Delhi

5 Reasons that New Delhi is an Incredible Holiday Destination

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New Delhi is unlike any other city in the world. For many travelers this means that their first visit is one marked by sensory overload—by chaos and color, pollution and poverty, enticing smells and exotic history. While it is certainly not an easy place to travel, when you visit New Delhi, India the uniqueness and the vibrancy of the culture are exactly what make it such a fascinating place to explore.

1. Monuments and relics abound

Red Fort in Delhi

Many monarchs have established their kingdoms in Delhi since the 11th century, so it goes without saying that the city is a library of historical monuments – every neighbourhood will have some kind of fort or ruin. These monuments are also marvels because of their architectural style, influenced by Persian, European, Islamic and Indian designs.

In Delhi, you will find fascinating historical monuments and historic structures that showcase India’s unique heritage. Beautiful ancient buildings perfectly combine with modern structures to bring out a rich Indian heritage. Delhi was ruled by the Mughal empire and by the British, therefore its present day sites include an eclectic mix of buildings. Some of the most famous constructions in Delhi include the tall minaret known as Qutub Minar, one of the largest and oldest masjids known as Jama Masjid and the India Gate for the homage. Additionally, there are prominent modern-day places to visit, including museums, gardens, the metro system, and modern temples like the Bahai Lotus Temple.

2. Shopping opportunities

Delhi markets

In Delhi shopping can become a memorable experience in itself. Flea markets such as Sarojini Nagar and Janpath have significantly discounted products while market places such as the Khan market and Connaught place offer branded products. Other famous market places in Delhi are Palika Bazaar, Gaffar Market and INA Market. You can do lots of shopping in Delhi on a budget, from clothing jewelry, footwear, scarfs, bags with the sounds of shoppers and sellers adding up to a true experience of the senses.

Delhi’s street food is so much more than just North Indian – due to considerable northeastern settlement, Delhi is also famous for momos, a steamed rice cake filled with meat or vegetables. Try the different flavours of paranthe (flatbreads) as well as the famous matar kulchas and gol gappe.

3. Diverse Cuisines

Delhi cuisines

Delhi is a popular tourist destination because it offers a wide range of tasty Indian cuisines that leave memorable tastes to every visitor’s tongue. You can enjoy Mughalai cuisine, steamed rice cakes filled with veggies, the famous parantha, meat paste called momo, and the mouth-watering chaats of the Nagar market. From the eateries to street food, everything is worth giving a try in Delhi. Tangy gol gappe and matar Kucha are well-known street foods. Apart from the street food, various eateries and restaurants offer the best delicacies from all over the world, and you can even take coffee and relax if that is all you want.

4. Events and Festivals

You will find popular festivals and events that happen all year round in Delhi. From cultural shows, food festivals, religious events, theatrical play festivals, etc. The Grub Festival is famous for entertainment, music and is the biggest food festival in Delhi. There is the London market shopping festival, Qutub festival for cultural performances, Delhi international jazz festival and Holi Festival, among others.

5. Wide range of luxury properties

Hotels in Delhi

New Delhi, being India’s capital city is a very welcoming metropolis. Travellers visit from all walks of life and in the city there are multiple options of stay. From luxury properties to budget stays, there is a wide range of options. Be it the Taj Hotels or the Oberoi or the boutique properties in Hauz Khas or even swanky hotels near the airport, staying in Delhi is a wonderful experience.

 


5 Reasons that New Delhi is an Incredible Holiday Destination

by

New Delhi is unlike any other city in the world. For many travelers this means that their first visit is one marked by sensory overload—by chaos and color, pollution and poverty, enticing smells and exotic history. While it is certainly not an easy place to travel, when you visit New Delhi, India the uniqueness and the vibrancy of the culture are exactly what make it such a fascinating place to explore.

1. Monuments and relics abound

Red Fort in Delhi

Many monarchs have established their kingdoms in Delhi since the 11th century, so it goes without saying that the city is a library of historical monuments – every neighbourhood will have some kind of fort or ruin. These monuments are also marvels because of their architectural style, influenced by Persian, European, Islamic and Indian designs.

In Delhi, you will find fascinating historical monuments and historic structures that showcase India’s unique heritage. Beautiful ancient buildings perfectly combine with modern structures to bring out a rich Indian heritage. Delhi was ruled by the Mughal empire and by the British, therefore its present day sites include an eclectic mix of buildings. Some of the most famous constructions in Delhi include the tall minaret known as Qutub Minar, one of the largest and oldest masjids known as Jama Masjid and the India Gate for the homage. Additionally, there are prominent modern-day places to visit, including museums, gardens, the metro system, and modern temples like the Bahai Lotus Temple.

2. Shopping opportunities

Delhi markets

In Delhi shopping can become a memorable experience in itself. Flea markets such as Sarojini Nagar and Janpath have significantly discounted products while market places such as the Khan market and Connaught place offer branded products. Other famous market places in Delhi are Palika Bazaar, Gaffar Market and INA Market. You can do lots of shopping in Delhi on a budget, from clothing jewelry, footwear, scarfs, bags with the sounds of shoppers and sellers adding up to a true experience of the senses.

Delhi’s street food is so much more than just North Indian – due to considerable northeastern settlement, Delhi is also famous for momos, a steamed rice cake filled with meat or vegetables. Try the different flavours of paranthe (flatbreads) as well as the famous matar kulchas and gol gappe.

3. Diverse Cuisines

Delhi cuisines

Delhi is a popular tourist destination because it offers a wide range of tasty Indian cuisines that leave memorable tastes to every visitor’s tongue. You can enjoy Mughalai cuisine, steamed rice cakes filled with veggies, the famous parantha, meat paste called momo, and the mouth-watering chaats of the Nagar market. From the eateries to street food, everything is worth giving a try in Delhi. Tangy gol gappe and matar Kucha are well-known street foods. Apart from the street food, various eateries and restaurants offer the best delicacies from all over the world, and you can even take coffee and relax if that is all you want.

4. Events and Festivals

You will find popular festivals and events that happen all year round in Delhi. From cultural shows, food festivals, religious events, theatrical play festivals, etc. The Grub Festival is famous for entertainment, music and is the biggest food festival in Delhi. There is the London market shopping festival, Qutub festival for cultural performances, Delhi international jazz festival and Holi Festival, among others.

5. Wide range of luxury properties

Hotels in Delhi

New Delhi, being India’s capital city is a very welcoming metropolis. Travellers visit from all walks of life and in the city there are multiple options of stay. From luxury properties to budget stays, there is a wide range of options. Be it the Taj Hotels or the Oberoi or the boutique properties in Hauz Khas or even swanky hotels near the airport, staying in Delhi is a wonderful experience.

 


What’s Nearby – Your Guide to the Areas around Delhi’s Major Hotels

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1. The Connaught

Bordering the city center, Connaught Place, and is only a 3-minute walk away from the outer circle of Connaught Circus. Connaught Place is an old-style low rise shopping area, with plenty to offer by way of shopping, bars, and restaurants. As far as food and drinks are concerned, in Connaught Place, one would find everything from fine dining Indian restaurants like Veda, to fast food outlets like Saravana Bhawan (serving well priced Indian fast food), Mc Donalds, Costa Coffee, etc.

Bordering Connaught Place to the south, is Janpath, which is about a 10-minute walk from the Connaught hotel. It has small shops selling everything from artifacts, costume jewelry, silk, leather garments, and souvenirs. Janpath is a great place for tourists to test their bargaining skills too. Also, located on Janpath, is the Cottage Industries Emporium, a government-run departmental store style shopping complex, spread over 3 floors, with a good selection of Brassware, Handicrafts, Furniture, etc – and with an added attraction of having fixed sticker prices for everything.

A 5 minute walk away from the Connaught hotel is Baba Kharak Singh Marg, which houses a complete row of State Government Emporiums, which are also great places to shop, with fair and fixed prices.

For those seeking to do a bit of sightseeing on their own, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, as well as the National Museum are only about 3-4 kms away from The Connaught hotel.

2. The Park

Bordering the city center, Connaught Place, and is only a 2-minute walk away from the outer circle of Connaught Circus. Connaught Place is an old-style low rise shopping area, with plenty to offer by way of shopping, bars, and restaurants. As far as food and drink are concerned, in Connaught Place, one would find everything from fine dining Indian restaurants like Veda, to fast food outlets like Saravana Bhawan (serving well priced Indian fast food), Mc Donalds, Costa Coffee, etc.

Bordering Connaught Place to the south is Janpath, which is a less than a 10-minute walk from the Park hotel. It has small shops selling everything from artifacts, costume jewelry, silk, and leather garments and souvenirs. Janpath is a great place for tourists to test their bargaining skills too. Also, located on Janpath, is the Cottage Industries Emporium, a government-run departmental store style shopping complex, spread over 3 floors, with a good selection of Brassware, Handicrafts, Furniture, etc – and with an added attraction of having fixed sticker prices for everything.

5 minute walk away from the Park hotel is Baba Kharak Singh Marg, which houses a complete row of State Government Emporiums, which are also great places to shop, with fair and fixed prices. For those seeking to do a bit of sightseeing on their own, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, as well as the National Museum are only about 3-4 kms away from The Park hotel.

3. The Shangri La & the Lalit

Both these hotels are just off the city center, Connaught Place, which is about a 10-minute walk away. Connaught Place is an old-style low rise shopping area, with plenty to offer by way of shopping, bars, and restaurants. As far as food and drinks are concerned, in Connaught Place, one would find everything from fine dining Indian restaurants like Veda, to fast food outlets like Saravana Bhawan (serving well priced Indian fast food), Mc Donalds, Costa Coffee, etc.

Bordering Connaught Place to the south is Janpath, which is about a 10-minute walk from these hotels. It has small shops selling everything from artifacts, costume jewelry, silk, and leather garments and souvenirs. Janpath is a great place for tourists to test their bargaining skills too. Also, located on Janpath, is the Cottage Industries Emporium, a government-run departmental store style shopping complex, spread over 3 floors, with a good selection of Brassware, Handicrafts, Furniture, etc – and with an added attraction of having fixed sticker prices for everything.

For those seeking to do a bit of sightseeing on their own, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, as well as the National Museum are less than 2 kms away from The Shangri La hotel, and less than 3-4 kms from the Lalit hotel.

4. The Imperial

Perhaps the best located amongst all of New Delhi’s hotels. It is located on Janpath, bordering the city center, Connaught Place, which is a less than a 5-minute walk away. Connaught Place is an old-style low rise shopping area, with plenty to offer by way of shopping, bars, and restaurants. As far as food and drink are concerned, in Connaught Place, one would find everything from fine dining Indian restaurants like Veda, to fast food outlets like Saravana Bhawan (serving well priced Indian fast food), Mc Donalds, Costa Coffee, etc.

The Imperial is located right next to the small stores on Janpath, which sell everything from artifacts, costume jewelry, silk, and leather garments and souvenirs. Janpath is a great place for tourists to test their bargaining skills too. Right across the road from The Imperial hotel, is the Cottage Industries Emporium, a government-run departmental store style shopping complex, spread over 3 floors, with a good selection of Brassware, Handicrafts, Furniture, etc – and with an added attraction of having fixed sticker prices for everything.

For those seeking to do a bit of sightseeing on their own, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, as well as the National Museum are less than 2 kms away from The Imperial hotel.

5. The Claridges  and The Taj Mahal Hotel

Located just south of the city center, the Claridges as well as the Taj Mahal Hotel are located only about a 10-minute walk away from Khan Market, a great place to shop, with small shops selling everything from books, to hi-fashion clothing, and everything in between. Khan Market also has a great selection of Indian and International Restaurants, as well as several bars and coffee shops. Another shopping area, that is less than 2-3 kms from both these hotels, is the Santushti Shopping Complex (opposite the Prime Minister’s residence), which is a calm green part of town, with boutiques set in beautiful surroundings.

Also, less than a 10-minute walk away from both these Hotels are the Lodi Gardens, an oasis of green in the heart of the city. Spread over about 100 acres of land, the Lodi Gardens are a great place to go for an early morning walk or a jog. The city center, Connaught Place is just a 5-minute drive away from both of these Hotels.

For those seeking to do a bit of sightseeing on their own, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, as well as the National Museum are less than 2 kms away from both these hotels.

6. The Oberoi, New Delhi

The Oberoi is about a 10-minute drive away from the city center, Connaught Place, and only about a 5 or 7 minutes walk away from the Sunder Nagar Market, which houses a few fashionable boutiques as well as restaurants. The Oberoi Hotel actually overlooks the Delhi Golf Club, an 18 hole Championship Course, which is less than 2 minutes' walk away.

7. The Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon

Located in the suburb of Gurgaon, just a 15-minute drive from the International Airport, The Leela Kempinski is actually connected by the walkway to one of India’s largest shopping mall, the Ambience Mall. The Mall offers excellent International and Indian branded shopping as well as over a dozen great bars and restaurants .


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