New Delhi Vacations, New Delhi Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

New Delhi Vacation Guide

Ah, Delhi. There can be few places that inspire such impassioned debate and, at times, forthright hatred amongst travelers. You see it’s just so hot. The touts are everywhere, and they lie. Boy do they lie. It’s dirty. It’s dusty. And it’s poorer than a student come exam week. You could argue its India at its worst, but therein lies the crux: you’re in the deep end. And it doesn’t get more Indian than this.

It’s so Indian, in fact, that many a seasoned traveler comes in, stays the night, and books the first train out. If you know what you’re doing, though (first rule: trust no one that says anything is shut, or takes you somewhere they ‘happen to be walking’. Least of all rickshaw drivers), and can deal with possibly the world’s worst examples of say-what-you-want-to-hear touting, then it might just get under your skin.

If you can get past the irritations, Delhi’s certainly not lacking in sights. There’s the astonishing Ganesh Temple (complete with several storey high pink monkey God standing outside), the extraordinary petal-shaped sides of the Lotus Temple (which draws 4 million visitors a year), the scenic deities of the Birla Mandir, and the towering beauty of the Qutab Minar. Not to mention the sizeable red fort, the market-views of the extravagant Jama Masjid Mosque, and the soaring memorial that is India Gate.

The sites, in fact, are up there with any city in the world, as are the markets, though you’ll never get a moments peace wondering around them. They say, after a certain amount of time in Delhi, you get a vibe about you, and the locals start to give you some personal space. When that day comes you can sip chai at the streetside in serene calm, knowing that you’ve reached a special place in Indian travel.

Until then, soak up some street culture, cool down in the cineplexes and run the gauntlet of the backpacker district of Main Bazaar to grab a henna tattoo, and you might just start to see the charms of India’s capital. Then again, you might not…