Delhi: Overview

The crowded, colourful and unruly heart of India.

Don't let your first impressions of Delhi stick like a sacred cow in a traffic jam: get behind the madcap façade and discover the inner peace of a city rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep with history and totally addictive to epicureans.

Both Old and New Delhi exert a beguiling charm on visitors. Lose yourself unwinding the secrets of the city's Mughal past in the labyrinthine streets of Old Delhi before emerging into the wide open spaces of imperial New Delhi, with its ordered governmental vistas and generous leafy avenues.

Travel Warning: Terror Alert

Foreigners should remain alert when travelling in Delhi, particularly when attending large public gatherings. Check out Safe Travel for updated government warnings or the Thorn Tree travel forum for some good advice from travellers.

severity: Mid-level alert

Fast Facts

Population

13,800,000

Currency

Name: Indian Rupee
Code: INR
Symbol: Rs

Electrical Plugs

European plug with two circular metal pins South African/Indian-style plug with two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin
230-240V 50Hz

Languages Spoken

Official: Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, Kashmiri, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu
Essential: English

Time Zones

GMT/UTC +5.5 

Country Dialing Code

+91

Weights & Measures

Metric

India - Free Guidebook Chapter

India - Pick & Mix Chapters

Download the free Getting Started chapter or buy individual chapters from our India guide, in our online Shop.
› Go to the India download page.

BLUELISTS blu,list to recommend a travel experience

View more Bluelists ›

Jump to Navigation

Shop Online

Advertisement

Book Your Trip

Travel insurance. Be covered by our recommended partner.

Compare & book flights from 100's of domestic & international airlines.

Hotels & Hostels

Booking hotels is simple with Lonely Planet. See our reviewed and recommended hotels in one place and book online. Browse hotels ›

Lonely Planet Newsletters

Updates, offers and inspiration - straight to your inbox.
Subscribe now ›

Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.

Lonely Planet