Arrival in crazy Delhi?

breeb · Nov 12th, 2003, 18:43

Heya peoples.
I promise Ill only ask this one once....
I'm arriving in Delhi (for the first time), and I want to be able to make out I know kinda what I'm doing so I don't get to hassled...SOOOOO....... can anyone recommend a hotel in OLD DELHI that is really quite cheap that I could stay at for the first week? Someone on another thread mentioned something about a TIbetan/Nepalese area?

I just would really like to be able to get in a taxi and ask them to take me____ with confidence.
And what taxi, are there differences?

Lastly, how long will it take me to get to OLD DELHI from the DELHI airport?

Thanks so much...I feel like such a knobby.

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2003, 19:00

Just a quick question to your good self any particular reason you want to stay in OLD DELHI??
It's just you will be a long way away from anything familiar if you stay there!! Maybe that's what you want I just thought I'd ask!!!

vinayverma · Nov 12th, 2003, 23:24

The tibetian settlement is only NEAR to real old delhi maybe as close as paharganj is.
BTW its called majnu ka tilla

bijapuri · Nov 13th, 2003, 00:35

Old Delhi is quite a scrum- makes Paharganj look tame, methinks!

breeb · Nov 13th, 2003, 07:14

Scrum? Why is that? How long will my taxi ride be from the airport to the scrum?

kolobar · Nov 13th, 2003, 14:15

It takes 45 minutes from int.airport to Paharganj. Old Delhi starts just across the bridge at Ajmer Gate. It is less than 5 minutes more in night time and much more if it is a rush hour. Another 5 minutes gets you to Jama Masjid but again not during the day since the narrow roads are always overcrowded to which now you have to add construction work for Delhi metro... so it very much depends on which hour and in which part of Old Delhi...
About taxis from the airport we had extensive debate more than one time on this forum. To sumarize: take pre-paid taxi on arrivals exit; dont give away your ticket until you reach your destination; smoke a bidi; dont let anyone come along in the car beside the driver; ignore anything the driver say; dont accept any of his suggestions; dont get out of the car anywhere beside at the place you intend to go; be rude, unrespectful, annoying but calm and dont take it too seriously.

breeb · Nov 16th, 2003, 11:42

haha, thanks for the tips kolobar. It sounds like its going to be an adventure just getting to a hotel. So its not impractical to go straight to old delhi from the airport then?
Cheers, Bree

kolobar · Nov 16th, 2003, 17:05

It is very practical and it is a fine experience - i would definitely not spoil it with a hotel pick up or by staying in one of expensive hotels closer to airport - which would cost you more than you would pay if they manage to trick you. When you throw the "co-driver" out of the taxi (he will not give up easily but you have to insist firmly before you get in the car!) it is very likely the scum is more or less over since he is in charge of changing your plans. Anyway, it is not life threat and they dont want to rob all of your money. In the worst case you would end up in Srinagar... but even holidays on a houseboat are not all that bad.

timmy · Nov 17th, 2003, 08:39

Quote:

Originally posted by breeb
haha, thanks for the tips kolobar. It sounds like its going to be an adventure just getting to a hotel.

My trip from Delhi airport to Paharganj was my introduction to India. The road had two lanes marked out on each side, which took in reality three lanes of traffic, while we sped along the shoulder, with Punjabi music blaring and the horn beeping all the way.

A truly memorable (if hair-raising) experience.

I can't wait to go back.

butterball · Nov 17th, 2003, 14:04

The govt bus which waits outside to the left of the departure exit... I wanted to do it the "local" way ( ?? )

This was my first trip 8 years ago and , while taking a deep breath in the lobby just before you hit what you've been told are wild animals ready to shred you to pieces, I just walked straight through the melay and hoped to god the bus was where the guide book said it was...

And there it was !

It was virtually empty ( at that time ) and I put my bag in the luggage store at the front. Gradually the bus filled up and I grew more and more nervous about where to get off - and particularily about how to get at my bag - which was now at the BOTTOM of a huge pile of other stuff !

A sweet old lady sat next to me and put me under her wing ( her son had lived in England ) - I could barely understand her and the head wobble completely confused me... And she insisted on paying my fare too !

The journey from the airport to PG was surreal - breaking dawn and people waking up on the pavements - the smells - THAT feeling....

I managed to get off the bus at the other side of the Railway Station - and somehow find my way to a hotel ( Hare Krishna inn ) along what in the guide book looked like a road - but was in fact a path about 3 feet wide !

I then did the "freak out " thing for a couple of days - I was really scared to leave the roof terrace !

It all wore off after a week and I had a "memorable" 7 weeks in the North..

When I got home I VOWED never to go back.... ( I got ill loads .. )

8 years on I'm preparing for my 7th visit ! ( However I do prefer the South - sunny and MUCH more laid back... )

It's truly a bug... Good luck and fasten your seatbelt !

Nov 12th, 2003, 18:43	#1
breeb Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 51	Arrival in crazy Delhi? Heya peoples. I promise Ill only ask this one once.... I'm arriving in Delhi (for the first time), and I want to be able to make out I know kinda what I'm doing so I don't get to hassled...SOOOOO....... can anyone recommend a hotel in OLD DELHI that is really quite cheap that I could stay at for the first week? Someone on another thread mentioned something about a TIbetan/Nepalese area? I just would really like to be able to get in a taxi and ask them to take me____ with confidence. And what taxi, are there differences? Lastly, how long will it take me to get to OLD DELHI from the DELHI airport? Thanks so much...I feel like such a knobby. __________________ Power to the Peaceful

Nov 12th, 2003, 23:24	#3
vinayverma Maha Infrequent Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,302	The tibetian settlement is only NEAR to real old delhi maybe as close as paharganj is. BTW its called majnu ka tilla __________________ If Life is a journey....travel on...and on..on..on.....

Nov 13th, 2003, 00:35	#4
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,602	Old Delhi is quite a scrum- makes Paharganj look tame, methinks! __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Nov 13th, 2003, 07:14	#5
breeb Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 51	scrum Scrum? Why is that? How long will my taxi ride be from the airport to the scrum?

Nov 16th, 2003, 11:42	#7
breeb Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 51	ta haha, thanks for the tips kolobar. It sounds like its going to be an adventure just getting to a hotel. So its not impractical to go straight to old delhi from the airport then? Cheers, Bree

Nov 12th, 2003, 19:00	#2
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Just a quick question to your good self any particular reason you want to stay in OLD DELHI?? It's just you will be a long way away from anything familiar if you stay there!! Maybe that's what you want I just thought I'd ask!!!

Nov 13th, 2003, 14:15	#6
kolobar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: beside a lake Posts: 155	It takes 45 minutes from int.airport to Paharganj. Old Delhi starts just across the bridge at Ajmer Gate. It is less than 5 minutes more in night time and much more if it is a rush hour. Another 5 minutes gets you to Jama Masjid but again not during the day since the narrow roads are always overcrowded to which now you have to add construction work for Delhi metro... so it very much depends on which hour and in which part of Old Delhi... About taxis from the airport we had extensive debate more than one time on this forum. To sumarize: take pre-paid taxi on arrivals exit; dont give away your ticket until you reach your destination; smoke a bidi; dont let anyone come along in the car beside the driver; ignore anything the driver say; dont accept any of his suggestions; dont get out of the car anywhere beside at the place you intend to go; be rude, unrespectful, annoying but calm and dont take it too seriously.

Nov 16th, 2003, 17:05	#8
kolobar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: beside a lake Posts: 155	It is very practical and it is a fine experience - i would definitely not spoil it with a hotel pick up or by staying in one of expensive hotels closer to airport - which would cost you more than you would pay if they manage to trick you. When you throw the "co-driver" out of the taxi (he will not give up easily but you have to insist firmly before you get in the car!) it is very likely the scum is more or less over since he is in charge of changing your plans. Anyway, it is not life threat and they dont want to rob all of your money. In the worst case you would end up in Srinagar... but even holidays on a houseboat are not all that bad.

Nov 17th, 2003, 14:04	#10
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London.. sometimes.. Posts: 686	I took... The govt bus which waits outside to the left of the departure exit... I wanted to do it the "local" way ( ?? ) This was my first trip 8 years ago and , while taking a deep breath in the lobby just before you hit what you've been told are wild animals ready to shred you to pieces, I just walked straight through the melay and hoped to god the bus was where the guide book said it was... And there it was ! It was virtually empty ( at that time ) and I put my bag in the luggage store at the front. Gradually the bus filled up and I grew more and more nervous about where to get off - and particularily about how to get at my bag - which was now at the BOTTOM of a huge pile of other stuff ! A sweet old lady sat next to me and put me under her wing ( her son had lived in England ) - I could barely understand her and the head wobble completely confused me... And she insisted on paying my fare too ! The journey from the airport to PG was surreal - breaking dawn and people waking up on the pavements - the smells - THAT feeling.... I managed to get off the bus at the other side of the Railway Station - and somehow find my way to a hotel ( Hare Krishna inn ) along what in the guide book looked like a road - but was in fact a path about 3 feet wide ! I then did the "freak out " thing for a couple of days - I was really scared to leave the roof terrace ! It all wore off after a week and I had a "memorable" 7 weeks in the North.. When I got home I VOWED never to go back.... ( I got ill loads .. ) 8 years on I'm preparing for my 7th visit ! ( However I do prefer the South - sunny and MUCH more laid back... ) It's truly a bug... Good luck and fasten your seatbelt !

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