New Delhi
Temperature
34°
Time
5:41 PM
New Delhi
Delhi is a thoroughly inscrutable onion of a city: every layer you peel off reveals an even deeper layer of history. Rebuilt eight times by its many conquerors, it has been the seat of the Hindu, Muslim and British empires. All of them have left their mark in the architecture, customs, food and people of this relentless city; all are undergoing a transformation in the capital of modern India.Find your trip
Situated in the heart of New Delhi, the National Museum holds exhibits from throughout the whole of Indian history, including relics of the Indus Valley civilisation, sculptures from the Mauryan civilisation, South Indian Vijayanagar artefacts and a Buddhist gallery, representing a cultural centre and a treasure of immeasurable value.
The most outstanding Sihk house of worship in town, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib boasts stunning architectural features and a characteristic golden dome. Located near the Connaught Place in the centre of New Delhi, it welcomes people of every status and faith.
A major draw for tourists, Swaminarayan Akshardham temple has a peculiar charm and an architectural structure that enchants Indians and travellers alike. The beautiful gardens exhale more than 10,000 years of Indian culture in a magical show of India's greatness.
An idyllic escapade in the city centre, the park is a green oasis gifted with some stunning constructions dating back to the 15th century, wonderful tombs mosques and elegant bridges. The great contrast with the bustling city is a welcome change, offering a perfect solution for a relaxing stroll.
The National Gandhi Museum has numerous exhibits depicting the life of Ghandi and the history of India. Going back to 1948 when his assassination took place, the exhibition intends to give a fresh insight into the life of the leader of the Indian independence movement and his non-violent opposition and philosophy.
Handling something as unusual and amusing as toilets, Sulabh International Museum integrates some bizarre exhibits with a matter of fundamental importance in India such as sanitation. Founded by Dr. Bindeshwar, an inspiring personality who strongly contributed to integrate untouchables, it aims to educate about sanitation and its development throughout the years.
The National Gallery of Modern Art houses some of the world's largest exhibitions, boasting thousands of Modern Art works made by Indian iconic artists. Located on the Rajpath near the India Gate, it offers some beautiful gardens where to relax after an intensive journey through India's modern history.
The recently inaugurated green oasis (the Indian capital's version of Central Park) features Delhi's first arboretum, with multiple species of trees (including a Bonsai House), plants, birds and butterflies. Mughal architecture dating back to the 16th century still remains on park grounds, along with the adjacent Humayun's Tomb. The city zoo is not too far from here; future plans include linking the two to one another to create one vast recreational expanse.
Situated in the heart of New Delhi, the National Museum holds exhibits from throughout the whole of Indian history, including relics of the Indus Valley civilisation, sculptures from the Mauryan civilisation, South Indian Vijayanagar artefacts and a Buddhist gallery, representing a cultural centre and a treasure of immeasurable value.
The most outstanding Sihk house of worship in town, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib boasts stunning architectural features and a characteristic golden dome. Located near the Connaught Place in the centre of New Delhi, it welcomes people of every status and faith.
Located at the Taj Palace Hotel, Masala Art offers a slick and polished contemporary North Indian experience with a choice of à la carte and taster menus, open kitchen and friendly staff. As it tends to get busy, it is recommended to book a table in advance.
United Coffee House is located right in the heart of Connaught Place. This restaurant exhales the air of the Raj-era, with an attentive service and a wide menu that is a blend of Indian regional cuisine, Oriental and continental cuisine. The kadai paneer is a must-try at the United Coffee House.
Punjabi By Nature has been one of New Delhi’s most acclaimed and popular fine dining restaurants for over a decade. It offers a great selection of traditional Punjabi dishes from an open kitchen.
Swagath is a great option for seafood lovers, who can sample the finest South Indian cooking with fresh seafood delivered daily. Swagath also offers very different flavours recreating coastal delicacies of the Mangalorean, Mughlai, Chettinad, Chinese, Malabar and Andhra cuisines.
Renowned for its delicious Indian cuisine and considered a true Delhi institution, Karim's was founded back in the 1910s. Lying in the shadow of the stunning Jama Masjid, it serves excellent Mughal cuisine, mouth-watering desserts, and non-alcoholic drinks.
A clever name, funky interiors and the milder cuisine of the Kashmir region, Chor Bizarre is a Kashmiri restaurant in the bustling heart of Old Delhi. Well-rated among locals and tourists, it is one of the best eateries in town, boasting a highly acclaimed restaurant in London.
Specialising in Northwest Frontier and Mughal cuisine, the menu at Bukhara is dominated by meat. This popular place fills up easily, so it is worth booking ahead. You can find this place at the ITC Maurya Hotel.
If you are looking for innovative Indian cuisine, you can come to Indian Accent. This restaurant offers great dishes in a stylish and cosy setting and can be found at Manor Hotel.
Located at the Taj Palace Hotel, Masala Art offers a slick and polished contemporary North Indian experience with a choice of à la carte and taster menus, open kitchen and friendly staff. As it tends to get busy, it is recommended to book a table in advance.
United Coffee House is located right in the heart of Connaught Place. This restaurant exhales the air of the Raj-era, with an attentive service and a wide menu that is a blend of Indian regional cuisine, Oriental and continental cuisine. The kadai paneer is a must-try at the United Coffee House.
In the north, you can find the tangled, chaotic and intoxicating streets of Old Delhi with the manic Chandni Chowk thoroughfare selling everything under the sun, the colourful spice market on Khari Baoli and the jewellery quarter of Dariba Kalan. Also recommended is a stroll down Chawri Bazaar, the wholesale paper market.
To the south are the wide, planned streets of Lutyen’s New Delhi, built by the British to be airy and European. Though distinctly Asian today, they are home to the new Asia with the shopping centres such as Santushti Shopping Complex, M-Block & N-Block Market, Khan Market and Sunder Nagar Market offering the consumer the latest modern technology and gadgetry, designer clothes, interior décor, books and textiles.
The area around Connaught Place has several state-run emporiums where you can buy Indian handicrafts at fixed prices. The Central Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath has six floors of merchandise, while the regional State Emporiums on Baba Kharak Singh Marg focus on the arts from their particular region. The thoroughfare of Janpath, running south from Connaught Place, is also a top spot for textile shopping.
If you are looking for a place to buy Indian handicrafts, you can visit the Central Cottage Industries Emporium. Here you can choose from Pashmina Shawls, marble arts, jewellery, and much more.
At the Pacific Mall, you can find over 130 brands both international and national. This is truly a landmark when it comes to shopping in New Delhi. It is ideally located in Tagore Garden.
If you want to buy some of the finest Kashmir Art, you can visit Carpets & Pashmina By Atsar. The items here are claimed to have excellent quality, so if you're looking for carpets, rugs and shawls, this might be the place to go.
The Aap Ki Pasand Sancha Tea Shop is claimed to be the most famous tea shop in India. Here you can choose from different tea, such as Darjeeling and Assam. You can also enjoy a complimentary tea tasting here.
Raising awareness on environmental issues, Green the Map is a great shop to visit if you want to support a shop that is trying to make a difference. Recycling and fair trade are two keywords to describe this little gem. Everything from clothing, natural cosmetics and food to home décor can be found here.
In the north, you can find the tangled, chaotic and intoxicating streets of Old Delhi with the manic Chandni Chowk thoroughfare selling everything under the sun, the colourful spice market on Khari Baoli and the jewellery quarter of Dariba Kalan. Also recommended is a stroll down Chawri Bazaar, the wholesale paper market.
To the south are the wide, planned streets of Lutyen’s New Delhi, built by the British to be airy and European. Though distinctly Asian today, they are home to the new Asia with the shopping centres such as Santushti Shopping Complex, M-Block & N-Block Market, Khan Market and Sunder Nagar Market offering the consumer the latest modern technology and gadgetry, designer clothes, interior décor, books and textiles.
All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document with a valid visa. A visa is required for most nationalities, with the exception of Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives (if not arriving from mainland China). The visa has to be requested through an online application, and the instruction for filling in the application and for scheduling appointments can be seen at the visa department's website. Be aware that a visa can only be acquired via this online application, and without any intermediary – do not follow agents who claim speedy/express grant of e-Visa.
Though many places such as large hotels, shops, and restaurants will accept international credit cards, such as American Express, MasterCard and Visa, many small family-run shops still operate on only cash. It might be troublesome for you to find an ATM in your vicinity since they're not evenly distributed. A fee is almost always charged by the Indian bank for withdrawing money. Before departing, check with your bank whether your card is valid in India but bring some cash to avoid unpleasant surprises.
A trip to New Delhi would be perfect around October and November or February and March when the pleasant autumn makes it for a comfortable tour around the city's famous landmarks. This is also the period when festivities like 'Diwali' Festival (in October) and other genres of festivals (ranging from drama to literature to film festivals) are held. Summer is known for being humid, whereas winter is known for being cold. Woollen clothes are highly recommended since temperatures vary from 22°C to 5°C.
Indira Gandhi International Airport is a major hub for domestic and international air travel. The domestic terminals (1A and 1B) are located 15 kilometres from the city centre and the international terminal is a further 8 kilometres out. All international visitors must have a valid visa for entry. A free shuttle bus service operates between the terminals. Metro, taxis, buses and rickshaws are available at the airport to take you into the city. The metro is the fastest and most comfortable way to reach the city centre. The first train leaves the airport 5.15am and the last at 11.15pm.
The Delhi Metro is a network running from the north to south and east to west, crossing at Connaught Place. It is by far the easiest way to get around this traffic-choked city. The Tourist Cards offer unlimited travel for one day or three days. You can also buy a normal card. Delhi also has five network railway stations to destinations around the country, the main one being New Delhi Station, a chaotic place with an international travel bureau on the first floor.
The bus system in New Delhi is cheap and serves many routes. According to western standards, this might not be the most comfortable way to travel around town. There are both red and green buses. The main bus station is called Delhi Inter State Bus Terminal and is located north of the Old Delhi train station.
The rickshaws, also called “auto”, are like tuk-tuks. This is an affordable way to travel around the city if you are going short distances. Remember to negotiate on the fares before getting in.
Stamps can be purchased from post offices, newsagents and some travel stores. Local post offices are generally open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm and Sat 10am-12pm. The large General Post Offices have longer opening hours, Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm and Sat 9.30am-1pm. General Post Office:
All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document with a valid visa. A visa is required for most nationalities, with the exception of Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives (if not arriving from mainland China). The visa has to be requested through an online application, and the instruction for filling in the application and for scheduling appointments can be seen at the visa department's website. Be aware that a visa can only be acquired via this online application, and without any intermediary – do not follow agents who claim speedy/express grant of e-Visa.
Though many places such as large hotels, shops, and restaurants will accept international credit cards, such as American Express, MasterCard and Visa, many small family-run shops still operate on only cash. It might be troublesome for you to find an ATM in your vicinity since they're not evenly distributed. A fee is almost always charged by the Indian bank for withdrawing money. Before departing, check with your bank whether your card is valid in India but bring some cash to avoid unpleasant surprises.
