FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Delhi

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Delhi each year.
The main ones are listed below.

Each year, the founding of the Republic of India on this day in 1950 is marked with pomp and pageantry. Celebrations include official ceremonies, a large and colourful military parade down Rajpath and general merry-making, including street theatre and fireworks.

This one-day Hindu festival celebrates the arrival of spring and also honours Saraswati, the goddess of learning. People dress in shades of yellow, echoing the golden mustard blossoms having begun to open in the fields. In and around Delhi, the day is celebrated with kite flying, singing, dancing and feasting.

The anniversary of India's independence from British rule in 1947 is celebrated each year with flag raising and other patriotic ceremonies, military parades and cultural events.

UThis festival is dedicated to Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom and prosperity. The first day of the festival is considered to be the most auspicious of the year. Although western India, and particularly Maharasthtra, are well known for the elaborate manner in which they honour Ganesh, festivities in Delhi are growing stronger each year, as nearly half a million Maharashtrians now make their home in the capital. A huge procession, including many dancers and musicians, makes its way to the Yamuna River carrying clay images and giant statues of the god, which are immersed in the water .

Commemorated throughout the country, this holiday celebrates the anniversary of Gandhi's birth on this day in 1869. All schools and stores are closed. Numerous religious ceremonies are held to remember independent India's founding father.

Oil lamps, lanterns and candles illuminate Delhi and all of India during this five-day festival of lights. According to tradition, Diwali celebrates the god Rama's return from 14 years of exile in the forest, when citizens lit his way with oil lamps, after his victory over the demon Ravana, as told in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Festivities also include firecrackers and fireworks, feasting with loved ones, and exchanges of sweets and gifts.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Delhi

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	8/46	21/70	19/0.7	Good period to go
February	10/50	23/73	20/0.8	Good period to go
March	15/59	29/84	15/0.6	Not the best period to go
April	22/72	36/97	21/0.8	Not the best period to go
May	26/79	39/102	25/1.0	Not the best period to go
June	28/82	39/102	70/2.8	Not the best period to go
July	27/81	35/95	237/9.3	Not the best period to go
August	26/79	34/93	235/9.3	Not the best period to go
September	25/77	33/91	113/4.4	Not the best period to go
October	20/68	33/91	17/0.7	Good period to go
November	13/55	28/82	9/0.4	Good period to go
December	8/46 23/73	23/73	9/0.4	Good period to go

Indira Gandhi International Airport

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is located about 23 kilometres (14 miles) west of the city centre.

• Four terminals
  • Terminal 1
  • Terminal 3 (Air France)
  • Hajj Terminal
  • Cargo Terminal

• By car
  • Accessible via the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.
  • Parking facilities are available at Terminals 1 and 3 (INR 80 for up to 30 minutes, INR 1,180 for 24 hours).
  • Several car rental companies have counters outside the customs hall. An international driver's licence is required to rent a vehicle.

• By rail
  The Airport Express Line of the Delhi Metro, also known as the Orange Line, connects the airport with the city centre, with trains running daily every 10–15 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and a travel time of about 20 minutes. Fares are INR 80 (one way) and INR 110 (round trip ).
• By bus
  Shuttle bus services connecting the airport with central parts of the city are operated by the state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) as well as private companies. DTC buses run every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Travel times are between 30 and 45 minutes and the fare is INR 75 each way.
• By taxi Taxis should be booked at the yellow prepaid taxi booths in the arrivals hall and cost around INR 400 for the trip to the city centre, which takes about 30 minutes.

• Services : shops, bars and restaurants, Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone : +91 (0)124 337 6000 / +91 (0)124 4797 3000
• Website : http://www.newdelhiairport.in

GETTING AROUND Delhi

Delhi is a hectic city with very dense, and even chaotic, traffic at all hours of the day and night. At the outset, getting around the city may seem complicated. In fact, Delhi has a public transport system that is both reliable and efficient.

By rail

The Delhi Metro is certainly the best solution for getting around the city. Its 213-kilometre (132-mile) network has six lines, with a total of 160 stations . Tickets are inexpensive (from INR 10 to INR 60, based on the distance travelled ) and the system is quick and convenient. Passes for unlimited travel on the entire network (excluding the Airport Express Line), known as Tourist Cards, are also offered, with a choice of two validity periods: 1 day (INR 150) and 3 days (INR 300), each including a refundable security deposit of INR 50.

By bus

Delhi has a vast network of bus routes and fares are very inexpensive. However, buses are very often crammed with passengers and many of the routes do not use air-conditioned vehicles at present, which makes this a rather uncomfortable means of transport. Adult fares range from INR 10 to INR 25 for air-conditioned buses, based on the distance travelled .

By taxi

In Delhi, you will see very few taxis cruising for passengers. Most taxis are reserved by telephone, rather than being hailed in the street. Furthermore, taxi fares are relatively high. Expect to pay about INR 100 for a short ride within the city centre.

By rickshaw

Cycle, auto and e-rickshaws circulate in Delhi. All of these are three-wheeled vehicles. Cycle rickshaws are pedal powered, whereas auto rickshaws have internal combustion engines and e-rickshaws are battery operated. In Delhi, this is without doubt the most popular and practical means of transport, especially for short distances. Rickshaws can be found all over the city and are able to thread their way quite easily through streets blocked by heavy traffic. Fares are generally low, but you should always negotiate the price beforehand. There is no set rate, but INR 5 to INR 15 is a fair price for a cycle rickshaw ride.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Delhi, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address : : 88, Janpath, Connaught Place, New Delhi
• Telephone : : +91 (0)11 2332 0008
• Website : : https://www.delhitourism.com

The official travel website maintained by India's Ministry of Tourism provides a wealth of information on Delhi.

Website : http://www.incredibleindia.org

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in the Republic of India is the indian rupee (₹).

EUR 1 = INR 81,28

INR 1 = EUR 0,01

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to India. However, booster doses of the following vaccines are strongly recommended for anyone travelling to the Indian subcontinent: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, typhoid, and hepatitis A and B. For longer stays, a rabies vaccination is also recommended.

For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: (http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr)
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (cliquer ici)
  • call the centre at (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is not safe to drink in Delhi. Drink only bottled water sold in sealed, tamper-proof containers or water boiled for 30 minutes and then filtered.

Administrative formalities

All foreign nationals must apply for visas before travelling to India.

For further information, visit the website of the Indian Bureau of Immigration: http://boi.gov.in/content/apply-visa-online

Essential phrases

Good to know

00 91

+ phone number without the 0 (calls to Delhi)

4 : 30
of time difference with
Dublin

Banks

Usually open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Government offices

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

And what about tipping?
There are no hard-and-fast rules on tipping in India. Nevertheless, with the influx of tourists it has become increasingly common, especially in large cities like Delhi. The expected tip is usually about 10 percent of the bill. Some Delhi restaurants add a service charge to the bill. When this is the case, no additional tip is necessary. .