Sat /Sun - Overnight flight to Delhi
Delhi, the capital of India, is a large city in the north of India with a population of over 34 million and is ranked the second most populated city in the world after Tokyo. Old Delhi dates back to the 1600s and houses some amazing and symbolic structures, such as the Red Fort and Jama Masjid Mosque. This vibrant city is full of life, busy traffic, and warm, friendly faces.
I have always had India on my travel list, so it was great to have finally got here to experience the amazing country for myself and, of course, get the opportunity to see the wonderful Taj Mahal in all its glory. I decided to take another small group tour here with the same company that I used for China (WendyWutours), as it was such a fun trip last time. My trip to India was equally as enjoyable with another group of great people, so it was well worth the long journey to get here. The route I took around India was the ‘Golden Triangle’ which is a popular tourist route that incorporates some of the best areas of northern India: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and the Ranthambore National Park.
November is a great time to visit India, as the humidity and temperatures drop around this time making it more bearable for sightseeing. So, it was an overnight flight to Delhi for me, which I knew I wouldn’t enjoy because I find it hard to sleep on night flights and so end up arriving at my destination exhausted before I start! Still, I seem to manage to survive these things somehow.
Delhi airport is big and a bit tricky to navigate due to all the different options of passport control depending on where you are coming from. I also had to do biometrics on my arrival into India, much like Europe now, but it is only required on your first trip to India. So, it took quite a while to get through the airport. On leaving the airport, the New Delhi area is well kept with lots of greenery and large hotels that are set back in their own grounds. I also spotted a lovely mural painted along both sides of the road at one point on the journey from the airport that is beautiful and colourful.
On arrival at my hotel, all the bags had to be passed through an airport style security which I went on to find was common at most of the hotels along my route in India. I arrived mid-morning, so, other than having to wait an hour or so to check into my room, I had the rest of the day to relax and hopefully try and get a bit of sleep before meeting my fellow travellers in the evening for a meal.
