NEW DELHI

TRAVEL TIPS

VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

Visiting New Delhi is like going on a time travel. The union of the ancient indian culture with all the modernity that there is makes the capital of india one of the most exotic and stunning places in the world. It takes a tourist just a quick tour on the streets to face temples, palaces, ruins, women dressed in saris, recently built buildings and, of course, cows wandering around.

Not even the chaotic traffic, where cars, motorcycles, rickshaws and pedestrians vie for space on the streets, can make India a less inviting place. But be aware: to understand New Delhi is bound to be open to new cultures. There are 25 different languages

within the city, being Hindu and English the most spoken ones. The good news is that Indians really strive to speak good English in order to communicate. By the way, Indian people are very curious to meet foreigners, so don’t be scared if someone asks to take a picture with you.

India is a very religious country and because of this there are images of at least one of the thousands of Hindu gods anywhere you go. Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu are the most important and, as believed in Hinduism (the most common religion in India), they have created the world. Other popular gods are

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSNEW DELHI

There is no doubt that Indian’s capital is fascinating. So don’t let the obstacles abash your tour by the wide avenues with modern building or by the narrow streets with historical constructions. Enjoy the charming and mysterious New Delhi. And if it true what some people say, you will not come back the same after this trip.

BEST TIME TO VISITThe best time in the year to visit India is between October and February, when it is winter and the weather is more bearable. In the other hand, it is worth remembering that between March and September is a good time to make this trip, because it is not too hot yet and it is low-season, which makes all the prices excellent.

Ganesha (the one with many arms and an elephant head) and Krishna (the one that walks playing a flute). If you want to get in a temple, you must leave your shoes out and do not take pictures.

In the modern side of New Delhi lies the city’s nightlife, which is busy and restless as any metropolis in the world. Countless pubs and disco clubs have been established over the last years and many of them play electronic music until dawn. As Indian women generally do not walk alone on the streets, unaccompanied tourist can drag too much attention. To avoid undesired approaches, wear clothing that covers arms and legs and that are not too tight.

WEATHERTemperatures in New Delhi differ widely depending on the season. From April to June, when it is summer, the temperatures can reach 40ºC. The monsoons time (seasonal winds) goes from July to September. During the winter, which lasts from October until February, the weather is more pleasant, reaching 24ºC.

TRANSPORTATION

For a tourist in New Delhi walking on the streets can be quite a challenge. As in any major city in India, all the roads are full of cars, bicycles, motorcycles, buses and even animals, and it is not easy to find a traffic sign that puts an order in the mess.

To the visitor, the best way to cross the city is riding a rickshaw or tuc-tucs (tricycles that carry up to three passengers). They are everywhere. Other options are either the riquixá, a kind of taxi pulled by human force, or the cycle rickshaws, bicycle-moved carts that carry up to two passengers. Both are good options for a quick tour.

Buses and subway are the way for a public transportation. The International Airport, Indira Gandhi, is one of the biggest in the world and is located 20km from the city centre.

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ATTRACTIONS

New Delhi clearly translates the sacred and ancient Indian culture. On the streets there are lots of images of gods, temples like the Jami Masjid, museums and historical places. Most of them are free to visit. For those who appreciate contemporary art just go to the many galleries on the southern side of the city. The following are the major routes for you to enjoy.

RED FORTClassified as World Heritage by UNESCO, its more than two kilometers of red stone wall are very well preserved. Also known as Lal Qila, the fort was built on the seventeenth century by the emperor Shah Jahan, the same one who built Taj Mahal. He intended to transfer the capital from Agra to Deli.

GURDWARA BANGLA SAHIB TEMPLELocated on Connaught Place, this is the biggest temple in New Delhi. Men and women knee around its majestic throne where the sacred book is held while three men wearing white play and sing oriental music.

HUMAYUN’S TOMBBuilt in 1565, the Humayun’s Tomb makes the tourist delighted. The place distinguishes by the beauty of its gardens decorated with canals and fountains. Apart from the remains of Humayun (a Mongol emperor that governed India on the first half of the sixteenth century), this complex also houses the tombs of other member of the Mongol dynasty.

JAMA MASJID MOSQUEConsidered the most beautiful mosque in India, Jama Masjid has a capacity to accommodate 25 thousand people. For its construction were necessary five thousand people working over six years. Built basically in red sandstone, the mosque has finishings in white and black marble with details in gold. The worshipers use its courtyard for their religious rituals. To reach the top you must climb 130 steps.

QUTAB MINARThis is the oldest Islamic building in India and also the highest stone tower. It was designed to symbolize the Islamic law on Delhi. With a diameter of 14.32 meters at the base and about 2.75 meters at the top, the tower is decorated with calligraphy representing verses from the Holy Koran.

GANDHI MEMORIALAlso known as Raj Ghat, the Gandhi Memorial is an open space where can be read the last words pronounced by the famous pacifist leader. The Gandhi’s body was cremated at this place, so the location is

considered the most appropriate to honor the greatest of all Indian leaders until today. The black marble deck keeps covered in flowers throughout the year, and the gardens around are excellent for relaxing.

RASHTRAPATI BAHVANLocated on the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, this is the official residence for the President of India. It is also the biggest house for this purpose in the world. Until 1950 it was known as “Viceroy’s House” and served as the residence of the Vice King of India.

WHERE TO STAY

New Delhi offers several accommodation options including hotels, guesthouses and hostels, and none of them costs more than U$30 a day for the basic service. The average standard hotels are located on the Sunder Nagar neighborhood, and have bar, café and rooms with TV and air-conditioned. The most sophisticated ones are in the city centre and

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have services like SPA and massage. The hostels have just a few rooms, so booking in advance is recommended. They are fully equipped and offer breakfast.

WHERE TO EAT

There are plenty of local restaurants in New Delhi that serve the typical Indian food: hot and spicy, where the sauces seduce with their colors, textures and scents.

The dishes that highlight on the menu are tandoori (baked chicken with a thin slice of wheat flour bread), roasted lamb and fish tikka. Other common dish in Delhi is the vodka

gol gappa (little crunchy pastries filled with spicy vodka). They are served at both fancy restaurants and popular ones.

The diversified Indian cuisine also includes light recipes, like the panner kofta (balls of goat cheese sauce with spices). For breakfast, the curd (a type of yogurt) is traditional. In the afternoon you must not forget to have a chai (tea). The masala one is served everywhere.

If you want to vary the menu, a good option is to appeal to the western restaurants or even other Asian cuisines, like Japanese. You can also find pizzas, pasta and hamburger. However eating beef is a sin over there, because cows are considered sacred animals by the Indians – that is why fast-food restaurants serve only sandwiches with lamb burger.

SHOPPING

At purchase time, tourists in New Delhi take advantage. As everything in India is cheaper, they can get good products with better prices. The rule in Delhi, however, is to bargain. In the heart of the city, near the Rajiv Chowk station, there is several retail chains, with both Indian and foreign brands. There is also perfect for those looking for jewelry, crafts and electronics.

For those looking for more sophisticated products, the city has many famous shopping malls. But there prices are not too much marketable. Some say that New Delhi is a shopper’s paradise, so the trick is to enjoy the wide offering of products with low prices and save money.

STREET MARKETSIf the intention is to enjoy what is peculiar to India, the tip here is to know the street markets on New Delhi. There tourists can find jewelry, carpets, clothes, shoes, handicrafts with gemstones and spices – all with very low prices. In Old Delhi, an antique neighborhood, there is this popular commercial corridor known as the Indian “25 de Março”.

CURRENCYThe Indian Rupee is the official currency of India. Twenty rupees are equivalent to approximately U$ 0,40. There are exchange offices all on the main city’s landmarks.

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INTERNATIONAL CODE

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POLICE

BRAZILIAN EMBASSY IN NEW DELHI

(91 11) 2301-7301

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