Delhi Holidays

If there’s one thing that can be said with certainty about Delhi, the bustling capital of India, it is that the city is truly immersing. Defying homogenisation, Delhi makes it difficult to sit on the sidelines without being sucked into the vortex of sights, sounds and smells that cause routine whirlwinds here.

Top Things to Do
History and its remaking form the DNA of the city, which is why, one can worship at the altar of truly stunning masterpieces from the Mughal architecture as well as they can admire the gems from the British heritage. The Old Delhi carefully preserves the essence of the city in its narrow lanes and alleyways. Some of the still existing Mughal-era ‘havelis’ serve as reminders of the flourishing Mughal rule in the Shahjahanabad; the marvellous Red Fort, the Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar and the Humayun’s Tomb do the job just as well. Travel a few kilometres, and you arrive at the New Delhi, where colonial-era architecture, including at the Parliament House, the India Gate and the Connaught Place tells the story of the British rule in the country. To take refuge from the mad pace at which the city moves, locals patronise the lush, green spaces – Lodhi Gardens and the Garden of Five Senses -pumping calm and life back into the city’s veins. One can visit the Akshardham Temple, the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, the Jama Masjid as well as the Sacred Heart Cathedral for truly validating the ‘Unity in Diversity’ that India swears by.

Where to Stay
You can book an airport hotel that’ll keep you closer to futuristic Gurgaon in NCR and the West Delhi. Most tourists, however, prefer to stay in the Central Delhi for easy access to popular attractions such as Parliament House, India Gate, Connaught Place, Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jantar Mantar and Jama Masjid.

Food
Being the capital city, Delhi is oozing with a range of gourmet restaurants matching international standards but the city is the most famous for its street food, patronised in local markets. ‘Samosa’, ‘Kachori’, ‘Chole Bhature’ ‘Gol Gappas’ are some of the items that you must try. Being a melting pot of cultures, Delhi makes it very easy to access cuisines from different regions of India including South Indian food as well as Gujarati and Rajasthani fares.

Shopping and Nightlife
Though the city boasts many world–class malls, selling top labels and brands, the local markets serve as lifelines here as it is them that the burgeoning middle class seek for shopping (and bargaining) and dining. Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar and the Janpath markets can be visited for proof. The nightlife is bustling and best experienced in Connaught Place, Hauz Khas Village as well as the neighbouring Gurgaon.

How to Get to Delhi
Jet Airways, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are some of the airlines running non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Flights to Delhi are also available from London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh amongst other key UK airports. Read more ...