mad dash in Delhi - 3 hours to sightsee - suggestions please!

zippy · Mar 16th, 2008, 13:12

Hi all

I have the following itinerary next week which includes Delhi. Your suggestions and advice are much appreciated.

Thursday - arrive Delhi domestic 2300 (11pm), pre-booked car waiting to take us to hotel on Connaught Place.

Friday - have flight to Jodhpur at 1205. I'm thinking I need to be at the aiport by 1105? How long will it take me to get from city to airport at that time (using a pre-booked car)?

Part II of question... if we can be ready to leave the hotel at 7am and I have the car standing by, what route should we take to see some sights before we need to head off to the airport? I'm guessing we'll have two or three hours at the most, and appreciate not a lot will be open, but my travelling companion is happy to take pictures. Is there somewhere cool we should have brekky?

My friend would also like to see the Government Emporium which opens at 930. Can we squeeze in any time there before having to leave for the airport?

Appreciate this is far too little time to see Delhi but this is the only time we had spare while waiting for a connection. It is also the first and last time we will be in Delhi.

With thanks in advance.

zipzip.

bijapuri · Mar 16th, 2008, 13:47

Me, I'd forget the emporium. Anyway, Jodhpur has no end of stuff to buy. Your only safe bet is to stop in at Humayun's tomb, which is on the way to the airport. Allow 30 minutes from there to the airport. And get to the airport 2 hours early, if you really want to catch your plane.

brownboy66 · Mar 16th, 2008, 14:01

Hi Zippy, and welcome to IM.

That's a fairly tight schedule but should still be doable. At 7am in the morning there isn't going to be a lot open (including breakfast places) - except over by the railway station perhaps? Depending on the kind of food you want to eat - it may pay to have something at your hotel, or another hotel - to give yourself more time to sight see. One place that is good early in the morning is Lodi Gardens or Nehru Park. The only other people around will be walkers, joggers, etc - and the flora, fauna is quite nice at sunrise.

Most of the monuments wont be open until 9, maybe 10am - so if your looking to go to the emporium then most of those wont be of much use. If you get to the emporium by 9.30 and give yourself and hour - then that should work out about right for getting to the domestic terminal (allowing enough time for traffic along the way and any possible delays at the airport). Or as Bijapuri suggested - forget the emporium and go to one of the monuments (of which Humayuns tomb would be my pick as well).

I'm a bit stuck for ideas - so hopefully one of the other Delhi regulars might be able to help out.

happy travels.

bijapuri · Mar 16th, 2008, 14:33

on second thought, if you hate being rushed half as much as I do . . .try this instead- just pop over to the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place, which is across the street from the state emporiums, and people watch till the stores open. Why try to cram? DEFINITELY arrange for breakfast at your hotel, which is usually very easy to do.

And don't be surprised if it take hours later than you think to get out of that supercilious airport and into your hotel!

zippy · Mar 16th, 2008, 14:33

Thanks for the quick replies. I think i will take the advice and skip the emporium in Delhi, will go to the one in Jodhpur.

I look forward to hearing what other posters might have to offer.

One point of clarification - how long to get to the domestic airport and check-in? Is everyone suggesting I need to be there two hours in advance? (have been lucky enough to score business class tickets!)

And travel time from delhi - 1 hour?

Regards

zippy

jyotirmoy · Mar 17th, 2008, 12:14

From CP to airport will be 45 minutes drive. Note that you will be travelling in peak rush hour.
Ask the cab driver to drive you around the India gate and President's house.
Due to rush and security reasons airlines request passengers to come to airport 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to departure time but reaching one hour before the SDT is ok.

puchoo · Mar 17th, 2008, 12:21

Which dates are you taking about when u mention Thursday... the reason i ask is that the coming Friday i.e the 21st is a holiday which impacts travel time...dont worry it reduces it

CP to the airport should however be still taken as a 45 minute drive though it can be done in under 30 minutes as well since the route is slightly shorter.

Holi could also translate into some shops being shut..atleast for a while in the morning, and it might not be the best idea to be "walking around" and be a willing target to the thousands on baloons, water pistols etc which will be doing the rounds that day!

Jupiter · Mar 17th, 2008, 19:13

As you will be going to domestic airport departure terminal, from Connaught Place to there, it can take 45-50 minutes. Try to be there 1.30 Hrs before departure time, not to take any chances.

You can ask your Cabbie to take you to India Gate.......take a stroll around the simple and yet very elegant structure.....walk around the nicely maintainled lawns........you can even do a bit of boating there if you want.

From there, you can ask him to take you to airport via Chanakyapuri. So you can see the majestic area that has most of the Embassies, widest Delhi roads, nice greenery all around........and off to Airport.

Forget Emporiums in this sort of time constraint where you should be at the airport by 10.30 A.M.!

Alternatively.........just take a stroll around Connaught place which is a lovely, circular market place. In the center of circle, is the Metro station which has a beautifully maintained park. Enjoy the morning walk......see if any of the shops of your interest are open........you can have a look opposite Rivoli Cinema and all State EMporiums are there. Be there by 9.00 AM and see if any one is open. If it is, give yourself an hour and check around!

Try to be at the airport by 10.45 at the most!

deeps79 · Mar 17th, 2008, 19:58

Qutab minar opens around 7 AM. I have shot it last yr around 7 AM. It would be little off the way from your route but if you start early and reach there by 7:30-8 and spend an hour there. you can start by 9 and reach airport cofortably in 30mins from there. Moreover Fri would be a holiday here in Delhi cuz of Good Friday, so there wont be much traffic in the morning too.

Also, If you have business class tickets and not carrying much then you should go for Web-check in or Tele-Check in to save some time.

Mar 16th, 2008, 13:12	#1
zippy Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 5	mad dash in Delhi - 3 hours to sightsee - suggestions please! Hi all I have the following itinerary next week which includes Delhi. Your suggestions and advice are much appreciated. Thursday - arrive Delhi domestic 2300 (11pm), pre-booked car waiting to take us to hotel on Connaught Place. Friday - have flight to Jodhpur at 1205. I'm thinking I need to be at the aiport by 1105? How long will it take me to get from city to airport at that time (using a pre-booked car)? Part II of question... if we can be ready to leave the hotel at 7am and I have the car standing by, what route should we take to see some sights before we need to head off to the airport? I'm guessing we'll have two or three hours at the most, and appreciate not a lot will be open, but my travelling companion is happy to take pictures. Is there somewhere cool we should have brekky? My friend would also like to see the Government Emporium which opens at 930. Can we squeeze in any time there before having to leave for the airport? Appreciate this is far too little time to see Delhi but this is the only time we had spare while waiting for a connection. It is also the first and last time we will be in Delhi. With thanks in advance. zipzip.

Mar 16th, 2008, 13:47	#2
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	Me, I'd forget the emporium. Anyway, Jodhpur has no end of stuff to buy. Your only safe bet is to stop in at Humayun's tomb, which is on the way to the airport. Allow 30 minutes from there to the airport. And get to the airport 2 hours early, if you really want to catch your plane. __________________ 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

Mar 17th, 2008, 12:21	#7
puchoo Forum Leader Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 4,078	Which dates are you taking about when u mention Thursday... the reason i ask is that the coming Friday i.e the 21st is a holiday which impacts travel time...dont worry it reduces it CP to the airport should however be still taken as a 45 minute drive though it can be done in under 30 minutes as well since the route is slightly shorter. Holi could also translate into some shops being shut..atleast for a while in the morning, and it might not be the best idea to be "walking around" and be a willing target to the thousands on baloons, water pistols etc which will be doing the rounds that day! __________________ Cheers! Sidharth Indiamike Mod team............the new kid on the block! puchoo.wordpress.com

Mar 17th, 2008, 19:13	#8
Jupiter Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Moscow Posts: 39	As you will be going to domestic airport departure terminal, from Connaught Place to there, it can take 45-50 minutes. Try to be there 1.30 Hrs before departure time, not to take any chances. You can ask your Cabbie to take you to India Gate.......take a stroll around the simple and yet very elegant structure.....walk around the nicely maintainled lawns........you can even do a bit of boating there if you want. From there, you can ask him to take you to airport via Chanakyapuri. So you can see the majestic area that has most of the Embassies, widest Delhi roads, nice greenery all around........and off to Airport. Forget Emporiums in this sort of time constraint where you should be at the airport by 10.30 A.M.! Alternatively.........just take a stroll around Connaught place which is a lovely, circular market place. In the center of circle, is the Metro station which has a beautifully maintained park. Enjoy the morning walk......see if any of the shops of your interest are open........you can have a look opposite Rivoli Cinema and all State EMporiums are there. Be there by 9.00 AM and see if any one is open. If it is, give yourself an hour and check around! Try to be at the airport by 10.45 at the most! __________________ *Travel this year ...........coz next year , you will have an year less* to discover new People & Places!!!!**

Mar 17th, 2008, 19:58	#9
deeps79 A Travelling Photographer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 131	Qutab minar opens around 7 AM. I have shot it last yr around 7 AM. It would be little off the way from your route but if you start early and reach there by 7:30-8 and spend an hour there. you can start by 9 and reach airport cofortably in 30mins from there. Moreover Fri would be a holiday here in Delhi cuz of Good Friday, so there wont be much traffic in the morning too. Also, If you have business class tickets and not carrying much then you should go for Web-check in or Tele-Check in to save some time. __________________ My Photoblog : http://photocurry.blogspot.com My Flickr Site : http://flickr.com/photos/happysoul/

Mar 16th, 2008, 14:01	#3
brownboy66 Chicken 65 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,290	Hi Zippy, and welcome to IM. That's a fairly tight schedule but should still be doable. At 7am in the morning there isn't going to be a lot open (including breakfast places) - except over by the railway station perhaps? Depending on the kind of food you want to eat - it may pay to have something at your hotel, or another hotel - to give yourself more time to sight see. One place that is good early in the morning is Lodi Gardens or Nehru Park. The only other people around will be walkers, joggers, etc - and the flora, fauna is quite nice at sunrise. Most of the monuments wont be open until 9, maybe 10am - so if your looking to go to the emporium then most of those wont be of much use. If you get to the emporium by 9.30 and give yourself and hour - then that should work out about right for getting to the domestic terminal (allowing enough time for traffic along the way and any possible delays at the airport). Or as Bijapuri suggested - forget the emporium and go to one of the monuments (of which Humayuns tomb would be my pick as well). I'm a bit stuck for ideas - so hopefully one of the other Delhi regulars might be able to help out. happy travels.

Mar 16th, 2008, 14:33	#4
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	on second thought, if you hate being rushed half as much as I do . . .try this instead- just pop over to the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place, which is across the street from the state emporiums, and people watch till the stores open. Why try to cram? DEFINITELY arrange for breakfast at your hotel, which is usually very easy to do. And don't be surprised if it take hours later than you think to get out of that supercilious airport and into your hotel!

Mar 17th, 2008, 12:14	#6
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	From CP to airport will be 45 minutes drive. Note that you will be travelling in peak rush hour. Ask the cab driver to drive you around the India gate and President's house. Due to rush and security reasons airlines request passengers to come to airport 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to departure time but reaching one hour before the SDT is ok.

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