Delhi - early morning: sightseeing?

guioom · Jan 30th, 2008, 10:21

Hi,

I'm arriving at Delhi airport early on Monday (4AM) with my wife and kid.
The hotel we booked cannot arrange pickup before 8AM, so instead of waiting for them, I'm thinking to just take a cab to some "peaceful" place and have some kind of breakfast around there, before getting to the hotel later in the morning.

The hotel is in SOuth delhi, so I was thinking of places like Lodi gardens, or Purana Qila, as they seem to open early in the morning, at sunset.

I would like to hear your advice on the feasability of this, as it's my first time in Delhi...
Any recommendation?

Thanks,

Guioom

capt_mahajan · Jan 30th, 2008, 10:27

You should be out of the airport maybe 5/5.30.

Lodhi gardens is a good choice. You can keep some early walkers company.

A drive down Rajpath/India gate after that is a good option.

Breakfast places will start opening later... except for coffee shops in upmarket hotels.

Keep in mind that it will be very cold, though. Temperatures are forecast to drop in the next few days.

The other problem you will have is that a normal prepaid cab will not be available for a tour- they operate point to point. But perhaps 'radiocabs' will work- look up shashank's thread on this forum.

Edit

Radio Cabs / Dial-a-Cab in Delhi

guioom · Jan 30th, 2008, 10:50

Thanks a lot for this first answer!

Very cold like what? 5-10°C?

And another naive question: after a quiet stroll in Lodi gardens, couldn't I simply grab a cab outside the gates, for the drive down Rajpath and on to the hotel?
Just wondering...

Guioom

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 30th, 2008, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by guioom

Thanks a lot for this first answer!

Very cold like what? 5-10°C?

Delhi is expected to touch 0'C this Friday, and these days morning temperatures are hovering below 5'C..

To add to there would be almost no light before 7 AM..

Quote:

Originally Posted by guioom

And another naive question: after a quiet stroll in Lodi gardens, couldn't I simply grab a cab outside the gates, for the drive down Rajpath and on to the hotel?
Just wondering...

No you cannot, you might get an Auto Rickshaw, however that might be too uncomfortable at that hour..and you cannot flag a taxi or cab in Delhi..

capt_mahajan · Jan 30th, 2008, 11:01

Yes, it will be dark at Lodhi Gardens, but even in the cold, a few early morning walkers will probably be around.

Maybe the best thing would be to eat first at a coffee shop, and then drive around.

Cabs outside Lodhi gardens.. not cruising, as Shashank says, but there are some 'taxi stands' not too far, towards Jor Bagh- though for a first timer, at that time, with family, finding them may be difficult. Wonder if the radio cab is an option again, I don't know since have never used one.

jyotirmoy · Jan 30th, 2008, 11:26

If you can reach Lodhi garden on your own why do you need a pick up by the hotel? Take a pre-paid cab to your hotel in south Delhi may be just 35 minutes drive. Freshen up, have brealfast and then hit the roads.
Hauz Khas, Lodi gardens will be open.
As bhai Shashank has pointed out it will be very cold & misty at dawn.

guioom · Jan 30th, 2008, 12:10

Well noted all your points, amigos.

I'm glad I asked those few questions on this forum today.
To sum it up:
- daylight starts at around 7AM
- early morning temperatures are 0-5°C these days
- coffee shops open around 7-8AM
- taxi stands hard to find for first-timers...

The option to drive directly to the hotel is definitely a wise one.
the only thing is that we booked a B&B and they don't really "open" before 8AM...

I'll think it over, but thanks again!

jyotirmoy · Jan 30th, 2008, 12:24

What do you mean by really "open"? Ok breakfast and other services may begin at 8 AM but wouldn't they open the doors for a guest at 6 or 6:30 AM? If they are in the hospitality business they should. Have you spoken or exchanged e-mail with the guys running this B&B? Where is it located?

mani · Jan 30th, 2008, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyotirmoy

What do you mean by really "open"? Ok breakfast and other services may begin at 8 AM but wouldn't they open the doors for a guest at 6 or 6:30 AM? If they are in the hospitality business they should. Have you spoken or exchanged e-mail with the guys running this B&B? Where is it located?

That was my first thought when I read that the hotel could not arrange a pick up at the airport before 8 AM.

Any good & reasonable place will accept the guest at any time of day & night. If the rooms are not ready they atleast have the facility to store the guest luggage, a cloak room where the guest can freshen up.

We arrived in Ludhiana at 4 AM and walked into a hotel close to the railway station and were promplty attended to.

I suggest that you check your B&B further.

all the best & remember to bring your woolens

Mani

guioom · Feb 14th, 2008, 07:42

Guys,
I'm back from the trip, so here's what we finally did.
We arrived at the airport at 4AM, took our time and left it at 6AM, taking a pre-paid taxi to Lodi gardens.
Once there, we got out of the cab, although the driver was telling us "no room here"!
And we went for a gentle stroll around it, coming across a few joggers, a couple of stray dogs too, and listening to crowds of birds.
But the best was watching the monuments there as the sky was going from dark to blue.
It was a little chilly, true, but nothing too bad.
After a couple of hours, we went looking for the nearest taxi stand, and got a cab to our B&B.
All in all, a perfect experience, one of the highlights of this trip. among others.

Thanks again for your help!
Guillaume

Alohaguy · Feb 14th, 2008, 10:05

Thanks for the feedback!
Write some more about your trip when you have time.

brownboy66 · Feb 14th, 2008, 10:39

Have to say Delhi is just lovely this morning. Temp would be around the 10-15 degree mark, sun is shining (streaming in through the windows at home) - and for the past couple of weeks there has been a slight breeze around midday - afternoon making sure the haze is kept at bay. On days like this Delhi really is a beautiful city.

Jan 30th, 2008, 10:21	#1
guioom Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 5	Delhi - early morning: sightseeing? Hi, I'm arriving at Delhi airport early on Monday (4AM) with my wife and kid. The hotel we booked cannot arrange pickup before 8AM, so instead of waiting for them, I'm thinking to just take a cab to some "peaceful" place and have some kind of breakfast around there, before getting to the hotel later in the morning. The hotel is in SOuth delhi, so I was thinking of places like Lodi gardens, or Purana Qila, as they seem to open early in the morning, at sunset. I would like to hear your advice on the feasability of this, as it's my first time in Delhi... Any recommendation? Thanks, Guioom

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Jan 30th, 2008, 10:27	#2
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,864	You should be out of the airport maybe 5/5.30. Lodhi gardens is a good choice. You can keep some early walkers company. A drive down Rajpath/India gate after that is a good option. Breakfast places will start opening later... except for coffee shops in upmarket hotels. Keep in mind that it will be very cold, though. Temperatures are forecast to drop in the next few days. The other problem you will have is that a normal prepaid cab will not be available for a tour- they operate point to point. But perhaps 'radiocabs' will work- look up shashank's thread on this forum. Edit Radio Cabs / Dial-a-Cab in Delhi

Jan 30th, 2008, 10:50	#3
guioom Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 5	Thanks a lot for this first answer! Very cold like what? 5-10°C? And another naive question: after a quiet stroll in Lodi gardens, couldn't I simply grab a cab outside the gates, for the drive down Rajpath and on to the hotel? Just wondering... Guioom

Jan 30th, 2008, 11:01	#5
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,864	Yes, it will be dark at Lodhi Gardens, but even in the cold, a few early morning walkers will probably be around. Maybe the best thing would be to eat first at a coffee shop, and then drive around. Cabs outside Lodhi gardens.. not cruising, as Shashank says, but there are some 'taxi stands' not too far, towards Jor Bagh- though for a first timer, at that time, with family, finding them may be difficult. Wonder if the radio cab is an option again, I don't know since have never used one.

Jan 30th, 2008, 11:26	#6
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,722	If you can reach Lodhi garden on your own why do you need a pick up by the hotel? Take a pre-paid cab to your hotel in south Delhi may be just 35 minutes drive. Freshen up, have brealfast and then hit the roads. Hauz Khas, Lodi gardens will be open. As bhai Shashank has pointed out it will be very cold & misty at dawn.

Jan 30th, 2008, 12:10	#7
guioom Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 5	Well noted all your points, amigos. I'm glad I asked those few questions on this forum today. To sum it up: - daylight starts at around 7AM - early morning temperatures are 0-5°C these days - coffee shops open around 7-8AM - taxi stands hard to find for first-timers... The option to drive directly to the hotel is definitely a wise one. the only thing is that we booked a B&B and they don't really "open" before 8AM... I'll think it over, but thanks again!

Jan 30th, 2008, 12:24	#8
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,722	What do you mean by really "open"? Ok breakfast and other services may begin at 8 AM but wouldn't they open the doors for a guest at 6 or 6:30 AM? If they are in the hospitality business they should. Have you spoken or exchanged e-mail with the guys running this B&B? Where is it located?

Feb 14th, 2008, 07:42	#10
guioom Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 5	Guys, I'm back from the trip, so here's what we finally did. We arrived at the airport at 4AM, took our time and left it at 6AM, taking a pre-paid taxi to Lodi gardens. Once there, we got out of the cab, although the driver was telling us "no room here"! And we went for a gentle stroll around it, coming across a few joggers, a couple of stray dogs too, and listening to crowds of birds. But the best was watching the monuments there as the sky was going from dark to blue. It was a little chilly, true, but nothing too bad. After a couple of hours, we went looking for the nearest taxi stand, and got a cab to our B&B. All in all, a perfect experience, one of the highlights of this trip. among others. Thanks again for your help! Guillaume

Feb 14th, 2008, 10:05	#11
Alohaguy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hawaii USA , Now living in Japan Posts: 170	Thanks for the feedback! Write some more about your trip when you have time.

Feb 14th, 2008, 10:39	#12
brownboy66 Chicken 65 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,330	Have to say Delhi is just lovely this morning. Temp would be around the 10-15 degree mark, sun is shining (streaming in through the windows at home) - and for the past couple of weeks there has been a slight breeze around midday - afternoon making sure the haze is kept at bay. On days like this Delhi really is a beautiful city.

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