boats, for the family in a boat

Stand here

The south lawns. Phone sideways, brace, tap on the arch.

People

Yours — the floodlit arch with the canopy behind; your family on the lawn in front.

The light

Blue hour — the window this frame wants.
BLUE HOUR
Oct–Nov ≈ 5:55pm – 6:25pm · Dec–Jan ≈ 5:45pm – 6:15pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 6:30pm – 7:00pm

The frame

Lawn → family → floodlit arch and canopy

Landscape · 1×

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

SHOT 11 OF 12 · THE EVENING

Nizamuddin's qawwali

The saint who told a sultan 'Delhi is still far'; the music has not stopped since.

The place

Hazrat Nizamuddin dargah, Thursday after maghrib — Hazrat Nizamuddin dargah (first session after maghrib)

Stand here

The edge of the crowd. Night mode, no flash, head covered, stay at the back.

People

Yours — the singers in the lamplight; the crowd; your family at its edge.

The light

After sunset, Thursdays — the window this frame wants.
AFTER SUNSET, THURSDAYS
Oct–Nov ≈ 6:00pm – 6:45pm · Dec–Jan ≈ 5:50pm – 6:35pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 6:35pm – 7:20pm

The frame

Singers, lamps, family at the margin

Portrait · night mode

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SHOT 12 OF 12 · THE LAST EVENING

The mosque, lit

The closing image — Shah Jahan's mosque watching the seventh city go to sleep.

The place

A rooftop on Matia Mahal or Urdu Bazar facing Jama Masjid, after dark — The rooftop cafés on Matia Mahal and Urdu Bazar — confirm the view on the day

Stand here

A rooftop table facing the mosque. Rest the phone on the table, night mode on.

People

Yours — the lit domes and minarets; the edge of your table below.

The light

15–60 min after sunset — the window this frame wants.
15–60 MIN AFTER SUNSET
Oct–Nov ≈ 6:00pm – 6:45pm · Dec–Jan ≈ 5:50pm – 6:35pm · Feb–Mar ≈ 6:35pm – 7:20pm

The frame

Table edge soft; lit domes above

Landscape · night mode, braced

Did our direction work?CURATED · NOT YET FIELD-CHECKED

Twelve photographs become your book

Capture the twelve and your album — My Delhi — assembles itself in narrative order. Back home, one tap: Create My Book. Your photographs, this guide’s story, printed and bound.