All you want to know about World Cup venue, Delhi, budget Hotels, transport etc.
Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey stadium is located at the heart of Delhi city.
This stadium is about 4 km from New Delhi Railway station, about 20 km from International Airport (called Indira Gandhi international airport), and 15-18 km from Domestic Airport (also called Indira Gandhi domestic airport). There is also another airport in Delhi which is for all practical purposes is a misnomer, it is called Safdurjung airport where only flying club and helicopter operate.
Lot of renovation work is going on at these two airports (international and domestic terminals), even a third terminal is fast coming up. These all will be ready and modernized before the Commonwealth Games (October 2010), but the visitors of World Cup will have to face some inconveniences here and there.
Whichever the airport, it is better to book pre-paid taxis to reach your hotel. These prepaid taxis can be booked before you get out of the airports; there are Delhi Tourism or Delhi Govt Transport counters before exit channels. From international airport, a non-airconditioned car might cost about Rs.350 (USD 6 or 7). Feb-march is winter no need for aircon transports.
When you book pre-paid taxis, you will be given a cash receipt in duplicate. Keep these with you and should be handed over to the driver after reaching the destination. You don’t owe any payment to the driver again, though some of them might do some tricks to get some extra perks. Tips, of course, is your discretion.
National stadium is located centrally, on the western point of a circular road. On the eastern end of the same circular road are Parliament and President’s palatial residence. This way National Stadium overlooks these two buildings.
A road connects both eastern and western end which is called Rajpath. Annual Republic Day parade, which is pride of India, starts from Eastern end and proceeds towards western end and further. At the midpoint of Rajpath is Gateway of India, a mammoth structure erected to commemorate both World War I and II’s martyr soldiers.
This Rajpath road is beset across with at least 3 main parallel roads, called Mansingh Road, Janpath Road, Rafi Marg. On both sides of the roads are lined with lot of Governmental offices, multi-stored and heritage buildings including National Museum, National Archives, and many more. One can get easy access to the Stadium from and any of these roads, you can hire auto (auto n fact means three wheelers, normally metered, but mostly involves heavy bargaining) which can bring you right inside the stadium complex.
The circular road is about 2-3 kms in perimeter and a delight in itself.
At least 10 roads radiate from the circular road each taking to the city in different directions.
Cannaught Place is a heritage and most commercial of areas, which lies between stadium area and New Delhi Railway station. This cannaught place is a great shopping area — and sports a central park — again it is divided into two circles, outer circus and inner circus, each approximately 3 and 1 km in perimeter.
At the centre of Connaught place is Rajiv Chowk below which lies the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station. Somewhat the Cannught place is akin to Sol area of Madrid.
Both the India gate area near where the National Stadium is located and Cannaught Place area will be interesting in terms of tourism and time pass.
Unfortunately, again the World Cup visitors will not able to see Cannaught place in its original splendour as it is under renovation, lot of diversions, dug up etc though many shops are open and doing business.
The official (Le Mereridan hotel) and media (Janpath Hotel) hotels are located on the eastern side of the Janpath road. Janpath Hotel is half km south of Cannught Place, about 2 km north of National Stadium. One can easily walk down from these hotels to stadium if so desires, as the walk will be pleasant, roads bedecked with big trees, full of flowers in their springs, neat and wide roads.
This Janpath road is again a highly commercial area, shoppers delight.
Two more parts will appear shortly