Delhi Holidays

Sprawling across the plains of north India as far as the eye can see, India’s capital has moved far beyond city status into the realms of metropolis. With a population of 20 million and counting, Delhi positively thrums with activity, from the top of the towers of its burgeoning business districts to below ground where a glossy new Metro whisks a quarter of the inhabitants a day through its tunnels. It’s mesmerising, intriguing, and just a bit dizzying.

But even as the city continues to creep outwards like ink on a piece of blotting paper, at its core remains an older Delhi – several older Delhis, in fact – that’s full of history, culture and colour.

There’s the spacious New Delhi of the British Raj, Edwin Lutyens’ grand design that took almost 20 years to conjure into existence from 1912. There’s Old Delhi, a heady confection of winding alleyways, thronging bazaars and tantalising aromas from countless street-food stalls. And dotted across the two are the creations of earlier rulers, from refined Mughal tombs to crumbling Tughlaq fortresses.

Find your own perfect Delhi with advice from our India specialists who have their finger on the city’s pulse, from the finest places to rest your head to the most immersive local experiences.

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Delhi Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Delhi

The Imperial

Be transported back to the elegance of the British Raj in this landmark heritage hotel.

Maidens Hotel

A boutique heritage hotel, just a short distance from the magnificent landmarks of New Delhi.

The Claridges, New Delhi

A luxury heritage hotel in the heart of the city.

Haveli Dharampura

Step back into the 18th-century Mughal era at Haveli Dharampura, a 200-year-old heritage property...

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Chandni Chowk by Night

Exploring Chandni Chowk by night gives you a chance to understand the real spirit of Delhi. It’s like a movie unfolding around you, a whirl of architecture and food, history and business. At night, it’s less crowded so there’s more opportunity to engage with locals and after sunset, Chandni Chowk glows and glitters with store lights. There’s a maze of different streets to discover that specialise in everything from silver and spices to saris and glass bangles. If you want to buy something, your guide will help you haggle, which is a ritual in Old Delhi. The tour starts at around 5.30pm exploring on foot, as your guide explains the evolution of Old Delhi. You’ll see various businesses and have the opportunity to sit with people and hear about their lives. You might meet the ear-cleaning-man, who wears a red hat and carries tools to remove wax from people’s ears – it’s a great photo opportunity as is the chai vendors swirling tea in their metal pans. As you walk, your guide will point out religious landmarks like the Sunehri Masjid and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a Sikh temple with a community kitchen. The highlight of the trip though is always the food. You will have dinner at Karim’s (guest to pay directly), a restaurant that serves Mughlai cuisine. It was set up in the 1940s by Karim, a chef who served in the kitchen of a Mughal emperor and wanted to introduce this food to ordinary people. The dishes have a Persian influence and include lots of bread and kormas, all cooked in an open kitchen. Afterwards, wander around the street food area where you can sample desserts like bread pudding and mango ice cream. You’ll get to try everything from samosas to chai – food is a very important part of experiencing Old Delhi.

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Get a taste of Old Delhi with a local

Let me show you my Delhi – along the way, you’ll meet the locals and discover that everyone has a story to tell…By Dhruv Gupta Founder of Masterji Kee Haveli, Alfred&'s partner in India

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