Delhi is India's capital and the home of the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of Government. Delhi is known as the microcosm of India and is a leading world city with strengths in arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence.
About
With evidence of continuous settlement dating back to the 6th Century BC, Delhi is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. The legendary city of Indraprastha from the epic Mahabharata is said to have been situated where Delhi now lies. Thought to have been built and destroyed 11 times, evidence of at least eight distinct settlements can still be seen in Delhi.
To be noted is the fact that the descendants of the builders of Delhi's many Muslim monuments no longer stay in Delhi. Most of them migrated to Pakistan during the Partition, with only a small, ever-diminishing community in Old Delhi keeping old courtly traditions alive.
Like the rest of the Gangetic Plains, Delhi is as flat as a pancake. The only geographical features of any significance are the river Yamuna, which flows down the eastern side of the city, and the Aravalli Hills which form a wide but low arc across the west. On the west bank is the crowded and congested Old (Central) Delhi and, to the southwest, the broad, tree-lined avenues of New Delhi, built by the British to rule their empire. The rest is an endless low-rise sprawl of suburbia and slums, with southwestern Delhi (nearer to New Delhi) generally somewhat wealthier.
New Delhi, or the central part of what is now called the National Capital Territory of Delhi, is the British built capital of India. Characterized by its wide boulevards, many traffic circles, colonial mansions, and government buildings dotted with monuments from various parts of India's history, this is the heart of the capital. Amongst the many popular tourist attractions located here are Humayun's Tomb, Purana Qila and the Lodhi gardens and tombs. Connaught Place (now called Rajiv Chowk) and Khan Market are popular shopping centres and the nearby Paharganj area has many inexpensive hotels. New Delhi Railway Station and Nizamuddin Railway Stations for trains to the south and east are in New Delhi. Delhi Metro lines radiate out from the city centre so the area is well connected.
South Delhi contains the upmarket neighbourhoods of Delhi and has a high concentration of five star hotels, numerous smaller hotels and guest houses, shopping malls and markets, and restaurants. It is also the most accessible from the airport and, with numerous overpasses constructed for the 2011 relatively easy to get around by car or taxi. The area is served by three metro lines: the violet line, the yellow line, and the airport express. The Qutab Minar, a major tourist attraction in Delhi, is located in this area (on the yellow line).
The capital of Mughal India, Old Delhi is the oldest extant part of the city. An area of narrow lanes and ancient markets, the district contains numerous places of tourism interest including the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk. The area is served mainly by the yellow line of Delhi Metro and is best seen on foot or on a cycle rickshaw. Delhi Railway Station (also known as Delhi Junction Railway Station or Old Delhi Railway Station), the main station for trains to the north, is located in this area and the Inter State Bus Terminal for buses to other parts of India is just north of the area outside Kashmere Gate.
Developed mainly during the days of British rule, this area is known for its Raj era buildings and institutions. Metcalfe House, the home of the British resident at the time of Indian rebellion of 1857; Maidens Hotel, a Raj era hotel now run by the Oberoi group; the buildings of Delhi University, all lie in this area. Delhi's Tibetan refugees settled here at Majnu Ka Tilla, an area that has become a popular backpacker hangout. North Delhi is served mainly by the yellow line of the Delhi Metro.
The climate in Delhi goes through five distinct seasons. Winter, from mid-December to late January, is cold (the temperature drops to near freezing at night though the days are warm) and is notorious for the thick fog that hangs over the city resulting in cancelled flights and delayed trains. Spring in Delhi, in the months of February and March is pleasant with warm days and cool evenings. The hot season, April through June, is uncomfortably hot with soaring temperatures (going as high as 45°C/110°F). Temperatures moderate during the monsoon (rainy) season (July through September) but it is humid. October brings Fall and warm days with relatively cool nights.
How to Reach
Indira Gandhi International Airport, (IGI, IATA: DEL), located in the west of the city, is the arrival point for many visitors into Delhi. With the opening of Terminal 3 in 2010, Delhi airport has been transformed into a modern facility.
Delhi Airport has no less than six terminals, but only three are currently operational:
A free shuttle bus (free ticket needs to be obtained at separate counter or you will charged in bus) operates between 1 and 3 every 20 min. While the terminals share the same runways, connecting between the two requires a massive detour via a nearby highway (almost 10 km ride), so allow plenty of time to connect (at least 20 min).
There are public buses to and from the city throughout the day and night. Travel time is approximately 50 min. They can be very crowded. There are two bus companies: Delhi Transport Corporation (green-yellow buses) and EATS (white-blue buses). The EATS (Ex Serviceman's Airlink Transport Service) Buses run to ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) near Kashmiri Gate, Connaught Place, Delhi Train Station and many hotels in the city centre, departing from both airport terminals every 60 min from 10AM-11:10PM. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) (schedule: [1]) offers eight bus routes to both the city centre and the more outlying areas of Delhi. Tickets can be bought and a fixed seat can be booked at a desk in the Arrivals Hall. One way fare for both companies: ₹50 per adult, ₹25 per child below 12 years, ₹25 for heavy luggage.
If you'd prefer to go directly to your destination and are willing to sit around in traffic, or are arriving on the many long-distance flights that land in the dead of night, take a taxi. The easiest and safest way is to arrange transport ahead of time through your hotel (some hotels provide this service for free). Alternatively, you can pay for a taxi at the prepaid taxi booths in the international terminal. Prefer the pre-paid booth run by Delhi Police. Depending on the destination, they will ask you to pay the taxi fare to them, which they later pay to the taxi driver after he shows a receipt from you proving that you were taken to your destination. The pre-paid booths are visible as soon as you exit customs. The one on the left is managed by the Delhi police. You may be approached by touts offering pre-paid taxis; just ignore them and ask someone the direction to the Delhi Police prepaid taxi kiosk or booth managed by the cops. To the right of the exit door are private taxi operators. They are more expensive but the cars are air-conditioned. The number of the taxi assigned to you will be on the receipt. Then, go straight through the airport and turn right immediately outside the front doors and someone will help you find your taxi. There are several options, but the booth operated by the "Delhi Police" is considered the best, with non-A/C taxis to most points in the city for ₹200-300.
Do not give the receipt to the driver until you get to the destination as this is what they are paid on. Also, ignore the explanation of the driver for additional payment. There is no practice of tipping taxi drivers anywhere in India. When you reach your destination, take your baggage first, then give the driver the receipt and walk away without further discussion.
There is a minor problem with this system. As there is a checkpoint manned by the traffic police just as your taxi moves away from the airport, you will have to give the receipt to the driver, who will hand it over to the police, who will record the taxi number. Make sure that you get the receipt back from the driver immediately, and return it only after you have safely reached your destination.
When leaving Delhi from the international terminal, you should show up three hours before your flight is scheduled as security is tight. For domestic flights two hours should be enough. While sometimes time-consuming, the process is smooth, and the new terminal's shops and restaurants are sensibly located at the gate area, not before security. However, if you wish to change Rupees back into foreign currency, you must do this before clearing security.
During the winter (Dec-Jan), Delhi often experiences dense fog and visibility is reduced considerably, making it difficult for flights to land and take off. Both international and domestic flights are often diverted or cancelled, so plan accordingly and allow for one or two days for possible delays.
The Delhi Airport Metro Express (DAME) [2] is a Delhi Metro train line from New Delhi Metro Station to Dwarka Sector 21, passing through the airport. After a half-year closure due to various technical problems, the line reopened in January 2013, but is currently running at half-speed and it thus takes over 40 minutes to reach the city — this is expected to speed up gradually back to the original 20 min. Trains run every 20 minutes between 5AM and 11PM. The one-way fare between the airport and New Delhi Station is ₹150. From the railway station, you can transfer to the Metro (it's a bit of hike though), continue by taxi, or simply walk to backpacker ghetto Paharganj.
Buses arrive from Kathmandu and Chitwan in Nepal (36 hr+) and virtually every city in India. Although not as comfortable as the trains, buses are the only choice for some destinations, mainly those in the mountains.
Delhi has a confusing slew of inter-state bus termini (ISBT), which all have two names. The Delhi Transport Corporation is the major operator, but every state also runs its own buses and there are some private operators too.
Another option is to to book bus tickets online from RunBus [3] Redbus,TicketGoose which has tied up with a number of large private bus operators all over India.
Once you have purchased a ticket either at the ticket office or on-line prior to the trip, all you need to do is go to the rail car labelled with your class of service purchased. You can either get on and sit in the first available seat or. for higher classes of service, they will often post a passenger list on the car when it stops. Look for your name and go to the assigned car, cabin and seat. There is never a need to get a boarding pass so if anyone comes out of the crowd to tell you that, don't listen to them; it is a scam. If you're brave, you can simply purchase a general 2nd class ticket and then get on any car where there is availability. The conductor will come by and check your tickets after the train starts moving. If you are in a higher fare class than you are ticketed for, all you have to do is simply pay the difference in fare to the conductor. The only risk here is that the train could be full and you could be stuck in the lowest fare class which can be very crowded with little room to sit.
Ticket buying: The easiest way is to book online through the Indian Railways booking website . (Note, however, that you are required to have both an e-mail address AND a mobile phone number that is registered within India in order to access the booking area of the site.)
Do not trust strangers who appear out of the crowd to help you; ignore them. Always ask for assistance at the enquiry counter or policemen (in khaki uniform).
Anyone who approaches you spontaneously should be completely ignored. Use one of the porters (in orange uniforms with metallic arms badges) to find your train and carry your luggage, in exchange for a tip.
Reproduced from Wikipedia
