How to arrive in Delhi would’ve indeed been a mind boggling question in the times of Christopher Columbus. However, in today’s time, thanks to the internet revolution, Google and most importantly SaddiDilli.com, this question has already been answered n several times before on the net. Without trying to re-invent the wheel any further, I would want keep it as simple as possible and would only try to touch on the very elementary human aspect of this question and make it as elaborate as possible at the same time. But before I could go any further, I need to ask the very elementary question and that is, what kind of a traveler are you: Domestic or International.
If you are a Domestic (traveling from within India) traveler:
Depending on your distance from Dilli the answers about how to arrive in Delhi can differ, you can either catch a train, board a flight or simply travel through an Inter-State bus if you want to avoid the hassles of an advance booking and are the one off adventurous types and most importantly are willing to ignore the “jump like jack and break the back” kinda experiences encountered on the Indian roads (at times). Needless to mention that the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) has made a constant endeavor to improve the condition of our highways and have also commendably succeeded to a very large extent over the recent years in doing the same.
The buses from all over the North India arrive at any of the three Inter State Bus Terminals (ISBT’s). The oldest terminal is the Kashmere Gate Terminal and buses from Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand ply to and fro from here. Second in line is the Anand Vihar ISBT which was opened in 1993 and is a major railway station also. The Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminal is the third ISBT in Dilli and it was primarily built to decongest the Kashmere Gate ISBT in 2005 and today it caters to passengers heading to or coming from the states of Haryana and Rajasthan.
One can alternatively travel through trains and make the journey super comfortable. Indian railway is the biggest employer in the world and India has Asia’s biggest Rail network. Indian railways, promises to ensure a comfortable, safe, timely and a hassle free journey. There are five major railway stations in Dilli and many other railway stations on which local trains run day in and out. The five major stations are the New Delhi, Old Delhi, Sarai Rohilla, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Anand Vihar Station. Trains to all across India can be boarded from the designated station.
If you’d like to make your trip absolutely hassle free and super-duper comfortable, you can arrive in an airplane and land at either of the two arrivals of the plush Indira Gandhi International Airport. Terminal 1 or T1 which is the old terminal has been revamped to match the tastes of the international traveler and offers to excite almost all. The newly built Terminal 3 or T3 is the one where I would want my flight to land. T3 is managed and maintained with very high standards of security, professionalism and cleanliness and does not fail to add another feather to Saddi Dilli’s cap.
If you are an International (traveling from outside of India) traveler:
Options of getting into the city can be limited to entering through the Airport; however, arrival terminals can be different. The older one is Terminal 2 or T2 which also has been revamped, the inclination however remains with the T3.
After disembarking in the city, it is highly recommended that you have a pre-decided designated place to stay, however if for some reason you don’t, depending upon your budget you can head straight either to Paharganj or Karol Bagh (for economical travelers) or to any of the lavish five star properties that Dilli boasts of. Many of these properties are fairly new and have come up recently to cater to the commonwealth games which happened in Saddi Dilli in 2010.
Commuting within the city is easy and one can either choose to commute through the Delhi Metro or can hire a cab from either the call a cab companies or the good old yellow black taxis. For shorter distances one can even use the green CNG Autos that keep whizzing in and around Saddi Dilli. If you are opting for the auto or taxi don’t forget to bargain if they are not taking you by the meter. Hopefully, how to arrive in Delhi stands answered….
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