 |
dancing lessons from god |
Home
|
unusual travel arrangements for independent travellers
|
|
New DelhiNew Delhi'''New Delhi''' (Hindi: ''Naï Dillî'') is the capital of India. It includes the area known as "Old Delhi" or just "Delhi" and the names are often used interchangeably. ==Districts== ==Beware== A notice posted at the New Delhi train station: ATTENTION OF FOREIGN TOURISTS Beware of Touts. Do not listen to those who attempt to tell you the tickets office for International Tourists is closed. Please proceed to the International Tourist Bureau on the first floor at New Delhi Railway station Buildings and ignore those who attempt to lead you to a booking office elsewhere. Many first time travelers to India find themselves falling victim to scams and touts. Be on guard for anybody trying to help you by giving you directions or travel advice. If this is your first time to India do not admit it, as this will make you a mark for the scam artists. Yes, many people will be lying to you! Despite what everybody you meet has to say, you can indeed buy train tickets at the train station! In fact going to the International Tourist Bureau on the first floor (first floor above ground level) of the New Delhi railway station is the only advice you need about purchasing train tickets. This office will provide you the most accurate information about seat availability and the best ticket prices. ==Get in== ===By plane=== The '''Indira Gandhi International airport''' is many visitors' arrival point into India. The airport has all the basic airport facilities such as '''money changing''', which is open 24 hours. If you want transportation from the airport, make sure to get a prepaid taxi before exiting the airport, otherwise you will be accosted by hordes of taxi drivers trying to fleece you. The prepaid rates are set based on destination and are bona fide. Most domestic flights land at '''Palam airport''', which is a little closer to the city than the international terminal. If you are making connections, it can take between 15-30 minutes once you exit one terminal to get to the other one by car, depending on time of day and traffic. ===By bus=== '''Buses''' arrive from Kathmandu and Chitwan in Nepal (36+ hours) and virtually every city in India. They mostly arrive at the central bus terminal called '''I.S.B.T''' in East Delhi. ===By train=== '''Trains''' arrive at one of two stations-- one in Old Delhi and one at New Delhi, at least an hour apart by taxi. It will also take around 30-40 minutes to get New Delhi Railway Station to the airports by car. Visas '''are not''' available on entry for most nationalities. ==Get around== ===Taxi=== '''Taxis''' or '''hired car''' (usually with driver) are required to see many of the far-flung sites around and just outside Delhi. To get a taxi or a hired car, you have to go to a taxi stand; they are not usually flagged from the street. There is also a service called dial-a-cab. The number is 1090. 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. ===AutoRickshaws=== '''AutoRickshaws''' (also called ''' 3 wheeled Scooters''' or '''3 wheelers''') are good for shorter trips. AutoRickshaws are three-wheeled partially enclosed contraptions(they don't have any doors) that can seat three people in the back and usually run on CNG, Petrol or Diesel, mostly CNG in Delhi. Although by law the rickshaw driver have to charge by the electronic meter in their vehicles, they will almost always try to haggle for prices. If using a rickshaw, make sure you settle on either (a) paying by meter or (b) a fixed price in advance, or there will be no end of trouble. In general, they are much cheaper than taxis, and can be hailed from the street. ===By CycleRickshaws=== CycleRickshaws are three-wheeled Mechanical Cycles or Bikes with seats in the back to seat Passengers and a driver in the front who cycles the passenger. They are good for short distances or places which are too far to walk but too short for taking a Bus/Taxi/AutoRickshaw. CycleRickshaws don't use meters, so payment is done on established practices. ===Metro=== Two lines of the brand new [http://www.delhimetrorail.com/home/index.htm '''Delhi Metro'''] are now partly or fully open, and the entire 3-line network is scheduled for completion in September 2005. Fares range from Rs. 6 to 14. ===Local Trains=== ==See== *'''Rajpath'''. A main parade route that leads to the President's residence ('''Rashtrapati Bhavan'''). Wide avenue, the splendid '''India Gate''', and many grassy lawns. Especially nice in the evenings and at night when the buildings are lit, and the vendors come out to supply the many picnicking families. *'''Humayun's Tomb'''. *'''Red Fort'''. *'''Jama Masjid'''. *'''Markets'''. *'''Lodi Estate''' *'''Qutab Minar'''. A tall tower built in the early middle ages, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More information can be found [http://www.delhigate.com/@delhi/sites1.htm here]. *'''Majnu ka Teela Tibetan Colony'''. One of the more accessible Tibetan resettlement areas in India, and certainly a nice piece of variety for Delhi; to get there head north along Ring Road just past Majnu ka Teela Gurudwara. Go mad with local Delhi University students eating chilli beef and momos. * '''Lodhi Garden''' - In Times Asia it was considered as one of the most beautiful garden in the world and if i am not mistaken was ranked in the Top 50 of the most beautiful garden in Asia. *'''Nehru House''' 'Teen Murti Bhavan'. The house of the first Prime Minister of India. Only for people interested in politics. Free entrance. ===Museums=== *'''International Doll's Museum.''' Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. 3316970–74 ''(may need a 2 prefix)''. Tue-Sun 10-6. A museum of dolls from all over the country. You get to see the costumes and art from all over India, as well as some nice craftsmanship. Rs. 10.00. http://www.childrensbooktrust.com/dm.html *'''India Habitat Center'''. Lodhi Road. 24682001—24682009 (all inclusive). Most noted for its ever-changing art exhibits, Plays and film shows, as well as an international selection of food items in its food court. http://www.indiahabitat.org/main.htm ===Religious places=== *[http://www.bahaindia.org/temple/index.html Bahá'í Lotus Temple], located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi. * '''Chhattar Pur Mandir'''. Biggest & Beautiful temple and surrounding campus of Delhi. * ISKCON (Hare Krishna) temple, at Kalkaji ==Do== *Take a walk at '''Connaught Place''', the heart of New Delhi. ==Buy== ===Handicrafts and Folk Art=== *'''Cottage Emporium''', located near '''Connaught Place''', is the main government-run location for selling handicrafts from all over the country. The prices are a little more than what you'd find if you went bargain hunting, but you can shop in air-conditioned comfort, all the sales people will know English, and the quality of items is quite good. You can '''pay with credit cards'''. *The state emporiums are the state equivalents of Cottage. They are all located on '''Baba Kharak Singh Marg''', one of the radial streets coming off of Connaught Place, and each state specializes in certain kinds of crafts. Some are better on price than others, and you can bargain a little. Many of them will take credit cards. *'''Dilli Haat''', located in South Delhi near the '''All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)''', is a place where crafts fairs keep happening every few weeks. It is a wonderful place to get crafts from all over the country. What is distinctive here is that the artists themselves come to sell their goods, so your money goes directly to them, rather than to middlemen. Some bargaining may be necessary if you want the best price. *'''Nehru Place''', located in South Delhi is a commercial hub with clean and wide roads. It is further down from the Palika Bazaar and has 3 theaters, many restaurants and bookshops, McDonalds and it's neighbour Sarvana Bhavan, a respectable South Indian eatery. *'''Janpath''' is a bargain-hunter's dream. At 2 minutes walking from Connaught place. Think of it as a vast fleamarket, where you can get all kinds of knick-knacks and clothes. Janpath is not a place for those unwilling or unable to bargain ruthlessly. Also, as in any flea market, quality will vary greatly. *'''Palika Bazaar''' is a large underground market in the center of Connaught Place. This is a great place to hunt for DVD's, VCD's and Audio CD's of Hindi, English and a few regional and foreign language films and PC based games. Vendors stock both legal & pirated wares (quite easily distinguishable). <br>''A few things you have to note:'' ** Purchase inside the enclosure. Shops outside the enclosures are mostly wholesalers who are less interested in bargaining with you. Drive a hard-bargain only for pirated wares. ** If you are buying DVD's ensure that you buy at a place, which has a DVD player, so you can check the quality. If you can't play a Non-English and Non-Indian DVD, it can either be defective or have a different regional encoding. You may be able to play it on your PC. ** If you are in your twenties and or with a girl/foreigner, you are assumed to have a huge libido and likely to be asked if you are interested in porn videos. ==Eat== ===Continental=== ===Ethnic=== *Dilli Haat is a great place to get samplers of cuisine from all over the country. ====South Indian==== *'''Saravana Bhavan''', 46 Janpath, 2331 7755,2331 6060. is a good South Indian joint located in Janpath very close to Connaught Place. They are a Chennai chain operating in Delhi. If you go at lunch time, prepare to wait a while. Recommended to eat are the various dosa's, the thalis (meals) and the sweet dishes. http://saravanabhavan.com ===Dhabas (roadside stalls)=== ====Chaat==== If you want to eat '''chaat''', the uniquely North Indian streetside snack food, Delhi is the place to be. Chaat is hard to describe, really consisting of a number of different kinds of food, all spicy, mostly all vegetarian, and all things that you will be hard pressed to find in Indian restaurants in other parts of the world. Some typical chaat items are ''paapdi chaat'' (a mix of small round fried crispy things with yoghurt and other sauces), ''paneer tikka'' (cubes of cottage cheese baked in a ''tandoor'' with spices), ''pani puri'' or ''golguppa'' (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 the '''Bengali Market''' near '''Connaught Place''' in the center of town. The restaurants are of high quality, the food is great, and there are ATMS there as well. One of the best known restaurants there is '''Nathu's'''. Caveat: You should, if you are indiscriminately gobbling chaat sold by a man with a cart along Ridge Rd, be aware that the chaat might not have been prepared with bottled water. The other place to get really good chaat that is also prepared fairly hygienically is at any one of the '''Haldiram's''' stores. Particularly recommended is the Raj Kachori - it is a mixture of different types of stuffing with sweetened yogurt and chutneys in a little basket made from fried potato-slivers. But for the really good chaat you have to make your way to Old Delhi, and particularly to Ashok's near Chawri Bazaar. See http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/04/23/stories/2005042301960300.htm ==Sleep== ===Budget=== '''Paharganj''' opposite new Delhi railway station has many cheap hotels and is very popular with travelers, with a double room with attached shower costing between 150-300Rs. Below is a list of a few of the more popular places: * Hotel Namaska, 917 Chandiwalan, Main Bazaar, is located down a side alley Tel:7521234, 7522233 * Ajay Guest House Tel:2522369, 23543125 * Metropolis, 1634, Bazaar Hand, Tel:23518074 - good restaurant - little more expensive than average Paharaganj hotel. * Hare Rama Guest House, 298 Main Bazaar, down the side road near the Khanna Cinema. Tel:27433017 * Vivek, 1534-50 Main Bazaar, about a ten-minute walk from the railway station. Tel:23512900, *New India Hotel; 250 Rupees for single-bed and 350 for double-bed-room, noisy a/c, rudimentary shower, they watch bollywood-movies at night which can be somewhat embarrassing. It's is next to the red fort in Old Delhi ===Mid-range=== *Metropoli; It has an interior and a rooftop restaurant. Large rooms with A/C (sometimes noisy). *Mehar Castle; 750 Rupees/night for one and 1500 for two persons, large rooms with a/c, tv, hot shower, roomservice, www.meharcastle.com *Hotel Palace Heights, 3F, "D" block, Connaught Place. Tel:2341 5419 ===Splurge=== ==Get out== ==External links== * [http://delhigovt.nic.in Government of Delhi's Official Website] * [http://www.delhimetrorail.com Delhi Metro site with routemap, instructions and information] fr:New Delhi ro:New Delhi WikiPedia:New Delhi First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
if you like cool drinks you may be interested in:
Hope you enjoyed reading about New Delhi |
|
