By Rashmi Goyal

 

The splendor of Agra city remains undiminished – from the massive Agra Fort to the magnificent Taj Mahal. Agra’s attractions begin and end with an extraordinary collection of Mughal monuments. The Same Day Taj Mahal Tour takes you to awesome Agra  and back the same day via train. Your well informed guide will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to New Delhi Railway Station where you board the air-conditioned Shatabdi Express at 6.10 AM. Tuck in a wholesome breakfast on the train.

Reach Agra city at 8:10 AM where our car will pick you up at the railway station. The same car will later accompany you to popular attractions in your

Same Day Taj Mahal Tour.

Your touring begins with a visit to the exquisite 16th century Agra Fort where you  witness Mughal architectural glory. The complex showcases many fascinating buildings, a myriad royal apartments, courtyards and mosques, which are a conglomeration of different cultures of the Mughal period.

Next on the agenda is a trip to the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, often regarded as a template for the Taj Mahal!  On the menu is a sumptuous theme lunch.

Now for the crowning glory, the wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal! The great architectural marvel has marble work with intricate carvings. The Taj Mahal has elicited awe and astonishment for four and a half centuries. However many photographs you’ve seen of it, the reality never fails to overwhelm. The Taj is most alluring in the early morning hours, shrouded in mist and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect the sun, its color changes from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white.

 

After thoroughly enjoyable sightseeing, you will be transferred to the railway station at 8:20 PM to board the Shatabdi Express train back to Delhi. Relish dinner on board the train.

Same Day Taj Mahal Tour by Car

You can also have the Same Day Taj Mahal Tour arranged by car, including an informative guide. Our car picks you up from any required spot in Delhi and you will be chauffeur driven toAgra. The journey takes about 4-5 hours.

Upon arrival you will be introduced to your Go Heritage India Journeys guide, who will take you to all the famous tourist spots ofAgra. This includes magnificent Agra fort and tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah.

For lunch our guide will escort to you to a lavish venue for a sumptuous meal. Later in the afternoon you reach the Taj Mahal. View the timeless beauty of the Taj at the light of dawn and dusk.

Agra is also famous for its marble tabletops, vases and trays, inlaid with semiprecious stones in ornate floral designs. Agra’s shoe industry supplies entire India and exports bags, briefcases and jackets. Carpets and durries and traditional embroidery is thriving

Finally in the evening its back to Delhi.  The Same Day Taj Mahal Tour will enthrall you with charming beauty and leave you with a solid sense of satisfaction, of value for money as well! Before embarking on the car journey back, you can also get the pleasure of a brief tour to the Tomb of Emperor Akbar at Sikandra if you wish. You will return to Delhi at about 2200 hrs.

 

By Rashmi Goyal

They say nothing comes in this world for free. We all love to come across a good deal with freebies as icing on the cake.  Our well known Hotel Clark Heights is one of the most renowned in the luxury budget category of hotels in Delhi. Our free airport/rail pick ups have always been a great hit with guests. And our scrumptious meal packages are highly appreciated.

Our cozy little in house spa has become equally popular with our esteemed guests. We offer a range of spa services that include hydrotherapy (sauna, steam baths, mud baths and the like) along with an array of facials, hair care, stunning nail beautification, pedicure, manicure, body wraps, scrubs and body polishing. Our massages specially are in demand.

For the convenience and enjoyment of our guests, we have several wonderful packages on offer at the state of the art spa on our hotel premises. Our basic spa cum accommodation package that has proved a great hit with our regular guests is the 3 Night with Free Massage package.  Our exclusive wellness packages blend Ayurveda and modern technology. This basic free massage at Delhi hotel package applies to those booked to stay at any of our Deluxe rooms for 3 nights in a row.

Simplicity and serenity are implicit in our Deluxe rooms, our base category rooms, with basic amenities like twin or double bed, attached bath, marble flooring, LCD TV, refrigerator, digital safe, AC, 24 hr room service – perfect for the business traveler to kick off those shoes and unwind in the lap of luxury.

Massage is most sought after nowadays as it is no longer a luxury indulgence of the elite only. Its therapeutic effects aside, many seek massage for simply unwinding after a bout of hectic work schedule, hard partying or night life revelry or even the shop till you drop spree for an impending marriage in the family; or just for the heck of it as it’s so pleasurable!

Massage is an age old human activity, as old as eating or making out! Gone are the days when mention of massage in Delhi hotels raised eyebrows and snickers. The shady joint scenario of the 70′s has given way to a wide variety of professional massage services available right at your doorstep, at elegant beauty saloons and spa in hotels of all styles and levels across the city.

The in flow of business executives to the capital is sizeable. In between hectic routines and rushing from one business meet to another, a relaxing massage can be a boon. And amidst all the treatments and cosmetic makeovers comprising lengthy sessions at the spa, a massage is again a welcome bliss. A whole range of Ayurvedic herbal treatments and massage creams and oils are available that are stunning in their effects on mind and body. A truly holistic healing and soothing relaxation is provided.

A Free Massage at Delhi hotel is no doubt very popular with the international crowd of globe trotters, business and trade pros and family’s on extended vacations as well. Massages can range from Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Swedish and Thai massage techniques and are often accompanied by brief reflexology procedures that involve stimulating points on the feet and hands believed to be beneficial to the body and mind.

 

“The Spa at Hotel Clark Heights is waiting to give you pleasure.”  Come and soothe tired mind and muscle in a cozy cocoon of personalized service with privacy and exclusivity.  Men and women alike love the peace and tranquility of a few hours spent at a spa. So don’t hesitate. Go ahead unabashed and indulge yourself extravagantly in sensual massage. Come out glowing, all bright eyed and bushy tailed!  Nothing like a free massage at Delhi hotel!

By Rashmi Goyal

Nothing beats the fun and excitement of going on a vacation with the whole family. When it comes to planning and arrangements, India tour with family can be quite a handful for anyone to take on. A reputed travel agent works like a genie here. If you’re looking for a family hotel in Delhi then you can relax as the Delhi hotel scenario is family and senior citizen friendly. Traveling with small children is far from easy as they get bored easily and tired easily and find it difficult to stay still for more than a few minutes. Traveling with infants is all the more difficult. Yet it’s inconceivable to go vacationing without our adorable ones cuddled in our laps all safe and content.

The country is like a kaleidoscope and it dazzles the eyes with amazing diversity. When on tour to India with family pick a trusted travel company that has in-depth knowledge about each destination and tie-ups with the best vendors. Plan your trip according to your family’s interests – you have so many options for your holiday.  Your son’s demand might be for adventure sports and elderly parents fascination with cultural tours, beaches might be your forte while your wife’s plan is to go for a spa tour in the hills.

Your India tour with family can very well fulfill everybody’s desires. Do some exploring and research, choose a theme for the vacation and with the help of a trusted agent pick suitable destinations. There are excellent tours of every possible theme to any nook and cranny of India. Coveted family tour themes on well trodden paths are heritage tours, beach and backwaters, adventure sports.

Heritage Tours flourish on countless fascinating historical monuments, inspiring sculptures and edifices sprinkled across the country. Especially thrilling are the stunning palaces and forts of Rajasthan, Delhi’s amazing ancient monuments and temples andAgra’s enchanting marvel, the Taj Mahal. Most of these spots are easy hops from your hotel in Delhi.

Palm fringed beaches on India’s thousands km long coastline are the best locale for a laid back vacation, walking on silvery sands and relishing a revitalizing Ayurveda massage. The backwaters of Kerala are also ideal for the family. Hire a personal traditional houseboat which is like a personal cruise to explore beautiful Kerala.

 

Crowned with the mighty Himalayas in the north and its southern tip dipped into three oceans of the world,Indiahas stunning bio-diversity. The country has more than 550 wildlife sanctuaries attracting wildlife enthusiasts and photographers in hordes.

 

 

As for adventure, lush jungles, deep valleys, cascading gorges and grand peaks offer fascinating destinations for adventure sports. Indulge in trekking, rafting and mountaineering. For water sports head south and try out jet skiing, motorcycling and more in Goa and other coastal towns. Tour packages arranged by Delhi hotels are the best means for family’s from different parts of the world to enjoy India’s historical and cultural beauty with greatest fun and enthusiasm.

Our Hotel Clark Heights prides itself on being a women and senior citizen friendly stay option, located right in the center of town, within very short distances of popular restaurants, shops, sites and museums. There is an array of amusement parks, water parks and interesting bazaars full of fascinating knick knacks and buys, where the kids can get all the thrills and run up your bills, all not far from our hotel.

Hotel Clark Heights elegant cozy rooms are easily converted into a family suite with up to one to three extra beds. We have a desk top installed in our lobby and convenient, assistant operated elevator for older folks and kids on the run. Our complimentary airport/ rail pick ups are a great boon for any family, small or large, arriving Delhi with frayed nerves, possibly hair standing out on skin and head. Amenities necessary for family and kids include the all important satellite TV , hot water at all times;  free internet wi-fi is a bonus, especially for older kids. Last but not the least, there is the utter joy family and kids get when they tuck in our scrumptious food.

By Rashmi Goyal

A Delhi City Excursion Tour is a must for any India first timer. The capital of this vast, ancient, incredible land is very aptly called a mini India. Delhi city can truly be dubbed as a Heritage City of the world – it is actually seven cities successively built over more than a thousand years, all inter-meshed within each other, with British built New Delhi making an eighth! This has resulted in a fascinating heritage collection of mostly Mughal monuments and relics juxtaposed with modern architectural wonders.

A brief historical timeline of Delhi –

1. Lal Kot (or Qila Rai Pithora) : area around Qutab Minar founded in 1060 A.D.

2. Siri Fort :  a fortress rather than city, commissioned in 1303 .

3. Tughluqabad : fortified city built in 1321 but deserted soon after.

4. Jahanpanah :  Founded 1326 as an extension of Lal Kot

5. Firozabad  : remains are a fortified palace, Firoz Shah Kotla, founded 1354

6. Purana Qila : 1533 A.D. fortress , said to be the site of ancient Indraprastha

7. Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) : Founded in 1638 as capital of Mughal India

8. New Delhi : Inaugurated by the British in 1931 as their brand new capital

Today’s buzzing international metropolis is both daunting and alluring. Form the tourists point of view, Delhi is divided into two main parts. Old Delhi is the city of the Mughals, dating the 17th century, with ancient monuments in marble and sandstone and teeming bazaars. Spacious New Delhi is full of tree-lined boulevards, museums, classy markets.  Our unique two day Delhi City Excursion Tour makes the mammoth task of an inner excursion easy, comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable!
Highlights of Delhi City Excursion Tour

Day one 

* Red Fort  – Morning, you start your excursion with a visit to the magnificent Red Fort, the most famous and largest of heritage monuments. The massive fort is built in red sandstone and its ramparts stretch for about 2 km. The fort contains halls of public and private audience, domed and arched marble palaces, private apartments, a mosque and elaborate gardens.

* Jama Masjid – Next on the agenda is India’s largest mosque, the Jama Masjid. It has huge minarets and offers bird’s eye views over the old city. The mosque accommodates 25,000 worshippers and was built by a workforce of 5000 men. It looks east to sprawling Red Fort and down onto the seething streets of Old Delhi. In its northeast section, a shrine protects a collection of Muhammad’s relics shrouded in rose petals and watched over by keepers who reveal the contents: two sections of the Koran written on deerskin by relatives of the prophet, a red beard hair of Muhammad, his sandals and his footprint ‘miraculously’ embedded in a marble slab.

* Chandni Chowk  – At this point, you can have a fascinating foray into Chandni Chowk on cycle rickshaw or foot – Asia’s biggest wholesale market said to be 400 years old and running since! It is Old Delhi’s main thoroughfare that was once a tree lined canal with  opulent bazaars. There are heritage buildings signposted at intervals. Starting east to west, just across Red Fort is Lal Mandir, a Jain temple with carvings and gilded paintwork. The 18^th century Hindu Gauri Shankar Temple is next door with shrines, a statue of Lord Shiva and an 800 year old lingam.

Go further west to Gurudwara Sisganj, a 1784 Sikh temple marking the spot where Emperor Aurangzeb beheaded the ninth Sikh guru, Tegh Bahadur in 1675. The guru was forced to see three of his followers executed – one was sawn in half from head to foot, another wrapped in cotton and slowly burned to death, a third boiled alive in a cauldron of water. This happened across the street in what is now Fountain Chowk.

* Finally you reach Connaught Place or ‘CP’ – the popular, modern commercial and shopping hub full of restaurants, shops, cinemas, banks and airline offices. Its central park is beautifully landscaped and offers a quiet retreat from the hurly-burly. Neon advertisements adorn the roofs and verandas of buildings that circle central park.

You can break here for a sumptuous lunch at any one of numerous fine dining spots or munch yummy snacks at a food joint out here.

We continue our Delhi City Excursion Tour :-  

* Jantar Mantar – located just south of CP, built in 1725 A.D.– one of five open-air observatories designed by Maharaja Jai Singh II – huge red and white slanting stone structures used to calculate time, solar and lunar calendars and astrological movements with an admirable degree of accuracy.

* Bangla Sahib Gurudwara – Delhi’s largest Sikh temple with a vast white marble structure topped by a huge, golden dome .

* Lakshmi Narayan Mandir – an extravagant modern Hindu temple commissioned by a wealthy merchant family, the Birlas and inaugurated in 1939 by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Delhi City Excursion Tour will now take you on a drive down the grand avenue Rajpath viewing hotspots :

* Rajpath  – South of CP , the grand avenue Rajpath stretches from India Gate to the Presidential Palace, flanked by gardens and fountains floodlit at night. It’s wide grassy margins are a popular spot for families, picnickers, courting couples.  It is the location of the annual National Republic Day Parade.

* India Gate  – a must see war memorial raised in honor of  Indian soldiers, designed by Edward Lutyens in 1921. The 42 meter high arch commemorates Indian soldiers and bears names of more than three thousand soldiers. India Gate has a carnival atmosphere with sellers of balloons, ice cream and candy-floss, families enjoying a day out .

* Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace) –  one of  the largest and most grandiose of the Raj constructions, with classical columns, Mughal style domes, Indian filigree work and use of the red sandstone.

* Sansad Bhawan (Parliament Building) – its well known circular structure is located just  north of Rajpath.

You round up the first day of your Delhi City Excursion Tour with the must visit must see Akshardham Temple Complex.

* Akshardham Temple is a sprawling, modern construction that has stupendous stone cutting in stunning sculptors and carvings and is set amidst beautiful flood lit fountains in the evening. It’s back to your hotel to tuck in a sumptuous dinner before bed.

Day two

* Raj Ghat or Gandhi Smriti – Morning you start off with a visit to the Memorial site of  the peace apostle, Mahatma Gandhi. An open air, black marble platform with an eternal flame burning at one end, set amidst lush greens and a tangible, pervading atmosphere of peace.

* Humayun’s Tomb -  Next on the agenda is the Mughal garden tomb in red sandstone and white marble set amidst lovely gardens – considered to be the elegant forerunner of the Taj Mahal.

* Purana Quila – remains of the fortress citadel built in 1533 A.D., Delhi’s sixth incarnation . Surrounded by a lake on which boating is very popular. The Delhi zoo is adjacent to it.

* The Lotus (or Baha’i)  Temple -  A stupendous piece of iconic modern architecture in the form of  27 free standing petals comprising a gigantic lotus structure. Said to receive  the maximum number of annual visitors in the world after the Eiffel Tower in France!

* Qutab Minar Complex – The impressive ruins of 13^th century Delhi comprise the Victory Tower, the tallest single tower in the world and famous 4^th century Iron Pillar that has not rusted in 1500 years!  The red sandstone tower tapers up to a height of 72 meters and has beautiful carvings on its floor landings. The area to the south is rich with relics from many historical periods and is now an Archeological Park.

By Rashmi Goyal

 

Delhi is the main point of arrival for overseas visitors to India.   Once you are settled in a hotel of your choice, you can easily spend up to a week or two exploring the monuments, museums and bazaars of this great city. Just as there is a wide range of Delhi hotels to suit every class and taste, Delhi has a huge variety of markets and bazaars catering to the needs of every class and taste. The sky is the limit to Delhi Bazaar Inc! The endless stream of fellow travelers can give you tips and pointers on anything you’re unsure of.

Delhi is a known shopper’s paradise where you can shop till you drop , with thousands of shops selling anything from antiques, ethnic wear, European fashions, rugs and carpets, linen & fabrics, silks, jewelry, furniture to everything else! Delhi has the best buys for leather items, carved stone pieces, precious stones, silk products, wood work, jewelry.

Delhi consists of crowded 17^th century Old Delhi with ancient monuments and teeming bazaars and the more spacious New Delhi, with modern neighborhoods, tree-lined boulevards and classy up-markets, including Connaught Place. There are excellent shopping complexes in almost every locality in Delhi but Connaught Place, Karol Bagh

and Chandni Chowk are principle shopping areas.

 

Connaught Place, or ‘CP’, is radically different from the bazaars of Old Delhi, crammed with restaurants, bars, shops, cinemas, banks and airline offices.  CP has emporiums full of goods from all over India and also Tibet. Many luxury Delhi hotels have outlets for these wares especially precious stones, jewelry and even exquisite carpets and the like.  Connaught Place had good departmental stores and big showrooms as well as the famous underground Palika market. Each of India’s 28 states has its own showroom here with wooden and stone carvings, brassware, textiles, clothing, jewelry, high-grade Darjeeling teas, sandalwood carvings, carpets, shawls etc.  Not far is the Karol Bagh Market, that sells everything from cars to clothes. Most of the luxury budget hotels are situated here.

 

Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market, Greater Kailash, South Extension I and II, Hauz Khas Village are up market shopping precincts. Ansal Plaza is Delhi’s most popular mall. Santushti Shopping Complex is popular among diplomats. Dilli Haat is full of stalls selling crafts from across the country with good eating joints and handicraft shops. The city’s growing nightlife scene boasts designer bars, chic cafés and decent clubs – many at elite Delhi hotels of south Delhi.

Foreigners visiting India can pick up items of international brands like Benetton, Ray-Ban, Adidas, and Pierre Cardin at lower prices. Make sure stock up with souvenirs and presents to take back with you before you fly back home.

By Rashmi Goyal

Globe trotters love to check out the different types of nightlife other countries have. Many visitors to India seek some fun nightlife as well as satisfying, thrilling exploration of the land. India has exciting nightlife, not just at five star hotels but also bars, pubs, nightclubs, discotheques and trendy coffee cafes. India’s nightlife is diverse and growing. Most people who travel look forward to unwinding often years of fatigue or just chilling out at some elegant hotel for some fun along with hectic business meets. Whatever the reason, nightlife is avidly sought out – fun and frolic is part of the game.

Nightlife is a term for any entertainment that is available and more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning. It includes nightclubs, discotheques, bars, live music concert, cabaret, small theatres, small cinemas, shows, and sometimes restaurants. These venues often have cover charge and their revenue is from sale of alcoholic beverages.

Capital Delhi is a fun place to be in with lots to do and lots to see. Though roads can seem deserted after 11 pm, many bars, discos and coffee shops are open 24 hours. A decade ago a typical night out was a family trip to the latest Bollywood blockbuster. Not any more! Today’s youth make much more money and they want to party. A popular option used to be to go to a five star Delhi hotel that in all likelihood had a private club and bar. Most discos were in 5 star hotels in Delhi.  Today, the youth have carved out an active new night life, in South Delhi especially, a collection of upscale neighborhoods stretching from Humayun’s tomb in the north to Qutab Minar in the south. “Delhi is no longer a snake charmer city,” says one nightclub promoter who is planning to publish the first Delhi party listings magazine.

A trend that has set off all over India now is the proliferation of clubs and bars, pubs, discos, coffee joints where the night starts after 9 pm, especially in Delhi. This scene has spread east and south into the neighboring suburbs of Noida and Gurgaon Its no longer a choice between the latest Bollywood blockbuster or the five star hotel in Delhi.

With the advent of lounge bars, Delhi nightlife has been further transformed. If you don’t want to dance, simply lay back and enjoy the ambience and décor with your favorite drink in hand. If you like crowds then its discos for you – freak out on yummy food and drinks and shake a leg whenever the fancy grips you. The discos at Delhi hotels are international standard. Some places even have theme night parties with popular DJ’s for example, Djjins’ at Hayatt, a five star hotel in Delhi.  Gradually, nightlife is becoming a top rated entertainment option that has made its way into the itinerary of tourists.

Vibrant nightlife is found all over India. No matter what category hotel you are located at, you can take in a live performance or party until after the sun comes up. Five popular nightlife cities are Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Goa, each packed with notorious lifestyle and hedonists, though in most cities in India, nightlife is early to start and early to end because of curfews. Mumbai has the biggest selection of party places, come 1.30 a.m. they all start to close for the night. The scene is similar in Delhi with the exception five star hotels . Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore have 11-11.30 p.m. curfews. Kolkata has no curfew.

In Goa many places are forced to close by 10 p.m. due to noise restrictions. Many venues have found a solution to the curfews by opening during the day or early evening. Surprisingly dancing is banned in Bangalore! In sharp contrast is Kolkata which offers the most for late night party animals. There’s no curfew enabling bars and clubs to stay open until the wee hours of the morning. Large clubs exempt from the curfews are usually found in 5-star hotels in Delhi and other cosmopolitan cities. The facilities are world class – you could easily forget you were in India.

In Mumbai, be it a beach, club, bar or rave party, disco, nightclub, theme based parties,  you find amazing crowds of night owls. As in Delhi hotels, popular ones are in five-star hotels. Bangalore, the ‘Pub Capital of India’ , has a reputation for wild yet elite nightlife that is relaxed and enjoyable. The city has 200 clubs and bars.  Kolkata is loaded with night clubs and discotheques, bars, discos and pubs. As for Goa, on any night you will find beaches and pubs full of hustle and bustle. The hedonistic state has developed a reputation for outdoor psychedelic trance parties. Other popular locations with such parties are around Manali and Kasol in Himachal Pradesh and Guwahati in Assam.

An interesting term being used in India is “resto-pub” or “resto-bar”. These are restaurants that double as places where you can drink, and sometimes dance late into the night as many restaurants don’t serve alcohol in India. As drinking traditionally isn’t part of India’s culture, the country’s bars tend to be divided into two categories –- cheap, seedy local bars frequented by India’s male population, and classier venues catering to the progressive middle and upper class crowd. The latter are common in hotels of Delhi.

The age for the legal consumption of alcohol varies . In Delhi, it’s 25 years. India’s party state Goa has the lowest legal drinking age of 18 along with Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Elsewhere it’s generally 21 years. However, venues aren’t usually strict about enforcing these limits.

Mumbai is the place to come for busy traveler hangouts offering a lively atmosphere and cheap beer. The live music venues in Mumbai are excellent. Bangalore booming pub culture has plenty of live gigs. Rock bands can be found playing in Goa and Delhi.

Until recently, many posh areas of modern New Delhi were rocking with rave parties and the like – and it was not just the fringe ‘fashion’ jet set crowd. Those interested in something more traditional will find no shortage of cultural performances either. Kolkata has grown into the cultural capital of India with lots of live dance, drama, and music. In Mumbai, the National Center for Performing Arts at Nariman Point as well as Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur in Rajasthan have interesting cultural programs. Delhi, as well as the cities of Jaipur and Udaipur in Rajasthan, also have interesting cultural programs.

Hotels have multiplied in every nook and cranny of India – even the remotest region will have a budget hotel and transport service plus some sightseeing and guides. There is hardly a spot in India that doesn’t have an ancient monument, palace or fort, or exotic wildlife or that bliss giving beach or hill station or scores of fascinating temples both ancient and modern architectural wonders. With the tourist flow, the nightlife in catching up fast everywhere .

In case you have just arrived at your hotel in Delhi, or are about to, here are a few common sense safety tips for a safe once in a lifetime India trip. India is on the whole a safe country to travel in, however like anywhere else in the world, you can be an obvious target for thieves and mischief mongers (could even be a fellow traveler).

Generally be careful, staying relaxed but have your wits about you, the moment you step out of the cozy confines of your hotel in Delhi. Be especially careful in crowded places like packed buses or trains where it’s easy for pickpockets to operate. Thieves work in teams, one member distracting your attention, bumping into you for example, while another swipes your bag.

Up-market hotels in Delhi have a room safe; the budget hotels in Delhi will have a safe deposit at the reception. Budget travelers should carry a padlock to secure the doors of cheap Delhi hotel rooms. You can also use them to lock your bag to seats or racks in trains.

Don’t leave valuables lying around in your Delhi hotel room. And don’t put valuables in your luggage when on bus or plane journeys. On trains and buses, the prime time for theft is just before you leave, so keep a particular eye on your gear then, beware of deliberate diversions, and don’t put your belongings next to open windows.

Mostly people who approach you on the street never intend any harm: most want to sell you something, some want to practice their English, others (if you’re a woman) to chat you up, while many just want to have a picture taken with you. Never fall for the ploy of wonderful sounding moneymaking schemes.

If you ever get robbed report the theft as soon as possible to the local police. The staff of your hotel in Delhi will stand by you in crisis. Though your belongings are unlikely to be recovered, you do need a report from the police in order to claim on your travel insurance.

Losing your passport is a real hassle – report the loss immediately to the police, who will issue the all important “complaint form” you need to be able to travel around and check into Delhi hotels (and everywhere else in India). A complaint form will not allow you to change money or traveler’s checks. If you’ve run out of cash, your best bet is to ask the manager of your Delhi hotel to help you out – the staff of your hotel in Delhi will have seen your passport at time of your check in, and it’s number will be in the register). Contact your nearest embassy or consulate. “Emergency passports” are the cheapest form of replacement, but are normally only valid for the few days of your return flight. If you’re not sure when you’re leaving the country, you’ll have to obtain a more costly “full passport” from  your country’s embassy in Delhi. Most hotels in Delhi have a travel help desk who not only arrange excellent tours, travel and stay arrangements, but can help you with the nitty gritty of all this hassle too.

Make sure to book a hotel in Delhi well in advance as they organize safe and secure tour packages as well as travel arrangements at excellent rates.

BY RASHMI GOYAL