ENTERTAINMENT
The strict concession regulations in Delhi are certainly not conducive to the city's nightlife. Bars and discos operate only in 5-star hotels. The Jazz Bar at the Sheraton is good, where live jazz concerts take place every evening; drinks are very expensive here – beer costs money 170 INR! Discos are elite and usually only open to hotel guests. It is certainly easier for couples and women to get involved, than single men.
Indian dance can be seen at Parsi Anjuman Hall, Bahadur Zafar Marg, in front of the Ambedkar stadium; information at no. 3317831. Regular dance performances also take place at the India International Center (4619431), Max Mueller Marg 40.
There are many cinemas around Connaught Place, but commercial films are usually shown. The British Council has more ambitious Western cinema (03710111), Kasturba Gandhi Marg. It is worth checking out other cultural centers.
SHOPPING
You can buy silk in Delhi, Gems, the skin, wood products and practically everything, which sells all over India. Coming to Delhi, worth looking around, what to look for when traveling in the subcontinent. If Delhi is the last place you visit before flying home, it's easy to replenish your purchases here, which we did not do while traveling.
In New Delhi, near Connaught Place, na Dźanpath, the main shopping mall for handicrafts is located (Central Cottage Industries Emporium). The building has solid quality products from all over India at moderate prices, m.in. woodcut products, copper and brass products, pictures, Clothes, fabrics, and even furniture. Along Baba Kharak Singh Marg (Artery 2) there are many shopping centers, subordinate to individual states. Each store offers handicrafts from its state. There are many different shops around Connaught Place and Janpath. Carpets, jewelery and antiques (often only in name) Tibetan refugees and greedy Kashmiri are selling, mainly in small shops and booths at the Imperial Hotel.
The famous shopping center of Old Delhi is Chandni Chauk (Chandni Chowk – Moon square). You can buy carpets and jewelry here. It is best to venture into the labyrinth of streets departing from Chandni Chauk. The peculiarity of one of them, Contingent Remainder, there is a perfume trade (good ones).
Also at the Main Bazaar, and Pahargańdźu, you can do good shopping. It's worth looking for a perfume, oils, soaps or incense sticks. The latter are bought in two marked places, next to Vivek Hotel and close to Camran Lodge. Please note, Monday is a day off at the Main Bazaar. In fact, many shops are open all week. Pahargańju is very crowded on Sunday.
In recent years, the Karol Bagh Market shopping center, along Panchkukin Marg (Artery 3), 2 km west of Connaught Place, has become more visited than Connaught Place or Main Bazaar.
The Sunder Nagar Market Mall is a group of antiques stores, copper and brass products. Prices are high, but high-quality products. The center is located south of Purana Kila (Old Fort), near Zakir Hussain Rd, in front of Hotel Oberoi New Delhi. High-class hotels also have their shops, and the quality of the products goes hand in hand with the prices in force here.
Opposite the Ashok Hotel on Chanakjapuri, pod man, inside the gate leading to the New Wellington Air Force Unit (!), houses the Santushti shopping complex. There are small elegant boutiques with various products, very expensive.
The Hauz Chas area in the south of Delhi is also interesting, albeit a small shopping mall.
TRAVELING
Delhi is the main gateway to India (for details on overseas travel to India, see the introductory chapter: Traveling). At certain times, international flights from Delhi may be fully booked. So it's a good idea to book in advance. This is especially true for non-European flights, for which you get a very large discount. The reservation must be confirmed twice and made sure, that the ticket has been validated for the correct flight.
Delhi is also a hub for an extensive national transport network, including the bus stop, rail and air.
Airplane Domestic flight terminal (Terminal I of the international airport. Indiry Ghandi) is located 7 km from the city center, and a newer terminal for international flights (Terminal II) still 2 km away.
At New Delhi airport, in the international arrivals lobby, 24/7 currency exchange offices operate, State Bank of India oraz Thomas Cook. You should go there after customs and passport clearance, for there is no way from the opposite direction. Service in exchange offices is fast and efficient.
Many international flights depart and depart from Delhi very early in the morning. Be careful on your first trip to India, especially if you are tired of the flight. In case of morning departure from Delhi, you must book a taxi the previous afternoon, because it is difficult to find at night (in the Accommodation chapter – the cheapest; other information about retiring rooms – at the airport).
When you depart Delhi with Air India (both domestic flights, as well as international), all luggage must be x-rayed and marked. This should be done before queuing for check-in; the luggage scanner is located inside the departure lounge. Also before check-in, for international flights, you must pay the airport tax at the State Bank exchange office, in the departure lounge.
There is a terrible snack bar at the international airport, bookstore and bank, and a few duty free shops inside the departures lounge, usually with high prices, and a second monster snack bar, where you pay in dollars. The Ashok restaurant operating here has probably the worst cuisine in the whole of India.
Delhi Transport Corporation buses provide a connection between the terminals too 10 INR, and the IAAI bus does it for free. The EATS bus also runs here.