New Delhi Travel Guide

Getting There:

By Air: Indira Gandhi International Airport (+91 11 565 2011) is located in the Southwestern region of the city. The airport has a bureaux de change, tourist information counters, snack bars, duty-free stores, a restaurant, 24-hour taxi counters and car rental booths. It is safer to book a taxi at the prepaid counter at the airport, as most taxi drivers in Delhi do not adhere to the standard meter. The approximate flying time from Delhi to Toronto is 18 hours, to New York is 16 hours, and to Sydney, 17 hours. The following airlines have counters at the airport:

Air Canada (+91 11 565 2850 / http://www.aircanada.ca)

Air France (+91 11 565 2294 / http://www.airfrance.com)

Air Mauritius (+91 11 565 2050 / http://www.airmauritius.com)

Delta Airlines (+91 11 565 2093 / http://www.delta.com )

Gulf Air (+91 11 565 2065 / http://www.gulfairco.com)

KLM (+91 11 565 2922 / http://www.klm.com)

Korean Air (+91 11 565 3304 / http://www.koreanair.com)

Kuwait Airways (+91 11 565 2295 / http://www.kuwait-airways.com)

Lufthansa (+91 11 548 2283 / http://www.lufthansa.com)

Malaysian Airlines (+91 11 565 2395 / http://www.malaysiaairlines.com)

Swiss Air (+91 11 565 2531 / http://www.swiss.com)

The Domestic Airport (+91 11 329 5126) at Palam, is about 5 kilometers away from the International terminal. This is an important hub for International travelers who wish to travel within the country. The main domestic airlines that operate through this airport are Indian Airlines (http://indian-airlines.nic.in), Jet Airways (http://www.jetairways.com), Sahara Airlines (http://www.airsahara.net), Kingfisher Airlines (www.flykingfisher.com) and Go Air Airlines (http://www.goair.in). They offer flights to more than 40 cities across India. The airport has a prepaid taxi counter, tourist information counter, business center and car rental booths.

By Train:

New Delhi is the main hub for Indian Railways (+91 11 334 8787). Unlike Mumbai, Delhi does not have its own local train system, but its extensive national network connects it to all the major and small towns across the country. It has two major stations, one in Old Delhi, located about 7 kilometres from Connaught Place, and another in New Delhi, East of Pahar Ganj. The stations have ample waiting areas and food stalls. However, travelers should be careful with their luggage as chances of theft are high. Ticket reservations can be made at the IRCA building on Chelmsford Road, Pahar Ganj. There is a separate counter for tourists at the International Tourist Bureau (+91 11 334 6804), New Delhi station. You can also make online bookings, or get further information from the official website of the Idian Railways, www.indianrailways.com.

By Road:

Five National Highways pass through New Delhi. The Grand Trunk Road (National Highway 1) is used most frequently as it leads to the North of the country, towards Amritsar and Agra; National Highway 2 goes towards Calcutta in the East, and National Highway 8 passes through Jaipur in the West. Driving licenses require a minimum age of 18 years, and foreigners with international licenses can drive in the city without additional documents. Most cities and towns are located close to Delhi, and are well connected by road. The driving time from Delhi to Agra and Jaipur is under three hours, to Amritsar is under five hours, and the to the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh is under eight hours.

Bus services:

Local buses are very congested, and are often not the preferred mode of transportation for the middle-class. Taxis and rickshaws are usually favored. However, the inter-state bus services are quite comfortable. They offer air conditioned, deluxe and ordinary buses to all major destinations around Delhi. The Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBT) is located at Kashmir Gate, North of Old Delhi Railway Station. The following state operators provide bus services in and around the city: Delhi Transport Corporation (+91 11 386 8836), Haryana Roadways (+91 11 296 1262), Himachal Pradesh Roadways (+91 11 251 6725), Punjab Roadways (+91 11 296 7842), Rajasthan Roadways (+91 11 252 2246) and Uttar Pradesh Roadways (+91 11 251 8709).

Getting around:

Public Transport

New Delhi now boasts of its first metro network. The metro will be partly underground and partly elevated; and will extend up to 62 kilometers and more in the future.

By bus:

The public buses in Delhi are uncomfortable and over-crowded. The Delhi Transport Corporation (+91 11 331 7445) has a centralized network of buses that have 300 routes across the city. A general All-Route Pass can be availed from any of the terminals at Red Fort, Delhi Gate and Shahdara Terminal.

By taxi:

The most convenient way to move around is by taxi. Following a Government anti-pollution policy, all taxis now operate on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) engines. Some taxis have electronic meters, but most taxis operate on a prior bargained rate. It is best to negotiate a price before stepping into one.

By rickshaw:

Rickshaws too, form an integral part of the city's transportation. Widely-used, they also follow the same principle as the taxis. It is better to negotiate a rate before boarding this transport though. Four- and six-seater motorcycle rickshaws run on fixed routes at fixed prices, mostly between the Red Fort and Palika Bazaar at Connaught Place.

Car Hire:

Driving on Delhi roads can be quite a challenging task, as motorists often do not heed to traffic laws. The best option is to hire a car with a local driver to take you around town.

Some of the major car hire services are: Europcar Inter-Rent (+91 11 688 3498), Hertz (+91 11 687 7188), Eco Rent A Car (+91 11 462 3261), and Jai Jawala Tourist (+91 11 26252924).2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 684