India Travel

If you don’t already have a ticket for a flight out of India, you’ll have little trouble finding one, except between December and March when it may be difficult to get a flight at short notice. While you can buy tickets directly from the airlines, who ail have offices around Connaught Place, it saves time and leg-work co book through an agency (see p.151); reputable agents abound in Paharganj, and there are several on janpath. The cheapest deals are to be had from touts on the street; make sure they’re genuine by ringing the airline (see p.148) to check you have a seat. In any case, confirm your flight 72 hours
before leaving.

Make sure you arrive two hours prior to departure for all international flights. The obligatory Rs500 airport tax is now supposed to be automatically levied in the ticket price but there is no harm in checking this with the airline when you reconfirm your flight. Most tourists taking night-time flights book a taxi in advance (Rs250-350) to avoid sleeping at the airport, where there’s only a minimal food stall. It’s a good idea to take a little tood and drink in any case — delays are very common. If you’re travelling on your own, you should have no difficulty finding someone who will share a taxi. Otherwise, airport buses to the international airport, running from outside the Indian Airlines office at the top of janpath, cost Rs50 plus Rs.S per item of baggage. Yovi can book tickets in advance at the small office next to Indian Airlines. The journey takes around 40 minutes. Departures are as follow1: 4am, .T.30am, 7.30am, 2pm, 3.30pm. 6pm, 7.30pm. 9pm, 10.10pm and 11.30pm.

Indian Airlines, whose main office is in the Malhotra Building on F-Block, Connaught Place, near Wimpy, operate the largest network of internal flights, though private carriers serve more destinations; tickets can be bought through travel agents or the main offices. All flights leave from the domestic terminal, 15km southwest of town, easily reached by the convenient EATS bus service (Rs50 plus Rs5 for luggage; 30min) that departs from Pahka Bazaar, just opposite Wimpy. Rickshaws and taxis are more expensive, but slightly quicker. Passengers on domestic flights must check in two hours prior to departure. A simple food counter sells tea, coffee and snacks.
For a summary of flights from Delhi, sec the Travel Details at the end of this chapter.

International flights land at Indira Gandhi International Airport, also known as Terminal 2, 23km southwest of the centre (formerly Palam airport). The State Bank of India and Thomas Cook in the airport offer 24hr money changing facilities; be sure” to ge: some small change for taxis and rickshaws. If you need to book accommodation, 24hr desks, including ITDC m the departure hall and Delhi Tourism (DTTDC), have a list of approved hotels and will secure reservations by phone. Beware of bogus booking counters: there have been several cases of trickery and overcharging. Not all budget hotels accept telephone bookings; for these you’ll have Co make your own way into town. ITDC and DTTDC also operate desks at the domestic airport (©011/566 5181), 8km away to the north on the opposite side of the shared runway to IGI Airport; there are two terminals, 1A & 1B. Retiring rooms at both airports are convenient if you need to make an early connection but are issued on a first-come, first-served basis (Rs660).A free AAI shuttle bus (2()min) runs between the two airports every hour and there’s a shuttle every twenty minutes between the two domestic terminals.

From the international airport, the least expensive and least convenient way to get into Delhi is by bus. Tickets for the ex-servicemen’s shuttle (EATS) are issued in the departure hall, while State Transport buses wait outside; both take roughly thirty minutes to reach their terminal point at F Block in Connaught Place in the city centre. Expect to pay Rs50 from either airport, plus an additional Rs5 for luggage. All buses go via the domestic terminal, from where it’s a twenty-minute ride into the city (18 daily), and scop at Janpath in New Delhi. The driver may be able to drop you close to your chosen hotel.
Taxis are faster and more comfortable, and should certainly be taken if you arrive late at night, to save you from having to search for your hotel in the dark. Book at che official prepaid kiosk in the restrict Ced area outside the arrival hall. Fixed rates {Rs300) apply, with a 25 percenc surcharge between 11pm and Sam. Beware of touts also offering prepaid taxis and avoid the non-registered caxis near the bus rank; chese often ask extortionate prices and may even claim chat your hotel is full, closed, or even burnt down. Ignore such assertions and remember it’s best to phone ahead to your accommodation. The rickshaws that wait in line at the departure gave are less expensive than taxis (Rs100-150), but conscitu. Ce the most precarious and least reliable form of cransport from the airport, especially at night. Many tourists have complained of being taken to a hotel other than the one requested, and being hassled for more money on arrival. It makes sense to sectle in for a while before you try using one.