Metro Vs Autorickshaw

Koizi

I will be staying in the Karol Bagh area (Hotel Classic) and was wondering whether it is quicker to take the metro or a rickshaw to the old city/central sites.

I imagine I would want to take both at least once but for general travel what is the prefered option.

From looking at the map, I think I am withing short walking distance of the Karol Bagh metro station.

Amalfi

Most certainly the Metro

Rs 8 to Connaught place (Rajiv Chowk) - 5 minutes

Rs 12 to Chandni Chowk - 10 minutes ( For Red Fort / Jama Masjid - both are within walking distance).You have to change lines at Rajiv Chowk station

Rs 11 to Cental secretariat - 10 minutes ( For Presidential Palace and India Gate - The Palace (Rashtrapati Bhavan) is 100m from the station , India Gate - 1km walking ) You have to change lines at Rajiv Chowk.

mridula

And no bargaining involved on the metro, something you would certainly do with the auto rickshaw guy.

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Mridula

Travel Tales from India

shashank.aggarwal

Metro, anyday.

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Spineless

Travelogue - Around India

Manzey

Metro....
Its fast and you can be sure that you are not getting conned. Karol bagh to CP is 8 bucks by metro, but in auto might cost u Rs 35-40 and maybe more for a foreigner.

Cheers!

edwardseco

What! and miss all the street fumes and accidents? You haven't lived till you have rolled in an auto. Leather isn't just a fashion statement..

puchoo

metro for this circuit , but yes the auto is definitely worth a try as well...

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Koizi

Thanks for the replies all,

To ask a more specific question as well....

We arrive in Delhi on monday at 1:45pm. Assuming we are back at the hotel by 3:30-4:00, would there still be sufficient time to get a quick late afternoon peek at the old city.
In this case which mode (ignoring the finances) would be the most efficient.

Also, assuming we had dinner in the old city and returned after sundown, which would be safer? presumably the rickshaw?

fsg

Is there a current[2008/12] map of the lines which are now operating, and in[foreigners parlance] CP station, Karol Bagh and the S malls with good bookshops etc. I presume PH 1 is finished and 2 ongoing

Its a small price to pay in INR for stress free travel.

Is Niazamudden on thr metro?

Thanks

Amalfi

It starts to get dark from 5 - 5.15 pm nowadays in Delhi , so it's waste of time to make a trip to Old Delhi after 4 pm.Suggest going to Connaught Place in the evening which is usually open till 8 pm in the evening . Of course the host of restaurants , fast food joints and pubs will be open late into the night. Also Connaught Place is likely to be lit up with thousands of light bulbs during Christmas / New Year and is usually throbbing with people during the evenings.

Also why do you presume that the Metro is unsafe after sundown ? On the contrary , Delhi Metro is one of the most highly guarded safe zones in the city and is running till 10.30 - 11 pm.Taking an autorickshaw at night from Old Delhi to Karol Bagh should be avoided ,if possible.

Amalfi

fsg - www.delhimetrorail.com has a route map

Line 1 - Rithala to Dilshad Garden operational
Line 2 - Vishwa vidyalaya to Central Sectt operational
Line 3 - Dwarka to Indraprastha operational

All other routes are either under construction or proposed.

Karol Bagh and R K Ashram ( for Paharganj) are on line 3 . CP (Rajiv Chowk) is the junction between line 2 and 3. New Delhi Railway Station and Chandni Chowk are on line 2.

For Malls - take metro to Rajouri Garden station on line 3 ( 20 minutes on metro from CP). 4-5 malls are operational at the Shivaji Place District Centre where the Rajouri garden station is located . Malls are - City Square , Westgate Mall , Paragon Mall , TDI centre and Shoppers Stop.Check them up on Wikipedia- Shivaji Place. Most malls have food courts- City Square's is the best. Paragon mall has a multiplex - Waves where you can catch a movie. Between the above malls most of the Departmental Stores/ Hypermarkets / Branded goods available in India is covered. The best is Westgate mall which has the best choice of stores.

There are a host of other great malls elsewhere in Delhi but not on the Metro line yet

Koizi

I am hoping we get to the hotel quicker, but was intersted in dinner at either Karim's or Moti Mahal.
Are you refering to that fact that the markets will be closed or is it not a good idea to be in the old city after dark?
I thought maybe Jama Masjid might look nice around sunset?

Amalfi

If you want to "see" Jama Masjid and Red Fort , there may not be enough time as it will be dark by 5.30 pm and you will be rushing around. However, if you want to experience the atmosphere of Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk, I guess you could do that after dark as well as most of the shops stay open quite late.

As regards safety, Old Delhi is as safe as any part of Delhi. Also, taking an autorickshaw at night is not really that big a deal as Delhites do that all the time. However, you had asked which was "safer" , hence the recommendation of the Metro purely as a comparison.

Koizi

Understand, thanks.

By "see" I meant literally that.

Of course the following day will be for proper exploration of the sights of the old city.

We just like to hit the ground running.

Appreciate all the advice.

fsg

Thanks Amalfi. V good info. Looking mainly for books, not food etc tho interested to see what is available.

I take it that Niazamudden is not on the metro links, so best to get a prepaid auto


Thanks again
F