Delhi

Sensible Traveler’s Hot Take

Life in Technicolor! That’s the way the Sensible Traveler describes Delhi. Let’s be honest, Delhi wasn’t at the top of places to visit. It’s crowded, the air can be hard to breathe, I’ve never loved Indian food and it can be so very hot depending on the time of year. The only reason Delhi was on the Sensible Traveler’s list of places to visit was because it’s close to the Taj Mahal, and the Taj Mahal is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World (everyone should try to visit the 7 Wonders of the world in their life, if possible). But Delhi is worth a visit and you know the Sensible Traveler wouldn’t be telling you to put it near the top of your list if it wasn’t true (i.e. see Marrakesh).

The food is incredible and relatively inexpensive. I use to avoid Indian food but after visiting I’m generally excited to eat Indian food on a consistent basis although I still don’t know what to order beyond Butter Chicken because there are too many options! While many don’t know English in the city, local residents are very friendly and often interested in foreigners. Last, as the capital of India the city has a rich cultural heritage. And while it can be a challenge to get around the city due to bad traffic, walking works (watch out for cars!) and there is a metro that is useful sometimes. However, the easiest mode of transportation is Uber and it is super cheap compared to other parts of the world. Be prepared for extreme poverty in some parts and cows walking on the road (cows are sacred) but this is all part of what makes travel here so worthwhile. The sensible traveler certainly needs to have Delhi on their bucket list and it should probably be higher on your list than you think!

Top Things to Do in Delhi:

1. Red Fort
   1. You must visit this Unesco heritage site. It will be very busy and you likely will not learn much of the significance of the fort but it’s worth a visit.
2. Raj Ghat
   1. It’s pretty close to the Red Fort and is an impressive memorial to Ghandi.
3. Day trip to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
   1. The Taj is only a 2 hour train ride from Delhi and well worth it. Most efficient to get a guide/driver for the day which will not break the bank as tourist services are relatively cheap and will ensure you get to see as much as possible.
      • There’s really no need to actually stay a night in Agra as there isn’t much to do there beyond the Taj and Agra Fort which makes it an ideal day trip from Delhi.
4. Visit to the Lotus Temple
   1. It’s an impressive place of worship to see and they allow you to go inside but you’ll have to take your shoes off!
5. Swing by Humayun’s Tomb
   1. Beautiful tomb in the heart of the city surrounded by lush gardens and forest.
6. End your trip by flying to Goa and spending a few days on the beach
   1. After a few days in the sensory overloaded city of Delhi, a sensible traveler hops on a cheap flight on a local airline down to Goa, decompresses on a beach for a few days and takes advantage of free coolers to keep their drinks cooled before heading back to reality.

Food to Eat in Delhi:

1. Just because you may not like Indian food at your local restaurant doesn’t mean you’ll not like it in India. The Sensible Traveler began to love Indian food after a visit to Delhi.
2. Some good beginner Indian foods are:
   • Butter Chicken – no explanation needed
   • Biryani – rice cooked with meat or veggies
   • Samosas – deep-fried dough
   • Tandoori Chicken – chicken marinated in yogurt and then grilled
   • Chana Masla – Vegetarian dish made with chickpeas
3. If you’re into beer you’ll be drinking a lot of Kingfisher beer as the craft beer scene is limited.
4. Food can be found for very cheap (we’re talking a few US dollars or less), but you’ll want to be cautious with street food as your stomach may not be used to how the locals prepare food.
5. If you want to *splurge you can’t go wrong with Indian Accent which is consistently ranked as one of Asia’s best restaurants.
   • *Even though this is one of the best meals that the Sensible Traveler has ever had it’s relatively affordable compared to a similar meal in other parts of the world.
     • Bonus sensible traveling points if you do the tasting meal at lunch to cut down on costs.
     • This is a place where the vegetarian tasting menu was better than the non-vegetarian option.

Value:

1. Food is very affordable compared to many other parts of the world.
2. Accommodations certainly vary in range. As always, the Sensible Traveler recommends finding a place on www.booking.com with a good “Cleanliness” rating.
   • While you should consider staying somewhere near the Red Fort or Raj Humayun’s Tomb, don’t be too concerned with location as Uber’s are cheap to get around (but traffic can be nasty)! As always, the Sensible Traveler recommends walking as much as possible if you’re able to.
3. Air India is the national airline and has many direct flights to destinations around the world. However, the airline is dated, the planes are “tired” and the food is mediocre. While Air India is certainly likely going to be the cheapest way to get to Delhi, it’s likely not the most enjoyable and you’ll need to consider if it’s worth the extra money to take another airline.
   • The Sensible Traveler took Air India and had the pleasure of witnessing a belligerent passenger get tackled by two flight attendants, zip-tied to the seat and escorted off the plane by the military when we landed. It was wild!
4. If you’re feeling overwhelmed there are plenty of day guides who will take you around the city at affordable rates.
5. Be mindful of the time of season you’re visiting as it can be very hot and/or very polluted. The Sensible Traveler found that late November was a good time to travel as temperatures were not too hot, the holiday travel crowds are not too bad yet and the rainy season had ended. However, we’re told that the air has the potential to be extra polluted this time of year as local farmers are burning off crops from the previous growing season. The air is always bad in Delhi but it can be extra bad certain times of year so you’ll need to be sensitive to that.

Time Needed: 3 Full Days (includes taking a day trip to the Taj Mahal)

Any other Sensible Travel tips for Delhi? Leave a comment below to help your fellow travelers!