Travel Guide Delhi. Hotels Best of. Quick view India Travel etiquette Health Phone calls & Internet

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1 Travel Guide Quick view Travel etiquette Health Phone calls & Internet Top 10 sights Shopping in Restaurants Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels Best of shutterstock LH.com/travelguide 01/16

2 02 Quick view a brief overview The n capital is not one city but a succession of cities. The carved stones of ancient Hindu kingdoms lie beneath the ruins of forgotten sultanates and the lavish forts and palaces of Mughal rulers. The British were the last set of conquerors to arrive, and they laid out New as an orderly grid of leafy boulevards. With its grand monuments, captivating temples and bustling bazaars, the modern city offers a fascinating window through time, where you can step through centuries just by crossing the street. All around the historic centre, new neighbourhoods of modern apartments, office towers and modern malls are springing up at an unprecedented rate as settles into its role as Asia s second superpower. General Information Country overview is a beautiful and bamboozling place, where holy cows amble along the streets, bask on heavenly beaches next to modern hotels and where ancient temples sit perfectly at home besides shiny new offices. Geography shares borders to the northwest with Pakistan, to the north with China, Nepal and Bhutan, and to the east with Bangladesh and Myanmar. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, to the east the Bay of Bengal and to the south the n Ocean. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are n territory but lie off the coast of Thailand in the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka lies off the southeast coast, and the Maldives off the southwest coast. The far northeastern states and territories are all but separated from the rest of by Bangladesh as it extends northwards from the Bay of Bengal towards Bhutan. is separated from the rest of Asia by mountain ranges, forest, and desert -the Himalayan mountain range in the north, the Thar Desert in the west and the Chin Hills and Patkai ranges in the east. The Indus River runs through the northern disputed territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The most sacred of rivers, the Ganges, is in the east. General knowledge Key facts Population: 1,34 billion (estimate 2017) Population Density (per sq km): 371 Capital: New. Language LH.com/travelguide 02/16

3 03 Hindi is the official language of. English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide range of official purposes. In addition, 21 regional languages are recognised by the constitution. Currency Rupee (INR; symbol Rs) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rs 2,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of Rs5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 paise. Notes: In November 2016, 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes were withdrawn from the financial system. New 500 and 2,000 rupee denomination notes are issued to replace those removed from circulation. The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Electricity volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs are of the round two- and three-pin type. Public holidays Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2018 December 2019 period. Note Only the secular holidays of Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi s Birthday are universally observed. (a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Idu l Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Idu l Fitr itself. Idu l Fitr and Id-ul-Zuha may last up to several days, depending on the region. (b) Hindu festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations and it is not possible to forecast the date of their occurrence exactly New Years Day: 1 January 2018 Republic Day: 26 January 2018 Holi: 2 March 2018 Chaitra Sukhladi: 18 March2018 Mahavir Jayanti: 29 March 2018 Good Friday: 30 March 2018 Buddha Purnima (Buddha s Birthday): 30 April 2018 Idu l Fitr: 15 June 2018 Independence Day: 15 August 2018 Id-ul-Zuha (Feast of Sacrifice): 22 August 2018 Janmashtami: 3 September 2018 Muharram: 21 September 2018 Mahatma Gandhi s Birthday: 2 October 2018 Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami): 19 October 2018 Diwali (Festival of Lights): 7 November 2018 Milad un Nabi: 21 November 2018 Guru Nanak Jayanti: 23 November 2018 Christmas: 25 December New Years Day: 1 January 2019 LH.com/travelguide 03/16

4 04 Republic Day: 26 January 2019 Holi: 20 March 2019 Chaitra Sukhladi: 6 April 2019 Mahavir Jayanti: 17 April 2019 Good Friday: 19 April 2019 Buddha Purnima (Buddha s Birthday): 18 May 2019 Idu l Fitr: 4 June 2018 Independence Day: 15 August 2019 Id-ul-Zuha (Feast of Sacrifice): 11 August 2019 Janmashtami: 24 August 2019 Muharram: 31 August 2019 Mahatma Gandhi s Birthday: 2 October 2019 Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami): 8 October 2019 Diwali (Festival of Lights): 27 October 2019 Milad un Nabi: 10 November 2019 Guru Nanak Jayanti: 12 November 2019 Christmas: 25 December 2019 All information subject to change. Travel etiquette How to fit in Social Conventions The traditional Hindu greeting is to fold the hands, tilt the head forward and say namaste. n women generally prefer not to shake hands. All visitors are asked to remove footwear when entering places of religious worship. Most ns also remove their footwear when entering their homes; visitors should follow suit. Many Hindus are vegetarian and many, especially women, do not drink alcohol. Most Sikhs and Parsis do not smoke. Women are expected to dress modestly and men should also dress respectfully. Women should not wear short skirts and tight or revealing clothing, although there is a more casual approach to clothing in Goa. Health Health Food & Drink Water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is often unpasteurised and should be boiled. Avoid dairy products likely to have been made from non-boiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Do not eat salads, vegetables should be cooked and peel your own fruit. Don t eat street vendor food unless it is piping hot. Tap water is not safe to drink, rely on bottled water which is widely available. However, do check the seal on bottled water. Other Risks Vaccinations are sometimes advised for hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, tuberculosis (for infants), polio and typhoid. Dengue and malaria are both caused by mosquito bites and are prevalent in hot and humid conditions. There are occasional, seasonal outbreaks of dengue fever. Travellers should vigilantly protect themselves against mosquito bites. Malaria prevention is strongly recommended so use insect repellent and wear protective clothing. Obtain anti-malarial medicine from your doctor before travelling. LH.com/travelguide 04/16

5 05 Even seasoned travellers may find themselves at the mercy of travellers diarrhoea. Hygiene standards vary. If possible, travel around with soap or antibacterial gel in order to clean your hands. The culprits that cause diarrhoea are often the microorganisms found in local water supplies, so decrease your chances by drinking bottled or boiled water. You can have alcoholic drinks but say no to ice. Drink carbonated beverages or those with only boiled water like coffee and tea. Carry rehydration solution packets, Pepto Bismol or Imodium in case you are afflicted. Before your travel, seek medical advice about what to take for selftreatment. Wear adequate sunscreen or do like the locals to beat the heat and avoid the sun between 1200 and 1600 when it is at its harshest; don a cotton kameez to keep covered and cool. Note: The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. IATA Travel Centre Contractual physician of Lufthansa Dr. Chawla, Daljeet Kimberley Dr. Chawla`s Clinic 37 Prithviraj Road New Tel Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it bear the cost of any treatment. Phone calls & Internet Phone calls & Internet Mobile Telephone Dialing code: +91 Mobile Telephone Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to major towns but is increasing all the time. Internet The internet can be reliably accessed from an increasing number of hotels and from internet cafés across the country, many now with Wi-Fi. Top 10 sights Top 10 sights in Humayan s Tomb The rough draft for the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum of the Mughal emperor Humayan is topped by a soaring Islamic dome and wrapped in bands of red sandstone and white marble. This is the most lavish of the city s myriad Mughal monuments, and LH.com/travelguide 05/16

6 06 the peaceful grounds are dotted with tombs for dignitaries of the royal court. Mathura Road, Nizamuddin New Daily sunrise to sunset asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_humayuntom b.asp Qutb Minar The ruins of the first sultanate of are a tour-de-force of Islamic architecture, with many buildings constructed using stones torn from the temples of vanquished local rulers. The complex is dominated by the Qutb Minar, a 73m-high minaret covered in carved quotations from the Koran. Mehrauli New Daily sunrise to sunset asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_qutbminar.as p Red Fort Ringed by an impregnable sandstone wall, s most famous sight is perhaps more dramatic outside than in. Many of the Mughal palaces inside were destroyed by the British, but it is still fascinating to explore the remaining palaces and pavilions, for a window onto the elegant lifestyle of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal ruler of. Netaji Subhash Marg Chandni Chowk New Tue-Sun asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_delhi_redfort.a sp Jama Masjid The vast mosque constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan is still one of the most remarkable buildings in the subcontinent. Decorated in bands of red sandstone and gleaming white marble, the main dome is flanked by two towering minarets; climb the southern tower for spectacular views over the tangled alleyways of Old. Off Netaji Subhash Marg Chandni Chowk Daily and urist_... Gate and Parliament s signature monument was constructed in 1931 to commemorate the tens of thousands of n soldiers who died in WWI and the Afghan Wars. From the memorial arch, Rajpath runs west to the grand precincts of the n parliament, a glorious blend of British and n architectural styles. LH.com/travelguide 06/16

7 07 Gate, Rajpath New Lodi Gardens s answer to Central Park, the Lodi Gardens are the city s favourite green space. The lush grounds are dotted with the ruined tombs of former emperors from the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties, who were defeated and conquered by the Mughals. Lodi Road, Lodi Colony New Daily sunrise to sunset Akshardham Temple The extravagant temple of the Swaminarayan organisation is an astonishing medley of architectural styles. More than 20,000 carvings of animals, people and Hindu deities adorn the main temple, and audiovisual displays in the surrounding pavilions bring Hindu legends to vivid life. National Highway 24, Near Noida Mor New Tel: / Tue-Sun Lotus Temple The graceful lotus-shaped Bahá í temple in south is a remarkably spiritual place for a major tourist attraction. Visitors are guided into the calm, cool interior by temple attendants, who invite everyone to honour the divine in their own way. Bahá'í House of Worship, Bahapur, Kalkaji New Tel: (011) Tue-Sun (winter) Tue-Sun (summer) Hauz Khas The ruins of the madrassa (Islamic college) and funeral compound at Hauz Khas is one of s favourite escapes. Scattered with derelict pavilions and tombs, this shady park is a popular hangout for students and artists, and the surrounding village is dotted with cool cafés, hip bars and quirky fashion stores. Hauz Khas Village, Hauz Khas New National Museum Celebrating 5,000 years of history, the calm halls of the National Museum are stacked high with miniature paintings, arms and armour, temple carvings, lavish jewellery, ancient manuscripts, musical instruments and other treasures that tell the story of the great kingdoms of ancient. LH.com/travelguide 07/16

8 08 Janpath New Tel: / Daily Shopping in Shopping in Key Areas Start at Chandni Chowk, where whole streets are dedicated to spices, paper, hardware, pots and pans, kites, jewellery and pretty much everything else under the sun. For souvenirs, explore the backpacker boutiques of Paharganj, the upscale shops of Sunder Nagar market, or the fascinating state emporiums on Baba Kharak Singh Marg. International brands abound around Connaught Place. Markets is awash with bazaars. In the bustling lanes of Old, seek out Gadodia Spice Market, where fragrant spices have been sold for centuries. On Aurobindo Marg, the Dilli Haat offers superior souvenirs for those prepared to haggle. Each of the southern suburbs has its own central market with upscale stores the N Block Market in Great Kailash I is definitely worth a detour for upscale n fashions. Shopping Centres Begin your shopping spree at Khan Market, where stores sell everything from ayurvedic shampoo to n designer fashions. More arty boutiques are scattered around Hauz Khas village. For the modern shopping mall experience, visit the Select City Walk, DLF Place and MGF Metropolitan shopping centres on Press Enclave Marg in Saket. Restaurants Restaurants in -ites love to eat and you can't go more than a few metres in the centre without passing another eatery packed with hungry locals. s restaurants serve everything from spicy North n kebabs and fragrant curries from the south tocrowd-pleasing European staples like pasta and pizzas. Many say the city s finest food is served on the street in the myriad food stalls and hole-in-the-wall canteens of Old. Bukhara Celebrated as one of s finest restaurants, Bukhara serves the richly spiced cuisine of the Northwest Frontier, with an emphasis on grilled meats from the tandoor (clay oven). ITC Maurya Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave, Sardar Patel Marg New Price: Expensive n Accent Regularly tipped as the city s best restaurant, this elegant eatery at The Manor LH.com/travelguide 08/16

9 09 hotel updates traditional n delicacies with global fusion flavours. n Accent The Manor Hotel 77 Friends Colony West New Price: Expensive Veda A top choice for a candlelit dinner, full of lanterns and mirrors, serving flavoursome curries prepared with market-fresh herbs and spices. H-27, Tropical Building, Connaught Circus New Price: Moderate Hotel Saravana Bhavan The best place in town to sample the rich flavours of southern, this wholesome vegetarian canteen sees queues around the block at lunchtime. P-15, Connaught Circus New Price: Budget Karim s A cult canteen near the Jama Masjid mosque, serving some of the city s finest kebabs to crowds of enthusiastic diners. Jama Masjid New Price: Budget Nightlife Nightlife in Going out in is all about making a night of it, and most bars offers meals to start and cocktails to follow. The best bars are set in the big hotels and the emphasis is more onconversation than dancing. Prices for cocktails are influenced by the choice of spirits; choose n brands to keep prices down. Lodi The Garden Restaurant With curtained gazebos dotted around a tropical garden, the sleek restaurant at the Lodi Gardens is the perfect place for sunset cocktails. Lodi Road, Lodi Colony New Q Ba LH.com/travelguide 09/16

10 10 The main bar here is coolness incarnate, but it s even cooler out on the terrace, where you can sip a long drink high above the bustle of Connaught Place. 42/43, 1st Floor, Block E, Inner Circle, Connaught Place New Smokeys BBQ & Grill A bar and restaurant where the drinks menu definitely doesn t come second, Smokehouse is the place to be seen, ideally cocktail in hand. 51, 1st Floor, Subramaniam Bharti Marg Khan Market New Ira The Waterside Bar A stylish spot to cool off in the evenings, with colourful lounge chairs tucked under secluded awnings on a candlelit poolside patio. Diplomatic Enclave Sardar Patel Marg New Olive Bar & Kitchen This classy Mediterranean bar and kitchen near the Qutb Minar is the first choice for fashionistas, movie stars and the city s power players. One Style Mile, Haveli No 6, Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli New Calendar of events Calendar of events Republic Day Military displays and cultural performances mark the annual event which marks the birth of the country s constitution. 26 January 2018 Venue: Throughout the city Holi Hindu festival of harvest and fertility when the streets of are overrun with people bombarding each other (and stray tourists) with brightly coloured powder and water. The event begins the previous night, when bonfires (holikas) are lit all over the city to symbolise the victory of good over evil and on these effigies of the LH.com/travelguide 10/16

11 11 demon Holika are burned. The day itself is marked with general feasting and celebration. 2 March Venue: Throughout the city Rama Navami This hindu festival celebrates the birth of Lord Rama with processions, music, readings, and re-enactments of scenes from the Ramayana. Less exuberant than Holi, it s nevertheless a significant event in the Hindu year, and there is plenty for the observer to see, including the parades with effigies of Rama, who is supposedly the seventh incarnation of Visnhu. 25 March 2018 Venue: Throughout the city Vesakh / Buddha Jayanti Festival Buddha Jayanti celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautam Buddha in different years. Buddhist sites in, most notably the Buddha Jayanti Park, celebrate with prayer meetings and colourful events. Gautam Buddha, also known as the enlightened one, is believed to be the creator and first practitioner of Buddhism. Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima is a major festival for the Buddhist community across South East Asia. On this day, mortal remains of Buddha are also brought out for public viewing by the National Museum in. 30 April 2018 Venue: Buddha Jayanti Park Mango Festival Two-day festival celebrating the ubiquitous n mango fruit with quizzes, competitions, mango tasting and over 400 varieties of the fruit on display. is one of the world s biggest producers of mangoes, and during this event in, the Dilli Haat, which is constructed in the form of a traditional market place with a host of people selling arts, crafts and speciality foodstuffs, is turned over almost exclusively to the humble fruit, in its many shapes and forms July 2018 Venue: Dilli Haat Market Raksha Bandhan Festival dedicated to brothers and sisters. Sisters tie bracelets, known as rakhi (holy threads), around their brothers wrists and brothers reciprocate with gifts of sweets. The event is mostly associated with northern, and involves considerable movement of people throughout extra public transport is laid on to cope with the rush. It coincides with the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravan. 26 August LH.com/travelguide 11/16

12 12 Venue: Throughout the city Diwali (Deepavali) Major Hindu festival; festival of lights punctuated with firecrackers from dawn and fireworks at night, new clothes and gifts of sweets, small candles lit at dusk outside homes. 7 November Venue: Throughout the city Karthikai Deepam Festival of lights with lamps and firecrackers celebrated on full moon. On this occasion, people clean their houses and light lamps, which are moved to different places in the house and are arranged near the doors, windows and balconies. 2 December 2018 Venue: Throughout the city Hotels Hotels in has hotels to match every budget and taste, from basic backpacker hotels to lavish 5-star chains and a handful of palatial hotels from the city s colonial past.inexpensive transit hotels dominate in Old ; the best top-end hotels are dotted around the leafy streets of New and the southern suburbs. Imperial Hotel Designed by the great colonial architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, the effortlessly elegant Imperial is s most prestigious address. Janpath New Category: Expensive The Manor s best-kept secret offers lush gardens, lavish rooms, an opulent spa, visionary interior design and one of the city s finest restaurants. 77, Friends Colony West New Category: Luxurios The Maidens Hotel A nostalgic colonial mansion on the north side of Old, offering vast, airy rooms with a hint of Raj-era grandeur. 7 Sham Nath Marg Category: Moderate LH.com/travelguide 12/16

13 13 Grand Godwin Spacious rooms (some with a balcony overlooking the city hubbub) mark out this attractive hotel close to New Railway station and Connaught Place. 8502/41 Arakashan Road, Ram Nagar, Paharganj New Category: Budget Best of Shahpur Jat Gunnar Knechtel/laif New is a city where contrasts abound, a hot, sultry, overcrowded megacity, but also an exciting and colorful metropolis that mirrors its rapidly changing society. Millions of young, well-educated people today form a new n middle class. They flock to the nightlife districts and trendy new neighborhoods constantly springing up here.right now, Shahpur Jat, once a tangle of residential streets, is where designers, artisans and creative entrepreneurs are putting down roots, and where fashion boutiques, designer shops, cafés and restaurants have opened for a spend-happy public eager to enjoy the good things in life. Dada Jungi House Welcome to the perfect mall for everyone who loathes shopping malls! Some of New s most sought-after your design start-ups have their boutiques, shops and showrooms here, including Olivia Dar, a jewelry design who hails originally from Paris. Dar combines vintage lifestyle with French minimalism and the vibrant colors of. At her studio, she creates jewelry and accessories, such as gemstudded shirt collars. Right next door, you ll find the casual, yet elegant designs of British-n designer Rikki Kher, the founder of the men s fashion label Kardo. Kher s style of work is the absolute opposite of anonymous mass production: Each of his garments is made on site by one cutter, one tailor and one end controller only. The names of the artisans who made it are included on the label of each garment. Dada Jungi House also boasts the Les Parisienne à concept store that s a boutique and French café all in one. New s hipsters sip chai latte here and snack on quiche lorraine, (still) a rather exotic dish on the subcontinent. The shop sells vintage fashions for men and women and has a charming section for children s clothes and home accessories. Shahpur Jat LH.com/travelguide 13/16

14 14 New Mon-Sat om/ s-%c3%a0-neu-... White Champa At her studio and showroom in Shahpur Jat, fashion designer Anjana Das, the Berlin-born daughter of Bengali parents, sells clothes of timeless elegance for women and (soon also) men. Exquisite embroidery is a characteristic feature of her designs, which also celebrate traditional n skills. 39A, DDA Flat Shahpur Jat New Tel / Mon-Sat whitechampa.com Lila The sparse decor of this extremely popular shop with New s young creatives already hints at the minimalist concept of this womenswear label, which has been in business since All garments are produced on site using exclusively organic materials. Hippy fashion for the style-conscious city woman are what you get here: dresses, scarves, blouses, pants and blazers in fine, light cotton the ideal apparel for the sizzling heat of. House Number 8 Shahpur Jat New 49 Tel / daily Greenr Shopping works up an appetite, so it s a good thing Greenr is close by. Greenr is an inviting café-cum-restaurant and ideal place to relax and recharge those inner batteries. Founders Mohig Yadav and Nitin Dixit serve coffee and chai here along with creative vegetarian dishes, such as cassava root fries with mango sauce, vegan meatball bolognese (consisting of kidney beans and brown rice) with buffalo mozzarella and basil. If you prefer something sweet, there s always chocolate ganache with wild berry coulis. What could be healthier? 416 Gora Street Shahpur Jat New Tel.: / Mon-Fri Sat-Sun from The Potbelly LH.com/travelguide 14/16

15 15 Not too easy to find, this rooftop garden restaurant is at the top of a steep staircase. Like many of her neighbors in Shahpur Jat, restaurant manager Puja Sahu started out as a fashion designer, but the job bored here, so she opened The Potbelly. Here she serves the hitherto little known cuisine of the east n state of Bihar mostly her mother s favorite recipes. These include crispy rice parcels, pakora with spicy chutneys, and chicken and fish dishes with smoky, rustic flavors that are unfamiliar to many ns. This way, the gourmet café she has done out with careful attention to detail and to creating a signature, rustic style, revives an almost forgotten culinary tradition. 116 C, Top Floor, Shahpur Jat, behind UCO Bank Siri Fort New Tel / daily facebook.com/thepotbelly The Piano Man This jazz club is in Hauz Khas, a roughly 15-minute tuk-tuk ride from Shahpur Jat. The pianist Arjun Sagar Gupta opened the club on New s popular entertainment mile in The Piano Man owes its wonderfully distinguished atmosphere to its wood-paneled walls and stages live music every night. The kitchen serves a menu of international favorites spanning peperoni pizza to Jamaican jerk chicken, and the barkeepers mix all the cocktail classics. 7/22, Ground Floor B-6, Safdarjung Enclave Market New Tel / and thepianoman.in/ Band Stand New s young party crowd comes to this club on Aurobindo Market, just a short tuk-tuk ride from Shahpur Jat, to rock to live music and sip cocktails. On a hot summer s evening, the terrace here is a great place to enjoy a cool beer and simply watch the nightlife unfold. The club s boss, Ricky Teja, who also founded the popular Club Summer House Cafe right next door, aims to oust Mumbai from the top spot and establish New as s new party capital. Aurobindo Market, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Block C 2, Bhim Nagri Hauz Khas New Tel / The Deer Park This is one of New s big parks. As the name suggests, it is home to wild deer, which graze here amid the picturesque scenery of crumbling tombs from the days of the Mughal Empire. It s a wonderful spot if you want to escape the stress of the megacity for a while: Jog here, bring a picnic along or simply take a reviving LH.com/travelguide 15/16

16 16 midday nap in the shadow of a tree. Hauz Khas New Opening times (summer): Opening times (winter): LH.com/travelguide 16/16