Delhi City Guide

General Information / Guide

New Delhi was the capital of India between 1912 and 1947 when it was under British colonial rule. After India gained independence from Britain in 1947, New Delhi continued to be the country's capital. Due to hosting a variety of cultures over the centuries, the city now accommodates people from various races, languages, cultures, and religions. The foundation of the city is known to have been laid on December 15, 1911. Within the city, it is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Complex.
Delhi, a cosmopolitan city, is also one of India's leading commercial, cultural, and political centers. With its wide boulevards, museums, and all its historical treasures, Delhi offers a very enjoyable travel destination. Located in the northern part of India and being a South Asian city, New Delhi is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Arabian Sea to the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south.

Climate / Weather / When to Go

Delhi has a subtropical climate. Especially during the summer months, the region experiences long and hot periods, with temperatures often reaching 40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, summer is not a very suitable time to visit the city. However, if you plan to travel during these months, be cautious in July and August as the region experiences monsoon rains during these two months. The most ideal time to visit New Delhi would be the winter period, which includes December and March.

How to Get There

Indira Gandhi Airport, located around 16 km from the city center, is accessible via direct and connecting flights from various locations. To reach the city center, travelers can opt for taxis, which are available 24/7, or airport shuttles, which go to designated spots in the city, or the metro, also known as “Airport Express”. 

Food / Restaurants / What to Eat and Drink

Indian cuisine boasts a rich and diverse culinary culture. In this cuisine, you can experience unique and delicious flavors, predominantly featuring sauces, spices, meat, and legumes. One of these dishes is Tandoori. It involves marinating chicken with spices and cooking it on a grill. Among the other flavors that we recommend you try in New Delhi are biryani, raita, chana, ras malai, and kulfi. Raita is similar to tzatziki, chana is a highly spiced chickpea dish, and kulfi is a type of Indian ice cream. In Indian cuisine, beef consumption is not widespread, especially among Hindus who consider cows sacred. Additionally, some regions do not consume any meat, so vegetarian dishes are also readily available. So, if you don't want to eat meat, you can find plenty of suitable dishes.
When it comes to enjoying all of these Indian dishes, Indian Accent is a top choice among the Indian restaurants in New Delhi. It's a very famous restaurant, with branches in New York and London as well. Bukhara and Tamra are other restaurants where you can savor unique Indian dishes. At Bukhara, you can try North Indian cuisine, while at Tamra, you can enjoy both Indian and Far Eastern dishes.
In New Delhi, you're not limited to Indian cuisine alone. The city also features a popular restaurant called Le Cirque, which blends French and Italian cuisine. Olive Bar & Kitchen is another restaurant that stands out with menus from the same regions—French, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisine.

Important Places / Places to Visit

• Red Fort: Located in Delhi, this historic structure was built by Shah Jahan in the 1600s and is a top tourist attraction. It's famous for hosting India's Independence Day speeches on August 15, when the national flag was first hoisted here.
• Jama Masjid: India's largest mosque, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1658, boasts striking architecture. You can visit outside of prayer hours, but there's an extra fee for photography.
• Humayun's Tomb: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is India's first garden tomb and predates the Taj Mahal. It's known for its garden and architecture, making it a must-see monument.
• Lotus Temple: Built in 1986, this modern temple resembles a lotus flower and provides information on the Bahá'í Faith. It's open to people of all faiths, and entry is free.
• Qutab Minar: Dating back to 1193, this victory tower is a prominent Indo-Islamic architectural monument. Consider visiting during the Qutab Festival in October or November for Indian music and dance performances.
• Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum: Offering insight into the life of Indira Gandhi, India's only female prime minister and the second-longest-serving one, the museum displays her daily life, family, and a private photo collection.
• Lodhi Gardens: This New Delhi city park allows relaxation and offers a glimpse of tombs and mausoleums from the Lodhi Dynasty era, providing a delightful escape during your trip.
• Gandhi Smriti: The building where Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India and the independence movement, spent the last 144 days of his life and was assassinated has become one of the most visited museums in Delhi today. 

What to Do

You can visit Dilli Haat, one of Delhi's most famous markets. The market offers a wide variety of ethnic clothing, jewelry, and handicrafts at very reasonable prices. Take a small city tour with the most famous means of transport in India, the rickshaw or tuk-tuk. By using a rickshaw, or a bicycle-pulled vehicle, you won't have to walk to many places, and you'll also have an enjoyable Indian experience. Delhi is a large city, so you can find restaurants from various cultures. If you don't like spicy Indian food, you can try different places to suit your taste. However, you must first try Indian dishes such as tandoori, biryani, raita, chana, and ras malai. 
Thanks to the New Delhi National Museum, you can learn a lot about Indian history and culture. You can participate in the Holi Festival, one of the enthusiastically celebrated festivals throughout India. This festival, which welcomes spring and is held in March, has a different date each year. Joining this world-famous festival where the entire city is painted in vibrant colors in Delhi is a unique experience. If you visit Delhi in March, you must watch a cricket match with the cricket enthusiasts among the Indians. You can watch the matches in a bar that broadcasts these matches. 

Nightlife / Bars / Entertainment

New Delhi is not one of the areas known for its nightlife. The streets are quite empty after midnight. Therefore, all-night clubbing and entertainment are not very common here. In Delhi, you can find bars mainly around Connaught Place. For places to have a fun evening, you can consider Kitty Su Night Club, India International Centre, and Habitat World Centre IHC. Some of these places also offer the chance to watch famous Indian dances, often accompanied by traditional Indian attire.

Shopping / What to Buy

In New Delhi, you can find numerous shops and markets for shopping. From traditional Indian clothing to souvenirs, ethnic products, and accessories, you can find a wide variety of interesting items in these markets, most of which are open every day of the week. Some of the prominent places for shopping in the city include Dilli Haat, Chandni Chowk, Janpath Market, Sarojini Market, Connaught Place, and DLF Emporium Shopping Mall.
Dilli Haat is the most famous among all these shopping spots. You will need to pay a small entrance fee at the market's entrance. Open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the market offers a wide range of handmade products, paintings, ethnic-style jewelry, traditional Indian shawls, and clothing items. If you want to explore the stores of luxury brands, you should head to DLF Emporium Shopping Mall. Here, you will find stores of well-known international brands.
Chandni Chowk, Janpath Market, and Sarojini Market are other popular markets you can choose for shopping. These destinations are places where you can find everything from spices, jewelry, decorative objects, and handmade artworks to street food delights.
Connaught Place is one of the places frequently visited by the residents of Delhi. This area also serves as one of the city's business districts, so you can find many offices, retail stores, and restaurants here as well.

Festivals/ Events

January: Makar Sankranti
February- March: Holi
March: Ugadi
March: Smart Cities 
March: Intersolar India 
April: Medical Fair India 
July: International Mango Festival
July and October: International Ethnic Folklore Festival 
August: Raksha Bandhan
August - Ganesha Chaturthi Festival
September: Delhi International Jazz Festival 
October- November: Diwali or Festival of Lights
October: Dussehra or Vijayadashami
October: Bridal Asia 
October: Fi Food Ingredients India New Delhi 
November:  Light + Led India 
December: Intex South Asia

Holidays / Festivals / Important Days

1 January: New year
14 January: Makar Sankranti
26 January: Republic Day
18 February: Maha Shivratri
7 March: Holi
22 March: Ugadi
30 March: Ram Navami
5 April: Babu Jagjivan Ram Jayanti
7 April: Good Friday
14 April: Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti/Tamil New Year
29 June: Bakri Eid
13 July: Bonalu
15 August: Independence Day
7 September: Janmashtami
19 September: Ganesh Chaturthi
28 September: Eid-E-Milad
2 October: Gandhi Jayanti
14 October: First Day of Bathukamma
22 October: Maha Ashtami
24 October: Vijaya Dashami
12 November: Deepavali
27 November: Guru Nanak’s Birthday/Karthika Purnima
25 December: Christmas
26 December: Boxing Day Holiday
Eid Al-Fitr
Eid Al-Adha
Muharram

Things to Pay Attention to / Important Information

Before visiting, learn about the general customs and culture of New Delhi and be respectful.
While visiting sacred places act accordingly and dress appropriately. 
Be prepared for hot and humid weather, especially during the summer months, and carry a bottle of water with you at all times.
Drinking New Delhi's tap water is not recommended, so avoid unpackaged water, ice-cold drinks, salads, fruits, and other items washed with water. It is recommended to use bottled water even when brushing your teeth and washing your face.
While street food is famous, opt for eating at well-known restaurants.
Speaking loudly is considered offensive in the local culture.
Due to significant traffic congestion in the city, if you want to reach the airport on time, be sure to leave at least 1 hour earlier than your usual schedule.
Some taxi drivers may not use the meter. Before getting into a taxi, make sure to negotiate the fare. Otherwise, you may end up paying very high amounts.
In touristic bazaars and markets, prices can vary, so bargain before purchasing. 
Especially during the hot summer months, avoid perishable foods like meat and frozen products.
To protect yourself against petty theft, it is advised to keep your valuable items nearby, and never leave your bag unattended under any circumstances.

Transportation

In New Delhi, there are various transportation alternatives available. Metro, taxis, Uber, rickshaws, and buses are among the most commonly used means of transportation within the city. While buses are widely used among the local population, they are often crowded, so they are not recommended for the safety of travelers. The metro network in the city is well-developed. You can easily reach many destinations using the metro. You can purchase a Smart Card to use the metro.
If you plan to use taxis, it's advisable to use them for short distances, and it's a good idea to get the fare in advance before boarding. Uber operates actively in the city and is quite popular among tourists.
Another mode of transportation is the rickshaw, which is quite reasonable for short distances. It is also one of the cheapest and most frequently chosen means of transportation in the city. Although not for regular transportation, you can experience it at least once for the sake of the experience.