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Why?  To have a holiday in Delhi is to experience the heartbeat of India with all its contrasts. Travel to Delhi to discover the squalor and exotic splendour, where the manic, noisy and labyrinthine streets of the old city give way to the imperial grandeur of New Delhi and its wide, leafy avenues.

When?  Unless you are acclimatised to intense heat, with temperatures of up to 113°F (45°C) and beyond, avoid a Delhi holiday in summer. During the summer months other climatic features like dust storms and high humidity during the monsoon season (end of June) further add to the discomfort. The best time to travel to Delhi is between November and March, when the weather is warm and sunny. To catch the amazingly colourful Hindu festival of Holi, plan to holiday in Delhi in late February/March.

Who for?  A holiday in Delhi can be exhausting, unless you can afford air-conditioned luxury, so this is a destination for the adventurous and energetic. Shopaholics will enjoy the experience of bargaining for some unique and exotic souvenirs in the crammed street markets.

More Info:  Before you travel to Delhi find all the information you need to smooth the way in our comprehensive Delhi travel guide, which includes all the basics like acceptance of credit cards, communications and entry requirements, as well as regularly-updated safety and health information.

Overview

Through a sweltering bazaar with each vendor crying out louder than the next, clamouring through a sweaty crowd, a beggar tugs at your shirt as the sticky stench of the city pierces your nostrils. Navigate your way across the road through a perennial traffic jam of blasting horns and angry shouts, and suddenly you'll find yourself stepping through the trees into a deserted courtyard, flanked by gurgling ponds below the huge glittering dome of an ornately patterned mosque.

This is Delhi, city of contrasts, where an elephant can overtake an overheated Italian sports car on the streets, where colonial mansions stand next to squatter slums, and where cows are revered, but musicians are labelled 'untouchable'. The city's pace is chaotic, yet strangely relaxed, making it ideal for exploring. You're certain to be confronted with some strange and exotic sights.

With a long and troubled history, Delhi is full of fascinating temples, museums, mosques and forts, each with a distinctive architectural style. In Old Delhi, visitors will find a charming selection of colourful bazaars and narrow winding alleys. In comparison, New Delhi - the city created to reflect the might of the British Empire - consists of tree-lined avenues, spacious parks and sombre-looking government buildings.

While Delhi itself could take a lifetime to explore, it's also ideal as a base for visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra, and it provides the best links for travelling to the hill stations of the North.