Delhi - The City of Djinns
     
There are only a few cities in the world which leave backpackers totally spellbound. There is something so magical about them, which leaves them totally captivated.
Delhi is one such city, which mesmerizes backpackers with its historical background and rich cultural heritage. The city, which according to legend was the capital city of the Pandavas in The Historical Epic ‘Mahabharata’, has also served as the center of kingdoms ranging from the Mauryan Dynasty to the Mughal Empire.

It is the capital of the present day Republic of India.

Modes of Transport

Train Stations and Airports

Delhi, situated in the north of India, is extremely well connected with the rest of the country. The city is accessible from all parts of the country, through rail, road and air.
Indira Gandhi Airport connects the city to the rest of the India and world. It is one of the busiest airports in South Asia. The city serves as the head of the northern railways and is also a major junction. New Delhi railway station in central Delhi, Nizamuddin railway station in south Delhi, Old Delhi railway station in north Delhi, and Sarai Rohilla station in west Delhi are the four main railway stations.

Buses

The easiest and the most inexpensive way to travel in Delhi for backpackers is by bus.
The bus network connects the city to cities in outskirts too like Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida. Kashmiri Gate inter-state bus terminal in northern Delhi, Anand Vihar inter-state bus terminal in Trans-Yamuna area and the Dhaula Kuan inter-state bus terminal in southern Delhi connect the city to other parts of the country.

Metro

The newly introduced Delhi Metro has proved to be a major boon for the city by taking care of the city’s traffic problems to a considerable extent and by providing a cheap, eco friendly mode of transport. There are cheap passes/tickets available which are best while backpacking in Delhi.

Cuisines of Delhi

Delhi also serves as the culinary capital of India. The city’s cuisine bears a strong influence of the erstwhile Mughal era. When in Delhi, treat your self to the lip smacking butter chicken at the Moti-Mahal restaurant, and other delicacies in the Jama Masjid area.

The chaat at Chandani-Chowk is to die for. Be sure to go to the ‘Nataraj’ Dahi bhallewala and Haldiram for mouth watering chaat. Paranthewali Gali boasts of the ever popular aloo parantha and the unique Rabri Paranthas.

Owing to the cosmopolitan nature of the city, all kinds of Indian as well international cuisines can be found here. Go to Sagar Ratna for delicious South Indian Food, Rodeo in Connaught Place serves excellent Mexican cuisine, and Majnu ka Tilla near Delhi University for some scrumptious momos.

For the popular north Indian dish chole-bhature, pay a visit to Chache Ke Chole Bhature in Kamala Nagar Market.

Places to shop in New Delhi

Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Janpath, G.K., Lajpat Nagar markets are prime shopping destinations. You get everything under the sun here. Go to the state emporiums located on Baba Kharak Singh Marg for authentic Indian artifacts. Visit Palika Bazaar in C.P. for all kinds of electronic goods. Janpath is very popular amongst foreign tourists for all kinds of knick-knacks.

Places to see in Delhi

    * Red Fort in old Delhi
    * Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in C.P.
    * India Gate
    * The Bahai Temple in South Delhi
    * Birla Mandir in central Delhi
    * Jama Masjid in north Delhi
    * Qutub Minar in South Delhi
    * Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Safadarjung Tomb bear clear imprints of the Mughal Architecture and the first three are World Heritage Sites.
    * The recently constructed Akshardham Temple in East Delhi is world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple. Be sure to pay a visit to all these places.

Delhi is one of the few cities in the world which has such a long drawn history. It has been the battle ground of various empires. It has served as the capital of the British Empire in India. All these incidents have left an imprint on this city, which makes it truly remarkable and distinguished from other places. It is the only place where rickshaws, a bullock cart and a Mercedes-Benz run on the same road.

So come to Delhi to be enchanted and mesmerized.

Article by Rucheeka Chhugani

An Indian Backpacker