Question 1

Delhi on Your Own

Accepted Answer

A free day in Delhi before or after a tour is best spent on one part of the city at a time, because distances are long. The Metro reaches several of the main sights, and app-based taxis fill the gaps. Old Delhi: Walk from the Jama Masjid to the Red Fort through the Chandni Chowk area. New Delhi: Walk the Kartavya Path, the ceremonial avenue from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, to India Gate, about 3 to 4 km. Humayun's Tomb: This 16th-century Mughal tomb is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Qutb Minar: The 13th-century tower and its complex are in Mehrauli, in south Delhi. Taxis: Avoid hailing taxis on the street, especially at night. App-based taxis such as Uber and Ola are widely available, and prepaid taxi services also operate. Touts: Scammers, pickpockets and ticket touts target foreign visitors in tourist areas. Avoid people at railway stations who offer tickets or tours.

Question 2

Getting Around

Accepted Answer

The Delhi Metro is the easiest way to cross the city and avoid the traffic. For short trips, auto rickshaws and app-based taxis are the usual choices. The Yellow Line serves Chandni Chowk, the New Delhi railway station and the Qutb Minar. The Airport Express line links the airport with the city, and special fares apply on it. Auto rickshaws may not charge above the meter, and cycle rickshaws have no meter, so agree the price before you set off. Cycle rickshaws are a good way to see the narrow lanes of Old Delhi. Seatbelts are not common in three-wheel autos or in the back seats of taxis, so choose a taxi that has them when you can.

Question 3

Food

Accepted Answer

Delhi's cooking shows a strong Punjabi influence, brought by the refugees who settled here after Partition in 1947. Old Delhi is the place for street food and classic dishes. Paranthe Wali Gali: This lane off Chandni Chowk has shops that make and sell only parathas, flatbreads stuffed with fillings. Eating safely: Choose food that is freshly cooked.

Question 4

Tipping in India

Accepted Answer

Tipping is not the norm in most Indian hotels and restaurants, though it may be appreciated as a rounded-up bill or 5 to 10 percent. In fancier restaurants a tip of up to 10 percent is appropriate. Service charge: Fancier restaurants may add a service charge of up to 15 percent, so check the bill first. Small services: Baksheesh can mean a tip given to someone who provides a service.

Question 5

Culture and Local Life

Accepted Answer

Delhi is India's capital and the seat of its national ceremonies, as well as a city of markets, mosques and temples. Respect local dress customs, particularly at religious sites. Independence Day: Every August 15 since 1947, the national flag has been raised at the Red Fort and the Prime Minister has spoken from its ramparts. Museums: The National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art are among the largest museums in India. Markets: Chandni Chowk's historic lanes are full of shops selling saris and other clothing, and block-printed fabrics from Rajasthan and Gujarat. Photographs: Take care with cameras near military sites, government buildings, airports and railway stations.

Question 6

A Brief History

Accepted Answer

Delhi has been rebuilt as a capital many times, and each ruler left monuments behind. Its three World Heritage Sites span the 13th to the 17th century, and New Delhi was built as the capital in the 20th. 1199 to 1220: Construction of the Qutb Minar began under Qutb-ud-din Aibak, and most of the tower, now about 73 m tall, was built by 1220. A later sultan rebuilt the top in 1368. 16th century: The Mughal emperor Humayun, son of Babur, was buried in the vast tomb that bears his name. 1639 to 1648: Shah Jahan moved the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi and built the Red Fort as his palace, in his new city of Shahjahanabad, now Old Delhi. 1857: Delhi was a center of the Indian Rebellion. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, took refuge at Humayun's Tomb, was captured, tried and exiled to Rangoon. 1911: It was announced that the capital of British India would move from Calcutta to Delhi. 1931: New Delhi was inaugurated as the capital on February 13. 1947: India became independent on August 15, and Partition brought around 500,000 Hindu and Sikh refugees to the city, while around 300,000 of its Muslim residents left for Pakistan. 1993 and 2007: The Qutb Minar and Humayun's Tomb became UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993, and the Red Fort complex followed in 2007. To learn more ashore: The National Museum on Janpath, in New Delhi, is one of the largest museums in the country.

Question 7

Delhi with Children

Accepted Answer

Delhi with children works best in short outings with time to rest, as the city is large and distances are long. Air quality is a real concern in winter. Air pollution: Severe air pollution is a major health hazard in north Indian cities, especially from October to February, and children may be especially affected. Younger children: The National Rail Museum in Chanakyapuri has an outdoor area laid out like a railway yard as well as indoor galleries. It is closed on Mondays and national holidays, so check before you go. School age: Ride a cycle rickshaw through the lanes of Old Delhi, then visit the Red Fort, the palace of the Mughal emperors. Teenagers: Inside the Red Fort complex, a museum in the former colonial barracks covers the rebellion of 1857.

Delhi

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