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Delhi City Guide


"Traveling to India? Welcome to Delhi!"

New Delhi in India
Delhi City Guide: India Gate in New Delhi

This article was last updated on April 14, 2011
All information below is subject to change

If I say that Delhi is the second most crazy city in India after Mumbai, then I would bet that travelers who have been to India before will agree with me.

Delhi is divided into Old Delhi and New Delhi.

Old Delhi is the vain of real India.

It's lively and at the same time noisy, overcrowded, heavily trafficked and it spits out extreme pollution.

New Delhi is the total opposite with quieter and broader streets, villa areas and the home to countless embassies, museums, fashionable malls and government offices.

It's like being in two different worlds!

My opinion is that if you haven't been to Old Delhi, you haven't been to India! ;-)

However, Delhi attracts (only for a little while) travelers and tourists from around the world because of its historical background, great monuments and temples -– and of course the shopping.

This article covers reviews of accommodations we tried in Delhi, recommended restaurants, our experiences from the sightseeing and a little bit about the shopping.

Enjoy!

How to get to Delhi and around

By air: All international and domestic flights land at Indira Gandhi airport which is located about 20 km from city center.

You can take the bus, a pre-paid taxi or a Rickshaw from the airport. Depending on where in the city you want to go, the ride might take 25-45 minutes.

Cheap flights to Delhi:

Special post: Sleeping at Delhi International Airport Terminal 3




Street life in New Delhi - a local women selling fruit to bypassers
Delhi City Guide: A fruit seller in New Delhi

By train: Delhi's railway network connects it with all the major towns and cities in India. There are many train stations in Delhi, but the ones that most travelers use are New Delhi (NDLS), Delhi Cantt (DEC), Delhi Safdarjng (DSJ) and Delhi S Rohilla (DEE).

For Paharganj and Connaught Place: New Delhi station (DHLS) is the closest one

Karol Bagh: Delhi S Rohilla (DEE)

Check trains from Delhi

For more information on train travel in India, check out my article

By bus: From Bikaner house in Connaught Place state-run buses leave for Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer and Jodhpur several times a day. The AC-buses are quite comfortable and drinks are included. I took the bus from Jaipur to Delhi and it stopped at Bikaner House (600 Rs, 6-7 hours).

Otherwise go to the Inter State Bus Terminal, north of Old Delhi train station.




Crazy traffic street life in Delhi, the capital of India
Delhi City Guide: Traffic in the streets of Delhi

Transportation around city: Rickshaws, bicycle Rickshaws and taxis are the common transportation in Delhi.

Regular black and yellow taxis are available all over city. The fare of the meter starts at Rs 20 per kilometer (km) and Rs 12 for each subsequent km. There are night charges after 11.00 pm til 05.00 am (25%).

Then you have the auto-rickshaws. The fare of the meter is Rs 20 for the first two kilometers, and is Rs 6.50 for each subsequent km. Night charges apply as well, and are 20% extra.

But according to my experiences it's quite hard to propose for the Rickshaw-drivers to turn on their meter. Most of them want to settle a price before the trip starts (so they can earn more money).

You have two choices then: walk away and find another driver, or bargain as hard as you can.

Map of Delhi:

A: Karol Bagh area (budget and mid-priced accommodations)
B: Connaught Place (hotels and restaurants)
C: Paharganj (backpacker area)
D: Old Delhi (major attractions like Spice Market, Jama Masjid, Red Fort etc)


Show bigger map



Important places to know about Delhi:

  • Police Phone nr: 100
  • Medical Emergency (ambulance) Phone nr: 102
  • Pharmacies are spread all over Old Delhi and New Delhi
  • Immigration office East Block-VIII, Level-II, Sector-1, R.K. Puram, New Delhi Tel: 011-26711384
  • Banks and ATMs are easy! You can find them around the city
  • You can usually get internet access at the guesthouse or hotel you're staying




Delhi City Guide Articles



Room at Grand park inn hotel in Karol Bagh neighborhood in Delhi, India

Where to sleep

Don't know where to stay for the night in Delhi?

Here are reviews of the accommodation we tried in the city!

Welcome to New Delhi India Hotels




Eating out in delhi at a restaurant in Delhi, here eating masala dosa

Where to eat

Looking for a place to eat in Delhi?

Indian food is very delicious -- come in for a tasty ride in Delhi! These include restaurants in Karol Bagh and around Paharganj.

Welcome to Eating Out in Delhi!


Ticket to safe backpacking ebook

Map Your adventure and Asia Planners FAQ




Shopping at Dilli Haat, some wooden elephants at the market

Where to shop

There are so many markets and malls in Delhi.

We visited Dilli Haat, Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj and the markets in Paharganj and Karol Bagh.

Hit the shops in Delhi!




Jama masjid mosque in Delhi, north India

Sights and Attractions in Delhi

Here are a couple of things to do in Delhi.

We did a full-day sightseeing trip covering a Sikh temple, National Museum, India Gate, Raj Ghat, Parliament House, Jama Masjid and Qutab Minar.

Things to do in Delhi




The gandhi smriti museum in Delhi, capital of India

Gandhi Smriti Museum

Here's one of the must'dos' in Delhi -- Gandhi Smriti Museum!

Here's some important facts on Gandhi, and also a review of the museum.

Get to know History of Gandhi at the Gandhi Smriti Museum




The Lotus temple or the Bahai temple in New Delhi
Delhi city guide

Lotus Temple Delhi

Another must-see in Delhi; Lotus Temple (or Baha'i Temple).

Here's our review of this gorgeous temple in New Delhi.

Welcome to Lotus Temple Delhi

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