Visiting the capital of India, Delhi

Delhi is a wonderful city with a fascinating history and a promising future. It’s a city of contrasts, where the old and the new exist simultaneously. It is the place where important decisions are made and what direction this nation of a billion people should take is discussed everyday. Despite having only a fraction of the area of Australia, it has a population comparable to that vast continent-size country. In terms of money, it’s one of the richest cities in India. However, unlike many other big cities, it has managed to preserve its heritage while keeping in pace with the rest of the world.

Map of Delhi

History of Delhi

There is archaeological evidence to suggest people were inhabiting in Delhi as long ago as third millennium BC. There are signs of urban dwellings going back to 6th century BC. From 12th century to until the arrival of the British in 17th century, it was one of the most powerful cities in the world. The English moved the capital to Calcutta (Kolkata). They later changed the capital to Delhi and since then it’s remained the seat of most powerful men and women in South Asia.

Best time to visit Delhi

Delhi is one of the few places where temperatures fluctuate from over 40C in the summers to a little over 0C in the winters. Therefore it’s advisable to visit the city when it’s neither burning or freezing. September, November, February and March are the best months to come to the city.

Places to visit in Delhi

There are tons of places to visit when you are in New Delhi depending on what you want to do. For instance, the area around Jama Masjid is popular among food-junkies, while those interested in historic sites don’t miss the Lal Qila and Connaught Place is the Delhi’s equivalent of Times Square. Here are some of the places tourists generally visit:

(a) Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar

This World Heritage building is the most popular tourist destination in India, attracting over three million visitors a year. The “Minar” (Arabic for “Tower”) is a seven storey tower built more than 800 years ago in twelfth century AD to celebrate Mohammed Ghori’s victory over Rajputs. Back then it was only one-storey tall. More storeys were added to the original structure by other rulers in ensuing years.

(b) Jantar Mantar

Jantar mantar, Delhi

This structure stands in defiance of a common misconception that science is exclusively a European invention. Built in first half of the 18th century this vast sprawl of buildings is an astronomical observatory.

(c) Connaught Place

Tourists, Connaught Place. Source: prolix6x’s photostream

Named after Duke of Connaught, this city centre was constructed back in the late 1930s. It is one of the most important commercial districts in the city and an upmarket area for shopper where they can virtually find anything.

Then there is Chandni Chownk which offers a glimpse into what the old city was like. And there are thousands of other places. We can’t list all of them here, but you can certainly find more information on here on places here to visit Delhi. It is the official website of the Government of Delhi which caters to tourists wishing to visit this wonderful city.

Here are more places to visit in Delhi

How You Can Afford Traveling in College

Traveling is a fascinating and unique experience at any age. It expands your boundaries, exposes you to new lifestyles, and reveals your strengths and weaknesses. Thrown into new environments and situations, you learn to find creative solutions and adjust better to different circumstances. And this is exactly the experience that young students need for their professional and personal advancement.

Truly, there is no better moment to travel than in college days. While you’re still young, full of energy, and daring ambitions, it’s a perfect time to try new things and surmount challenges that inevitably come with any trip abroad. At the same time, with all the costs that accompany college – from paying for accommodation to endless need of buying new stylish outfits – going abroad may be impossible to afford.

Unless you know a few tips to help you work around this problem.

Plan Well Ahead

The earlier you start planning the details of your trip, the more time you’ll have to save money and settle all the matters. As soon as you figure out where you want to travel, you can finally start bringing your plans into life. Your travel expenses will greatly depend on the chosen destination. Make sure you include all the costs, like flight tickets, rent, transfers, local transportation, food, etc. You may notice that a trip to Europe, for instance, looks cheaper due to the relatively low cost of the flight tickets. However, the money you need to afford a week there can cover a month-long stay in Thailand.

Like with pretty much everything in this life, force-majeure situations may happen. Every trip entails unexpected costs. And it is almost the rule when it comes to going to a foreign country where you don’t know a soul. Keeping in mind that you need backup money can help you to get everything covered well in advance. It’s a good idea to save a bit more for emergency cases, so plan to save more than you need.

And Start Saving

If traveling is actually what you long for, make peace with the thought that you need to refuse something to save another dollar. Perhaps, you don’t need that jacket so much, so as those couple of drinks at the bar, a nightly pizza, or a fancier car.

To avoid splurging all your savings for immediate satisfaction, make a deal with your bank, and open a savings account. Alternatively, there is plenty of applications that help you to track your income and spending to convert some into savings.

Monitor Cheap Flight Offerings

If you ask avid travelers, they will tell you they start planning their trips at least 6 months ahead. And this is the first tip of how you can cut costs: buy flight tickets in advance. Also, there are certain days when flights are normally cheaper. For example, most of the air carriers announce their latest deals on Monday evenings, so Tuesday is usually the cheapest day to book and take the flight. However, it may work out pretty well on Wednesdays and Saturdays as well.

Demand plays a crucial role in setting the ticket price. An early morning trip is hard, inconvenient, and often troublesome. And, therefore, the cheapest. Taking a flight at 4 a.m. may be too burdensome for a middle-aged employee. For a student, however, it may turn into an adventure with a would-be good story. It is better to choose off-term months as well as flight providers tend to sell off-season flights at a good discount.

If you are a risk-taker, you can take advantage of the last-minute deal from the airline. Sometimes, flight providers offer tickets that didn’t sell out at a drop price. One caveat, though: you may end up getting nothing.

Flying with American Airlines or Lufthansa may be super comfortable, but is given at an additional cost. The flight with these popular brands may be twice the price of the ticket from the budget air carrier. Additionally, direct flights are usually significantly more expensive. A flight with stopovers can considerably reduce the costs and add one more destination to your itinerary. If you have a visa, of course.

Choose Budget-Friendly Accommodation

Airbnb has already gained popularity all over the world as the most optimal place to stay. Basically, you get a fully-equipped apartment with a small kitchen, where you can cook your own meals and save on eating out. The prices are usually quite reasonable, especially compared to traditional hotel rooms. The cons, however, are that you’ll have to make time for cooking and sometimes cleaning, and there is a chance that the place owner may ignore your calls after you arrive, or come to be a weird person. It’s better to check feedback rather than choose the cheapest bid.

If you don’t mind sharing a room, or you want to make friendships with other travelers, booking a bed in the hostel may be a good idea. Another great way to meet other people, as well as learn more about the local lifestyle, is doing a homestay.

Manage Your Time Wisely

Traveling in college is not always about money issues. For Lucy, it was rather a time-related problem than financial. “Before setting off, I gave a sneak-peak into a few blogs of other student travelers. They gave me a few worthy money-saving tips, as well as an idea of how to make time to travel in college. I decided to buy term paper and submit it a few months before the due date as I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see Europe.” By taking a tough decision to delegate some work, she was able to make her dreams come true.

Communicate

And last but not least, don’t underestimate the power of communication. By interacting with locals, you may get an opportunity to buy something at a fraction of the price, crash at someone’s place for free, or learn about hidden non-touristic spots. Plus, such connections have a chance to grow into life-long friendships.

The Exotic Luxury of India

If you’ve grown tired of lazing on sun loungers and crave a life changing, truly authentic traveling experience then choose India as your next travel destination. Embrace the complete, colorful chaos and plunge head first into one of the most vibrant and exotic cultures planet Earth has to offer.

Although India may sometimes feel like a remote and undiscovered land, Thomas Cook Airlines makes reaching this wonderful place easy, affordable and convenient. Peruse this list of Indian highlights, some world renowned, others more obscure, and we guarantee you’ll be completely inspired and intrigued by this striking land of extremes.

A Worthwhile Wonder

The heartbreakingly romantic history of the Taj Mahal makes it an unmissable marble monument to visit during your stay. You’ll completely understand why this majestic structure is deemed one of the world’s wonders after gazing across the channel of water at sunset, drinking in the remarkable architecture of this mind blowing structure.

Jog Falls

Visit one of India’s most stunning sights by heading down to its highest waterfall, Jog Falls. Although seasoned travelers have seen many a waterfall during previous adventures, this one is completely different. Roaring deluges of water haphazardly stream down the 180 meter gorge, perfectly symbolizing the random chaos of many of India’s cities.

Dizzying Delhi

Traffic screams, aromatic steam billows and residents slalom like frenzied shoals of fish: this is Delhi, the chaotic and kaleidoscopic capital of India. This city with get under your skin and whether you love it or hate, it is a truly unforgettable place. Visit majestic mosques that look like fairy tale castles, escape the frenzy by wandering through serene burial gardens and delve in the city’s turbulent history by visiting the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Like its stunning botanic garden, Delhi is certainly the city of the five senses and a life affirming experience.

Valley of Flowers

Whether a seasoned traveller or a novice adventurer, the Valley on Flowers is a sight guaranteed to blow your mind. Nestled within the Himalayas, this blooming valley looks as though a rainbow has fallen from the sky and set up camp upon the rolling green hills. If you are incredibly lucky, you may ever see a snow leopard or black bear, just a couple of the creatures that call this paradisiacal place home.

A Culinary Adventure

Although you won’t find much of the Tikka Masala or Korma that dominates the menus of Westernized Indian restaurants, authentic Indian cuisine is an absolute delight. The country thrives upon food and the spicy aromas and street food stalls are a ubiquitous banquet for the senses. Sample all of the sumptuous street food you can, ensuring you try sizzling, smoky meat kebabs, spicy samosas fresh from the frying pot and impeccably seasoned succulent crab. All of the major cities in India offer similarly delicious cuisine but Mumbai tops the chart as India’s culinary capital.

So ditch the gripping thriller and beach towel this year and plunge into a truly unforgettable travel adventure by booking your holiday the luxurious land of India today.