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Historic Mughal Garden

Talkatora Garden

Also Known As · Talkatora Gardens

New Delhi, Delhi · garden

A Mughal reservoir-garden turned central-Delhi green oasis — lawns, fountains and spring flowers beside Rashtrapati Bhavan, with a 1737 Maratha history.

Open dailyEntry Fee: Free EntryDaily, roughly 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM (sunrise to sunset); shifts slightly by season

Talkatora Garden is one of central New Delhi's historic green oases — a Mughal-era garden tucked beside Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Talkatora Stadium, whose curious name comes from a 'tal' (water tank) set within a bowl-shaped 'katora' of hilly ground, for it began life as a reservoir supplying the area. Today it is a free, well-kept NDMC public garden of lawns, waterways, fountains and, in spring, glorious flowerbeds.

Get Directions

Where to Eat Nearby

Nearby Vegetarian Eats

Saravana Bhavan, Connaught Place

2.5 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian South Indian dosas and thalis

Bikanervala, Baba Kharak Singh Marg

2 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian chaat, thalis and sweets

Gole Market veg thali outlets

2 km away
casual

Vegetarian thalis and dosas

About

Talkatora Garden is one of central New Delhi's historic green oases — a Mughal-era garden tucked beside Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Talkatora Stadium, whose curious name comes from a 'tal' (water tank) set within a bowl-shaped 'katora' of hilly ground, for it began life as a reservoir supplying the area.

  • Today it is a free, well-kept NDMC public garden of lawns, waterways, fountains and, in spring, glorious flowerbeds.
  • Beyond its greenery, the garden carries a striking slice of history: on 28 March 1737, this ground served as the camping and staging point for the Maratha army under Peshwa Bajirao I, who launched a lightning raid on Mughal Delhi from here — a landmark moment in the Maratha challenge to Mughal power.
  • A surviving heritage embankment wall, capped with domed octagonal pavilions at each end, still stands at the northwestern edge, protected as a historic structure.
  • For visitors it is a calm, central place to walk, jog, do yoga, watch birds or simply sit among the flowers a stone's throw from the President's Estate.
  • For vegetarian travellers Connaught Place nearby is full of pure-veg options — Saravana Bhavan, Bikanervala and other vegetarian thali and dosa spots are a short ride away.

Practical notes

entry is free (some sites wrongly quote a ticket by confusing it with the paid Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens — the public Talkatora garden itself is free), and it is open daily from around sunrise to sunset, best in the cool of early morning or late afternoon and at its floral peak in February–March. Nearest metro: Shivaji Stadium, about 1.5 km. Carry water in summer; allow an hour. Because it sits just off the tourist trail, it stays refreshingly local and uncrowded — a favourite of morning walkers, yoga groups and families rather than sightseers, which is much of its quiet, easy-going charm.

Timings & Entry Fee

Visiting Hours

  • • Roughly 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM (daily)
  • • Sunrise-to-sunset window shifts by season
  • • Floral peak in February–March
Days OpenOpen DailyEntry FeeFree EntryTime Needed1 hour

Entry Fee: Free entry (the public garden itself; some listings wrongly quote a ticket by confusing it with the paid Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens).

Verified: July 2026

Location & How to Reach

Address

Mother Teresa Crescent, near Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, Delhi, 110001

Beside Talkatora Stadium and the President's Estate

📍 Get Directions🗺️ View on map

🚇 Nearest Metro: Shivaji Stadium (Airport/Orange Line) — about 1.5 km; Patel Chowk; R.K. Ashram Marg

🚶 Walking from Metro: From Shivaji Stadium metro it is about a 15-minute walk (1.5 km) or a short auto to the garden.

Distance from

  • • Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL): 14 km (~38 min)
  • • New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS): 5 km (~22 min)
  • • Connaught Place: 2.5 km (~12 min)

Parking

on-site · ₹20–₹50 (paid)

Parking near the garden and Talkatora Stadium.

🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Uber and Ola drop at the garden on Mother Teresa Crescent; it is a short ride from Shivaji Stadium or Patel Chowk metro.

How to Reach: Talkatora Garden is on Mother Teresa Crescent, near Talkatora Stadium and the President's Estate. Nearest metro: Shivaji Stadium (Airport/Orange Line), about 1.5 km (a 15-minute walk or short auto); Patel Chowk and R.K. Ashram Marg are also within a short auto ride. Buses run along Shankar Road.

Things to Do

  • Stroll the lawns, waterways and fountains
  • See the spring flowerbeds
  • View the heritage embankment pavilions
  • Take a morning walk or jog
  • Picnic near Rashtrapati Bhavan

Best Time to Visit

Best SeasonFebruary to March (flowerbeds); October to March generallyBest Time of DayEarly morning or late afternoonTime Needed1 hourCrowd LevelsCalm; morning walkers and joggers at dawn

History & Significance

History

Talkatora Garden is a Mughal-era garden whose name derives from a 'tal' (water tank) set in a bowl-shaped 'katora' of hilly ground — it began as a reservoir supplying the area.

  • On 28 March 1737 it served as the camping and staging ground for Peshwa Bajirao I's Maratha raid on Mughal Delhi.
  • After Independence it was revitalised as a public NDMC garden; a heritage embankment wall with domed octagonal pavilions survives at its northwestern edge.

🏛️ Architect: A Mughal-influenced garden layout of lawns, flowerbeds, waterways and fountains, with a surviving heritage stone embankment wall capped by domed octagonal pavilions at each end (a protected structure) at the northwestern edge.

Significance

Talkatora Garden is one of central New Delhi's historic Mughal-era gardens — an old reservoir-garden and the 1737 staging ground for Bajirao I's raid on Delhi — now a free, well-maintained NDMC public garden of lawns, fountains and spring flowerbeds beside Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Places to Visit Nearby

Rashtrapati Bhavan

1.5 km away

Lutyens' great copper-domed presidential palace on Raisina Hill.

Prachin Hanuman Mandir

2 km away

The ancient Connaught Place Hanuman temple with its non-stop Ram-naam chant.

Connaught Place

2.5 km away

New Delhi's grand colonnaded shopping and dining circle.

Family & Accessibility

Kid Friendly4of 5Stroller AccessYesWheelchair AccessPartialChanging RoomNoPet PolicyYes

Family Highlights

  • • Mughal-era lawns, waterways and fountains
  • • Spring flowerbeds at their February–March peak
  • • A heritage embankment wall with domed pavilions
  • • A calm green space beside Rashtrapati Bhavan

Photography & Drone

Drone PolicyProhibited

💰 Equipment Fees: Free for personal photography.

📍 The Golden Spot: The spring flowerbeds and fountains, and the domed embankment pavilions.

🌅 Best Light Time: Early morning and late afternoon.

Tips & Safety

💡 Insider Tips

🌅 Secret View: The heritage embankment wall with its domed octagonal pavilions at the northwestern edge is a little-noticed Mughal survival.

🎯 Crowd Hack: Weekday dawns are peaceful; the garden is loveliest during the February–March flower season.

💎 Secret Fact: On 28 March 1737 the garden was the staging ground for Peshwa Bajirao I's lightning Maratha raid on Mughal Delhi.

⚡ Express Tour

40 minutes — the central lawns, fountains and the heritage wall.

🔭 Deep Dive Tour

Half day — the garden with Connaught Place and Rashtrapati Bhavan's vista.

🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code

Do's

  • Stroll the lawns, waterways and fountains
  • See the spring flowerbeds (February–March)
  • View the heritage embankment wall and pavilions
  • Take an early-morning walk, jog or yoga session
  • Picnic on the lawns and photograph the greenery

Don'ts

  • Do not expect a ticket — the public garden is free
  • Do not litter on the lawns and flowerbeds
  • Do not visit in peak midday heat without water
  • Do not climb on the heritage embankment structures

👕 Dress Code: No dress code; comfortable shoes and sun protection in summer.

📷 Photography Rules: Personal photography is free across the garden.

Good to Know

💳 Money & Connectivity

UPIPartialCardsNoCashYes

🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs toward Connaught Place and Gole Market (within 2 km).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Talkatora Garden timings and entry fee?

Entry is free. The garden is open daily from around sunrise to sunset (roughly 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM), best in the cool of early morning or late afternoon.

Which is the nearest metro to Talkatora Garden?

Shivaji Stadium on the Airport/Orange Line is about 1.5 km away (a 15-minute walk or short auto); Patel Chowk and R.K. Ashram Marg are also nearby.

Is Talkatora Garden the same as Talkatora Stadium?

No — Talkatora Garden is the historic Mughal-era public garden; the Talkatora Stadium is the modern sports and events arena built beside it (opened in the 1980s). This page is about the free public garden, and some listings wrongly quote a ticket by confusing it with the paid Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens.

What is the history of Talkatora Garden?

It was a Mughal-era reservoir-garden (its name means a water tank in a bowl-shaped hollow), and on 28 March 1737 it was the staging ground for Peshwa Bajirao I's Maratha raid on Delhi.

When is Talkatora Garden at its best?

In February and March, when its flowerbeds are in full bloom; early mornings year-round are peaceful for walks and birdsong.

Where can I eat vegetarian food near Talkatora Garden?

Connaught Place nearby is full of pure-veg options — Saravana Bhavan, Bikanervala and vegetarian thali and dosa spots are a short ride away.

Categories

Nature & OutdoorsHeritage & Culture

Related

Morning WalkPeacefulFree EntryPicnic SpotNear MetroPhotography Spot
#mughal-garden#reservoir-garden#bajirao-raid#ndmc-park#central-delhi#free-entry
Talkatora Garden, New Delhi — TasteYatra