Start early at Humayun’s Tomb in Nizamuddin East, ideally around 7:00–7:30 AM, before August’s humidity and crowds build. The red-sandstone Mughal complex is best approached through its formal gardens, with the tomb’s symmetrical terraces and white marble details gradually appearing ahead of you. Allow about 1½ hours; entry is usually around ₹50 for Indian visitors and ₹600 for foreign visitors, though confirm at the gate. From here, Sunder Nursery is a short auto-rickshaw ride or roughly 15-minute walk away—use the entrance near Mathura Road and carry water, as the shaded sections are pleasantly cool but the open lawns can feel hot.
Spend late morning wandering Sunder Nursery, where restored Mughal-era tombs sit among landscaped gardens, ponds, native planting, and broad walking paths. It is more relaxed than a conventional monument visit, so leave time to pause by the water features and explore the quieter corners; about 1½ hours is comfortable. The park generally opens around sunrise and closes near sunset, with admission commonly around ₹50. Take an app-based cab from Nizamuddin to Khan Market afterward—usually 15–25 minutes depending on traffic—and plan lunch at Perch Wine & Coffee Bar, where coffee, light plates, and wine make a welcome break from sightseeing; budget approximately ₹800–1,500 per person.
Browse Khan Market after lunch rather than treating it only as a shopping stop: its compact lanes are good for independent boutiques, bookstores, homeware, and a little people-watching, with about 1½ hours enough for an unhurried visit. In the late afternoon, take a cab toward India Gate and ask to be dropped near the Kartavya Path lawns; allow 20–30 minutes in normal traffic, but more during office hours. Spend around 45 minutes around the war memorial, especially as the light softens. The monument itself is free, though access around the central area can be restricted during official events, and August weather may bring sudden rain—carry a small umbrella.
Finish at Lodhi Garden, roughly 10–15 minutes by cab from India Gate, arriving around 5:30–6:00 PM. The garden is free and usually remains open until about 8:00 PM in summer, giving you time for a calm walk among the historic tombs, flowering beds, and old trees. This is the best place on the itinerary to slow down: locals come here to walk, exercise, and escape the traffic, while the monuments become especially atmospheric near sunset. Expect heavy evening traffic on Lodhi Road and nearby avenues, so use a cab or metro only if you are comfortable walking the final stretch.