City Rating: Delhi
Population: 19’000’000
Date of visit: November 2015
Attractions & sights: 5/5
Nightlife: 1/5
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 2/5
Low budget factor: 5/5
Total: 👍👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Delhi is chaos! This is one of those city that really gives you a culture shock, if you haven’t been to India before. It’s an exhausting city but also a very interesting one. Dehli belongs to the most populated cities in the world, and despite all the hassles, it is a great city to see some of the best sights in India.
Where to stay:
Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world, and it might be difficult to say which one is the best area to stay. I had my hotel near to the New Delhi railway station, and I was happy with that choice. Avoid Old Delhi.
The Good:
Delhi is arguably India’s best city for sightseeing. There are so many fascinating sights, you will need many days to see them all. However, the highlights of the city can be done in two days. Make sure that you visit Jama Masjid, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar and the Lotus Temple.
Hiring a guide might be the best choice in order to avoid the chaos of the city. Especially, if you have no experience in travelling through India. Infrastructure is weak and the city is too crowded to use public transport. The price for a guide is around 30-35 Dollars per day if you book a private tour.
If you are not satisfied by the sights the city has to offer (this is unrealistic though), mighty Taj Mahal is only three hours away. India’s most popular attraction can be visited on a day trip.
Delhi is also a city with a fair amount of outstanding restaurants that offer the best Indian food you can imagine. Try street food if you dare.
Sightseeing and the food are the big advantages of Delhi. Another plus is that Delhi, and India in general, is one of the best value for money destinations in the world. It’s even cheaper than many Southeast Asian countries.
The Bad & The Ugly:
Where should I start? India is hard work, sometimes even for the seasoned travellers. Delhi is a city that gives you an overdose of people, traffic, dirt, poverty, colours, scents, stray dogs etc. The city might be intimidating in the beginning, but once you get used to it, it’s actually a fascinating one.
Nightlife is almost non-existent, which is a shame regarding the 19 million people living there. There are a few bars with high quality booze. Most of them belong to hotels. Don’t come here for nightclubs.
Delhi is also a city full of scam artists. People will approach you when you’re walking through the streets. Don’t let them fool you. They will try to rip you off eventually. That’s why hiring a guide makes more sense than exploring the city on your own. Although the city can be considered safe, the con artists might annoy you after a while. Practical tip: if someone asks you if you’re in Delhi for the first time, never say yes.
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