Getting Around, New Delhi Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(New Delhi, Delhi, India)



Photo of the city centre trafficNew Delhi is a major transport gateway into India and visitors will find a range of convenient and affordable travel options. The city is home to one of India's biggest airports, the New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, which can be easily reached by bus transport.

If you are intending to stay in New Delhi for a while, consider purchasing a 'Smart Card' or the 'Tourist Card', both of which offer good savings on local public transport. Many people choose to travel around in one of the city's iconic auto rickshaws, a small three-wheeled taxi which can nip through the traffic, although it can be rather bumpy at times. New Delhi's main public transport options are given below.


Picture taken at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) / Arriving by Air

Address: New Delhi, 110 037, India, IN
Tel: +91 011 565 2011
Located on the southern side of New Delhi and approximately 22 km / 14 miles from the city centre itself, Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is currently expanding, to cope with high demand. The airport will soon be expected to cope with passenger numbers of around 40 million per annum, making it one of India's most significant transport hubs. Air travel at New Delhi Airport is available for many international destinations, such as Austria, China, Dubai, France, England, Italy and Thailand. Ground transport currently includes bus transport, hotel shuttles, taxis and a number of limo companies, together with car rental firms.

Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) Guide

Picture of the road leading to the India Gate

Car Rental

Self-drive car hire is available at a number of locations around New Delhi, with a selection of car hire transport companies at both the nearby airport and the city's busy New Delhi train station. In general, most car rental firms hire vehicles for periods of three days or more. Many companies now also offer hire cars complete with drivers, which is often a particularly convenient travel option. The city centre is best avoided during rush hours, since congestion is commonplace.

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Buses and Coaches

Tel: +91 011 2386 8836
The main bus station in Delhi is the Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT), which is located at the Kashmiri Gate. Home to a range of state-government bus transport, the main transport companies operating within New Delhi include the Haryana Roadways, the Himachal Roadways, the Punjab Roadways and also the Delhi Transport Corporation. Bus tickets are extremely cheap and buses are a popular way to travel around the area, although on the downside, they can become rather crowded and rarely feature air conditioning. Additional blue-line bus transport is also available in New Delhi and these are privately run.

Trains

There are two main train stations located within the region, offering a fairly comprehensive transport network. The Old Delhi train station can be found sandwiched between both the Shyama Prasad (SP) Mukherjee Marg and the Zorawar Singh Marg, while the New Delhi train station stands to the south-west, off the Jawaharlal Nehru Merg and the Bhavbuti Road. Also worth noting is the Sarai Rohilla train station, which lies around 4 km / 2.5 miles to the north-west of Connaught Place. Trains often travel from New Delhi to Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur, amongst other locations.

Metro

The Delhi Metro offers a fast way to travel around New Delhi and comprises three lines. Metro transport is cheap, quick, convenient and an extremely popular way to reach your destination. A recent addition to the transport scene in New Delhi, the metro network opened in 2006 and allows you to travel to many parts of the city, such as Connaught Place, Old Delhi, the ISBT bus terminal and Karol Bagh, known for its shopping.

Auto Rickshaws

The ultimate way to travel in New Delhi, many tourists feel the need to experience a trip in one of the city's many three-wheeled scooters, which go by the name of 'auto rickshaws'. Prices should always be agreed in advance, since auto rickshaws don't operate meters. Auto rickshaws in New Delhi are quite environmentally friendly, since they are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

Taxis

Taxi transport is amongst the best ways to travel to outlying sights and attractions, away from New Delhi city centre. In general, it is not useful to hail taxis on the street, instead, head to one of the many centrally located taxi ranks, which are to be found outside of the main train station, the ISBT bus station and a number of New Delhi's biggest hotels. Always use the city's official taxis.