Gurgaon, now known as Gurugram, is the second-largest city in Haryana and a thriving financial and technology hub. An emerging metropolitan city and trade hub near the national capital of Delhi, Gurgaon (now Gurugram) is an integral part of the National Capital Region (NCR). In this article, we look at the 10 best tourist places to visit in Gurgaon and things to do for a memorable and fun-filled trip.
Located on the southwestern side of Delhi, it offers the best of city life and countryside. Gurgaon has museums, temples, pubs, shopping malls and adventure activity spots as its main attractions.
Best time to visit Gurgaon
The best time to visit Gurgaon is from September to December. The temperature is pleasant during these months. January is cold and foggy and should be avoided. February and March are also pleasant to visit Gurgaon.
How to reach Gurgaon
Via train: Gurugram railway station is well connected with all the major cities of India. The Delhi and Faridabad stations connect Gurgaon to the rest of the country. New Delhi Railway Station to Gurgaon is 33 km. Gurgaon to Faridabad station is 36 km. Gurgaon Metro, also known as Rapid Metro, consists of one metro line with 11 stations, developed by the Rapid Metrorail Gurgaon (RMRG), led by the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS)
Via air: The nearest airport to Gurgaon is the Delhi International Airport, which is well connected to all major cities and towns. The road distance between Gurgaon and Delhi airport is 19 km.
Via road: Gurgaon is well connected to all major cities and towns by road through NH-48 that passes through the district. Tourists can take a taxi or local buses (state or private) to reach Gurgaon.
See also: Places to visit near Gurgaon within 300 kms
Places to visit in Gurgaon #1: Damdama Lake
Damdama Lake is a tourist place to visit in Gurgaon. Spread across 3,000 acres, Damdama Lake is a well-known reservoir in Sohna in the Gurgaon district. It is also among the largest lakes in Haryana and offers lovely views of picturesque surroundings for a relaxing day out. Nearly 200 varieties of birds can be spotted here, including the painted stork and spoon-billed stork. Just 20 km away from Gurgaon, with Aravalli as the backdrop, the lake is a popular picnic spot. You can also enjoy boating and camping near the lake.
Timing: 10:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Entry fee: Free entry
How to reach:
- You can take an auto or taxi to reach Damdama Lake, which is on the Delhi-Alwar Highway.
- Bus no. 218, which takes an hour.
- Metro from HUDA City Centre Metro Station
Places to visit in Gurgaon #2: Sheetla Mata Mandir
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Source: Pinterest
The Sheetla Mata Mandir in Gurgaon is one of the nine shakti peeths and one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages in the country. The Devi is considered to be Goddess Durga reincarnated as Sheetla. The Goddess is revered due to the belief that if she is worshipped with complete faith, she can dispel smallpox. The present temple was built by Jat King Jawahar Singh in the 18th century. She is also believed to be Kripi (Lalitha), wife of Guru Dronacharya, the guru of the Pandavas and the Kauravas in the epic, Mahabharata. The district Gurgaon derives its name from Gurugram or the village of the guru, and the temple is located on Sheetla Mata Road.
Timing: 06:00 AM to 08:00 PM (all seven days)
Entry fee: Free entry
How to reach:
- Gurugram Railway Station is the nearest railway station, which is 2.7 km from the temple. Auto rickshaws are available at regular intervals that take you directly to the temple.
- Metro from HUDA City Centre Metro Station
See also: Cost of living in Gurgaon
Places to visit in Gurgaon #3: Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
One of the must-visit places in Gurgaon is the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. Founded by Peter Jackson, an ornithologist and the former Honorary Secretary of the Delhi Birdwatching Society, it is the best place for birdwatchers to spot migratory birds. There are almost 250 species of birds, including local birds and migratory birds from Siberia, Europe and Afghanistan. Some of the birds that you can see here all around the year are Common Hoopoe, Paddy field Pipit, Purple Sunbird, Little Cormorant, Eurasian Thick-knee, Gray Francolin, Indian Roller, White-throated Kingfisher, Spot-Billed Duck, Painted Stork and Black-headed Ibis. During winters the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary provides an amazing view of migratory birds such as Siberian Crane, Greater Flamingo, Rough Black-winged Stilt, Common Teal, Common Greenshank, Wagtail, White Wagtail, Northern Shoveler and Rosy Pelican.
Timing: 07:00 AM to 04:30 PM (Closed on Tuesday)
Entry fee: Rs 5 (adults) and Rs 2 (children)
Must visit Gurgaon tourist places #4: Cyber Hub
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Cyber Hub, Gurgaon, attracts both tourists and locals. This food-cum-entertainment place in Gurugram has restaurants, pubs, lounges and shopping places. Cyber Hub, which opened in October 2013, is spread over 4 lakh square feet and caters to 50 food outlets. This is the ideal place to simply chill out with friends or spend a relaxing Sunday with family. It is located next to Cyber City, a corporate park that has top IT and Fortune 500 companies. An open area and theme parties give the place a unique edge. This party hub is known for its nightlife too. Cyber Hub is strategically located on National Highway 8, which connects Gurugram to Delhi.
Entry fee: Free entry
See also: Top tourist places in north India
Must visit Gurgaon tourist places #5: Ambience Mall
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Ambience Mall, the biggest mall in Gurgaon, is a popular place among locals and tourists for shopping and entertainment. The multi-level shopping mall has brands, restaurants, theatres, a bowling alley, ice-skating ring, a beer garden, a simulated golf course, a kids’ play zone and a recreational zone. Spread over 1997378 square feet, it has more than 230 stores of international and domestic brands of accessories, footwear, cosmetics, lingerie, home decor and novelties.
Timing: 10.00 AM – 10.00 PM
Entry fee: Free entry
How to reach:
- Located on NH 8, Ambience Island, Gurgaon.
- Near DLF Cyber Hub Metro Station and IndusInd Bank Cyber City.
See also: Best sectors to live in Gurgaon
Gurgaon places to visit #6: Heritage Transport Museum
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Source: Pinterest
Heritage Transport Museum is a premier museum in India that showcases transportation history. Located in Tauru in the Gurgaon district, the museum is spread over more than three acres. The museum is the result of Tarun Thakral’s passion for transportation collection. The museum has more than 2,500 curated objects that are classified into sections – pre-mechanized and heavily mechanized transport, railways, aviation, maritime transport and rural and indigenous transport. On display are over 75 vintage and classic cars, parked alongside a recreated Indian street scene from the yesteryears, sporting vintage ephemera. A vintage petrol pump with spare parts memorabilia has also been recreated. Don’t miss out on the history and evolution of the Indian aviation industry, including early trials and experiments and the history and growth of Air India. Suspended in mid-air in the gallery is a restored 1940s Piper J3C Cub aircraft in its signature chrome yellow colour.
Timing: 10 AM to 07 PM (Closed on Monday)
Entrance fee: Rs 400 (adults), Rs 200 (children). Free entry for kids below 3 years
How to reach:
- While coming from Delhi/Gurgaon on NH-48 (Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway) turn left at Bilaspur Chowk. The museum is around 7 km from Bilaspur Chowk.
- Sector 55-56 metro station is the nearest station to the Heritage Transport Museum.
Places to visit in Gurgaon #7: Aravalli Biodiversity Park
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The Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Gurgaon. It has more than 1,000 species of trees, shrubs and birds native to the Aravalli, which was once an abandoned mining site. The Aravalli Biodiversity Park has been awarded the distinction of the first OECM (Other effective area-based conservation measures) in India by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The park is spread over 390 acres near Gurgaon and has ecologically restored semi-arid land vegetation. It has 1,01,000 trees, 43,000 shrubs and several species of birds. It also has a 3.5-km walking track and a 4-km cycling track that have been built along natural contours and existing paths. The park has two seasonal wetlands and an amphitheatre for cultural activities.
Timing: 05:00 AM to 08:00 PM
Entry fee: Free entry
How to reach:
- Guru Dronacharya Metro Station is the closest station.
See also: Historical places and monuments in Delhi
Places to visit in Gurgaon #8: Never Enuf Garden Railway
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Never Enuf Garden Railway in Gurgaon is a picturesque space with miniature train sets, remote-controlled boats and cars and ample green space to walk. Never Enuf Garden Railroad Lilliputian world has miniature model trains spread over 20,000 sq. ft. Brown rocky hills, water bodies and floral bouquets are landscaped in this mini fantasy world. Adesh Grover, a train-modelling enthusiast, has installed all the mini creations. Alongside admiring the miniature rail world, children can learn about ticket windows, signals, railway crossing and station master.
Timing: 11:00 M – 7:30 PM only on Saturday and Sunday
Entry fee: Rs 750 (for everyone above 2 years)
How to reach:
- HUDA City Centre Metro Station is the nearest station.
Places to visit in Gurgaon #9: Farrukhnagar Fort
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The Farrukhnagar Fort was built by Nawab Faujdar Khan in 1732 and is a popular tourist place in Gurgaon. The fort reflects the Mughal style of architecture and is a historical landmark situated at Farrukh Nagar in Gurgaon. The fort is built in an octagonal shape, which is the perfect example of symmetry without using any modern technology. There are three gates in the Farrukhnagar Fort – Dilli Darwaza, Jhajjari Darwaza and Patli Darwaza. The ruined fort was renovated in 2009 and is among the best tourist places.
Timing: 09.00 AM to 06.00 PM (All seven days of the week)
Entry fee: Rs 5 per person
How to reach:
- IFFCO Chowk is the nearest bus stand
- IFFCO Chowk Metro Station is the nearest station
- You can take a cab from Gurgaon to the fort
Gurgaon places to visit #10: Museum of Folk and Tribal Art
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Source: Pinterest
The Museum of Folk and Tribal Art houses one of the most distinguished collections of tribal, folk and other art forms. Founded in 1984 by painter and sculptor KC. Aryan, the museum has an amazing collection of artefacts from all across the country, especially from Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Thousands of folk and tribal bronze objects, litho prints, embellished folk toys, folk paintings, embroideries, tribal wood and stone carvings, ethnic jewellery, calico prints, wooden blocks, card puppets and papier-mâché masks are on display. One of the main attractions of the museum is a collection of 200 Shiva heads and a life-size mukhalinga from Karnataka.
Timing: 10:00 AM to 05:30 PM
Entry fee: Rs 10
How to reach:
- The museum is about 2 km from the Gurugram railway station and 20 km from the IGI airport in Delhi.
- IFFCO Chowk (yellow line) is the nearest metro station.
Places to visit near Gurgaon
Fun N Food Village
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Fun N Food Village is one of the most popular places to visit near Gurgaon for full-day enjoyment. The park is divided into two sections – Water Park and Amusement Park – with over 40 rides, including adventure rides and water slides. There is a separate water play zone for kids with the longest water slide in India. This exciting place is equipped with all kinds of fun rides like a water park, action river, wave pool, water slides and the tornado.
Timing: 10:00 AM to 07:00 PM (Open 365 days except on Diwali
Entry fee: Rs 1,000+18% GST (adult), Rs 600+18% GST (children)
Note: Rates are subject to change without prior notice.
Children below 10 years must be accompanied by an adult.
How to reach:
- IndusInd Bank Cyber City Metro Station is the nearest station.
- You can take an auto or taxi.
- Bus nos. (DTC-NCR): 543A, 717A, 729
Neemrana Fort Palace
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One of the most well-known places to visit near Gurgaon is the Neemrana Fort Palace. The Neemrana Fort Palace is one of the oldest forts that has been refurbished to become a heritage hotel. Built by Prithiviraj Chauhan’s successors, it is more than 500 years old and is situated on the Aravalli hills. Nine palace wings, built over 14 tiered levels into the hill across 6 acres of the garden palace, the Neemrana Fort Palace is a beautiful weekend place outside Gurgaon.
Entry fee: Rs 1700 (weekdays, inclusive of lunch), Rs 2,000 (weekends, inclusive of lunch)
See also: Top places to visit in Delhi
Things to do in Gurgaon
Visit farms and see the rural life
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There are many farms near Gurgaon to visit for the weekend or for a one-day picnic. You can experience simple village life with a host of activities like bullock cart rides, mud baths, pottery, tractor rides and farming along with traditional meals. Some of the well-known farms are Lohargarh, Surajgarh, Rangmanch farms and Ramgarh farms.
Enjoy rides at amusement and water parks
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Appu Ghar (also known as Oysters Beach Water Park) is a one-million square foot, beach-themed water park in Gurgaon. Besides the tallest ride in India, Skyfall, there are various unique rides like Rapid Racer, Oh My Gurgaon, Lazy River, Crazy River and the Typhoon Tunnel. Appu Ghar also has an amazing food court and is the ideal getaway from the stressful work life of Gurgaon.
Timing: 11.00 AM to 6.00 PM (all days)
Entry fee: Rs 1,399 (adults), Rs 899 (children; 3 to 4 ft)
How to reach:
- Huda City Centre (Yellow Line) Metro Station is the nearest station.
Check out: Villas in Gurgaon
FAQs
Why is Gurgaon called Millennium city?
Gurgaon, a relatively young city in India, is emerging as a prosperous city. This leading financial and industrial hub has skyscrapers, shopping malls, cafés and an urban lifestyle with countless clubs and everything that the millennials desire. Therefore, it is called Millennium city.
Is the Kingdom of Dream open in Gurgaon
Recently The Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) sealed the Kingdom of Dreams (KoD) for non-payment of dues. The entertainment hub had live theatre performances, culture gully and cuisines from 16 states. Please check their website for the latest information.
Which are the well-known shopping places in Gurgaon?
Besides malls like the Ambience Mall and the MGF Megacity Mall, you can shop at Sadar Bazar, Galleria Market, Sector 14 market, Qutub Plaza and Hong Kong market.
Purnima Goswami Sharma is a freelance writer based in Mumbai, who has been contributing to various newspapers, magazines and portals for the last two decades. Besides being a research writer for various TV shows, she has been a visiting faculty at SNDT for Communication Skills. She hold a master’s degree in English Literature from Mumbai University and a diploma in Communications and Journalism. She writes on diverse subjects like real estate, interiors, education, lifestyle, health, entertainment and environment.
Email: [email protected]
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