Delhi, the national capital and power centre… also, a city with immense heritage and cultural value. There are plenty of tourist places in Delhi, and you would want to plan your visit in such a manner that you enjoy the many experiences the city has to offer. Checking out Delhi hotels for your stay? Well, why not? It is always best to plan well ahead of your visit.
So, what is the best time to visit Delhi?
- Like most parts of India, the ideal time to visit Delhi would be between mid or late September and early March. Summers in Delhi can be severe with temperatures (regularly crossing 42 or 43 deg C) making it very difficult for you to visit all the tourist places in Delhi.
- Winter, particularly mid-late December and January is good to visit if you enjoy the proverbial 'dilli ki sardi'. However, if you live in cities where temperatures don't drop drastically even dur-ing winter, then, you should be well prepared with enough warm clothes, as Delhi temperatures can drop to even 1 deg C during peak winter. If you visit Delhi in February-March, it is a great time to visit the Mughal Gardens, which is usually thrown open to the public at this time of the year. The Mughal Gardens in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan is one of the most well-tended to and beautiful gardens in the country.
- Late March to June is when temperatures really go up, and is the off-season. You may get great deals at Delhi hotels during these months, though. If you intend spending time only at the hotel and don't have much sightseeing to do, then, it is still alright because the best hotels offer com-fort, luxury and convenience. Post June is when the city experiences the monsoon, making it dif-ficult to go sightseeing.
- October is the best time in Delhi, when the temperatures are not extreme, and the weather is plea-sant, making it very conducive for sightseeing. It is the ideal time to tick off all the spots on that list of tourist places in Delhi. If you are looking to stay in one of the Delhi hotels at this time, it is best that you make your bookings well in advance because it is the tourist season. There is lush greenery everywhere, the flowers are in blooms, and festivities all over the city. You can catch Dussehra and Diwali, both huge celebrations in the city. Come Dussehra, typically in October, and you can catch many a mythological performances from the Ramayana organised at the famed Ram Lila Maidans in Delhi. It is also ideal to get some shopping done at the various markets in the city.
- One of the heritage hotels in the city also organises walks around themes such as 'Sufi Delhi', 'Mughal Delhi', 'British Raj Delhi' etc. What better time than between late September and early March to go on these wonderful walks and get a better understanding of the city and its culture. October-March is also the time when most of the literature, culture, music and theatre festivals are held in the city, so this is the best time to catch the city in its complete glory!
Martin Wynn
