>Terminal 1A Palam
Roller Skating
Blade runners can do what they love at the many DDA complexes around town. There is no equipment rental so you have to bring your own skates.
Chilla Sports Complex
>Dallu Pura, near Vasundhara Enclave
Tel: 011 2262 3184
Timings: Tue to Sun 6 am to 9 pm in the summer; 6:30 am to 8:30 pm in the winter. Timings are listed for non-DDA complexes and DDA complexes with specific skating timings.
Entry: Rs 40 per day for Indians / Rs 100 per day for foreigners; school children pay Rs 10 from 10 am to 4 pm
Web: www.ddadelhi.com/sports
DDA Sports Complex
>Sector 12, Rohini
Tel: 011 2755 7314
Nearest Metro: Rohini
Timings: Tue to Sun 6 pm to 8:30 pm
DDA Sports Complex Vasant Kunj
>D-2 Vasant Kunj
Tel: 011 2613 6731
Timings: Daily 4:30 pm to 8 pm
Dwarka Sports Complex
>Sector 11, Dwarka
Nearest Metro: Dwarka Sector 11
Tel: 011 2508 9733
Timings: Daily 4 pm to 6:30 pm
Hari Nagar Sports Complex
>Hari Nagar, Beri Wala Bagh,
Near Deen Dayal Upadhyah Hospital
Tel: 011 2513 6683
Major Dhyan Chand Sports Complex
>Ashok Vihar, behind Kanhaiya Nagar Metro Station
Nearest Metro: Kanhaiya Nagar
Tel: 011 2730 5338
Netaji Subhash Sports Complex
>Jasola Vihar, near Sarita Vihar
Tel: 011 2697 1301
Panjabi Bagh Club
>Ring Road
Tel: 011 2522 1082
Timings: Tue to Sat 4 pm to 8 pm
Paschim Vihar Sports Complex
>A-6 Paschim Vihar, Near Shri Balaji Action Medical Institute
Tel: 011 2527 0959
Poorvi Delhi Khel Parisar
>Shahdara, near GTB Hospital
Tel: 011 2213 4167
Rashtriya Swabhiman Khel Parisar
>Pitam Pura, near Pitam Pura tower
Nearest Metro: Pitam Pura
Tel: 011 2744 6147
Rohini Sports Complex
>Sector 14, Rohini, near CRPF School
Nearest Metro: Rohini East
Tel: 011 2756 1986
Saket Sports Complex
>Saket, opposite Welcome Marriott Hotel
Tel: 011 2956 1742
Siri Fort Sports Complex
>August Kranti Marg, near Siri Fort Auditorium
Tel: 011 2649 7482
Timings: Tue to Sat 5 pm to 8 pm
>Sector D-II, Vasant Kunj, near Surya Gardens
Tel: 011 2613 6731
Yamuna Sports Complex
>Sarajmal Vihar, near Vivekanand Mahila College
Tel: 011 2216 4726
Timings: Tue to Sat 4 pm to 7 pm
Sports Complexes
If you’re staying at a guest house or with family and you don’t have access to a gym, it may make financial sense to plunk down a monthly membership fee if you’re in Delhi for a week or more instead of paying hundreds or even thousands of rupees for a few hours at a fancy spa/gym in a 5-star hotel. A few minutes of paperwork can save you a bundle.
DDA Sports Complexes
DDA Sports Complexes are located throughout the city and offer a variety of sporting activities including tennis, yoga, golf, swimming, gyms, aerobics, horse riding, yoga and skating.
>Entry: Day membership Rs 40 for Indians, Rs 100 for foreigners
Web: www.dda.org.in/sports_complex.htm
Pacific Sports Complex
Located in South Delhi, the Pacific Sports Complex offers a variety of fitness activities including a swimming pool.
>Andrews Ganj, next to Central School
Tel: 011 6452 0554
Timings: Daily 5 am to 9 am; 4 pm to 10 pm
Entry: From Rs 1,500 per month
Ryder Sports Academy
Facilities at the Ryder Sports Academy include tennis, horse riding, roller skating and basketball. There are branches in Vasant Kunj and Gurgaon.
>D-1 Vasant Kunj (near Heritage School)
Tel: 011 5569 1920
Entry: From Rs 900 to Rs 1,600 per month
Web: www.rydersports.com/contactus
>Aardee City, Gate No. 2, B Block, Sector 52, Gurgaon
Tel: 92128 00 133; 98 101 41 889
Saket Sports Complex
The Saket Sports Complex offers riding, cricket pitches, a swimming pool, aerobics and chess among other activities.
>Saket, opposite Welcome Marriott Hotel
Tel: 011 2956 1742
Siri Fort Sports Complex
The Siri Fort Sports Complex set the gold standard in Delhi. It has everything including a golf course, Olympic size pool and skating rink.
>August Kranti Marg, near Siri Fort Auditorium
Tel: 011 2649 7482
Timings: Daily 6 am to 9 pm
DDA Sports Complex Rohini
>Sector 12, Rohini
Tel: 011 2756 1986
Nearest Metro: Rohini
Timings: Tue to Sun 6 am to 9 pm
DDA Sports Complex Vasant Kunj
>D-2 Vasant Kunj
Tel: 011 2613 6731
Timings: Daily 4:30 pm to 8 pm
Swimming Pools
If you’re staying at a hotel or guest house without a pool or with relatives who aren’t of the wealthy farm house variety, don’t despair when the mercury hits 44°C and you’re dying for a dip in some cool waters. Many hotels allow non-guests to use the pool, but keep in mind, this can be expensive.
Hotels
Aqua at the Park
The pool is small and located near the bar, so it’s more for atmosphere than swimming laps.
>The Park Hotel 15 Parliament Street
Tel: 011 2374 3000
Nearest Metro: Rajiv Chowk
Timings: 7 am to 7 pm daily
Entry: Rs 700 per person per day
The Bristol
The rooftop pool is a decent size. The crowd tends to be more expat than local.
>Adjacent to DLF Phase I Gurgaon
Tel: 0124 4351111
Entry: Rs 550 per person per day
Crowne Plaza Today
Hold on to your swimming caps. This 25-metre infinity pool is for deep pocketed non-guests.
>Sector 29 Gurgaon
Tel: 0124 4534000
Timings: Daily 7 am to 9 pm
Entry: Rs 1,600 per person per day
Gulmohar Club
>Gulmohar Park, opposite Kamla Nehru College, Balbir Saxena Marg
Tel: 011 2686 8139
Entry: Rs 120 per person per dip
Hotel Crown Plaza Surya
>New Friends Colony Community Centre
Tel: 011 2683 5070
Timings: Daily 7 am to 9 pm
Entry: Rs 750 adults; Rs 500 children per person per day
The Metropolitan
Decent size pool and it’s in the courtyard. It’s pretty empty during the week.
>Bangla Sahib Road
Tel: 011 4250 0200
Timings: Daily 6:30 am to 7 pm
Entry: Rs 600 per person per day
Public Pools
Most public pools require monthly memberships. However, for a price starting at Rs 500, if you’re in Delhi for more than a week or come to Delhi often, it sure beats the price of a one-off swimming session at a fancy hotel.
Indian Aquatic Academy
>Sector 24, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Noida
Tel: 0124 238 1544
Timings: Mon to Sat 5:30 am to 10:30 am; 4 pm to 10 pm
Entry: Rs 1,200 per month
Khazan Singh Academy
>Kendriya Vidyalaya, Old JNU Campus, Baba Gangnath Marg
Tel: 011 3293 3
828
Timings: Tue to Sun 5 am to 8 am; 8 pm to 9 pm
Entry: Rs 700 per month
NDMC Swimming Pool Mandir Marg
>NP Boys Senior Secondary School, Mandir Marg
Tel: 011 2336 3629
Entry: Adults Rs 400; children Rs 60 per month
NDMC Swimming Pool Sarojini Nagar
>Navyug School
Tel: 011 2334 7296
Timings: Daily 6:30 am to 10:20 am; 4 pm to 7:50 pm; ladies 5 pm to 5:50 pm
Entry: Adults Rs 400; children Rs 60 per month
Pacific Sports Complex
>Kendriya Vidyalaya, Andrews Ganj
Tel: 011 6452 0554
Timings: Daily 5 am to 10 am; 2 pm to 10 pm
Entry: Adults Rs 1,400; children Rs 1,200 per month
Sports and Cultural Club
>Sector 15A, Noida
Tel: 95120 251 1586
Timings: Tue to Fri 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm
Entry: Rs 1,825 per month
YMCA
>Jai Singh Road
Tel: 011 2374 666
Timings: Mon to Sat 6:30 am to 10:30 am; 3 pm to 7:30 pm Entry: Rs 900 per month
Tennis
DDA Sports Complexes
Siri Fort has the best tennis courts, but there are courts in DDA complexes throughout the city. Go to www.ddadelhi.com/sports for locations.
>Khel Gaon Marg
Tel: 011 2649 7482
Entry: Rs 40 Indian / Rs 100 foreigner for day membership; Rs 50 / Rs 100 court fees
Delhi Lawn Tennis Association
The Delhi Lawn Tennis Association is a great option for a game of tennis. The courts are well maintained and there are ball boys and lights for evening games. No matter where you’re staying, the centrally located tennis courts will prove to be convenient. The entry fee is calculated by the court, not the number of players. Another great place to check out is the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The tennis courts were built for the Asian games, so they are still in pretty good shape.
>1 Africa Avenue, opposite RK Puram and Safdarjung Enclave
Tel: 011 2649 7482
Timings: Mon to Fri 7 am to 10 pm
Entry: Rs 150/hr Mon to Fri; Rs 200/hr Sat to Sun; Rs 300/hr Mon to Sun evenings.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
The courts in the old stadium of Rajpath are well maintained, but the registration process will have you screaming like John McEnroe. It’s worth it to register and then take your frustrations out on the tennis ball.
>National Stadium, India Gate, near Patiala House
Tel: 011 2338 9740
Entry: Registration Rs 70, Rs 250 for an hour of play
MAKE THE MOST OF MUSEUMS
No. 1: National Rail Museum. Where else can you ride a toy train then take a trip through time as you explore other retired trains for so little money. All aboard!
There may be lots of whining when the museum itinerary is discussed before the family heads out for a day of sight-seeing, but if an outing to the Gandhi Museum is framed by a visit to the Crafts Museum where kids can make pottery alongside the artisans or indulge in some hands-on activities at the National Museum of Natural History, they’ll actually thank you later. Delhi’s multi-faceted history is displayed in a bounty of museum displays that span 5,000 years. History, however, isn’t confined to walls full of art and glass displays. History can be seen everywhere through walking tours in Old Delhi or by catching the Delhi Parikrama Rail Sewa which winds its way past some historic monuments. Also included with the listings in this chapter, are nearby sights and nearby eats. It will help in planning visits and will save time by possibly fitting 2 museum visits in one day, especially if the museums are in close proximity. And after all that reading of note cards on the displays, you are bound to have built up an appetite. So, grab a water bottle, some comfortable walking shoes and get ready to discover Incredible India.
Chugging through History
One of the city’s still undiscovered treasures, the Delhi Parikrama Rail Sewa will give passengers a different view of Delhi in just under 2 hours and 35 km. Built in 1975 as a single diesel haul, it was thrust into the spotlight for the 1982 Asian Games. The circular route of 12 passenger trains roughly follows the ring road. Starting from Hazrat Nizamuddin station, the 2-hour journey provides breathtaking views of Humayun’s tomb and Gurudwara Damdama Sahib. You’ll catch a glimpse of Connaught Place from the Shivaji (Minto) bridge. Lajpat Nagar is the final stop on the journey before the train returns to the Nizamuddin station. Tea and snacks will be provided, however, it is encouraged that you bring water and other snacks if so desired. Robinson guides you on the journey.
>Starting at the Hazrat Nizamuddin station
Timings: 8:45 am to 11:15 am
Entry: Rs 100
Museums and Monuments
Gandhi Smriti Museum
This museum is at the house where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life before he was assassinated there on 30 January 1948. The memorial highlights many aspects of Gandhi’s life including his ideas, principles and values. The room where he stayed has some of his things including a bed, mat on the floor, eye glasses, books and a spinning wheel. A film on Gandhi is shown daily.
>5 Tees January Marg
Nearest Metro: Central Secretariat
Tel: 011 2301 1480
Timings: Tue to Sat 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Entry: Free
Nearby sights: Indira Gandhi Memorial, National Museum of Natural History
Nearby places to eat: Hotel Le Meridien, Imperial Hotel, Parikrama Revolving Restaurant, Nizam’s Kathi Kebabs, Bengali Market, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Nirula’s, Ruby Tuesday, Barista, Café Coffee Day and the food court at Dilli Haat.
Hauz Khas
Hauz Khas village once housed a large tank that provided a steady supply of water to Siri, the second city of Delhi. The village was founded by Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji and the tank was excavated in 1300. The tank was known as Hauz-i-Alai, hence Hauz Khas meaning royal tank. The tank fell into disrepair and it wasn’t until the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who ruled Delhi in the 14th century, that it was repaired. Additionally, several monuments were built by Firoz Shah including his tomb, a mosque and a madrassa (college). The monuments can be reached by taking a left turn just after the Aurobindo Palace on the main Aurobindo Marg. The entrance to the tomb of Firoz Shah is on the southern side. It has a big dome and decorated with Quranic inscriptions. To the west of the tomb is the madrassa which was built in 1352 for religious studies. Several staircases lead from the madrassa down to the tank which is encircled by paved pathways. Within the complex are several other monuments. The area is one of the most prestigious residential areas in the cities and it houses many chic restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. The Deer Park (see Beauty and the Beast, p.18) can also be found in the area.
>Nearby sights: Hauz Khas Enclave, Kalkaji Temple, Lotus Temple, Nizamuddin’s Shrine
Nearby places to eat: Park Balluchi restaurant in the Deer Park, Naivedyam or the Village Bistro.
The Indian Air Force Museum
The entire family would really enjoy a visit to the Indian Air Force Museum. From pictures to uniforms and of course, a collection of different types of military aircraft, visitors get a true history of the Indian Air Force. Every year on 8 October, which is celebrated as Air Force Day, visitors can view the larger transport aircrafts kept in the flight apron of Palam Air Base and a special parade of the Indian Air Force. (See Dudes, pp.41–2.)
>Palam Air Force Station
Timings: Wed to Sun 10 am to 5 pm, closed Mon and Tue
Entry: Free
Tel: 011 2569 7551
Web: http://indianairforce.nic.in
Nearby places to eat: Radisson, Centaur Hotel, Wimpy’s in Janakpuri, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Barista, Ruby Tuesday.
Indira Gandhi Memorial
The house where Indira Gandhi lived when she was prime minister of India serves as the Indira Gandh
i Memorial. It was here in her gardens that she was assassinated by her two bodyguards on 31 October 1984. The museum has limited items on display, but one can see the bloodstained sari she wore on the day she was killed. Also on display are the burned clothes and shoes of her son, Rajeev Gandhi, which he was wearing when he was assassinated by a bomb blast in May 1991. The whole stretch of the garden where she last walked is enclosed in glass, giving an eerie effect of time standing still. Children are certain to find a visit both enjoyable and educational, and the memorial is also very popular among domestic tourists who want to pay homage to their leaders and the sacrifices they made for the country.
>1 Safdarjung Road, near Safdarjung’s Tomb and Airport
Nearest Metro: Central Secretariat
Tel: 011 2301 0094
Timings: Tue to Sun 9:30 am to 4:45 pm
Nearby sights: National Museum of Natural History, Gandhi Smriti Museum, National Gandhi Museum
Nearby places to eat: Hotel Le Meridien, Imperial Hotel, The Lalit, Parikrama, Wenger, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Nirula’s, Ruby Tuesday, Delhi Darbar, Barista, Café Coffee Day and Nizam’s Kathi Kebabs.
Mehrauli Archaeological Park
Famously known for the location of the Qutab Minar (see If You Have to be a Tourist, pp.107–8), tourists usually visit the minaret and then head back home missing out on one of the gems of the city. Mehrauli Archaeological Park, spread over 100 acres is a treasure trove for history lovers as it has more than 70 monuments on its grounds including the Zafar Mahal, Balban’s tomb (he was the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in the thirteenth century); and Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb. INTACH organizes tours with guides who have a background in architecture, art or history that take about 2 hours.