Delhi City Guide

Delhi or rather New Delhi is the capital of India. Delhi, which actually consists of two distinct cities namely the New Delhi; designed by British architects namely Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker and the walled city of Old Delhi; established by the Mughal king, Shahjahan as Shahjahanabad in 1639, is a cosmos of sorts and is where the Indian demography converges, foods mingle with each other to become exotic and cultures cross each other at every turn and corner.

Both these two locations make up the city of Delhi that has functioned as the seat of power in India for several centuries. Any visit to Delhi gives travelers an insight into the city’s rich historical heritage. This rich history includes the reigns of the successive Mughal kings, who repeatedly conquered Delhi and the rest of North India by launching successful campaigns from Central Asia from the early 16th century onwards. This Mughal rule was soon followed by the colonial rule of the British that lasted over a hundred years in Delhi and the rest of the subcontinent.

New Delhi and Old Delhi couldn’t be more different in appearance for while New Delhi is known for its verdant parks, wide leafy avenues, many government buildings and palatial homes, the walled city of Old Delhi is characterized by huge crowds, busy markets and a narrow maze of streets populated by numerous vendors, iconic eating houses and an assortment of historically significant sights.

Delhi is an important destination on the tourist travel map and this vacation hotspot offers numerous hotels of every type and grade in its many neighborhoods.

The area of North Delhi encompasses several Old Delhi neighborhoods like Delhi Gate, Kashmere Gate, Darya Ganj, Model Town, Pitampura and Civil lines. Also located here is the chaotic market area and backpacker favorite, Paharganj which is known for its discount hotels and many budget accommodation options. North Delhi additionally hosts one of the first luxury hotels in Delhi along with many clubs, hospitals and the Old Delhi Railway Station.

Central Delhi is perhaps the most important zone in Delhi that hosts neighborhoods like Connaught Place, Willingdon Crescent, Pragati Maidan ( a prominent trade fair ground) and Lodhi Gardens. Central Delhi is also home to several politically important buildings like Rashtaparti Bhavan (home of the Indian president), Sansad Bhavan (the houses of Parliament) and India Gate. This area hosts many of the big Delhi luxury hotels which are favored by visitors who enjoy staying in the midst of all the action so as to speak.

Crowded, perennially busy Karol Bagh in Old Delhi is one of the oldest shopping enclaves of the city. If you wish to shop till you drop on your Delhi vacation, then the many diverse hotels of Karol Bagh should probably get your vote on where to stay in the city.

South Delhi hosts some of the most exclusive and posh addresses in Delhi. This area is home to upscale neighborhoods like Vasant Kuj, Greater Kailash, Chankyapuri and Safadarjung enclave as well as opulent luxury hotels. Also, located here are several leafy green parks, broad tree lined promenades and some of Delhi’s most famed monuments like Qutub Minar, Purana Qila and Humayun’s Tomb.

Gurgaon is a township that lies within the NCR ( National Capital Region) region of Delhi. This rapidly developing area is a prime business district of Delhi that plays host to numerous information technology and business process outsourcing companies. Accordingly Gurgaon hosts a good selection of business-oriented and luxury hotels that are largely favored by business travelers.

Red Fort or the Lal Quilla is a prominent historic attraction in Delhi. This fort, which lies within the walled city of Old Delhi, was built entirely of sandstone in the early seventeenth century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan of ‘the Taj Mahal fame’. The fort served as the official residence for Shah Jehan and other Mughal rulers. Located within the fort are various other interesting buildings like the Lahore Gate, the Diwan-i-Aam, the Diwan-i-Khaas, the Moti Masjid. The Red Fort continues to be an important historical site until today for it is from here that Indian Prime Minister addresses the nation every year on 15th August, a day that commemorates the Indian independence. The Red Fort is one attraction that you can’t afford to miss on your vacation in Delhi.

The Qutub Minar is a 238ft (72m) tall tower that was built by the Muslim ruler Qutab-ud-din Aibak to commemorate his victory over the Hindu kings. The Qutub Minar is now a World Heritage site. The Qutub complex, which contains this tower, has two other attractions, the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, which is India’s oldest mosque that was erected on the ruins of various Hindu temples and an iron pillar which has Sanskrit etchings on it and dates back to the time of a renowned Hindu ruler, Chandragupta Maurya.

One of the newer attractions in this ancient city of Kings is the Garden of Five Senses, which is not merely a park but is a planned green space that has been created to awaken the five senses to the beauty of the environment that surrounds us. This garden extends over 20 acres and is a pure a visual treat for the geometric arrangement of its rare plants, meandering pathways and lotus pools never fail to enthrall and delight visitors. Moreover visitors are also encouraged to touch the displays, smell the flowers, see and enjoy the landscaped gardens as they listen to the sounds of ceramic bells and the gushing of the waters over the landscaped waterfalls. The garden also hosts a food court, which aims to cater to the sense of taste.

The huge Jama Masjid mosque was commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1656 and took the efforts of 5000 laborers and six years to complete. This huge mosque can accommodate 25000 worshippers at a time.

This edifice was built in 1594 and contains the tomb of the second Mughal emperor: Humayun. This tomb was commissioned by Humayun’s senior wife Haji Begum and was designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. This tomb, which is believed to have inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal and several other important Mughal buildings, is a peaceful site which features an artfully carved building constructed out of marble and sandstone surrounded by gardens.

The towering India Gate is the national monument of Delhi. The huge archway, which is situated in the heart of New Delhi, was designed by renowned British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, who was also responsible for the layout of New Delhi. The India Gate was previously known as the All India Memorial and commemorates the 90,000 soldiers of the Birtish Indian Army who lost fighting for the British Empire during World War I and II.

Delhi’s climate can best be described as an extreme climate. Due to the city’s unique location on the Ganges plains, it experiences intense summers and genuinely cold winters. In fact Delhi’s summers that tend to last between the months of June to August are quite unbearable as temperatures in the city often soar above 40 C (104F). These summer months are also characterized by violent dust storms which are colloquially called ‘loo’.

The best season to visit Delhi is between November and March when the weather is quite agreeable with day time temperatures in the low 20’s (70F) and night time temperatures falling way below 10 C (50F). This season also coincides with the traditional wedding season in Delhi. Flight and hotel rates for Delhi during this period are typically very high, but if you need to book a vacation to Delhi at this time, you should contact Fare Buzz with your requirements for it offers flight deals as well as hotel discounts for Delhi all throughout the year.

Delhi is easily accessed from all over the world through its Indira Gandhi International Airport which lies 12 miles or 20km southwest of Connaught Place and is accessible via a forty minute drive from the city center. The Indira Gandhi International Airport plays host to numerous international and domestic carriers and thus renders Delhi to be an immensely accessible destination from all over the world.

In fact, Fare Buzz periodically announces cheap air tickets for Delhi and if you are planning a trip to Delhi anytime soon, it’s best that you contact Fare Buzz for your requirements.

Delhi, like other Indian cities is equipped with a public transport system that consists of public buses and metered taxis. However in recent years the city has also come to be equipped with an extensive metro system, which connects most parts of Delhi.

Many visitors on a visit to Delhi however choose to rent a car for the duration of their stay in Delhi. Car rentals in Delhi are offered by various operators and if you need to rent a car for your vacation in Delhi, then Fare Buzz can be of assistance as it offers a variety of affordable car rentals for Delhi.

Delhi offers many vibrant markets and shopping locales like its Connaught Place and Janpath that offer numerous stores and local emporiums, which provide ample opportunities to shop for souvenirs and mementos of your vacation in Delhi.

Another market worth visiting in Delhi is the city’s Khan Market, which is located in South Delhi. This crowded complex of small shops is a far cry from the glitzy shopping centers and malls that are now populating Delhi’s rapidly changing shopping scene. Khan market features a cluster of individual stores and is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. Located in the vibrant and lively market are branches of India's leading brands like Fabindia, Anokhi and Good Earth and also retail outlets of many international brands like Nike, Reebok, Benetton etc.

Delhi also offers a vibrant street food culture that offers iconic dishes like Papadi chaat (a dish made of savory crackers served with yogurt and a spicy and sweet sauce) and gol gappe (balls of fried dough filled with tasty morsels and a spicy water). In fact a prime locale to sample these street foods is at the crowded market, Chandini Chowk; located in Old Delhi.

The market in fact has streets named after local delicacies like Parathewali Gali, which hosts stores that sell a delicacy called Parathes or stuffed Indian breads. The market is also famous for its offerings of Jalebis (sweet donut like fried sweets) which can be sampled at various stalls in the market. If you are the adventurous sort then a sampling of Delhi street foods is highly recommended on your Delhi vacation.

However if you rather be safe, then you need not worry for Delhi offers a wide array of restaurants that serve a smorgasbord of global cuisines and cater to all budgets. At this point, mention must be made of the Bukhara Restaurant that is located in one of the city’s prominent luxury hotels and serves Mughal cuisine which was a big hit with President Clinton when he visited Delhi.

For a staid, political epicenter, Delhi offers a vibrant nightlife scene that features numerous bars, nightclubs and cocktail lounges which cater to all tastes and preferences. Some of the most popular bars and clubs in Delhi currently include joints like Ricks, Agni, Urban Pind, Turquoise Cottage, DV8, Patiala Peg, Q’Ba, 1911 Bar and the Club Bar.