Getting From Delhi to Jaipur

Delhi is one of the oldest cities in the world. Part of it, New Delhi, is India’s capital. The climate of the city is infamously bad , with scorching hot temperatures from April to October , monsoons from July to September and near-freezing temperatures in December and January. Delhi is the main gateway into the country and where most international travelers land.

Jaipur, also known as the Pink City is the capital of Rajasthan . It was India’s first planned city and today is one of the major tourist attractions in the country. It belongs to the tourist Golden Triangle, which also comprises Delhi and Agra. It is home to important sights such as the City Palace, Birla Temple, several massive Rajpur forts and serves as a gateway into the desert cities of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.

Quick summary

The cheap options for traveling between Delhi and Jaipur are: the trains and the buses. The travel times are quite similar, but some trains are faster than buses. Look for express trains or , if you choose the bus, for those with AC.
 

Flights from Delhi (airport code: DEL) to Jaipur

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) serves Delhi and is the main gateway into India. It is the country’s largest aviation hub and also an airline hub for: Air India, Air India Regional, Blue Dart Aviation, GoAir, IndiGo, Jagson Airlines, JetLite, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and SpiceJet. It handles both domestic and international traffic.

Jaipur International Airport (JAI) is located about 13 km from Jaipur and is the only international airport in Rajasthan. It isn’t hub for any airline and handles mostly domestic flights.

Flights between Delhi and Jaipur are operated by: Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and Spice Jet. The flight time is about an hour. Regardless of when you fly in 2012, expect to pay from Rs 2652 / US$50 one way on Jet Airways and slightly more on Jet Lite or Kingfisher Airlines. Return flights start at Rs 4986 / US$94 on Jet Airways.
 

Trains from Delhi to Jaipur

India Railway offers 23 trains between Delhi and Jaipur . Out of those, 10 trains operate on a daily basis. The travel time is between 4h 50 min and 6h 10 min and depends on the type of train and stops along the way. Most of the trains depart early in the morning. The general fare on an express train starts at Rs 74 one way. But keep in mind that fares depend on the train and hour of departure.
 

Buses from Delhi to Jaipur

There are 16 buses per day between Delhi and Jaipur . Most of them depart Delhi in the evening (from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) but daytime buses are also available. The travel time is about 6 hours. Fares star at Rs 220 one way in a sleeper without AC.

On the way back, catch one of the two night buses from Jaipur. They depart at 11:15 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. The fare is Rs 150 one way (sleeper, no AC) or Rs 650 one way (sleeper, AC).

You can check the schedules, fares and book tickets on this website (which lists all operators).
 

Driving from Delhi to Jaipur

Another option is to rent a car in Delhi and drive the 265 km to Jaipur on NH 8. The travel time is about 4 hours.

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Delhi Tourism: Picnic spots in Delhi

A jazz festival in Nehru Park, a football game in the Mahatma Gandhi Park and a long walk with your dog in Lodhi gardens – the parks and gardens of Delhi have finally got their sheen back and ‘Delhi-walahs’ are enjoying them to the max! Once you have exhausted yourself with all the historical monuments, museums and galleries, what could be a better place to relax, pack your picnic baskets and dust your Frisbees and head out to any of these parks.

1. Lodhi Gardens – 

A set of weathered yet timeless monuments make a wonderful backdrop to the well manicured Lodhi gardens. A walker’s paradise, you can also spread your fare and enjoy a day with the family in a nice shady spot! Children and pets enjoy the maximum as there is plenty space to run freely. Don’t forget to clean up after the picnic! Lodhi Gardens is accessible by auto rickshaws from any part of Delhi. Use the meter fare for getting here. The closest metro station is Jor Bagh from where it is minimum fare in an auto.

Lodhi-garden

2. Nehru Park – 

If you have a soft spot for pets and love making new furry friends, you will find many like mined people with their pets here. It’s also a great venue for outdoor festivals and concerts which usually allow people to bring their dogs. Centrally located, many buses play on the route. Auto rickshaws are also available easily.

Nehru-park

3. Deer Park – 

A convenient distance from three residential hubs (Hauz Khas, Green Park and Safdarjung Enclave), the Deer Park is a huge expanse of forest like topography with walking paths made for convenience. Small grassy patches or shades can be used as picnic spots. It’s great for kids as you can often spot deer and birds in this lush expanse. Green Park station is the closes metro point from Deer Park. From there you can get an auto at minimum fare.

Deer-park

4. Garden of Five Senses – 

Close to the Mehrauli Heritage Area in Delhi, the Garden of Five Senses is built on 20 acres of land and subtly merges natural and architectural expression. It’s a botanical extravaganza with an array of plants. The park also has some more sections like the amphitheatre, solar energy park and an artists’ corner. One can spend the whole day here with plenty of activities or just relaxing in a grassy patch. Free buses ply from Qutub Minar to the Garden of Five Senses.

Garden-Five-Senses

5. Shalimar Garden – 

Given the history of Delhi was closely woven with the Mughals, we see the percolation of this perspective in the gardens as well. The Shalimar Garden is located in Central Delhi and serves as a historical place, as Aurangzeb was crowned the emperor of Delhi here. The Shalimar garden lies in the northern part of the city which is connected by metro and buses at ISBT. From there it is a short ride. If you are visiting the Delhi University area, the gardens can be visited in a man driven rickshaw as well.

Shalimar-garden

Delhi Tourism: Shopping in Delhi

The national capital of India, New Delhi,is also the country’s shopping capital as well. There are numerous shopping destinations within the city making every shopper’s dream come true. From bohemian un-branded traveller clothes, to export rejects, designer-wear and the biggest international brands, you’ll find them all sharing the same space, catering to different tastes and budgets.

Delhi-Bazaar!!!

Here are our five favourite shopping hubs of the city. Be prepared to buy an extra bag to carry all your new purchases home!

1. Connought Place

The centre of the city is marked by the famous Connought Place, which is also the metro hub to all lines. Apart from glitzy showrooms and plenty of restaurants, explore the state Emporiums, Khaadi Bhandaar and a unique pick called People Tree. People Tree has been showcasing clothes, earrings and bric-a-brac made by NGO, ‘Jugaad’ for a long time. Everything is delightfully tasteful but pricey! Palika Bazaar, the basement electronics hot spot, is also a favourite with travellers for fakes and grey market goods.

The market is partially closed on Sundays.

Connought-palace-Delhi

2. Hauz Khas Village

Little designer-wear boutiques in the backdrop of run down houses and a lake makes for a great window shopping area even if you don’t plan on any actual shopping. Browse the creations of upcoming Indian designers. While you are here, stop-over at the renown Kunzum travel cafe (pictured below) for a quick round of tea and cookies, here you choose to pay what your pocket allows. Meet other travellers or just chat with the owners for some tips. You can also hop into some art galleries or pick up some antiques.

Hauz Khas opening times are 11.00 a.m to 7.00 p.m, closed on Sundays.

Kunzum travel cafe

3. Sarojini Nagar

You are sure to run into over energetic haggling college girls in this market for sure. The products on sale are seconds or factory rejects of coveted western brands at dirt cheap prices. You need to rummage through heaps of clothes to find what you want, but the exercise is worth it as you won’t have to shell out even a third of the original brand price. Hone your haggling skills here!

Sarojini Nagar Market is closed on Mondays.

Sarojini-nagar

4. Select City Walk

A glitzy sprawling mall in the heart of south Delhi, the Select City Mall is nothing like any other Indian market. With all the trappings of international brands, food courts, large space for concerts and speedy escalators, you would imagine you are perhaps in Singapore. If you are looking for a multiple big name brands and an air conditioned shopping area, this is the place to visit.

Select City Walk is open on all days.

Select-City-walk-Delhi

5. Janpath Market

Janpath is one of the best know market spots in Delhi, where shoppers converge to pick up curios, handicrafts and clothing and to sample the numerous Indian-style fast-food places. This is a great place to get a bargain on fashionable clothes; export rejects or seconds in great condition. As a particular fashion hits India, you can see the shops here teeming with the very same clothes! Work on your bargaining powers in this chaotic lovely jungle of shops. Clothes, shoes, accessories, scarves and books are the highlight of this street.

Janpath is closed on Sundays.

Janpath-market-Delhi

Delhi Tourism: International Mango Festival

CITY: NEW DELHI

DATES: Saturday, July 13, 2013 - Sunday, July 14, 2013(to be confirmed)

VENUE: DILLI HAAT PITAMPURA

ENTRY FEE: Rs. 20 for adults; Rs. 10 for children

TIME: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM

There are few things going in favour of Delhi when it comes to summers. After a pleasant yet testing winter and a blink-and-miss spring, the city goes on to experience four to five months of intense summers. The mercury hovers around 42 degrees Centigrade and the sun beats down on the capital. And yet summer is when Delhi is a riot of colours, fragrances and moods. It brings with it the heady aromas of khus and motiya; a deluge of shades of yellow when the amaltas blooms in the leafy neighbourhoods of South Delhi; the sight of happy youngsters diving into the shallow pools of India Gate, the city’s iconic monument, and, last but certainly not the least, the taste of the king of fruits, mangoes!

Delhi-mango-festival

The relish with which the city savours mangoes is a sight to behold. Braving the scorching sun, the young and the old flock to the thousands of markets peppered across Delhi’s length and breadth, haggling with vendors and going home happy with a supply of mangoes. Restaurants are quick to cash in on this mango mania: turn the pages of any newspaper supplement and you will find announcements of food festivals and promotions centred around the mango. The fruit becomes the baker’s favourite as most confectioneries dole out mango desserts; cafes churn out beverages with generous portions of the fruit, and even meals at home usually end with a platter of cut mangoes. The modest vanilla ice-cream is almost always sold out in summers, given its phenomenal compatibility with the succulent fruit.

Being in proximity with some of the country’s highest producers of mangoes, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, is a boon for the mango-loving populace of Delhi. This is not to say that mangoes from deep down South, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bengal don’t make it to Delhi. Just the variety of mangoes calls for a trip to Delhi this season. The culmination of Delhi’s love affair with the fruit comes in the form of an exclusive festival, organised every year in July by Delhi Tourism. Eagerly awaited, the International Mango Festival is now in its 24th year. The benchmark of its popularity is the footfall it gets from Delhi residents, not just tourists. Attractive billboards go up all over the city weeks before the start of the festival, luring everyone with the prospect of this calorie-laden indulgence.

Mango-Cut-Taste-it

Once inside the venue, the attractively laid out open-air Dilli Haat in Pitampura, a medley of sights and sounds greet you. It’s like walking into a mango market. Look in any direction and you will see piles and heaps of the fruit, in different hues, shapes and sizes. Decorated with mango motifs and colourful balloons, the atmosphere at the Festival is like that of a carnival. Walk ahead and you will hear rounds of thundering applause. The ovation is usually directed at a contestant with his/her face buried in the skin of a mango while trying to eat the pulp at lightning speed. Groups of enthusiasts are also found crowding stalls where you can learn a recipe or two with mango as the main ingredient. From the humble mango lassi to the more exotic mango salsa, there is a lot to learn about.

If you believe you know your fruit well, it’s time you test your ‘mango quotient’ at this year’s festival. The three-day mango bonanza also includes a spellbinding display of over 500 varieties of the fruit, as well as a slogan writing contest and a quiz.

Sampling the fruit as you wend your way through the maze of stalls and eager visitors is an experience that only this exclusive festival can offer you. This, however, may come for a small price but there are also many vendors who put out platters of freshly cut fruit for free sampling. And if you think you can grow your own mango, then there are saplings on sale for your kitchen garden. Until the first fruit appears, you can always feast on the delicious pickles, jams, chutneys and spreads on sale at the Festival.

Mango-tokri

Apart from the popular commercial varieties of dussehri, fazli, langda, sindhuri, kesar, chausa, banganpalli, totapuri, Neelam, safeda, Amrapali, Husnara and so on, there are several unheard of types on display. Some to make it to the last festival include sadabahaar, dakwala, elaichidana, angoori tapka and even Sheila, a fruit dedicated to Sheila Dikshit, the chief minister of Delhi.

If you still have room for more mango-related stories (this, after doing the rounds of the mind-boggling display), strike a conversation with veterans like Padmashri Haji Kaleemullah Khan of Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh. He is the man who is credited with growing more than 300 varieties on a single tree! Hailing from a family that is almost synonymous with growing the dussehri, Kaleemullah’s experimentations in grafting began in his early teens. Needless to say, it’s not just the fruit that is the essence of the Festival. Tales, trivia and legends go a long way in adding flavour to the overall picture.

Mango-man

So if you want to earn your stripes as a mango lover, the International Mango Festival of Delhi is where you should be headed. If you are staying in a homestay in Delhi as your hosts to arrange transport to the venue. Your host may be able to accompany you to the Festival, helping you choose the best variety of fruits on sale and even striking a good bargain. Back at the homestay, you can also request for a cooking demonstration of recipes using mangoes or even a meal with only mango delicacies.