Hi :) 

Are you visiting Delhi to celebrate Holi in March? 
Are you curious to know, what to expect and what not to miss to make your Holi-Celebrations one to remember ?  

I am excited  to take you to a colorful (visual) journey. You will learn :

• When is Holi Celebrated, 
• How is Holi Celebrated in Delhi. 
•  and yes How can I forget precautions or safety you should take during Holi

 – in other words Make your Holi in Delhi a special one!

Boys playing with Colors- Gulal

HOLI as we all know is Festival of colours and its played in different parts of India in different ways. Delhi has its own fashion to celebrate it.

Did you know: Holi-festival has lately, spread in parts of Europe and North Americas as a spring celebration of love, fun and colours. (Click to tweet)

Holi celebrated in US

  
When is HOLI Celebrated? 
In case you don't know in 2014 Holi will be Celebrated on  17 March - Click to confirm date Its a National Holiday in India.  (Click to tweet) .

In case you are visiting this page after 2014 and want to know - when is Holi . Simply CLICK this magical crystal ball below!
Abra ka dabra...

Crystal ball

How is Holi Celebrated in Delhi?

holika dahan - bonfire

A day before Holi 
Holi festivities commence  with a Holika-Dahan(bonfire) on the night before Holi where people round up, sing and dance. Holika was a Demoness . Know more here. Holi is marked as the Win of Good over Evil. You will find Deilhi-tes in the evening coming out of their homes to celebrate this with their neighborhood. After the function, people go back home excited with the anticipation of the next day - the festival HOLI


On Day of Holi

Holi in Delhi is nothing short of "Madness, Carnival, Circus, Festival, Naughtiness" all bundled together! 

Color Madness

Festivities starts in the morning. It is free for all amusement of colours, where every body plays, run behind each other and colours each other with dry powder ( Gulal) and coloured water.

Playing with Gulal - Color

You will find mostly children carrying water guns and water-filled balloons waiting at their Home's Gates for their water fight.

Children ready with Water Guns and Balloons

The merriment, pranks and fights with colours happens in the open streets, open parks, terrace of building in Delhi.

Playing with Water on Holi

In Love, War & Holi everything is Fair! It does not matter if you are Well-off or poor, man or woman, children or elders, friend or stranger. So expect many water balloons launched on you ..you got to be watchful and dodge them if you can! 

Water Attack from Terrrace

In Delhi the sights are common where Groups carry drums and musical instruments, go from one place to another, singing and dancing. 

Groups playing in Streets

People visit families and friends and even foe (if you have one, do you?), they first play with colours on each other, giggle, laugh and scream in frenzy(specially youngsters) and people Hug and smear each other with Gulal and do chit-chat. 

Enjoying Holi Get Together

  
The Festival in Delhi is incomplete without Hindi Film Songs. And this one plays in all Get-Together!
 


This ends with sharing special Holi delicacies, and Kids love them the most. Starting with :
1. Gujiya : 
It's a sweet dumpling made with suji or Maida and stuffed with khoya, grated and roasted dry fruits, khoya. Tastes Awesome ! "No one can eat just one", that's How I describe it !

Gujiya

Learn How to make Gujiya (8 mins) Video

2. Dahi Bhalla:
A popular Snack food-and also a Delhi Street Food

Dahi Bhalla

 Learn to prepare Dahi- Bhalla at Home in this quick 4 min Video
3. Chaat- Papri:
Another popular Delhi Street Food   is must food in all the Delhi get-together on Holi

Chaat Papri

Learn to prepare this at Home (5 mins) Video
3. Bhaang-Lassi:
Sweet Savoury Drink with leaves and flowers (buds) of the female cannabis plant. 

Bhaang Lassi

 4. Bhaang- Pakora
How could Holi be complete without pakoras of bhaang 

Bhanag Pakora

Preacautions on day of Holi 
Holi is a festival of colours and merriment. Take the following precautions. Holi is meant to be a rough festival and following some do's and don't will help you bear the harshness of the festival.

•    Wear Sunglasses -  keeping your eyes safe from the harmful chemicals of the colours.  (Click to Tweet)
•    Wear old and rugged clothes- that you can easily discard after playing Holi (Click to Tweet)
•   Keep eyes and lips tightly closed - It is almost impossible to save you face from attack of colours, so while you are attacked, keep eyes and lips tightly closed. (Click to Tweet)
•   Apply Coconut or any oil -  If you are playing Holi, apply a thick layer of coconut or any oil on your body and hair till they glisten and you become slippery. This will help you to wash off colours easily later on. (Click to Tweet)
•   Avoid traveling If you are traveling, keep the car windows tightly shut. Better still; avoid traveling on this day. (Click to Tweet)
•   Public Transport Please remember Delhi Metro and DTC bus starts operating in the afternoon only. (Click to Tweet) 
•   Women avoid going out alone - Play Holi only with a group of close friends and relatives as against strangers. (Click to Tweet)

Travelers views on Holi, Read: A Word of Caution for Holi Festival

 Read, Know the Truth before Buying:  Herbal Gulal in Delhi

  Call 011-40940000 (8 am - 8pm)

You are all set to visit New Delhi, India for the First time ( I am guessing though, Am I right?)  You are excited! I know. After all you have waited for this long. By know your Itinerary, tour Plan, your hotels & tours are all ready or almost there...like a dream it's all going to be true soon. Isn't it ? hehe...but...wait a minute...."What about Hotel-Transfer?"

Entering India and not expecting to come across a scam is unimaginable (sadly). Not mean to shock you though, not my intention. But, It's imperative you acquaint and equip yourself about know-hows after you exit the airport terminal or the Railway Station in Delhi, to avoid any pitfalls. (that's my intention :)

You are going to learn:

• Various Hotel Transfer Options & Which One Fits Your Needs Best
•  Where to Look for Prepaid or Radio Taxis after exiting Airport & Railway Stations
• Transfer Fares
• Cautions

Here we go. 
Hotel Transfer Option No. 1

Pre-Paid Taxi/Delhi-Traffic Police Prepaid Booths
One of the preferred ways to reach Hotel from Delhi International/Domestic Airport & Railway Station. This is Safe, hassle free way, No negotiation on fare required, simply pay and reach your Hotel. Comparatively cheaper to Radio Taxi. Should suit you if reaching safe & sound at a comparatively low cost is what you are looking for.

Note: By any chance if you want to go visit Taj Mahal from Delhi Airport. Read this helpful resource, this will make your life real easy.

Availability: 24x7

Where to Look For

As soon as you exit from the terminal, head right to locate Prepaid taxi Counter.

Transfer Fare

They have different rates based on the distance of the location of your hotel. For instance, if it's Connaught Place the Fare is around Rs 300 (please do check existing rates). 

Night Charges: 25%  extra

Cautions

1.  Beware of the touts waiting at the exit of the airport to rip you off, asking you to hire a cab from them.
2.  Beware of "Pre-paid Taxi Scam better known as "Rs 500
   
   Swap". Yea! no matter how interesting it sounds, many first time visitors have been duped by this trick. In Nutshell the scam is, you hand over Rs 500 Note to pay for the fare at the counter and they swap it with Rs 100 note and say,"I need 500 not 100" Read More here.
3. Many Times the Driver would pretend that they do not know the way or the Hotel is closed so that they could take you to another Hotel for earning Commission.

Hotel Transfer Option No. 2
Radio Taxi

AC Cabs with English speaking Drivers (mostly) a little costly compared to prepared taxi, but worth it's while. One of the most popular ways to reach Hotel from Delhi International/Domestic Airport. This is completely Safe and hassle free way, without any doubt. Should fit your need, if Comfort along with safety is what you are looking for.

Availability: 24x7

Where to Look For
As soon as you exit from the terminal, the first row of cabs that you would see are Radio taxis. You can also find counters at both domestic and international airport. Easy Cabs, Meru Cabs can offer you AC cabs.

Transfer Fare

They charge by the kilometer, Rs 20 per km.

Night Charges: 25% extra

Cautions - None

1.  No bad experience sighted or heard. Carefree way to travel :)

Hotel Transfer Option No. 3

Delhi Metro Airport Express

Excellent Service! Total Comfort, Fast, Saves Time.  Available every 20 mins. Travel Time 18 mins from Airport to New Delhi Railway Staion ( for hotels in Paharganj )

Route Map to locate your Hotel  (CLICK) 

Availability: 5:30 am to 11:00 pm

Where to Look For

For International Airport: terminal 3 Station
For Domestic Airport: Delhi Aerocity Station 

Transfer Fare

Price anywhere between Rs 120-Rs 150. (CLICK for latest fare) if your hotel happen to be in Connaught Place or Paharganj Location.
Cautions - None

Tourists are all praise for this service since its inception in  2011

Hotel Transfer Option No. 4

Private Hotel Transfer
Just check with your hotel if they provide Hotel Transfer. Comparatively expensive, From Rs 1200-Rs 2500 depending on the class of hotel.

Hotel Transfer Option No. 5

Bus Available at a frequency of 30 minutes and every one hour in off peak hours.

Connectivity : Airport - Connaught Place - New Delhi Railway Staions 
 
Where to Look For

Terminal 3 DTC Bus Stop , especially for airport transfer


Transfer Fare

Price anywhere between Rs 100-Rs 150. (Check latest fares )

Cautions - None

Hop On Hop Off Bus Delhi Sightseeing

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