I've received quite a few messages from fellow reviewers at mouthshut.com asking for advice about travelling in New Delhi. I'm not a resident of the city, but as I spend most of my weekends there, I am something of a professional Delhi tourist. This is not the typical review of all the main tourist attractions, but rather, an indepth guide to having a fabulous time in Delhi. So if you're planning to visit the capital anytime soon, and want to party hard, allow me to offer my advice...
Where to Stay...
When in the city, I have stayed just about everywhere. This includes all but one of the 5 star hotels in the city, and some of the smaller, less expensive guest houses. If your budget allows you stay in one of Delhi's premiere hotel facilities, I would suggest the following:
The Hyatt Regency is a great place to stay. While the rooms are not as spacious as other hotels, Hyatt does offer excellent service and fabulous restaurant amenities. The Polo Lounge Bar is a great place to relax with friends, and be sure to check out Djinns, one of Delhi's most exclusive nightclubs.
Le Meridien located near Connaught Place is another gem of a hotel. What sets it apart from the others is the European ambience and elegant decor. The rooms are adequately spacious and well-equipped, and the restaurants are absolutely fabulous.
The Oberoi is my favorite. This is one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, and if your budget permits, do stay here. The decor is fabulous and the rooms are equipped with anything you could possibly need. And the shopping center in the hotel offers some of the best stores in the world. Do check out the Louis Vuitton store if you pass by!
If your budget is limited, I would not recommend that you stay in any of the small hotels in the Karol Bagh and Pahar Ganj areas, as they are extremely unclean and unsafe. Instead, opt for a guest house in a nicer area. Two that I recommend are the Madhuban Guest House in Greater Kailash, or Windsor Palace in Panscheel Park. Both places are clean and safe, with great service and are quite affordable.
How to Get Around...
When in Delhi, you cannot expect to get around without a car. Instead of renting a car from a hotel, you can rent a car of your choice from a taxi service in Karol Bagh. They offer cars of all sizes at reasonable rates, and their drivers know Delhi more thoroughly. You should be able to locate their numbers in any phone book.
If you don't need a car for the whole day, you might use Mega Cab, which is the best taxi service in Delhi. Simply dial 1929 from anywhere in the city and you will be connected to an English-speaking operator who will send an air-conditioned taxi anywhere in the city for only Rs. 15 per kilometer. Your car should arrive in 15 minutes and the service runs 24 hours
Where to Shop...
Some of the markets and shopping complexes to visit:
Janpath Market, near Connaught Place, is an outdoor market which sells all sorts of trinkets and surplus export items and the vendors will haggle. It is a must-visit for anyone who is from out of the country. Advice: Take someone fluent in Hindi along with you.
Greater Kailash M-Block Market, in GK Part-1, is a great place to shop. Some shops to check out: Next 2000 and Walia. Also, be sure to stop at the sidewalk vendors for great deals.
Ansal Plaza is an indoor shopping complex that is popular with families. Do check out a shop called Be:, which features designer clothes for great prices, and stop at Geoffrey's for a cool drink, it's always packed and has a great happy hour.
Santushti Shopping Arcade is one of my personal favorites. It is an upscale market with great shops. If you only have time for one shop, make it Ensemble, which features exclusive creations by top designers. Other great places to check out: Pratap and Amaya. Also stop in at Lotus Eaters for some breathtaking jewelry.
South Extension is another great market. While there, do stop by BG's, Big Jo's and Nalli. Don't forget to check out the brand new Mango, located next to Nine West.
1 M.G. Road is where you will usually find me when I'm in Delhi. Fish Fry by Manish Arora and H20 Cue by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna are great places to get fresh-off-the ramp fashions. Be sure to stop in at AKI as well. Suneet Varma features some exclusive lehengas and saris. And don't forget to stop by Clyde, which offers unique silver jewelry at great prices. Of course no trip to 1 M.G. is complete without a visit to Fashion Bistro!
Other Points of Interest...
I won't tell you about the usual sites in Delhi since you already know about them. What I will tell you is be sure to visit the following places:
The Delhi Zoo: Haha, this is not just a place for kids anymore! Grab a group of friends and hire a cart to drive you around the park for 45 minutes. Be sure to see the White Panther!
India Gate: After a night at the bar, or after dinner for a stroll. Young people flock to India Gate at night and its a great way to end the night.
Places to Eat...
If you want traditional Indian food, check out Bhukara or Dum Pukht at the Maurya Sheraton.
Italianni's at Radisson is a great place for Italian fare, especially on Sunday afternoon, when they feature a fabulous champagne lunch buffet. La Rochelle at The Oberoi also has delicious Italian food.
For authentic Chinese cuisine, visit I' Ching at the Radisson or Taipan at Oberoi.
For an elegant French meal, try Pierre at Le Meridien.
Some other great casual places to have a meal include Flavors in Defense Colony, Buzz in Saket, or Censo's in Vasant Vihar.
Where to Party...
If you're seeking an older crowd...
Check out Float at The Park Royal Intercontinental or Dublin at Maurya Sheraton. Another place is Mirage at the Crown Plaza Surya.
If you're a teenager looking for a good party...
Check out Pluto's in Vasant Kunj, or No Escape in Connaught Place.
Everyone else...
The Fashion TV Bar and Lounge in Mehrauli and Capital at Ashoka are the most exclusive places to be. Other great places to check out are Steel, also at Ashoka, and My Kind of Place at the Taj Palace. And Djinn's at the Hyatt Regency is always rocking.
These are the places where most of the 20-something Delhi-ites will be headed, so unless you have connections, I suggest you go early, or you may be denied entry.
I recognize that I've failed to mention that Delhi is crowded, polluted and dirty. But beyond its negative points, New Delhi is a magical city, filled with an energy that is completely unlike any other city in India, or in the world. To understand Delhi... you must experience it!
