Travel to Delhi

an incredibly intense melting pot of humanity

Delhi is located in the northwest of India, roughly 200 km (120 miles) south of the foothills of the Himalayas and surrounded by the alluring provinces of Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh.

First established around 600 BC, Delhi has served as a critical hub for a succession of Pandava, Mughal and British empires and is now a major powerhouse of the modern Indian economy, second only to Mumbai.

The modern city is a complicated mix of history, centred on the vast and undeniably impressive British colonial edifices of New Delhi, punctuated by various forts, palaces, temples and residential districts from various earlier periods and surrounded by a vast network of modern suburbs.

The total population is somewhere around 15 million people.

The main international airport in Delhi serves as the primary transport hub for the region, making it the start and end point for explorations of northern India. It serves as the northern point of the famous Golden Triangle, a very popular (but inherently rather busy) tourist route around Agra and Jaipur. More exciting trips head further into the more remote parts of the country.

Unfortunately Delhi is not as immediately impressive as either Kolkata or Mumbai. The creation of New Delhi took place during 1910-1930, which was way past the peak of British colonial ambitions. The lead architect, Sir Edward Lutyens, was far too wrapped up with the pastiches of the Arts and Crafts movement to do justice to such an ambitious project. The most interesting parts are those older buildings which managed to escape this redevelopment.

Most international visitors consider Delhi to be little more than a simple transit stop, staying at most 1-2 nights before heading out to more exotic and less hectic locations.

The best time of year to visit the Delhi area is generally considered to be during Oct-May, although there are considerable climatic variations over that period.

October is the transition period between the end of the monsoon rains and the start of the cool dry season. During October the daytime temperatures usually rise to around 32C/93F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures hold up around 9C/50F. However the rainfall is much lower, dropping to around 25mm (1”) per month. Sunshine is around 8 hours per day (around 70% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are usually clear.

Nov-Feb is the main cool dry season. During Nov-Feb the daytime temperatures usually rise to around 25C/77F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures plunge to around 6C/43F. There should be very little rainfall. Sunshine is around 8 hours per day (around 85% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are usually clear.

Mar-May is the hot season, the often uncomfortable build-up to the main monsoon. During Mar-May the daytime temperatures can climb steeply to around 36C/97F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures are up around 17C/63F. Rainfall usually increases slightly, from almost nothing in March to around 25mm (1”) in May. Sunshine is around 9 hours per day (around 85% of daylight hours), indicating that showers tend to be occasional, set against a usually clear sky.

June is the transition month ahead of the main monsoon rains, often with rather uncomfortable conditions. During June the daytime temperatures can climb very steeply to around 43C/109F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures remain up at a stifling 22C/72F. Rainfall climbs to around 75mm (3”) over the course of the month. Sunshine is around 7 hours per day (around 45% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are often overcast as the monsoon clouds gather.

Jul-Sep is the main monsoon season and is generally considered to be the least favourable time to visit. During Jul-Sep the daytime temperatures drop off slightly to around 35C/95F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures remain up at a stifling 23C/79F. Rainfall climbs to around 200mm (8”) per month. Sunshine drops to around 5 hours per day (around 35% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are very often heavily overcast.

Getting there

Delhi can be accessed in a number of different ways.

By air

The main international airport (DEL) is located 15 km to the southwest of the city centre.

Terminal 1 : Domestic connections
Terminal 3 : International connections

By train

The two main railway terminuses in the city are Delhi Junction Station and New Delhi Station. Between them they offer connections to just about everywhere in the country and further afield.

By luxury train

Along with Mumbai, Delhi is one of the two the primary hubs for luxury train services in India, which usually operate out of New Delhi Station…

Train : Deccan Odyssey

• Indian Odyssey : 7 nights : Delhi to Mumbai
• Indian Sojourn : 7 nights : Mumbai to Delhi
• Maharashtra Splendor : 7 nights : Mumbai to Mumbai
• Jewels of the Deccan : 7 nights : Mumbai to Mumbai
• Maharashtra Wild Trail : 7 nights : Mumbai to Mumbai
• Hidden Treasures of Gujarat : 7 nights : Mumbai to Mumbai
  

Train : Maharaja’s Express

• Treasures of India : 3 nights : Delhi to Delhi
• Indian Panorama : 6 nights : Delhi to Delhi
• Indian Splendour : 6 nights : Delhi to Mumbai
• Heritage of India : 6 nights : Mumbai to Delhi

Train : Palace on Wheels

• Palace on Wheels : 7 nights circuit : Delhi to Delhi

By road

The Delhi area can be used as a base from which to travel out by road to the following popular locations…

• Agra : 175 km to the southeast
• Jaipur : 225 km to the southwest
• Ranthambore : 300 km to the south
  

Where to stay

Unfortunately the range of accommodation in Delhi is rather limited, with a distinct shortage of decent smaller boutique hotels.

The best of the larger and more traditional options is almost certainly The Imperial New Delhi, whilst The Lodhi is rather more modern and designer.

most people specifically avoid spending nights here