Appealing history, great art & architecture and loads of funs & entertainment make Delhi a favorite holiday spot in India. Exploring the city is a bit expensive; though with a sensible planning you can get the best bits at reasonable budget in Delhi.
Delhi, a city in the heart of India and in heart of Indians, is hedonistic, kinky and beautiful. And you can explore it with surprisingly low budget. The city is the real reflection of India: old, appealing, full of eccentric architecture and even more eccentric cultures & cuisines. One of the most expensive Indian cities, Delhi can swallow your budget faster than you think, but if you plan your trip smartly, you can get a lot without hurting your pocket so much. Here's what you need to remember or do, if planning to discover Delhi at reasonable budget.
Going Around
Get a metro card at the very first metro-station that you board at. It costs just INR 50 as security amount, which is even refundable, plus the recharge amount, which will be deducted only when you commute. Most of the tourist spots in Delhi are connected by Metro. Excellent bus network is the city is also a good option, especially for short-distanced destinations. If you want to go around by buses, you would be on great saving, taking a one-day pass, costing INR 50. With this pass, you can get into any bus on any route, operated by DTC, for a day.
Another good option -if you want comfy and easy riding – is to hire a taxi, especially when you're in group. Since the local drivers know well about the sightseeing in/around, this can save you a substantial amount of time and energy.
Eating Out
Delhi is expensive to eat in, especially at big branded restaurants. But if you make smart moves, you can get fantastic foods at cheap rates. Street-food in Delhi is entirely famous. You can get anything, from Chinese chaumeen to South Indian Dosa and rice curry to butter chicken, sold by hawkers or street-side vendors. And trust me, they offer great taste at reasonable rates. For elegant dining, Mc Donald is good option. At this popular food-court, a range of meals, both vegetarian and no-vegetarian, are available at reasonable price. Another good way to save is to go to supermarket and buy your breakfast by yourself.
Accommodation
This is hardly a problem, with the city's wide range of lodging facilities available all here and there. Choose any of the 2-star Delhi hotels, and you'll get a comfortable stay at affordable rates. Even many 3-star hotels offer good discounts on some special occasions. Apart from that, Delhi has plenty of inns, guest houses and gurudwaras, where accommodation is quite cheap. However, you will be offered with just basic facilities like cooling fan, water and electricity and a comfy bad in sharing room. Some much preferred options for budget hotels in Delhi are Hotel Swagat Palace (Krol Bag), New Royal Hotel (Mukharji Nagar), Hotel Kwality and New Ashoka International (Pahadganj).
If you're coming from far away destinations like Mumbai, Chennai or other south Indian destination, book your Delhi flights well in advance. Mumbai to Delhi flights are quite frequent and get booked very soon. So earlier you book, cheaper it is.
Martin Wynn
