Taste a slice of modern India filled with curry and caraway, enjoy a little Hindi rock and relax with a cup of Darjeeling tea. Find a cheap flight to Delhi, India, and experience a bit of new in one of India’s oldest cities. The British declared Delhi the capital of India in 1911. Today, the largely-populated Hindu city combines the best of Delhi and Old Delhi, and serves as a starting point for visitors planning trips to India.
First time travelers will feel welcome in the sophisticated city of Delhi. Leave your Delhi flight and hop on one of the various transportation options available to take you around the city. The sites are endless – the Jantar Mantar is one of the best medieval structures in India; Chandni Chowk is one of the largest commercial trading centers in India and boasts one of the best shopping bazaars for tourists; and the Purana Qila (Old Fort) is one of India’s famous monuments, built in the 16th century to protect Delhi from invasion.
If you’re looking for a relaxing India vacation, forget about a flight to Delhi and head elsewhere. But, if you’re looking for a little excitement and a glimpse of India’s history, flights to Delhi are your gateway to exploring this magnificent country.
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Delhi's climate is monsoon tropical. October through the end of February is cooler, with daytime temperatures ranging from the 70s through the 80s (F). By the end of April it is hot, and the temperatures in May and June can go above 110F. It then gets a bit cooler but with high humidity, and the monsoon rains start in June and go until September.
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Peak Season:
The peak tourist season for flights to Delhi is mid-September through March, and October to February are considered the best times to go.
Off Season:
The heat of the Delhi summers is notoriously unbearable, but it's also the best time to find cheap flights to Delhi. Also keep in mind that a monsoon can disrupt Delhi flight schedules and shut down phone systems and electricity.
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Indira Gandhi International (DEL)
Distance: 12 miles from center of Delhi
Drive time: 30 mins-1 hr
A taxi is the most convenient way to get to your hotel. To avoid being overcharged, use the prepaid taxi service offered at the airport, and make sure you’re prepaying at a counter operated by the Delhi Traffic Police. The cheapest way to get into Delhi is by bus, either an ex-servicemen's shuttle (EATS) or a Delhi Tourism Corporation (DTC) bus. Tickets are available from counters in the arrival terminal, and both buses take you to Connaught Place F-block in center of Delhi.
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Old Delhi with its narrow winding streets is the only place in Delhi where you might want to try walking. But even here watch out for fast-moving handcarts and people with heavy loads who simply keep going through any crowds in their path. Delhi has few sidewalks and they have obstacles ranging from open manholes to excrement. The best way to travel around the city is by taxi or to hire a car and driver. For a car and driver, check with a travel agency. For taxis, make sure to always negotiate the fare before you get into the cab. The drivers all carry a fare chart that you can ask to see. Also make sure to carry change as taxi drivers typically cannot make change.
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- Humayun’s Tomb, built in the mid-16th century by a Mughal emperor’s wife, is the first important example of Mughal architecture in India and is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Humayun’s Tomb is believed to have inspired the Taj Mahal in Agra.
- The Crafts Museum contains a collection of traditional Indian crafts in textiles, metal, wood, and ceramics. The museum is part of a village-life complex where you can visit rural India and see skilled artisans at work.
- Entertainment is easy to come by in Delhi. There are frequent performances by well-known dancers and musicians and lots of Indian and Western films. To find out what’s going on, check with your hotel and any of the daily or weekly newspapers.
- The Delhi Golf Club is a 220-acre golf course on the 15th-century estate of the Lodi dynasty. The estate has over 200 types of trees and is a bird sanctuary. Where else can you golf with monuments and mausoleums next to the greens and watch peacocks performing the rain dance? Temporary memberships are available.
- Indians love to eat out and Delhi has a large variety of restaurants and cuisines, with something for every budget from snacks at roadside stalls to celebrated restaurants.
- Indian people dress conservatively. Women are expected to cover their legs and shoulders. Trousers are acceptable, but shorts and short skirts are not. Men should always wear a shirt in public and wear shorts only at the beach. These rules are mandatory in temples and mosques. When entering a Sufi shrine or Sikh gurudwara, cover your head with a cap or cloth, women are required to cover their limbs, and men are expected to also cover their legs. Religious institutions usually have caps available, often for free, and sometimes cloth wraps are available for covering your arms and legs. You may also be required to remove your shoes when entering a religious institution or private home. It is illegal to give money to a beggar at a traffic light. If you do decide to give alms, do it somewhere other than at a traffic light.
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