Delhi

With evidence of continuous settlement dating back to the 6th century BC, Delhi is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Thought to have been built and destroyed eleven times, evidence of at least eight distinct settlements can still be seen in Delhi. The most well-preserved historic sites are from the periods of Muslim and British rule, between 1193 and 1947.

The legendary city of Indraprastha from the epic Mahabharata is said to have been situated where Delhi now lies, but no remains of it have been found.

From the 10th to 14th century, the city was centred in what is now South Delhi:

• 🌍 Surajkund — Built in the 9th-10th century on what is now the far southern outskirts of Delhi. A large water reservoir can be seen, well preserved.
• 🌍 Qila Rai Pithora — Founded in perhaps the 11th century as a city named "Lalkot" under Hindu rule, in the current Mehrauli area. In around 1180, Hindu ruler Prithviraj Chauhan expanded this city and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora. Some of the ruins of the fort ramparts from this period are still visible around Qutb Minar and Mehrauli.
• 🌍 Mehrauli — Shortly afterwards, in 1192, Muslim leader Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in battle. Ghori left his slave Qutb-ud-din Aibak as his viceroy, who in turn captured Delhi the subsequent year. After Ghori's death in 1206, Qutub-ud-din proclaimed himself the ruler of Delhi and founded what is known as the Slave Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Qutub-ud-din contributed significantly in terms of architecture by building Mehrauli. His most prominent contribution is the starting of Qutb Minar (which was finally completed in 1220). The tombs and other buildings near the Qutb Minar also date to this period.
• 🌍 Siri — The Slave Dynasty was followed by the Khilji (or Khalji) dynasty. In 1303 they established Siri, first as a military camp to protect against possible Mongol invasion, and later as a fortified city. Nowadays Hauz Khas complex (north of Mehrauli) contains ruins of Siri Fort, a madrassa, and other buildings from the period.
• 🌍 Tughlaqabad — After the Khiljis there was chaos until Ghiyasuddin Tughluq (a Turk governor) invaded Delhi in the 1320s, started the Tughlaq dynasty, and founded a new capital Tughlaqabad, in South East Delhi. His son Muhammad Bin Tughluq created another city called Jahapanah in the area between Siri and Qila Rai Pithora, uniting them into one city. Tughlaqabad continued, however, to be the main capital city.

Starting in the 14th century, new areas were built further north, near the current city centre:

• 🌍 Firozabad (Feroz Shah Kotla) — built by Muhammad bin Tughlaq's son, Feroz, in 1354. There still are some ruins which are visible around the Feroz Shah cricket stadium in Central Delhi, near the river. The city was an enclosed large area and contained many palaces, mosques, pillared halls, and a multi-floored water reservoir. Firoze also erected a 1500-year-old Ashokan Pillar (previously erected in Meerut by Samrat Ashok) on top of the palace. Firoze was buried inside a lofty tomb in Hauz Khas. After his death, the sultanate became unstable and weak, and Delhi was conquered and sacked by Tamerlane. The Sayyid and Lodhi dynasties who ruled Delhi after the Tughlaqs did less building, and the only relevant architecture visible from this period are the tombs at Lodhi Gardens. The last of the Lodhis was defeated by Babur, who then proceeded to establish the Mughal Empire in 1526.

• 🌍 Shergarh — In 1533, Babur's son Humayun built the new city of Dinpanah, near the river south of Firozabad. In 1540 Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri and forced to withdraw from Delhi. Sher Shah Suri established the new city Shergarh on the ruins of Dinpanah. Shergarh is what you see at Purana Qila today, near the Delhi Zoo. Humayun later reconquered Delhi and returned to power. He then completed the construction and proceeded to rule from Shergarh.
• 🌍 Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) — the following emperors moved away from Delhi and made Agra their capital. Shahjahan (Humayun's great-grandson) returned to Delhi and established Shahjahanabad, including the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort. Much of the city wall, and three of its six gates, still exist today.
• 🌍 New Delhi — New Delhi was established in 1911 after the British decided to move India's capital from Calcutta. It is a planned city, designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Not all descendants of the builders of Delhi's many Muslim monuments live in Delhi. Many of them migrated to Pakistan during the Partition, with the community in Old Delhi that is keeping old courtly traditions alive smaller than it once was. The city is rich in monuments, including 174 ASI protected monuments.

The population of Delhi is a heterogeneous mix of people originally belonging to different parts of North India and beyond. Among the prominent North Indian communities are the Punjabis. Delhi also has a prominent South Indian Community, primarily in neighbourhoods like Karol Bagh, RK Puram, Mayur Vihar and Munirka. A Bengali settlement, the Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi, is the Mini Kolkata of Delhi. Quality education also draws students from different states, making up one of the most diverse student populations in the country.

Like the rest of the Gangetic Plains, Delhi is relatively flat. The only geographical features of any significance are the river Yamuna, which flows down the eastern side of the city, and the Delhi Ridge which form a wide but low arc across the west. On the west bank is the crowded and congested Old (Central) Delhi and, to the southwest, the broad, tree-lined avenues of New Delhi, built by the British to rule their Raj. The rest is an endless low-rise sprawl of suburbia and slums, with South Delhi generally wealthier.

The climate in Delhi goes through five distinct seasons. Winter, from December to January, is cold (the temperature drops to near freezing at night though the days are warm) and is notorious for the thick layer of smog that hangs over the city, resulting not only in cancelled flights and delayed trains, but also warnings to stay indoors and wear high-quality masks if you need to venture out. Spring, in the months of February and March, is pleasant with warm days and cool evenings. Summer, in April and May, is uncomfortably hot with temperatures soaring as high as 45 °C. Temperatures moderate during the monsoon season (June to September), but it is humid. Autumn, from October to November, brings warm days with relatively cool nights.

• Delhi – India Charming Chaos by Johnny Fincioen. This book concentrates on today's power centre of New Delhi and its historical context. The text and the 117 original pictures offer the reader a holistic view of the way of life in the capital of India.
• Kultar's mime : stories of Sikh children who survived the 1984 Delhi massacre, Sarbpreet Singh's book on the 1984 genocide against Sikhs by anti-Sikh mobs. (ISBN 9781523834136)
• When a tree shook Delhi : the 1984 carnage and its aftermath, Manoj Mitta; a book on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. (ISBN 9788174366191)
• Tibetans in Delhi, by S. Khurana, about refugees from Tibet living in Delhi. (ISBN 9781542954198)
• Delirious Delhi, Dave Prager; a portrait of Delhi by an expat resident. (ISBN 1611458323)

• Delhi Tourism website

• 🌍 Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL ^IATA, sometimes abbreviated as IGI), New Delhi. The arrival point for many visitors into Delhi. There are several security checkpoints in the airport and you may have to show your boarding pass and passport a dozen times before boarding the plane. When leaving Delhi from the international terminal, arrive three hours before the time of departure. For domestic flights, two hours should suffice, depending on whether or not you must wait in the queues to check luggage. While sometimes time-consuming, the process is smooth, and the new terminal's shops and restaurants are sensibly located at the gate area, not before security. However, if you wish to change Indian rupees back into foreign currency, you must do this before clearing security. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Hindon Airport (HDX ^IATA), Ghaziabad. Serves some regional flights as a civil enclave inside an air base. It is planned to stay open until further expansion at IGI is completed. (updated Sep 2022)

Due to massive growth in air travel, a new airport is being built at Jewar, near Noida.

Buses arrive from Kathmandu and Chitwan in Nepal (36 hr+) and virtually every city in India. Although not as comfortable as the trains, buses are the only choice for some destinations, mainly those in the mountains.

Delhi has three major Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs) - Kashmere Gate ISBT, Sarai Kale Khan ISBT, and Anand Vihar ISBT. The Delhi Transport Corporation is the major operator, but every state also runs its own buses and there are some private operators too.

• 🌍 Kashmere Gate ISBT (Maharana Pratap) (Metro Kashmere Gate, Line 1/2), ☏ +91 11 43090100, info@dimts.in. This is "the" ISBT and the largest of the lot. Buses to points north: Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Garwhal, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Nepal 
• 🌍 Sarai Kale Khan ISBT (Vir Hakikat Rai) (next to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station). Buses to points south, (Agra, Madhya Pradesh) 
• 🌍 Anand Vihar ISBT (Swami Vivekanand) (On the east bank of Yamuna, M: Anand Vihar). Buses to points east (Lucknow, Kumaon) 
• 🌍 Bikaner House, Pandara Rd, New Delhi (M: Central Secretariat Station). bus stop. Buses, including air-conditioned Volvo buses from Jaipur arrive at this place. For travel between Jaipur and Delhi, this bus stop is very clean, less crowded than ISBT, and easy to reach. 
• 🌍 Majnu ka Tilla, New Aruna Nagar, (Tibetan colony, a short rickshaw ride from Metro Vidhan Sabha). Buses to Dharamsala 

See also: Rail travel in India

Once you have purchased a ticket either at the ticket office or on-line prior to the trip, all you need to do is go to the rail car labelled with your class of service purchased. You can either get on and sit in the first available seat or, for higher classes of service, they will often post a passenger list on the car when it stops. Look for your name and go to the assigned car, cabin and seat. There is never a need to get a boarding pass so if anyone comes out of the crowd to tell you that, don't listen to them; it is a scam. If you're brave, you can simply purchase a general 2nd class ticket and then get on any car where there is availability. The conductor will come by and check your tickets after the train starts moving. If you are in a higher fare class than you are ticketed for, all you have to do is simply pay the difference in fare to the conductor. The only risk here is that the train could be full and you could be stuck in the lowest fare class which can be very crowded with little room to sit.

Ticket buying: The easiest way is to book online through the IRCTC booking website. Registration requires verification of an e-mail address and a mobile phone number.

Do not trust strangers who appear out of the crowd to help you; ignore them. Always ask for assistance at the enquiry counter or policemen (in khaki uniform). Anyone who approaches you spontaneously should be completely ignored. Use one of the porters (in orange uniforms with metallic arms badges) to find your train and carry your luggage, in exchange for a tip.

• Ticket office (on the road to Connaught Place with longer hours). It often has waiting times not much longer than at the tourist booking office. You will need to know the number or name of the train you want to take. 

• 🌍 New Delhi  NR  (NDLS) (outside Paharganj, also known as the backpacker ghetto, about 40 min-1 hr to travel from New Delhi station to Delhi Airport by car). 6AM–11PM. A tourist ticket office called the International Tourist Bureau is open during office hours upstairs of, but still within, the main New Delhi railway station (on the side away from the metro, near platform 1). Note that it is only for foreign tourists, so you must have a tourist visa (i.e. student and working visas are not acceptable). Non-resident Indians can also book their tickets through this office. Passport will be requested. Even the visa number is needed. The also accept debit/credit from Visa/Mastercard. They also accept RuPay cards (which is an Indian way of payment). To get a ticket, first go to the centre of the room and get numbers for the reservation and information desks, as well as a form to fill out. Then line up at one of the two u-shaped lines of chairs, fill out the form, and prepare for a protracted wait. When your information number is called, have the clerk check the availability of the train(s) you desire and answer any questions you have about the form. Then wait for your reservation number to be called. Note that by the time you get to the reservation desk, your train may no longer be available, in which case you can try to reserve a different one. If you need a bathroom during this lengthy process, there is a relatively clean male and female toilet just outside on the verandah through the side door (the door you didn't enter through). The station is large, crowded, confusing and packed with touts.
  

Allow one hour to find your train the first time you visit. Don't trust the electronic display boards, which often show incorrect information. Instead listen to the announcements and ask multiple people in uniform (policemen) until you find your train. (updated May 2023) Transport options to and from New Delhi station:

• By metro: New Delhi station is served by Yellow  2  and Orange  Airport Express  lines of the Delhi Metro. Metro exits are at the Ajmeri Gate (second entrance) side near platform 16.
• By taxi: Depending on traffic, a taxi fare costs you about ₹400. Pre-paid taxi booth run by Delhi Police. If you are arriving at the station, and want to take a taxi, head to the Delhi Police pre-paid taxi booth. Unfortunately, this booth is at the extreme far north end (about 50 m from the station main exit) of the taxi parking and you will encounter touts claiming to provide prepaid taxi; just ignore them and find the pre-paid taxi booth run by the Delhi Police which are safe and least expensive. There is some chance that the booth clerk, who works for the police, will shortchange you less than anyone else who handles cash in Delhi. You can also take prepaid rickshaws and taxis from the plaza outside the main entrance.

• 🌍 Delhi Junction  NR  (DLI, Old Delhi, Purani Dilli) (metro: Chandni Chowk  2 . There is an entrance just outside at the east end of the station and also just over the main road outside (last metro at about 11:30AM). If taking an auto rickshaw from here, the prepaid desk will often try and charge you as much as three times the actual price quoted on the official price guide displayed clearly in their window - bargaining is sadly often cheaper.). (updated May 2023)

• 🌍 Hazrat Nizamuddin  NR  (NZM), Harsha Rd, Nizamuddin East, (A few kilometres to the south. Bus 261, 306 to the Sarai Kale Khan Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) on the ring road and then walk over to the station (400 m).). Many trains heading south. It's the least chaotic of the Big Three, but still pretty big and poorly signposted; listen to the announcements to figure out your train. The station has a pretty good food court that sells inexpensive, hygienic takeaway snacks including sandwiches and samosas. (updated May 2023)

• 🌍 Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT) (near Ghaziabad–Delhi Border; metro: Anand Vihar  3/4  7  just opposite to Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT)). Terminal of most east-bound services. (updated May 2023)
• 🌍 Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Railway Officers Colony, (metro: Shastri Nagar  1 ; bus 71, 89). (updated May 2023)
• 🌍 Delhi Cantonment (bus 518, 545, 588 to Delhi Cantt). Luxury tains like the Royal Orient departs from this station. Besides, a Vande Bharat Express from Ajmer terminates at Delhi Cantonment. 

Rapid rails, officially known as RAPIDX, are faster than local and express trains. As of 2024, the Sahibabad–Duhai stretch of the Delhi–Meerut rapid rail is operational and you have to wait until 2026 to use rapid rail to arrive Delhi. The trains used on the rapid rails are called Namo Bharat.

The fast-growing Delhi Metro network provides a cheap, quick, hassle-free and air-conditioned way of zipping around the city. As of May 2018, the following lines are open:

• Red Line  1 : Dilshad Garden–Rithala
• Yellow Line  2 : Samaypur Badli–HUDA City Centre
• Blue Line  3/4 : Dwarka Sector 21–Noida Electronic City
  • Blue Line branch: Yamuna Bank–Vaishali
• Green Line  5 : Mundka–Inderlok
  • Green Line branch: Ashok Park Main–Kirti Nagar
• Violet Line  6 : Kashmere Gate–Ballabhgarh
• Orange Line  Airport Express : New Delhi–IGI Airport–Dwarka Sector 21
• Pink Line  7 : Majilis Park–Shiv Vihar
• Magenta Line  8 : Janakpuri West–Botanical Garden
• Grey Line  9 : Dwarka–Dhansa

Fares range from ₹10-60, just buy a token, change lines as necessary, and deposit the token in the slot as you exit. Tokens can be used only from the station they are bought, so you can't buy two and use the second to return home. If you're planning on sticking around for a while, you can buy a "Smart Card" for ₹200, which is worth ₹150 and includes a ₹50 deposit; using this saves 10% and, more importantly, lets you avoid the queues. There is also a "Tourist Card" allowing unlimited use for ₹150 (1 day) or ₹300 (3 days), but it's highly unlikely that you'll travel enough to make this pay off. Special fares apply for travel on the Airport Express. During rush hour, you might have to queue up for 20min+ due to security checks, especially in the central stations.

The Yellow Line, in particular, is useful for getting to the Delhi Junction (Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid) and New Delhi railway stations, the ISBT bus terminal, the backpacker ghetto of Paharganj, Hauz Khas and Qutb Minar. The Blue Line is also handy for visiting Akshardham, Botanical Garden and accessing the western parts of Paharganj through RK Ashram Marg station. The Magenta Line is also useful for getting to the Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport and visiting Hauz Khas, Lotus Temple, Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Botanical Garden.

Beware: Metro stations all use the new, official, Indianised names, so Connaught Place is "Rajiv Chowk", Delhi Junction is "Chandni Chowk" and ISBT is "Kashmere Gate".

The first coach in every train is reserved for women only, violating it incurs a penalty. Male passengers accompanying females are forbidden too.

Be aware that if you wish to exit at a main station during rush hour, you will have to tackle your way through in order to get out before the opposite flow of passengers push you back inside. Don't be afraid of using your strength to push yourself out.

There are limited commuter services on Delhi's railways, but the facilities are a far cry from the user-friendly Metro stations. For the most part, train stations are inconveniently located. There is no passenger service on the Delhi Ring Railway outside rush hour.

All parts of Delhi are well connected by buses and with tickets ranging from ₹5-25 they are very cheap, but they are also quite crowded most of the time. The red and blue buses are air-conditioned and the green and orange ones are not. As bus stops do not have bus routes written properly, it can be difficult to find your way. Asking other people at the bus stop is often the best way to find out about bus routes to your destination. However, the buses are pretty frequent, running every 15-20 min or so on most routes. There are two kinds of buses in Delhi:

• Government run DTC buses (red and green with big windows)
• Privately run Blue-Line buses (orange)

If you have a choice, opt for a DTC bus. They will stop less frequently and will generally be less crowded too. Note that many buses, DTC ones too, will stop pretty much anywhere if there are enough people getting on or off.

Board buses at the back and pay the ticket seller sitting right next to the door. Be sure to hang onto your tickets, as ticket checks are fairly frequent. Some seats on the left side of the bus may be reserved for women and the handicapped. When it's time to disembark, move to the front of the bus. As you might expect, all these guidelines are regularly ignored when buses are very crowded.

• HOHO, ☏ +91 11 4094 0000 (Helpline). Delhi Tourism operates a Hop On Hop Off bus service. A fleet of air conditioned low floored buses follow a pre-defined set of stops around the city and passengers can hop off the bus, see the place at one's own convenience and hop on the next bus. The service runs on a 45 minute interval and covers important monuments, memorials, museums and shopping places in the city. Each bus is staffed with a knowledgeable English speaking guide. The ticket costs ₹ 300 and is valid for 2 consecutive days. The service does not operate on Mondays. 

A taxi or hired car (usually with driver) is required to see many of the far-flung sites within and around Delhi. However, the metro is a far cheaper and equally comfortable option.

Most Delhi taxis are old but reliable CNG-run Ambassadors or Omnis in distinctive black-and-yellow livery and a green stripe. The hired family car of choice is usually a Toyota Innova or Chevrolet Tavera. While all are equipped with meters and should cost ₹15 for the first km ₹8.5 per km, the meters are often rigged and it's better to agree on the price in advance. Most trips around the city should be ₹200-500, while a trip to the airport would be higher, depending on starting location. An eight-hour charter should cost around ₹1,500, and a tip is expected if the driver is helpful. The prices would also depend upon the vehicle size too. Black and yellow taxis are not air-conditioned. Even if they do have air conditioning, you will be charged extra (and the rates are up to the driver, so bargain hard).

Modern radio taxi services: at ₹20/km, they're more the list price of the competition, but they use modern vehicles with air-conditioning and GPS and can be dialled 24 hr/day. The flag fare is ₹20, and the fare increases by ₹5 for every 250 m after the first km. If you need an SUV, you need to inform the company in advance, but the fare remains the same. Night charges (25% extra) apply between 11PM to 5AM. Book up to a few hours in advance. Many corporate people rely on these cabs for their daily commute and they may be booked during office hours. Tipping is not expected. After booking, you will receive an SMS with the car licence plate number, and the driver's name and mobile number. Usually the driver will call you and inform you that they have arrived. Many drivers speak English at a very basic level, so use short phrases.

You can use TaxiPixi services and avoid all the hassle. Download the app on your iPhone/Android.

Don't take non-official taxis, they might take you to wrong hotels, or to a "tourist information centre", and try to sell you overpriced things. To be on the safe side, Check that whether the driver has their official documentation or not.

Taxi rides involving tourists in Delhi almost always involve minor scams. Most of the time, the driver will demand more money than originally agreed. During the ride, prepare a sum of money that is at least the agreed fare and put in your shirt pocket or comparable spot. At the destination, get your belongings out of the car first and leave the door open to slow the driver down if he follows you. Hand the money to the driver without stupidly asking for change and then immediately walk away as quickly as you can in the direction that would be most difficult for him to follow.

Delhi, The road conditions are generally better than in the rest of India. Traffic Jam is a major concern in Delhi. For travelling in Delhi, you can hire a car.

Delhi is also serviced by various transportation network ("ridesharing") companies including Uber and Ola Cabs. Make sure to check the tariffs in these before you pay. While most of these services accept cash, many can also be linked to online wallet services like Paytm, so overcharging is rarely a risk.

Auto rickshaws (also called three-wheeled scooters, tuk-tuks or simply autos) are good for shorter trips. Always in a distinctive yellow-and-green livery, auto rickshaws are three-wheeled partially enclosed contraptions that run on CNG and can seat three people in the back. In general, they are much cheaper than taxis and can be hailed from the street. Although by law the rickshaw drivers should charge according to the meter in their vehicle (₹25 for the first two km, ₹8/km after), this rate is unrealistically low and they will almost always try to haggle for price. Try to negotiate a price before entering the vehicle. As rules of thumb, expect even the shortest journey to cost ₹30-40/person regardless of the meter, but you should never need to pay over ₹150 for any trip within the city. If you're overquoted, don't be afraid to walk away. It's usually easy to find another one soon, usually with a driver who won't rip you off.

If you have any trouble with drivers, go to any of the numerous tourist police stations in the city centre and they will give you a complaint slip which will result in a ₹500 fine for the auto driver. There should also be a telephone number written on the vehicle to call in case of any complaint.

There are a number of "Pre-paid" auto stands run by the Police. Tell them where you want to go and pay them upfront. The charge will include ₹5 for the service. You then take the coupon and stand outside where a policeman will direct you to the next available Auto. When your journey is completed you hand the coupon to the auto driver and that's it. Nothing more to pay (despite what they may say).

Cycle rickshaws are three-wheeled, pedal/electric powered rickshaws with seats in the back to seat passengers and a driver in the front. They are good for short distances, or places which are too far to walk but too short for taking a bus/taxi/auto rickshaw. Cycle rickshaws don't use meters, so establish a price before getting on. ₹20-50 is reasonable for most journeys of a few km.

Cycle rickshaws are best to use in Old Delhi to visit the intricate galis (walkways) and to enjoy the smells and sounds of the city.

Electric rickshaws, popularly known as tuk-tuk or e-rickshaws, are also used to enjoy the streets of Old Delhi. These are battery-operated alternatives to auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws because of their low fuel cost, and less human effort compared to cycle rickshaws.

Much of Delhi is quite pedestrian-hostile. Distances are long, road signage is poor, and in the more tourist oriented areas, you'll be constantly accosted by beggars and touts. Crossing roads often involves wading across multiple lanes of heavy traffic. Try your best to move in a predictable straight line, so vehicles can weave around you. Better yet, latch onto a group of locals and cross in their shadow. If you really want to walk around, these places would be good:

• Walk from Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's house) to India Gate on Kartavya Path (a walk of close to 3–4 km).
• Walk from Jama Masjid to Red Fort in the Chandni Chowk area.
• Far South Delhi go walk about in the forest. Try starting from south of Indian Institute of Technology through Sanjay Van to Qutub Minar. Note however that Sanjay Van is not always safe, and it is advisable to go there in a group, preferably during daylight.
• South Delhi-Green Park-Hauz Khas Village, then to the Hauz Khas ruined madrasa, offers a newer shopping area, an up-market arts village, old ruins, and some quality gardens.

For clothing, you can go either to the bazaars or to Western-style shopping malls (mostly in the southern areas).

For computers and software, the best place to look is Nehru Place IT market complex in South East Delhi, an interesting combination of modern technology products and old world marketplace sales techniques. You can find cheap hardware here as well as both original and pirated software. There are also several similar markets in other parts of Delhi, mostly in the Western districts.

The Indian book industry is huge, producing annually about 15,000 books in English, and obviously far more in Hindi and other native languages. Delhi is a hub of this industry, so there are small, specialist bookstores that abound. Locally produced books can be very inexpensive and many popular Western titles are published and available here for a fraction of their original cost.

In general, good places to buy books are in Central Delhi (Daryaganj neighbourhood and the Nai Sarak Bookshop Area), plus shopping malls in the south of the city.

The Daryaganj Sunday Book Market is a flea market-book market open on Sundays from 10AM to evening, with a vast selection. Bargain for best prices.

Delhi has plenty of budget accommodation options, priced from ₹400-2,500. Many of them are located in the city centre (Central Delhi and New Delhi), while others are further south, in the affluent southern areas or towards the airport.

Delhi's chronic lack of quality hotels has led to a mushrooming of guest houses of widely varying quality and price. The new official 'Delhi Bed and Breakfast scheme' has also contributed a range of private rooms available for bed & breakfast accommodation. These rooms range from cheap dumps to classy rooms in the best areas of Delhi.

Most of Delhi's expensive hotels are in New Delhi, roughly along the axis between Connaught Square and the airport. A few are located in areas further south and west. Prices in this category are generally over ₹8000.

The Delhi Police is a 70,000-strong force serving the capital region. While some of the police officers are honest and helpful, others may be corrupt and unhelpful.

For police assistance during an emergency dial 100.

Police vehicles (called PCR vans) are parked on almost every major intersection.

For non-emergencies, or to report a crime, visit the nearest police station.

Here are the Delhi emergency contact numbers

• Police, ☏ 100. 
• Fire Department, ☏ 101. 
• Ambulance, ☏ 102. or dial the nearest local hospital 
• Women's Helpline, ☏ 1091. (updated May 2021)

• 🌍 Afghanistan, 5/50 F Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 2687 5439, +91 11 2410 0412, +91 11 2687 1326 (visa section), newdelhi.hotline@mfa.af. Alternative website. 
• Algeria, 2/2, Shanti Niketan, New Delhi-110 021, ☏ +91 11 2411-7585, +91 11 2411-8586, fax: +91 11 2411-7590, contact@algerianembassy.co.in. 
• Angola, 5, Poorvi Marg Vasant Vihar, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 2614-6195, +91 11 2614-6197, fax: +91 11 2614-6184, xietuang@del2.vsnl.net.in. 
• 🌍 Australia, 1/50 G Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 4139 9900. M-F 8:30AM - 1PM & 2-5PM. High Commission is also accredited to Bhutan 
• 🌍 Bangladesh, EP-39, Dr. S. RadhaKrishnan Marg, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 2412 13 (ext. 89-94), +91 11 2412 1392. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Belgium, 50-N, Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, 110021. 
• 🌍 Bhutan, EP-4, Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91-11-2688-9230, +91-11-2688-9809, fax: +91 11 2687-6710, myandelhi@gmail.com. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Brunei, August Kranti Marg. High Commission of Brunei Darussalam 
• 🌍 Cambodia, Outer Ring Road, 110017, New Delhi. 
• 🌍 Canada, 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 4178 2000, fax: +91 11 4178 2020, delhi@international.gc.ca. M-Th 8:30AM-5:30PM, F 8:30AM-1PM. Alternative website. 
• 🌍 China, 50 D Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 688 9028, +91 11 2611 2345. 
• 🌍 Czech Republic, 50, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 2415 5200, newdelhi@embassy.mzv.cz. M-F 9-11AM. 
• 🌍 Egypt, 1/50M, Niti Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 2611 4096, +91 11 2611 4097, india_emb@mfa.gov.eg. M-F 9-11AM. 
• Finland, E-3, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 4149 7500, +91 11 4149 7570 (visa section), fax: +91 11 4149 7555, +91 11 4149 7559 (visa section), sanomat.nde@formin.fi. M-F 9AM-noon. The embassy is also accredited to Bangladesh. 
• 🌍 France, 2/50-E Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 4319-6100, fax: +91 11 4319-6119, info_visa_delhi@ambafrance-in.org. 
• 🌍 Germany, 6/50-G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 4419 9199, fax: +91 11 2687 3117. Alternative website. 
• 🌍 Greece, EP-32, Dr S. Radhakrishnan Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 26880700-4, +91 96 5461 6196 (Emergencies), fax: +91 11 2688 8010, gremb.del@mfa.gr. 
• 🌍 Indonesia, 50-A Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 2611-8642 (/43/44), fax: +91 11 26874402 (General Inquiries), newdelhi.kbri@kemlu.go.id. 
• 🌍 Iran. M-F 9:30AM-1PM. 
• Ireland, C17, Malcha Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 4940 3200, fax: +91 11 4059 1898. 
• 🌍 Israel, 3, Doctor Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam Marg, 110011, ☏ +91 11 3041 4500. 
• 🌍 Italy, 50E, Chandra Gupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 2611 4355, fax: +91 11 2687 3889, ambasciata.newdelhi@esteri.it. M-Th 9AM-1PM, 2-6PM, F 9AM-1PM. 
• 🌍 Japan, 4 & 5, 50-G Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 2687 6581, +91 11 2687 6564, fax: +91 11-2688-5587, jpembjic@nd.mofa.go.jp. M-F 9AM-1PM, 2-5:30PM. Alternative website. 
• Macedonia, Hauz Khaz Enclave K 80 A, ☏ +91 11 4614 2603, fax: +91 11 4614 2604, delhi@mfa.gov.mk. 
• 🌍 Malaysia, 50-M, Satya Marg, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 2415 9300. 
• Maldives, C-31, Anand Niketan, New Delhi, ☏ +91 11 4143-5701, fax: +91-11-4143-5709. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Mexico, C, Anand Niketan, 8, Benito Juarez Marg, Block C, Anand Niketan, ☏ +91 11 2411 7180. (updated May 2019)
• Mongolia, 34, Archbishop Macarios Marg, ☏ +91 11 2463 1728, fax: +91 11-2463 3240, mongemb@vsnl.net. 
• 🌍 Myanmar, 3/50F, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri (If using public transport to get to the embassy, bus 604 leaves from the PALTKA KENDRA bus stop, which is opposite The Park New Delhi Hotel, and between the Jantar Mantar attraction and the Bank of Baroda. This bus stop is also on Sansad Marg about 400 m north-east of the State Bank of India. Depending on the traffic, bus 604 will take about 30 min to get to the stop near the Myanmar embassy. Bus 604 will drop you at a bus stop on Shanti Path about 75 m north of the roundabout of Shanti Path and Panchsheel Marg. It’s a 10-min walk from this bus stop to the embassy. The visa application office is at the entrance of the embassy on Nyaya Marg, which is two blocks south of Panchsheel Marg and one block west of Shanti Path.), ☏ +91 11 2467-8822, +91 11 2467-8823, fax: +91 11 2467-8824, myandelhi@gmail.com. Visa application time is 10-11AM. Visa pick-up is the next day at 4PM. To pay for the visa, you must pay with a bank draft in Indian rupees (₹2,800)—the embassy will not take cash. If you have all the other required paperwork, then getting a bank draft before going to the embassy will save you an extra trip. The bank draft needs to made to “EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR”. Paying cash for a bank draft can be done at the main branch of the State Bank of India (SBI). The main SBI branch is on Sansad Marg between Jay Singh Marg and Ashoka Road (Patel Chowk). Small sub branches of the SBI bank will not do a bank draft for cash. Nor will other banks. (updated May 2019)
• 🌍 Nepal, Bara Khamba Rd, 110001, ☏ +91 11 332 9969, +91 11 23476200. 
• 🌍 Netherlands, 6/50 F, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +911124197600, fax: +911124197710, nde@minbuza.nl. M-F 9AM-5PM. 
• 🌍 New Zealand, Sir Edmund Hillary Marg, ☏ +91 11 4688 3170. 
• 🌍 Norway, 50-C, Shantipath, Chanakyapur, ☏ +91 11 4136 3200. 
• 🌍 Pakistan, 2/50 G Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 467 6004, +91 11 26110601. 
• 🌍 Palestine, Jesus & Mary Marg, ☏ +91 241 080 6263. 
• 🌍 Paraguay, ☏ +91 11 42705671, fax: +91 11 42705672. Official M-F 9AM-5PM, consular & visitors 10AM-1PM. 
• 🌍 Peru, D-2/5, Block D, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 4616 3333. 
• 🌍 Embassy of Poland, 50-M Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, ☏ +91 11 414 96 904, +91 11 414 96 992, +91 11 414 96 975, newdelhi.amb.wk@msz.gov.pl. 8:15AM-4:15PM. 
• Romania, D 6/6, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 26140447, fax: +91 11 26140611, newdelhi@mae.ro. Also covers as the embassy of Romania for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. (updated Dec 2021)
• 🌍 Russia, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 112611 0560, fax: +91 11 2687 6823, indconru@gmail.com. 
• Rwanda, 41, Paschimi Marg Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 2866 1604, fax: +91 11 2866 1605, rwanda@spectranet.com. 
• 🌍 Singapore, E-6, Chandragupta Marg, 110021, ☏ +91 11 4600 0800, singhc_del@mfa.sg. 
• 🌍 Slovakia, 50-M, Niti Marg,, ☏ +91 11 2688 9071. 
• 🌍 South Africa, B -18, Vasant Marg, Block B, Vasant Vihar, ☏ +91 11 2614 9411. 
• 🌍 South Korea, 9, Chandragupta Marg, 110021, ☏ +91 11 4200 7000. 
• 🌍 Spain, 12, Prithviraj Road, ☏ +91 11 4129 3000, emb.nuevadelhi@maec.es. 
• 🌍 Sri Lanka, 27, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 2301-0201, fax: +91 11 2379-3604, lankacomnd@gmail.com. High Commission is also accredited to Bhutan (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Sweden, 4-5, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 44197100. 
• 🌍 Switzerland, Nyaya Marg, 110 021, New Delhi, ☏ +91 11 4995 9500. 
• 🌍 Turkey, 50-N, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, ☏ +91 11 2688 9053. 
• 🌍 United Arab Emirates, EP 12, Chandragupta Marg, 110021, ☏ +91 11 26111111. 
• 🌍 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 2419 2100, fax: +91 11 2419 2491, web.newdelhi@fco.gov.uk. 9AM-5PM. (updated May 2017)
• 🌍 United States of America, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021, ☏ +91 11 2419 8000, fax: +91 11 2419 0017, ndwebmail@state.gov.