Discussion on defining district borders for Delhi is in progress. If you know the city pretty well, please share your opinion on thetalk page.
Delhi(Hindi: दिल्ली,Urdu: دلّی,Punjabi: ਦਿੱਲੀ)[1]is northernIndia's largest city. One part of it, known asNew Delhi(Hindi: नई दिल्लीNaï Dillî), is officially designated the capital of India, but the names are often used interchangeably.
Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, along withDamascusandVaranasi. Legend estimates it to be over 5,000 years old. Over the millennia, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. The oldest alleged incarnation of the city shows up in the Indian mythological epicMahabharataasIndraprastha. The earliest historically recognized version of the city is
Muhammad Bin Tughlaq is also known as the mad king for wanting to move the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (now near Aurangabad in Maharashtra) and making the entire population travel, only to return in a few years because of water shortage in the new town.
Feroze Shah, also repaired many of the older construction in Delhi including Ghori's tomb, Qutub Minar,Suraj Kund and Hauz Khas. He, himself, was buried inside a lofty tomb in Hauz Khas. Quite like earlier, after Feroze Shah's death, the sultnate became unstable and weak, and was invaded by Taimur the Lame (from Samarkhand) who created havoc in the city by looting, killing, raping and plundering. The Sayyids and Lodhis who ruled Delhi after the Tughlaq's paid more attention to re-establishing miltiary and political stability to the kingdom. The only relevant architecture visible from this period are the tombs at Lodhi Gardens. The last of the Lodhi's was defeated by Babur in the first battle of Panipat. Babur then proceeded to establish the Mughal dynasty.
Inspite of its rich historical heritage represented by the numerous monuments, Delhi's population is hardly aware of it and has little pride or feeling for the city's history. This is due to the simple reason that few Delhi residents actually belong to Delhi. The population of Delhi is a heterogeneous mix of people originally belonging to different parts of North India and beyond. Among the prominent North Indian communities are the Punjabis, who are the descendants of the refugees of the Indian Partition. They are easily the most affluent community. However, their dominance in recent years has been challenged by the increasing affluence of other North Indian communities. Delhi has a prominent South Indian Community, primarily in areas like RK Puram and Munirka. A Bengali Settlement, the Chittaranjan Park in south Delhi is the Mini Calcutta of Delhi.
And the biggest irony is the fact that the descendants of the builders of Delhi's many Muslim monuments no longer stay in Delhi. Most of them migrated to Pakistan during the Partition, with only a small, ever-diminishing community in Old Delhi keeping old courtly traditions alive.
Like the rest of the Gangetic Plains, Delhi isas flat as a pancake. The only geographical features of any significance are theriver Yamuna, which flows down the eastern side of the city, and theAravalli Hills, which form a wide but low arc across the west. On the west bank is the crowded and congestedOld (Central) Delhiand, to the southwest, the broad, tree-lined avenues ofNew Delhi, built by the British to rule their empire. The rest is an endless low-rise sprawl of suburbia and slums, with southwestern Delhi (nearer to New Delhi) generally somewhat wealthier.
Indeed, on a broad scale Delhi is not difficult to navigate. The Outer Ring Road, and Ring Road, offer simple connections between districts. In South Delhi, most of the major districts lie on either the inner or outer ring roads.
Traveling west on the Ring Road from Nizammudin, the following colonies lie in the following order, Friends Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, South Extention, INA, Safdarjung, Bikhaji Kama Place, RK Puram, Chankyapuri, Dhaula Kuan.
And on the outer Ring Road, traveling west from Okhla, the following colonies lie in the following order,Nehru Place, Kalkaji, GK2, GK1, CR Park, PanchShil Park, Hauz Khas Enclave, Safdarjung Enclave, Munirka, Vasant Vihar.
The only major areas that lie in between the Ring Roads as opposed to adjacent to them are are Anand Niketan, Hauz Khas Village, Green Park. However, these areas are easily accessible from Shanti Path, Aurobindo Marg, and Khel Gaon Marg respectively.
Inside the colonies it is another issue, often akin to mazes, finding your way around the inside of any colony other than Vasant Vihar or Chanakyapuri is not for the faint hearted.
Delhi has a monsoon influenced humid subtropical climate, with temperatures (especially in the summer) more extreme than other subtropical cities likeSao PauloandCanberra. Summers begin in April and are notoriously hot, with temperatures over 40oC common. The monsoons start in late June and Delhi gets rain till about early October, although this is extremely variable. The summer and monsoon months should be avoided, especially if one is not accustomed to extreme heat, high humidity and torrential rainfall.
Winters are short and usually mild. Increasing air pollution in recent years has made the winters extremely foggy, with frequent flight and train cancellations and very low visibility. The short spring (Feb-March) and autumn (November) season are comparatively more pleasant with temperatures in the 12 to 25oC range. They are the best time to visit Delhi.
Indira Gandhi International Airport(IGI,IATA:DEL)[2], located in the west of the city, is the arrival point for many visitors into Delhi. With the opening of new Terminal 3 in July 2010, Delhi International Airport has now one of the best terminals in the world. The $3 billion terminal operates all international flights and full-service domestic flights. The plan is to operate the low cost flights also from this terminal in the future. The new nine-level hub will be able to handle 34 million passengers per year, making it one of the biggest in the world. Complete with imported granite floors, huge white columns fitted with expensive speakers, 63 elevators, 95 immigration counters and a state of the art security and baggage system, Terminal 3 is also has a transit hotel.[3]It has got the facilities like money changing, restaurants, car rental, inter-terminal transfer by free of cost airport coach, duty-free shopping etc.[4]
The airport is split into three terminals, with the domestic terminals commonly known asPalam Airport.
When leaving Delhi from international terminal, security at the airport is tight, so you should show up two hours before your flight is scheduled. For domestic flights 1h 15mins should be enough. The process is smoother than it used to be: X-raying bags before entry is no longer necessary, and shops and restaurants are now located at the gate area, not before security. However, if you wish to change Rupees back into foreign currency, you must do this before clearing security. Gate area shops accept rupees only from Indian nationals.
The easiest and safest way toget from the airport to the cityis to arrange transportahead of timethrough your hotel (some hotels provide this service for free). You could also try a private taxi firm like Meru Cabs[5]which has online booking but you need an indian mobile phone number in order to book. They will wait in the VIP car park (directly opposite arrivals) - should cost no more than Rs.550 to the most distant hotels north of Connaught Place. Alternatively, you can pay for a taxi at the prepaid taxi booths in the international terminal (it is advised that you check your change). The pre-paid booths are visible as soon as you exit customs. The one on the left is managed by the Delhi police. To the right of the exit door are private taxi operators. They are more expensive but the cars are air-conditioned.The number of the taxi assigned to you will be on the receipt. Then, go straight through the airport and turn right immediately outside the front doors and someone will help you find your taxi. There are several options, but the booth operated by the "Delhi Police" is considered the best, with non-A/C taxis to most points in the city Rs.200-300. Keep an eye on your change though and try to avoid paying with large bills.
Donotgive the receipt to the driver until you get to the destination as this is what they are paid on. Also, ignore the explanation the driver will invariably offer at the destination as to why he requires additional payment. There is no practice of tipping taxi drivers anywhere in India. Take your baggage first, then give the driver the receipt and walk away without further discussion. There is a problem with this as there is a checkpoint manned by the traffic police just as your taxi moves away, you will have to give the receipt to the driver who will hand it over to the police who will record the number. Try getting the receipt back from the driver!
It is also possible to take a city bus during the day or a private one that runs 24 hours a day. As everywhere in India, ignore taxi touts!
During the winter (Dec-Jan), Delhi often experiencesdense fogand visibility is reduced considerably, making it difficult for flights to land and take off. Both international and domestic flights are often diverted or cancelled, so plan accordingly and allow forone or two days for possible delays.
Busesarrive fromKathmanduandChitwaninNepal(36+ hours) and virtually every city in India. Although not as comfortable as the trains, buses are the only choice for some destinations, mainly those in the mountains.
Delhi has a confusing slew of inter-state bus termini (ISBT), which all have two names. The Delhi Transport Corporation[6]is the major operator, but every state also runs its own buses and there are some private operators too.
Trainsarrive at one of four main stations:Delhi Junction, also called Old Delhi orPurani Dilli; the second atNew Delhiwhich lies in Central Delhi;Hazrat Nizamuddina few kilometers to the south; and the upcomingAnand Viharstation to the east. (A very few trains use Delhi Sarai Rohilla or Delhi Cantt stations.) Delhi Junction and New Delhi Railway Station are now conveniently connected by Metro Line 2, just minutes apart, while Anand Vihar is served by Line 3. It will take about 40 minutes to an hour to travel from the New Delhi Railway Station to the airport by car, depending on traffic.
Aticket officeopen to all is on the road to Connaught Place with longer hours. It often has waiting times not much longer than at the tourist booking office. You will need to know the number or name of the train you want to take. Easiest of all, though, is to book on-line through the Indian Railways booking website[7]or at the Cleartrip[8]website. Cleartrip charges a fee to use their service as it is third party but the advantage is that the website is much more user friendly where the Indian Railways site is a little difficult to navigate
Once you have purchased a ticket either at the ticket office or online prior to the trip, all you need to do is go to the rail car labeled with your class of service purchased. You can either just get on and sit in the first available seat or often times for higher classes of service, they will post a passenger list on the car when it stops. Look for your name and go to the assigned car, cabin and seat. There is never a need to get a boarding pass so if anyone comes out of the crowd to tell you that, don't listen to them. It is a scam. If you're brave, you can simply purchase a general 2nd class ticket and then get on any car where there is availability. The conductor will come by and check your tickets after the train starts moving. If you are in a higher fare class than you are ticketed for, all you have to do is simply pay the difference in fare to the conductor. The only risk here is that the train could be full and you could be stuck in the lowest fare class which can be very crowded with little room to sit.
The main entrance toNew Delhi Railway Station(codeNDLS) is located just outside of Paharganj, also known as the backpacker ghetto. The Delhi Metro now connects directly here, but the metro exits are at the Ajmeri Gate (second entrance) side near platform 12. You can also take prepaid rickshaws and taxis from the plaza outside the main entrance.
The station is large, crowded, confusing and packed with touts, so allowone hour(yes, really) to find your train the first time you visit. Don't trust the electronic display boards, which often show incorrect information. Instead listen to the announcements and ask multiple people in uniform until you find your train. However, anyone, in uniform or not, who approaches you spontaneously should be ignored. Use one of the porters (in orange) who will find your train easily — in exchange for a tip, of course.
A tourist ticket office called theInternational Tourist Bureauis open during office hours upstairs of but still within the main New Delhi railway station. Ignore touts who will try to convince you that it has moved or is closed. Note that it is only for foreign tourists, so youmusthave a tourist visa (i.e. student and working visas are not acceptable). Non-resident Indians can also book their tickets through this office. Bring your passport and cash or traveller's cheques in U.S. dollars, British Pounds or Euros. If you wish to pay in Indian rupees youmustshow an official exchange certificate (from India, not valid if you changed in another country) or an ATM receipt. To get a ticket, first get a form from the centre of the room, and fill it out. Then go to the information desk near the entrance. There, have the clerk check the availability of the train(s) you desire, and fill out your form accordingly. Then line up at one of the two u-shaped lines of chairs for the reservation desks.
There are lots of tricks and scams in operation at NDRS. It is a baffling place, especially if you just arrived in India. Basically do not believe anybody who approaches you to volunteer information, even if they show you an official ID from the railway authority. Stuff like 'oh that train goes from another station' or 'no you need to go to this office in a different part of town to get your boarding pass' or offers of assistance with bags or help taking you to where you want to go. It's a con. If you need help, YOU choose who you want to help you, don't trust strangers who appear out of the crowd.
FormallyDelhi Junction(codeDLI), but best referred to as "Old" Delhi Station for clarity. Like New Delhi RS, this station is huge and confusing. The platforms arenotin linear order, with some hidden in the west and east wings of the stations. The railway station is served by Metro Line 2 Chandni Chowk station.
Hazrat Nizamuddin(codeNZM) is the departure point of many trains heading south. Practically speaking, the only way to get here is by taxi or auto. The budget alternative is to take a bus to the Sarai Kale Khan Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) on the ring road and then walk over to the station (400 meters). It's the least chaotic of the Big Three, but still pretty big and poorly signposted — listen to the announcements to figure out your train. The station has a pretty good food court that sells inexpensive, hygienic takeaway snacks (sandwiches, samosas, etc).
If you have some time to kill, pay a visit to Humayun's Tomb, which is so close to the station that you can hear the announcements from inside — although it's a long, circuitous walk from the station to the entrance.
Anand Vihar(codeANVR) is Delhi's newest station, located well to the east of the city nearNoida. Repeatedly delayed, the station finally opened in December 2009 and will gradually take over all east-bound services. The station can be reached by Delhi Metro Line 3.
Getting around Delhi is always an adventure. Traffic is, by and large, horribly congested and many drivers will think nothing of quoting ten times the going price to a tourist. Use the prices below as broad guidelines, agree on pricesbeforesetting off, and don't get too hot under the collar over a rupee or two — they mean a lot more to the cycle rickshaw-wallahearning Rs. 50 on a good day than they do to you.
Three lines of the newDelhi Metro[9]are now open and provide a cheap, quick, hassle-free and air-conditioned way of zipping around the city. As of 2009, the following lines are open:
Fares range from Rs. 8 to 30, just buy a token, change lines as necessary, and deposit the token in the slot as you exit. Tokens can be used only from the station they are bought, so you can't buy two and use the second to return home. If you're planning on sticking around for a while, you can buy a "Smart Card" for Rs. 100, which is worth Rs. 50 and includes a Rs. 50 deposit; using this saves 10% and, more importantly, lets you avoid the queues. There is also a "Tourist Card" allowing unlimited use for Rs.100 (1 day) or Rs.250 (3 days), but it's highly unlikely that you'll travel enough to make this pay off.
Line 2, in particular, is useful for getting to the Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid) and New Delhi railway stations, the ISBT bus terminal and the backpacker ghetto of Paharganj. Line 3 is also handy for visiting Akshardham and accessing the western parts of Paharganj through RK Ashram Marg station. The network is still growing at warp speed, and in 2010, a new dedicated Airport Link and an extension toGurgaonare scheduled to open.
Beware: Metro stations all use the new, official, Indianized names, so Connaught Place is "Rajiv Chowk", Old Delhi Railway Station is "Chandni Chowk" and ISBT is "Kashmere Gate".
There are limited commuter services on Delhi's railways, but the facilities are a far cry from the user-friendly Metro and stations. For the most part, train stations are inconveniently located. There is no passenger service on the Delhi Ring Railroad outside rush hour.
All parts of Delhi are well connected by buses and with tickets ranging from 5-15 Rupees they're very cheap, but they're also the least comfortable means of transport and the hardest to use. Delhi's buses are quite crowded, rarely air-conditioned and drivers often drive rashly. Bus routes are often written only in Hindi and bus stops don't have any route lists, so it can be difficult to find your way. Asking other people at the bus stop is often the best way to find out about bus routes to your destination. Buses are pretty frequent, running every 15-20 min or so on most routes. There are two kinds of buses in Delhi:
If you have a choice, go for a DTC bus. They will stop less frequently and will generally be less crowded too. Note that many buses, DTC ones too, will stop pretty much anywhere if there are enough people getting on or off.
Board buses at the back and pay the ticket seller sitting right next to the door. Be sure to hang onto your tickets, as ticket checks are fairly frequent. Some seats on the left side of the bus may be reserved for women and the handicapped. When it's time to disembark, move to the front of the bus and hop out from the door near the driver. As you might expect, all these guidelines are regularly ignored when buses are very crowded.
Ataxiorhired car(usually with driver) is required to see many of the far-flung sites within and around Delhi. To get a taxi or a hired car for Delhi Darshan or Delhi sight Seeing Log on www.tricabs.com or call 01126211290.They charge Rs. 950/- for indica a/c for full day sight seeing or you have to go to a taxi stand. They are not usually flagged from the street. Alternatively, you can call for a cab at 1090.
Most Delhi taxis are old but reliable Ambassadors in distinctiveblack-and-yellowlivery. While all are equipped with meters andshouldcost Rs 6 to start plus Rs 7 per km, the meters are often rigged and it's better to agree on the price in advance. Most trips around the city should be Rs. 200-500, while a trip to the airport would be higher, depending on starting location. An eight-hour charter should cost around Rs 1,500, and a tip is expected if the driver is helpful. Note that most Ambassadors are not air-conditioned.
The death knell of the Ambassador was rung in December 2006, when modernradio taxiservices were launched. At Rs.15/km, they're twice the list price of the competition, but they use modern vehicles with air-conditioning and can be dialed up 24 hours/day. Operators include Delhi Cab, tel. 44333222, Metro Cab, tel. 1923, Easy Cab, tel. 43434343 and Quick Cab, tel. 45333333.
You shouldn't take non-official taxis, sometimes they take you to a wrong hotel, or to a "tourist information center", and try to sell you overpriced things.
Auto rickshaws(also calledthree-wheeled scootersor simplyautos) are good for shorter trips. Always in a distinctiveyellow-and-greenlivery, auto rickshaws are three-wheeled partially enclosed contraptions (no doors!) that run on CNG and can seat three people in the back. In general, they are much cheaper than taxis and can be hailed from the street. Although by law the rickshaw drivers should charge according to the meter in their vehicle (Rs. 10 for the first km, 4.50 rupees per km after), this rate is unrealistically low and they will almost always try tohagglefor price; some locals go so far as to say that you shouldnotuse the meter, because it means that either the meter is rigged, or the driver will take you the long way around! As rules of thumb, even the shortest journey costs Rs. 20, but you should not need to pay over Rs. 100 for any trip within the city.
If you have any trouble with them, go to any of the numerous tourist police stations in the city center and they will give you a complaint slip which will result in a 500 rupee fine for the auto driver. There should also be a telephone number written on the vehicle to call in case of any complaint.
There are a number of "PRE PAID" Auto stands run by the Police. Tell them where you want to go and pay them upfront. The charge will include 5 rupees for the service. You then take the coupon and stand outside where a policeman will direct you to the next available Auto. When your journey is completed you hand the coupon to the wallah and that's it. Nothing more to pay (despite what they may say).
Cycle rickshaws are three-wheeled, pedal-powered rickshaws with seats in the back to seat passengers and a driver in the front. They are good for short distances, or places which are too far to walk but too short for taking a bus/taxi/auto rickshaw. Cycle rickshaws don't use meters, so establish a price before getting on. Twenty rupees is reasonable for most journeys of a kilometer or two, although many Delhiites will haggle if the driver dares to suggest 10 rupees.
Cycle rickshaws are best to use in Old Delhi to visit the intricategalis(walkways) and to enjoy the smells and sounds of the city.
Much of Delhi is quite pedestrian-hostile. Distances are long, road signage is poor, and in the more tourist oriented areas, you'll be constantly accosted by beggars and touts. Crossing roads often involves wading across multiple lanes of heavy traffic. Try your best to move in a predictable straight line, so vehicles can weave around you. (Better yet, latch onto a group of locals and cross in their shadow.) If you really want to walk around, these places would be good:
The native language of Delhi residents isHindi, which also happens to be one of the official languages of India. Almost everybody you meet will be able to speak fluent Hindi. However, most educated people will also be fluent in English, and many shopkeepers and taxi drivers will have a functional command of English.Punjabiis also an official language, but it's spoken much less widely.
The staff at the Delhitourist officeis very helpful, and the office has a lot of free information:The Government of India Tourist Office88 Janpath, Connaught Place. Tel: 23320005, 23320008, 23320109, 23320266. The Government of India Tourist Office offers daily tours, covering all of the major Delhi sites. If you should choose to go with the government-sanctioned day tour, be aware that due to the heavy agenda, you will need to have a quick foot, only 20 to 40 minutes are given for each sight, which is next to no time. Consider this day tour as a sampler. If there is a sight of particular interest, bookmark it and return at a later date.
Beware: there are various private "tourist information" offices around Connaught Place openly claiming to be the official government tourist office. They're actually just travel agents that have nothing to do with The Government of India, and since they prey on tourists, anything you buy from them will be grossly overpriced compared to doing it yourself.
TheRed Fort(Lal Qila) is one of Delhi's top tourist sights. A brilliant red sandstone fort built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (who also builtAgra's Taj Mahal) as his ruling palace. Completed in 1648, the years since have not treated the buildings kindly: the rooms have long since been stripped of all objects, the marble inlays are long gone and quite a few buildings are off limits. Still, the scale remains imposing and the gardens are kept lush and green even in midwinter. Major buildings within include:
The only open entrance isLahore Gate, on the west side. Security in and around the Fort is very heavy, as it was the scene of a terrorist attack in 2000 that killed three people. Bags are allowed, but they'll be X-rayed and you'll be patted down. Tickets cost 10/250 rupees for Indians/foreigners, photography free, video cameras 25 rupees extra. Open sunrise to sunset daily except Monday. Allow for three to four hours in your schedule in case of long weekends and national holidays as lot of tourists flock around then. The most scenic way of reaching the fort is to take the Metro to Chawri Bazaar and then a cycle-rickshaw through the incredibly packed bazaar to the Fort (price negotiable, aim for 20 rupees).
The fort has alight and sound show(50 rupees) in the evenings from 7:30PM-9PM, depending on the season.
Be careful buying tickets at the booth, as the ticket sellers will attempt to shortchange you. Try to have a small bill. Due to enhanced security the parking can be a bit tricky as the walk from the now distanced away parking at nearby alternative slots is quite a bit. The congested traffic makes crossing the road even trickier.
Humayun's Tombin south Delhi, near Hazrat Nizamuddin station, is one of Delhi's threeUNESCO World Heritage Sites. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, entry is 10/250 rupees Indians/foreigners.
The tomb is in large, immaculately maintained gardens in the PersianChar Bagh(four corners) style that were thoroughly renovated in 2003 with the Aga Khan's help and are consequently probably the best in Delhi. As you enter the complex, the first major structure on your right is the bulbous, octagonaltomb of Iza Khan, a court noble who built it in his own lifetime, some 20 years before Humayun's tomb. As you pass through the first gate, you will glimpse the dome of the tomb and enter a floral path leading to the second (West) gate, which now acts as the entrance to the giant central garden.
The centerpiece is the eponymoustomb of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. Built starting in 1562, it was the first major Mughal structure in the city and has been described as a predecessor or prototype ofAgra's Taj Mahal. The structures are, indeed, stylistically similar, although Humayun's Tomb is built from red sandstone, not white marble, and was built by a wife grieving for her husband, not the other way around. You can climb up to the second level (the stairs on the west side are very steep, those on the south side less so), and on the south side you will find the entrance into the main crypt where Humayun is buried.
Before you leave, be sure to visit the South Gate, the original royal entrance, from where you can get picture-postcard views without too many tourists in the way. In the southeast corner is theBabur's Tomb, also built in the same style. Historians believe that Humayun's father, Babur is buried in this picturesque tomb made of red and grey sandstone.
This complex in Mehrauli, houses structures dating from the Slave Dynasty (1206-1290) and is designated as aUNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens are kept in excellent shape, making this a popular relaxation and picnic spot. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, entry is 20/250 rupees Indians/foreigners. Light-and-sound show held most nights after sunset.
An informative place for all interested in knowing more about Indian culture and history.
Entry 300 rupees for foreigners (includes useful audioguide), 10 rupees Indians (optional audioguide Rs.150 extra), 1 rupees for Indian Students, plus 300 rupees if you want to use a camera. Decent restaurant on the second floor (lunch buffet 100 rupee). Open Tu-Su 10AM-5PM.
For a visit to the campus, board bus # 615 from Connaught Place.
Delhi is a shopper's heaven, but only if you're not afraid to haggle and bump elbows in bazaars. Western-style malls and shopping emporiums are creeping in on the outskirts (esp.Gurgaon,Noida), but there's little Indian about these sanitized shopping experiences, or the goods in them. Until a few years ago, all shops closed on Sunday. While rules have been relaxed, many districts (eg. Connaught Place) are still mostly shuttered. Saturday is the the main shopping day and hence also the most crowded.
Start your shopping tour of Delhi with a visit toConnaught Place[19], a rather unique cross between a European shopping arcade, an Indian bazaar and an upmarket shopping mall. At the intersection of the Yellow and Blue Lines of theDelhi Metro[20], it's easy to get to. With all shops laid out in two circles, it's easy to get around and explore.
Shopping Malls in Capital region
Delhi and capital region (Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Faridabad) has recently witnessed the opening of lot of shopping Malls, which can be compared to any good malls in the world. Most of these Malls have food court and Multiplexes. You can find Multiplexes at every 5 square meter. Some of these malls include:
TDI Mall, Lajpat NagarDLF Promenade, Vasant KunjDLF Place, SaketCity Walk, SaketPacific Mall, Anand Vihar bus terminous with IMAX theatreShipra Mall, GhaziabadCenterstage Mall, NoidaGreat India Place, NoidaGalaxy, GhaziabadFun Republic, MotinagarV3S Mall, Vikas MargCarnival Country Mall, GhaziabadSahara Mall, GurgaonCity Centre, GurgaonMGF Metropolitan, GurgaonDLF Ambience, GurgaonAnsal Plaza, Khelgaon MargAnsal Plaza, GhaziabadAnsal Plaza, South Extension Part 2 (August Kranti Marg)East Delhi Mall, GhaziabadEast End Mall, GhaziabadTDI mall, Rajouri GardenWest Gate Mall, Rajouri GardenLIfestyle Mall, Rajouri GardenParagon Mall, Rajouri GardenShopper's Stop, Rajouri GardenDistrict Centre, Janak Puri
Many more malls are under construction and will be completed soon.
varies types of t-shirts in pallika bazar
Sarojini Nagar - One of the biggest and famous market in South Delhi adjacent to Central Government employees flats
The Indian book industry is huge, producing annually about 15,000 books in English, and obviously far more in Hindi and other native languages. Delhi is hub of this industry, so small, specialist bookstores abound. Locally produced books can be very inexpensive and many popular Western titles are published and available here for a fraction of their original cost.
Delhiites complain about many things in their city, but thefoodwill satisfy even the most demanding gourmet. Not only can you find some of the best Indian food on the subcontinent, there is also an increasing number of excellent (if often pricey) international restaurants offering cuisine from around the world. When ordering, do remember that Delhi is about 1000 km from the nearest ocean, so vegetarian, chicken and mutton dishes are the way to go.
Delhi has arguably the beststreet foodin India. However, if you're not local (and even if you are), it's not uncommon to get diarrhea or worse. Meat can be particularly risky, especially in summer.
Chaat
If you want to eatchaat, the North Indian street side snack food, Delhi is the place to be. Like Spanishtapasor Greekmezze, chaat can cover a vast variety of things, but Delhi style tends to mean a deep-fried pastry shell, stuffed after cooking with potatoes, lentils or almost anything else. They're then topped with yogurt, chutneys andchaat masalaspice mix and eaten fresh.
Some typical chaat items arepaapdi chaat(a mix of small round fried crispy things with yogurt and other sauces),paneer tikka(cubes of cottage cheese baked in atandoorwith spices),pani puriorgolguppa(small round hollow shells filled with a potato-based filling and a spicy sweet blend of sauces).
The best place to go for chaat is theBengali MarketnearConnaught Placein the center of town. The restaurants are high quality and the food is great. There are ATMs as well. One of the best known restaurants there isNathu's. But for the really good chaat you have to make your way to Old Delhi, and particularly toAshok'snear Chawri Bazaar. While connoisseurs insist that the best chaat is prepared on the street, most travellers try to find a comfortable middle ground between hygiene and authenticity.
Eating Out In Delhi(eoid dot org) is a good site on exploring Delhi food.Foodiebayis another good resource which has listings and menus for around 2200 restaurants in Delhi region. Some notable restaurants in the city include:
You will find McDonalds, KFC, Subway and Pizza Hut scattered at various locations (in malls and otherwise) throughout the city. The Indian menus (no beef, lots of veggie options) can be interesting even if you would otherwise steer clear. 100 rupees for a full serve.
Delhiites have eagerly adopted Thai food into their culinary pantheon, although the recipes and ingredients are often rather Indianized.
Tibetan Food– Delicious,finger lickin' good Tibetan food is available atThe TibetanKitchen, near Shivaji Stadium (which actually is a Bus Stand!) Connaught Place. The joint is run by Tibetan refugees.
After Indian Cuisine, Chinese is Delhi's second most popular fare. For a long time, only Indianized Chinese was available, but extremely high-quality options are available today.
Delhi's nightlife scene has undergone a total transformation in the last decade. There are plenty of modern, cosmopolitan joints out to separate you from your rupees. In a desperate attempt to keep the sex ratio vaguely equitable, many lounges and clubs havecouples onlypolicies (that is, no single men or men-only groups), enforced with varying degrees of strictness. While everything is theoretically to shut down by 1AM things can keep going much longer.
Indian bar food, hookah and an amazing lounge experience. The crowd that frequents these two places is young, hip and trendy.
As of July 2009, Chapter XVI, Section 377, of the Indian Penal Code (a piece of legislation in India introduced during British rule of India, used to criminalize homosexual activity) has been declared unconstitutional. At this juncture, it remains to be seen how this will impact what the ruling will have on the smattering of late night watering holes, which crop up. Due to the underground and fluid nature of these gathering places, it is not possible to list these places.
If meeting same gender loving, or gender variant souls is a must, your best bet is to do your homework, via the internet, before arriving, as LGBT gathering spaces are not published on local media.
Delhi offers only a few public spaces, where same gender loving men can hook up. If you choose to engage in these types of encounters, use extreme caution - robberies, hustlers, and even reports of police entrapment and bribery are not unheard of.
Delhi has a large number of hostels, many of them centered around the tourist/backpacker hubs.
Chandni Chowk originally meaning moonlit square or market, is one of the oldest and busiest markets in central north Delhi, India.Chandni Chowk is the major street in the walled city of Old Delhi, which was originally called Shah Jahanabad. The walled city which includes the Lal Qilla Red Fort of Delhi was established in 1650 AD, by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan.
This street, also referred to asMain Bazaar, is opposite New Delhi railway station and has many cheap hotels. It's very popular with travelers. A double room with attached bathroom is 200-300 rupees (or less). Note that the Delhi Metro exits are on the Ajmeri Gate side of the New Delhi Railway station, so you'll need to cross over the railway station (Platform Ticket is not needed for entering the station, see the above article on train station cons) to go to Paharganj. Main road is very noisy during day time. Below is a list of a few of the more popular places:
Majnu ka Tilla is a compact Tibetan settlement and the place of departure and arrival for buses to/fromDharamsala, the home of the Tibetan Government in Exile and the Dalai Lama. Stay here if you have an interest in Tibetan culture, politics and religion, or if you need something quieter (and just slightly more expensive) than Paharganj.
An auto-rickshaw from New Delhi train station should cost around 50 rupees (use the prepaid stand). The Vidhan Sabha metro station is also nearby and popular. From there cycle-rickshaws charge 15 rupees and take about five minutes.
Delhi's chronic lack of quality hotels has led to a mushrooming of guest houses of widely varying quality and price. The new official 'Delhi Bed and Breakfast scheme' has also contributed a range of private rooms available for bed & breakfast lets. These rooms range from cheap dumps to classy rooms in the best neighborhoods of Delhi.
At the high end of the scale, demand far outstrips supply and it's not unusual to be asked US$400 for a very ordinary room. Getting a room at any of the hotels listed below for under US$200 will require good luck or timing. Beware thatby lawtaxes for high-end Delhi hotels are still chargedon the rack rate, so 12.5% on a $400 room discounted to $200 will still cost $50 extra!
Delhi is a hot, dusty city and the combination of the two may reduce visibility in the summer. In April through June, temperatures regularly top 40°C, meaning that proper hydration is of the utmost importance. In winter there can be seasonal fog; on particularly foggy days, it can be difficult to see across the street. If you happen to be traveling in or out of Delhi during the winters, be aware of fog-related flight delays.
Drink only bottled water so you may avoid any water-related illness. Keep yourself covered in summers to avoid a heat stroke. Drink a lot of water - 3 litres a day - particularly in the summer. Sticking to freshly, well-cooked vegetarian food will lessen your chances on acquiring the "Delhi belly."
Many first time travelers to India find themselves falling victim toscams and touts, and unfortunately Delhi has a lot of both. Be on guard for anybody trying to help you by giving you unsolicited directions or travel advice. Take any advice from taxi and auto drivers with a grain of salt, particularly if they tell you the place you want to go to is closed, dangerous, etc. If this is your first time to India, do not openly admit it as this will make you a mark for scam artists.
Delhi is an increasingly unsafe place for women. It is not uncommon to receive lewd remarks or even physical touching. If you are arriving into Delhi at night either stay in the airport lounge or well lit areas until daybreak. Try to avoid walking around alone or hiring cabs alone. Dress conservatively (preferably in Indian clothing so as to blend in). Learn to shout and consider carrying mace/pepper spray. Police vehicles (called PCR vans) are parked on almost every major intersection. Dial 100 in case of emergencies.
Carry your cash, passport, and cards in a secure money belt, with only enough cash for a few hours at a time in your wallet or other accessible place. Some travelers recommend carrying an expendable wallet with a few ten rupee bills in it in an obvious place such as your hip pocket as a decoy to Delhi's ubiquitous pickpockets.
As a general rule, expect anyone handling your cash in Delhi to attempt to short-change you. You may be favorably surprised once or twice during your visit. Learn the currency, count out your payment and change carefully, and be insistent in any dispute.
Several tourist agencies have been known to swindle tourists, such as change their travel plans or charge them extra commissions and fees. If you do use the services of a travel agency, try to book train or airline tickets. Do not take a personal touring car as the agency will most likely charge you ridiculous prices, for example, 7 rupees/km of the trip. The driver will most likely take you to sites that you did not request to see in order to pull more money out of your pockets. The best way to secure train tickets is by navigating through the India Rail website[85]. Otherwise, prepare to spend a good hour sorting through the charges that the tourist agency will rack up, most likely several hundred dollars in convenience charges or unspecified taxes.
The Delhi Police is a 70,000 strong force serving the capital region. Unfortunately, the quality of police officers varies dramatically throughout the force; some officers may be corrupt and unhelpful, while others are honest and helpful. For police assistance during an emergency dial 100. For non-emergencies, go down to the police station in order to report a crime.
Here are the Delhi emergency contact numbers
Police: 100
Fire Department: 101
Ambulance: 102 or dial the nearest local hospital
Power outagesandwater shortagesare common Delhi, often occurring multiple times a day with summers being particularly bad. Better accommodations have water tanks and generators to alleviate the inconvenience, but keep a flashlight handy at night and do your part by not wasting too much water.
Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. There are many service providers offering a wide variety of plans. Among them are Vodafone[96], Reliance[97], and Tata Indicom[98]. It might be a good idea to buy a cell phone and use one of those prepaid plans to get yourself connected while you are in the city.
Delhi is a major international transit hub for trains, planes and buses as well as a great connection point for domestic destinations within India. It's also a great base for exploration of the famous Hill Stations built during the
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