Delhi is one of the world’s most historical cities. It has been the capital of at least eight major civilizations, stretching back thousands of years — and all of them have left behind monuments, tombs, forts and other treasures. It is also a very green city, low-built and sprawling; criss-crossed with wide, leafy boulevards, parks and many fascinating areas from Raj-era Connaught Place, the commercial centre, to the crammed markets of Old Delhi; and from funky enclave Hauz Khas to the elegant bungalows of New Delhi. So there’s a lot to do and see! New Delhi is a fairly safe place to visit, but travelers to the area should be aware of certain situations and take a few precautions. It is a big city with a population of over 12 million. Therefore it has crime issues that go along with being a city of such size. Petty theft does occur and travelers should practice caution.
Safety for women
In the plight of some recent turn of events its better for female travelers to not travel alone but accompany some friend, family member or travel group when they do so. Delhi has earned a very bad name for itself in terms of providing security to women.
Be alert be safe
Delhi (especially in Old Delhi, around Chandni Chowk) gets VERY crowded. People jostle for space to walk, and pick-pocketing happens. Carry money in a money belt. Never carry a wallet in a back pocket. Same for passport. Be aware of your surroundings always. When removing money from wallet or moneybelt, find a quiet spot, if possible.
Travelling
Watch for rickshaw and auto rickshaw drivers and where they are taking you. If you think the trip from the market to the hotel is only 15 minutes and you are still driving around at 30 minutes (with no traffic!), question the driver or better still cease the journey. Request that the driver sticks to the main roads and doesn’t take you down back alley ways or old small roads.
Don’t get duped!
Make sure you do some pricing ladies when you go shopping to the markets otherwise you will get ripped off. Here are some rough figures one should pay if going to Karol Bagh, chadni chowk, janpath or palika bazar… men’s shorts 150-300 rupees, mens t-shirts (no collar) 200 rupees, shirts 200-300 rupees, ladies skirts 150-250 rupees, ladies tops/tunics 200-300 rupees, jeans 250-500 rupees, sneakers (imitation) 600-900 rupees, sandals/thongs 200-300 rupees, necklaces/bangles on average 150 rupees per piece, earrings 50-100 rupees.
Understand the difference between different markets
The city has many different shopping areas. Each market has a distinctive ambience, and adds its own flavour to the experience of shopping. Old Delhi’s bylanes offer some amazing opportunities for shopping, including fabrics, jewellery, and spices. Janpath is a great place for bargain hunting, with kiosks selling cotton clothes, curios, silver jewellery and brassware. On Baba Kharak Singh Marg, there are several state handicraft emporia, which provide an opportunity to see the wide range of woodcarving, painting, sculpture and other arts of India. Other shopping options include the upscale shops at Hauz Khas Village, Santushti Complex and Khan Market, the outdoor market at Dilli Haat, and cheap Indian and Western wear at Lajpat Nagar/Sarojini Nagar. There are also several upscale shopping malls and designer boutiques that have come up in different parts of the city.