REVIEW · NEW DELHI
The Old Delhi Sundowner – Kite Flying and High Tea
Book on Viator →Operated by Haveli Dharampura Walks · Bookable on Viator
Kites over Old Delhi at tea time. This Old Delhi Sundowner pairs kite flying with a rooftop 360° view from Haveli Dharampura at golden hour. The result feels both traditional and polished, in the best way.
I love the way the kite flying lesson is handled: hands-on help, plus stories that connect the sport to Old Delhi life. I also love the high tea setup, especially the 4 gourmet chaats and dessert served as you watch the city shift into evening.
One thing to consider is that the experience is weather-dependent, and the whole vibe is built around the late-afternoon-to-sunset timing. If you are expecting a full meal or any alcohol, you may find the format a bit different than a typical dining outing.
In This Review
- Quick highlights
- Haveli Dharampura’s rooftop at golden hour
- Getting there through Chandni Chowk lanes (without losing the plot)
- The high tea menu: chaats, dessert, and chai/coffee
- Patangbaazi for first-timers: how the kite lesson really works
- The monuments you see: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Lal Mandir, and more
- Timing and pacing: a 2-hour sundowner that fits real itineraries
- Price and value: why $45.33 can make sense here
- Who should book this sundowner (and who might skip it)
- Should you book the Old Delhi Sundowner?
- FAQ
- What time does the Old Delhi Sundowner start?
- How long does the experience last?
- Where do I meet for the tour?
- What’s included in the high tea?
- Do I get help learning how to fly a kite?
- What landmarks can I see from the rooftop?
- How many people are in the group?
- Is mobile ticketing available?
- What happens if the weather is poor?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Quick highlights

- Haveli Dharampura rooftop 360° view of Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Gurudwara Sis Ganj, and Lal Mandir
- Patangbaazi (kite flying) with personalized, hands-on guidance for first-timers
- High tea focused on Old Delhi street flavors with 4 chaats plus dessert
- Golden-hour skyline moment with the Jama Masjid dome at sunset and rare illumination afterward
- Small group size (max 15) keeps the lesson and tea service feeling personal
Haveli Dharampura’s rooftop at golden hour

The experience starts with a simple idea that works really well in Delhi: do something playful and local as the light changes. At Haveli Dharampura, you get to the highest rooftop in Old Delhi and look across the city as afternoon becomes night. From up there, Delhi stops feeling like a blur of traffic and becomes a set of meaningful shapes—domes, minarets, and forts that you can actually connect to names.
Haveli Dharampura itself is part of the appeal. It is a UNESCO-awarded Mughal-era haveli, and it is also a boutique luxury hotel today. That matters because the space feels calm and cared for, even though you arrive from the lane energy of Chandni Chowk. You get a cultural moment without rough edges.
And when the sun goes down, you get a payoff: you’ll see the sunset over Jama Masjid, then later, a rare illumination of the haveli and surrounding monuments. That little arc—from bright to glowing—turns the view from nice to memorable.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in New Delhi.
Getting there through Chandni Chowk lanes (without losing the plot)

Old Delhi can be a sensory overload. What I like about this sundowner is that it doesn’t throw you into the chaos and hope you figure it out. You arrive at Haveli Dharampura after passage through the historic lanes of Chandni Chowk, so you get that real neighborhood feeling, but in a controlled, guided way.
There is also a practical advantage to the meeting point: it is located at Haveli Dharampura on Heritage Road in Dharam Pura, near Chandni Chowk. The tour information also notes it is near public transportation, which is useful if you’re trying to avoid a long late-afternoon detour.
The whole timing is built around the 4:00 pm start. You’re not rushing in the dark. You’re early enough to settle in, meet the group, and get comfortable before you fly kites and start eating.
The high tea menu: chaats, dessert, and chai/coffee
High tea can be either theatrical and overpriced or genuinely fun. Here, it feels like a smart fusion: refined service, but the flavors stay anchored in Old Delhi.
The signature high tea includes 4 gourmet chaats plus a dessert from Old Delhi. You are also served tea or coffee, along with a beverage of choice that is non-alcoholic. That combo is ideal for this specific time of day because it keeps you lightly fueled while you’re doing an active outdoor activity.
What you should expect the experience to feel like: you’re eating street-food-inspired bites on a rooftop while the city’s major landmarks sit in view. It’s not a quiet museum moment, and it’s not a heavy restaurant meal either. It’s a snack-and-sunset rhythm.
One small but important value detail: the high tea isn’t presented as a side note. It’s a main event that fits the theme. When the kite gear comes out, your drink and plates are already part of the pacing, so you’re not waiting around hungry.
Patangbaazi for first-timers: how the kite lesson really works

Kite flying in Old Delhi is called Patangbaazi, and this is one of those activities where guidance matters. If you have never flown a kite before, the hardest parts are usually the basics—how to hold, when to release, and how to read the wind.
That is why the hands-on approach is so valuable here. The team provides personalized lessons and assistance, and they share fun anecdotes about Delhi’s kite culture. Even if you have flown kites before, you’ll likely appreciate the coaching because every rooftop breeze and corner angle can change how the kite behaves.
The vibe from the reviews is consistent: the staff are patient, and they help you get it right rather than assuming you already know what to do. People especially seem to enjoy flying from a rooftop with Old Delhi spread below you—so the learning curve comes with a built-in visual reward.
Practical takeaway: if you want your first attempt to be fun instead of frustrating, take the staff’s instructions seriously and let them guide you through the basics. This is one of those cases where listening makes the activity quicker and more satisfying.
The monuments you see: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Lal Mandir, and more
This sundowner is not just about what’s happening on the rooftop. It is also about what you can name and recognize as you look around.
On the rooftop, you get a panoramic 360° view connected to specific landmarks on four sides. You’ll be able to see:
- Red Fort
- Jama Masjid
- Gurudwara Sis Ganj
- Lal Mandir (Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir)
Even though the experience describes these sights as part of the skyline view, it helps to think of the stops as a guided storytelling route through Old Delhi. The idea is that you arrive, orient yourself to where things are, then watch the sunset transform the skyline.
Each landmark brings a different visual signature:
- Red Fort gives you the sense of scale and power, especially when the light is low.
- Jama Masjid is the big dome centerpiece, and the sunset over it is specifically called out as a highlight.
- Gurudwara Sis Ganj adds a different architectural and spiritual presence to the panorama.
- Lal Mandir brings a striking color and character that reads clearly from a distance.
Then there is the wrap-up moment. As evening ends, you’ll see the rare illumination of the haveli and surrounding monuments. That shift is the difference between taking a few photos and feeling like you witnessed the city change states—daylight to lantern light.
Timing and pacing: a 2-hour sundowner that fits real itineraries
This is roughly a 2-hour experience, starting at 4:00 pm. That timing is practical if your plan is to explore Old Delhi earlier in the day and then return for something lighter than a long dinner.
It also makes sense for the activity sequence:
- You arrive and get oriented.
- You enjoy high tea service.
- You fly kites while the skyline is still readable.
- You hit the sunset highlight and then the illumination moment.
Because the group size is capped at 15 travelers, the pacing doesn’t drag. You’re more likely to get personalized assistance with the kites rather than joining a long queue.
If you are juggling a busy day, this is also a good way to avoid decision fatigue. You don’t need to pick between a food stop and an experience stop. You get both in one block: snacks plus skyline plus activity.
Price and value: why $45.33 can make sense here
At $45.33 per person, the price is not a bargain like a street snack crawl. But it also isn’t trying to pretend it is. You are paying for several ingredients that are usually spread across different bookings:
- Rooftop access at Haveli Dharampura with a marquee view
- High tea that includes multiple chaats, dessert, and beverages
- Kite flying instruction with hands-on help
- A guided cultural storytelling element around Old Delhi and Patangbaazi
- A small group setting (max 15) during a prime-time window
When I judge value, I look for whether the price buys time and expertise or just a place to sit. Here, you get both: you are in the right spot at the right hour, and you receive structured help for a hands-on activity.
So if you want a meaningful Old Delhi memory that combines food, play, and landmark views without stacking five separate plans, this price starts to feel reasonable.
Who should book this sundowner (and who might skip it)

This experience is a great fit if you:
- Want a first-time-friendly kite flying moment with real guidance
- Prefer a small-group setup
- Like Old Delhi snacks but want them served in an organized, rooftop setting
- Plan to be in Chandni Chowk/Old Delhi area around late afternoon anyway
You might consider skipping if you are looking for a long, museum-style walking tour with lots of inside stops, or if you have zero interest in kite flying and only want a meal. The format is built around the sunset and the kite activity.
Also, because it requires good weather, keep an eye on forecasts for that day. If weather turns, the tour offering will be adjusted with either a different date or a refund, so don’t plan this as your only time-sensitive Old Delhi outing.
Should you book the Old Delhi Sundowner?
I think you should book it if you want an Old Delhi experience that feels both local and comfortable. The combination is the draw: rooftop views tied to major landmarks, a high tea that actually sounds like Old Delhi food, and Patangbaazi coaching that makes the activity approachable.
It is also one of those plans that is hard to replicate on your own. You could hunt down rooftop views, and you could eat chaats, and you could even try buying a kite. But you would struggle to match the timing, instruction, and storytelling in one smooth 2-hour block.
My only hesitation is the weather dependency. If you are traveling during a season where afternoon-to-evening weather can be unpredictable, have a backup mindset.
If that works for your schedule, this is a memorable way to see Old Delhi when the city looks most cinematic.
FAQ
What time does the Old Delhi Sundowner start?
The start time is 4:00 pm.
How long does the experience last?
It runs for about 2 hours.
Where do I meet for the tour?
The meeting point is Haveli Dharampura, 2293 Gali, Heritage Rd, Dharam Pura, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006, India.
What’s included in the high tea?
The high tea includes 4 gourmet chaats and a dessert from Old Delhi, served with tea or coffee and a non-alcoholic beverage of your choice.
Do I get help learning how to fly a kite?
Yes. You’ll get personalized lessons and hands-on assistance for kite flying, including guidance from the team.
What landmarks can I see from the rooftop?
The 360° rooftop view includes Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Gurudwara Sis Ganj, and Lal Mandir on four sides.
How many people are in the group?
The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.
Is mobile ticketing available?
Yes. The experience includes a mobile ticket.
What happens if the weather is poor?
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Canceling within 24 hours of the start time is not refundable.






















