Delhi

By air

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

DEL to Connaught Place: one prepaid taxi or app car, 45–90 minutes by road; the metro is faster but stops at night — and the risk is the tout in the hall, not the ride.

Passes

No pass. The metro is the cheapest fast link; short car rides are cheap; agree or see the fare before you ride.

Late at night

The metro stops at night (field-verify the last train on the DMRC site); app cars run later but surge in rain.

Paranthe Wali Gali

Walk-in stuffed flatbreads in a narrow lane, vegetarian; go before 11:30 or after 15:00; a small-notes cash meal.

Connaught Place

First-timers: metro and taxis at the door; choose a hotel with a 24-hour desk and ignore drivers who say it is closed.

Paharganj

Budget rooms by New Delhi station: cheap and central, but loud, crowded and full of touts; choose a hotel on a car-accessible street, not deep in the lane.

Etiquette

• Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
• Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
• Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
• Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
• Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
• Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
• Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches

Red lines

• Do not photograph military, police or metro security points.
• Mosques and temples: cover shoulders and knees, shoes off, ask before photographing people.
• Do not buy from anyone who takes you to a shop you did not choose.

Scams (India page)

• 'Your hotel is closed / burnt down': It is not; call the hotel yourself and use the prepaid taxi or the metro.
• 'The ticket office is closed / moved': Walk to the International Tourist Bureau on the first floor, or book on IRCTC.
• Fake e-visa sites: Only indianvisaonline.gov.in is official; anything else adds a fee or steals data.
• Gem export scheme: Never carry gems to 'sell abroad for profit'; the stones are worthless and the deposit vanishes.
• Commission shops: Say no to shop stops at booking; buy where you choose.
• Fake guides and 'official' photographers: Licensed guides carry an ASI or tourism ID card; agree the price first.