New Delhi : National Capital

New Delhi, popularly called as Delhi is the National Capital of Republic of India, located in the northern part of the country. Delhi region has been clubbed with neighboring areas such as Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, etc.

General Information is very essential for having a memorable vacation.
            Location: 28.61⁰ N 77.23⁰ E.

           Time Zone: GMT + 5:30.
           Official Languages: English, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi.
           Area : 1484 sq. Km (573 sq. mi).
           Postal Code : 110 xxx.
           Telephonic Code : +91 11 xxxx xxxx.

Currency :  Indian Rupees (INR). 1 USD = 45 – 49 INR.

Visa: Tourist Visa has to be applied prior arrival into the country. Visa can be applied at any Indian Embassy / High Commission in any country. Tourist Visa is issued for non-business purpose and can be issued for a period of 6 months. Visa on Arrival is available only to Finland, Luxemborg, Japan, New Zealand, and Singapore and will issued for a period of 1 month. Transit Visa is issued for 72 Hrs at the cost of 40$ USD.

Facts :  New Delhi is largest metropolis by area, second largest by population in INDIA. It is the eight largest metropolises by population in the World.

History of the Delhi starts as early as 6^th century BC. Due to its adjacency to the river Yamuna, the city has been inhabited by various communities. After the rise of Delhi Sultanate, the city has emerged as cultural, political, and commercial city. Many medieval monuments, astrological sites can be found in and around the city built by various rulers. After the establishment of British East India Company the capital was shifted to Calcutta (Kolkata) but late in 1920s the capital was moved back to Delhi and from then has remained the capital of Republic India. Delhi has grown into Multi-cultural, cosmopolitan metropolis owing to the migration of large number of inhabitants to the national capital.

Climate of Delhi features of a typical version of the Humid-Subtropical Climate. It has a very long hot summers and cold winters. Temperature ranges between 26⁰ C – 52⁰ C during summers(Mar-Jun) and 2⁰ C – 26⁰ C during the winters(Nov–Mar). The average rainfall is at 714 mm per annum(Jul-Aug).

Visiting Delhi is the wish of any traveling geek. Here is some information one may need to get to Delhi.

Getting to Delhi is easy, simple and economical. By Air all airlines fly in and out of Delhi through the Indira Gandhi International Airport(DEL). By Rail Delhi lies on the Grand Trunk Line and is well connected to all other parts of the country by regular and some of the Luxurious trains. The two major Rail Stations are Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin. By Road Delhi is connected to other cities by National Highways and Golden Quadrilateral Roads.

Moving Around in Delhi is easy and economical due to recent increase in transportation Infrastructure. By Bus Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) operates buses to-fro from all major cities and within the city. Bus Travel is cheap and economical costing around 0.1$ – 0.5$. DTC operates the largest fleet of CNG busses in the World. By Metro Delhi Metro serves many parts of Delhi and neighboring cities like Noida. It mainly consists of three lines. The network is expected to be larger than the London Metro with a span of about 413.8 Km by 2020. By Auto Rickshaws They are the most common form of public transport and can be hirend from anywhere – anywhere. By Cabs Delhi has a large number of private cab operators working round the clock. A cab can reached from anywhere by just a call to cab reservation office.

Help The Delhi Tourist office staff is friendly and helpful and has a lot of free info. The Government of India Tourist Office offers daily tours, covering all major tourist attraction sites in and around Delhi. Tourist Office can be reached at 88 Janpath, Connaught Place. Tel: 23320005 /08 /109 /266.

Places to See are distributed evenly in and around the city.

Red Fort (Lal Quila) is a must see sight one of the Delhi’s top tourist sight. A brilliant red sandstone structure built by Shah Jahan. It has many shopping lanes matching to everyone’s need and interest. Chatta Chowk(consists of souvenir hawkers), Diwan-i-Am(Hall of Public Audience), Hayat Baksh bagh(Gardens), Diwan-i-khas(Hall of Private Audience), Khas Mahal, Rang Mahal, Mumtaz Mahal, Daawat Khana, Swatantra Sangrama Sangrahalaya(Museum of Independence Movement). Lahore Gate is the only entranced opened. It has a high level of security measures    with army personal, X ray scanners, etc. This fort in now under the Indian military who occupied 75% of the fort and only 25% is open or tourists. You may feel bad as you are seeing only 25% of it but the 25% is sufficient to make you stand in awe. Such is the beauty and the craftsmanship of this fort (or this palace, i should say).  ENTRY FEE is 10 Rs.(Indians) and 250 Rs.(Foreigners), Photography is free but Videography is charged at 25 Rs..

Humayun’s Tomb is one of the three UNSECO World Heritage Sites in Delhi. ENTRY FEE is 10 Rs.(Indians) and 250 Rs.(Foreigners), Photography is free but Videography is charged at 25 Rs.. The tomb is large and constructed in Persian Char Bagh(Four Corners) style and renovated in 2003 by Aga Khan. As you enter the complex, structure on right is Bulbous, an octagonal tomb of Iza Khan, court noble of Humayun. As you enter the first gate one can see the dome of tomb and floral path leads you to the second gate. The centre piece is the Humayun’s Tomb. In the South side of the Second level you can find the place where Humayun is buried. Be sure to visit the Royal Entrance i.e. the South Gate from where you can purchase picture-postcards.

                Qutub Complex is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in Mehrauli, South Delhi. It is one of the favourite picnic spot for any holiday lover. ENTRY FEE is 20 Rs.(Indians) and 250 Rs.(Foreigners). Light and Sound show is arranged after sunset. Qutub Minar the Tallest Sky-scrapper when built (1193-1368) is of 72.5 mts high above the ground. It can be seen from the International Airport. Quwat-ul-Islam Mosque is Delhi’s first  and grandest mosque. Sandstone decorations are still impressive.  Iron Pillar is a 7 mt tall iron pillar standing tall even after 1600 years. Ala-i-Minar is started to be built taller than the Qutub Minar but was halted at 24.5 mt. Ala-i-Darwaza is a square, domed building once acted as entrance to the mosque. Tomb of Imam Zamin lies next to Ala-i-Darwaza.

Monuments to See

                Rajpath is the main parade route that leads to the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidents Residence). Not to miss is the splendid view of the India Gate and the adjacent lawns. Best time to visit is evening and in the night.

    Rajghat is the place where Mahatma Gandhi has been layed to rest.

               Nehru House is the place of residence of India’s First Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

              India Gate was built in memorial of the martyrs of the World War I. Eternal Flame burns 24X7 for fallen soldiers.

Lodhi Estate and Parliament House are others not to miss.





Parks and Gardens:

                Lodhi Garden is a peaceful park in the heart of New Delhi. Ideal for morning walks and evening picnics.
                 Nehru Park is a large park in Chanakyapuri Region.

Museums to be Visited includes India Habitat Centre(Lodhi Road), International Doll’s Museum(Nehru House), National Museum(Janpath), National Science Centre(Pragati Maidan), National Railway Museum(Chanakyapuri), Teen Murti Bhavan, Tibet House(Lodhi Road).

Religious Buildings to be visited for sure includes Baha’I Lotus Temple (popularly known as the Lotus Temple due to its flowerlike shape, is a Bahá'í House of Worship and also a prominent attraction in Delhi. It was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent. It has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles) Chhattarpur Mandir, Gurudwara Bangla Shahib, Gurudwara Sis Ganj, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Cathedral Church of Redemption, St. Peter’s Chathedral, ISKCON, Jama Masjid, Lakshmi Narayan Temple (popularly known as Birla Mandir, this temple is located next to Connaught Place. Its multiple shrines and paintings (often) have English explanations.), Swaminarayana Akshardham Temple (The central monument, built without any steel, houses an 11-ft golden statue of the founder of the Swaminarayan. There is a strict ban on all except the clothes on your back. This temple is a mixture of modern technology, engineering marvel and craftsmanship of the sculptures who worked in building this temple. So its a must visit for every tourist who visit delhi.), Sai Baba Temple.

Educational Institutions are very rich in and around the New Delhi city. Some of them are

                Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus is a hidden gem of the city. It has been the top university in the country for several years. Bus # 615 from Connaught Place takes you to the campus.

                Delhi University is one of the best universities in the world. Severe competition can be seen between students during admission.

                Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi is among top 30 universities in the world for Technology Education. It has been one of the dreams Destination for any aspiring engineer. 

                 All India Institute of Medical Sciences is the best Medical Institute in the country. Many medicos out from here are some of the best known worldwide.

Embassies and High Commissions

                At Chankyapuri Afghanistan, Republic of Angola, Australia, British, Canada, Chinese, German, Italy, Pakistan, Russian Federation, US, others unless mentioned.

                At Vasanth Vihar Algeria, Rwandan.

                At Khamba Road Nepalese

                At Archbishop Macarios Marg Mongolia

Shopping Malls are part of every metropolis. Some of the shop malls in the region are TDI Mall, DLF(Lajpat Nagr, Vasant Kunj), Saket City Walk, Saket Pacific Mall, Anand Vihar IMAX Shipra Mall, Ghaziabad Centrestage Mall, Noida Great India Place, Noida Galaxy, Gurgaon MGF, Gurgaon DLF, East Delhi Mall, Rajouri Garden, and many more.

Shopping Lanes are spread across the city. Connaught Place – has many western style shops at Indian price. Check out “The Bookworm” and “Will’s Clothing”. Paharganj Market – has shops for shawls, tablas, rugs, jewelry, etc. It is situated right opposite to New Delhi Railway Station. Central Market Lajpat Nagar – Shopping arena for middle class Indians, Best for apparels. Sarojini Nagar – great lane for shopping green grocery, export surplus garments.  Khan Market – place to dine for foreign diplomats and Tibetians go for lunch and to shop for dog supplies, groceries, clothes, books. Janpath – is a bargain hunters dream, two minute walk from Connaught palce. Palika Bazaar – the quality of goods is low here and one can hunt for DVD’s, CD’s, and games. Chandini Chowk – present in the heart of Delhi with typical Indian shopping style.

Eating in the Delhi has a range of varieties. The cost may range from Budget to Costly. One can find all different type of cuisines. Here are some of the dining places.

                Budget(Economical): Andhra Pradesh Bhavan Canteen (Ashok Road), Haldiram’s (Chandini Chowk), Tadka(Pahar Ganj), Nangarg (Paharganj), Bitto Tikki Wala – BTW (Pitampura), Amritsari Kulcha Wala (Jwala Heri Market), Egg Parantha Wala (Lajpat Nagar), Bengali Market (Connaught Place for Chaat).

                Mid Range: One can find McDonalds, KFC, SUBWAY, Pizza Hut scattered at various locations  throughout the city. Club India Café (PaharaGanj), Karim’s (Jama Masjid), Moti Mahal Deluxe (Greater Kailash Part I), Nirula’s (Connaught place), Sagar Ratna (Defence Colony), Saravana Bhavan (Janpath), Sri Balaji Restaurant (Karol Bagh), Khan Chacha (Khan Market), Pindi, Havemore are recommended.

                Splurge: Bukhara (Indian’s Top), Chor Bizarre (Asaf Ali Road), Naivedhyam (Hauz Khas Village), Punjabi by Nature (Vasant Vihar).

                Italian: T.L.R Café & Kitchen (Hauz Khas Village), The Big Chill (Khan Market), Slice of Italy (Pitampura), Flavours of Italy (Moolchand Flyover), Little Italy (Defence Colony Market), The West View (Maurya Sheraton), Olive (Qutub Minar), Diva (Greater kailash), San Gimignano (Imperial Hotel), La Piazza (Hyatt Regency), Satoria (Vasant Vihar).

                Japanese: Enoki (Vasant Kunj), Sakura (Metropolitan, Bangla Shahib Marg), Side Walk (Khan Market), Tamura (Vasant Vihar).

                Middle Eastern: Felafel Man (Pahar Ganj).

           Thai: EGO Thai (Friends Colony Market), Culinaire (Greater Kailash 2), Chilli Seasons (Lodhi Colony Market), Ban Thai (Oberoi), Thai Walk (Mehrauli), The Kitchen (Khan Market), Turquoise Cottage (Aurobindo Marg).

                Tibetan: The Tibetan Kitchen (Shivaji Stadium).

                Chinese The Yum Yum Tree (New Friends Colony), Nan King.

    Singaporean: Dim Sum Menu.

Bars and Nightclubs: Aqua (Pool side – Park Hotel), Aura (Claridges), Decibel (Samrath Hotel), IndoChine’s Forbidden City (lado Sarai), T.L.R. (Hauz Khan Village), Orange (Ashoka Hotel), Elevate (World 35^th, Noida), F Bar & Lounge (Ashoka, Chanakyapuri), The Other Side (Aurobindo Marg), Shalom (Greater Kailash 1), Urban Pind (GK-1), Manre (Saket Market, City Mall).

Stay Healthy: Delhi is a hot dusty city. In April to June temperatures soar to 40⁰ C. In winter fog can be found during mornings reducing the visibility. Morning Flights get delayed in winter. Drink only Bottled Water to stay away from diseases. Eating well cooked food will lessen your chances of acquiring “ Delhi Belly”.

Get Outs are common as they can be reached in 5-6 hours and return by night.

                Agra: Taj Mahal is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Built Entirely of Marble. Forts can also seen which resemble similar to those at Delhi. 3-4 Hour drive or train ride takes one to Agra.

                Dharamsala: The seat of Dalai Lama’s Government in his exile. 10-12 hours journey north takes you to Dharamsala. Tickets can be booked at Main Bazaar Tourist Offices, I.S.B.T.

                Shimla: Summer capital of British India and Queen of Hill Stations. One can reach by 8 hr drive / 1 hr flight / Train (change of train at Kalka). Train from Kalka is a scenic journey by one of the oldest trains. Charter Trains can be booked from Indian Railways,

                Jaipur: It is also known as Pink City is reachable by flight / overnight train. Famous for Carpets, Marbles. It lies in the Thar Desert Region. Temperatures sore higher than expected in summer.

                Kathmandu: It is capital of Nepal. The journey to this hill station takes you through some of the famous passes in the Himalayas giving you the perfect view of the Himalayas.

                Haridwar & Rishikesh are holy cities situated in the foot hills of Himalayas. Journey takes 5-6 hrs by Train.

                Nainital is a beautiful Hill Station in the Kumaon Hills with magnificent Naini Lake.

Where to Stay Delhi has some of the finest hotels that suits every pocket. The cost of a Double Room ranges from 200 Rs. – 20000 Rs. Per night. Here we include some of the hotels classified on the budget criteria.

Ordinary:

 Ajay Guest House (5084-A, Main Bazaar, Paharganj, New Delhi 110055 (Opposite Khanna Cinema)), Sham Nath Villa (bed and breakfast delhi, 12, Sham Nath Marg, Civil Lines (Opposite Oberoi Maidens)), Sai Palace (Middle lane opposite railway station, Paharganj, Delhi), Namaskar (917 Chandiwalan, Main Bazaar, Paharganj, New Delhi 110055 (located down a side alley)), Navrang (on a side street off main bazaar at the intersection with the vegetable market), Hotel Aman and Hotel Anand (On Rajguru Road, Chanchal Deluxe, Aakarshan Road, Behind Sheela Cinema, Paharganj, Delhi), Hare Rama Guest House (298 Main Bazaar (Down the side road near the Khanna Cinema.), Metropolis (1634 Bazaar Hand, Royal Palace, Main Bazaar (200 meters down Main Bazaar from New Delhi Station before Star Palace Hotel)), Vivek (1534-50 Main Bazaar, Paharganj, New Delhi 110055 (about a ten minute walk from the railway station)), Delhi Hotel (posh colony of New Delhi), Hotel Tara Palace (419, Old Cycle Market, Chandni Chowk (Opposite Delhi Parade Ground)), New India Hotel (172 Katra Baryan (Next to the red fort in Old Delhi)), Sunrise Villa (K Block, Kalkaji, New Delhi).

Mid-range:

Caravan Homestay (1/13 Single Storey, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi, India), Cabana Hotel (R23 Greater Kailash 1, New Delhi), Alpine Park (Bed and Breakfast, Sunder Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi), Hotel Ashiana (50 Ara Kashan Road, Ram Nagar, New Delhi), Asian Guest House (14 Scindia House, second floor with elevator, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Connaught Place), India Luxury Homes (S 504 Greater Kailash I New Delhi 110048 India), Lemontree Hotels (201, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III, New Delhi 110020), Prem Sagar Guest House (P block, First Floor, Connaught Place Outer Circle (Near Shivaji Stadium, next block to the landmark Regal Cinema and a few doors away from McDonald's Outer Circle)), BNB New Delhi (I - 9 Maharani Bagh).

High Mid-range:

Hotel Marina Connaught Place, Hotel Marina Connaught Place, Bajaj Indian Homestay (Bed and Breakfast New Delhi, I-9 Maharani Bagh), New Haven Hotel (E - 512, Greater Kailash Part-2,Main Road New Delhi-110048), Mehar Castle, Narula Inn-Connaught Place, Hotel Ajanta (Main Bazaar, Paharganj, New Delhi), Hotel Sunstar Residency (8A/50, W.E.A. Channa Market, Karol Bagh, New Delhi), Hotel SPB (87, 17A/2, W.E.A. Karol Bagh).

5-star and luxury:

The Ashok (50-B Chanakayapuri), The Grand (Vasant kunj - Phase II, Nelson Mandela Rd), Oberoi Delhi (Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg), Hyatt Regency Delhi (Bhikaiji Cama Place, Ring Road), The Imperial (Janpath), The Maurya Sheraton (Sardar Patel Marg), Park Royal Intercontinental (Nehru Place), The Lalit (Barakhamba Ave), Taj Palace (Sardar Patel Marg), Taj Mahal (1, Mansingh Road), Shangri La (19 Ashoka Rd), Le Meridian (Windsor Place), Jaypee Vasant Continental (Vasant Vihar), Hotel Samrat  (Kautilya Marg).