I'm traveling from Delhi to Ludhiana (in Punjab) for a wedding. Problem is my flight gets in at 11:00 PM. Is it possible to leave this late, or should I stay in Delhi for the night and catch an early morning train? If I stay in Delhi, are there any "decent" hotels right near the airport or would I be stuck inside the airport for the night? I'd really appreciate any suggestions.

The standard is to stay the night and then head out the following morning/day.

The only decent hotel -- by international business standards -- that is relatively close to the hotel -- like less than 15 minutes away -- is the Radisson Delhi (not the one in Noida). There are some much cheaper hotels along the road next to the Radisson Delhi that go for 1200-1800 INR per night. However, those -- while not bad -- are very basic and feel more like a lower-end guest house than a "worldclass" 3*.

Since you are taking about taking a train, you could just as well stay closer to central Delhi rather than out by the airport. That may open up a lot more options.

Thanks for the quick reply, GUWonder. I'm assuming you're somewhat familiar with the city and airport. Would it be stupid to stay the night in DEL airport or should I definitely try to venture into the city and get a real hotel?

Very familiar with the city, the airport and the people.

I would definitely get a hotel room. There is a "transit hotel" facility availabe at DEL airport itself but it's often booked up fully and is so very basic that you will routinely end up with hitherto unknown guests in the room as the airport personnel are permitted. The only places to wait upon arrival at DEL airport itself -- besides what I've just mentioned -- is the arrivals hall (where the hired car drivers wait with family/friends receiving international travellers or another paid waiting hall. Both are so basic (i.e., you'll know what I mean if you need a bathroom) and often overcrowded (i.e., no seats) that I'd definitely head to a hotel even if it were the cheaper ones that go for 1200-1800 INR (c. 30-45 dollars).

What I'd do in your situation would be determined by what the budget could afford. I'd definitely recommend that those unfamiliar with DEL get a hotel on arrival even if they'll be out the door early in the morning.

The Radisson Delhi is fine - a few minutes from the airport terminal. As long as your departure from Delhi's rail terminals isn't too early, you could stay here and get driven in after rush hour is over. Otherwise, a night drive into a hotel in Delhi / New Delhi would possibly be easier on anyone arriving from places with limited access freeways. BTW, as for information you have been given, GUWonder is possibly THE India guru hereabouts... and GUWonder's advice would always trump mine.

(It certainly looks like one is coming Gurgaon - Delhi, since if you have the right room at the Radisson you can look out your window and watch detailwork on the elevated freeway deck. That room could be a bit loud at times.)

But JDiver, I like your advice better than mine. (My only guru-ness with India relates to the Indian political establishment. )

Also, you have excellent trip reports. ^^

Thanks, GUWonder. Radisson Delhi is a bit pricier than what I'm looking for. I probably wouldn't want to pay more than $25-50 USD per person (there will be two of us staying). I think staying closer to the train station to Ludhiana is more practical. Can you give any recommendations for hotels in this area? Also, is it safe, reliable to take a taxi from the airport past 11;00 PM?

There are plenty of cheaper -- ok properties -- available for $28-$50 along the road next to the Radisson or even in the city center itself. When you get past immigration and then customs at DEL there is an area in the arrivals area -- before where the hotel drivers are standing with placards with names -- that has some "tourist"-oriented kiosks. They can make reservations on arrival based on your budget and many of those include one-way transportation to the budget hotel or you can arrange for the prepaid car at the same time as the hotel booking.

Alternatively, if you have a booking already made before arrival and have the address for the hotel in hand, you can take a prepaid taxi to the hotel of your choosing by booking the prepaid cars either in that non-busy part of the arrival area where the "tourist"-oriented kiosks are. However, the prepaid taxis outside the arrival waiting hall -- take the exit on the right side when walking from customs to the outside -- are much cheaper but can be a bit overwhelming as there is an even bigger mass of people waiting outside there.

As this sounds like your first trip to DEL -- and given the budget -- I would generally recommend getting your hotel booking done in advance and taking a prepaid taxi. Just remember to have the hotel's address and phone number in hand -- including asking for the neighborhood name and the major street/intersection/marketplace/store which is closest to it. (Finding a hotel driver -- especially from the non-higher end properties -- can be a major pain or even downright unreliable.)

Would your train to Ludhiana be leaving from the Nizamuddin train station or the DEL Central Rail Station? I'm presuming it's leaving from the one closer to Connaught Place since that is from where most foreign visitors generally start their trips. I certainly recommend getting a hotel closer to the train station than to the airport since morning traffic into central DEL can be rather slow.

As my experience with the budget ranges in DEL is slim, I'll have to ask around. I don't know well Pahar Ganj but that is the area backpackers and most budget tourists usually head to in DEL.

My experience with the budget ranges in DEL is slim since most of my friends/associates on a tight budget usually get put up at the India International Center, Habitat Center, the _____ State guest houses -- each Indian state has one in DEL -- or a few private guest houses.

If this is your first time in India then I would really recommend getting a good nights sleep in a nice hotel on your first night. Most of the low budget hotels can bring quite a culture shock. If you land at 11pm then I am preety sure you won't get to your hotel by 1am. I landed in DEL a few weeks back and took me 1 hr to clear immigration and another 30 mins to get out.

I am guessing that you haven't booked your train yet from Delhi. You have two choices - The best is the "Shatabdi" leaves Delhi (C.P) at 6.30am (ish) and gets you to Ludhiana by 12ish. Try and get your self a Executive class ticket for this as its much-much better then normal a/c chair class. The fare is twice as much as compared to normal chair at Rs500 o/w. Only stops once on the way and is quite fast.

The second choice is the Shane Punjab. This is all one class train and leaves 8ish from Delhi. Not recommened as its stops at every major station and is quite slow.

I would recommend that you stay somewhere near Connought Place! That way you can make it for your early train! Try booking via Google websites.

I really would not recommend flying in, sleeping at 1am and then waking up at 5am to go for your train to Ludhiana. Is it not possible to break your journey for a day?

Another thing you could do is get a good nights sleep and then get the IA flight (40mins on a Airbus A320) to Chandigrah at 1pm the next day ($40...Rs1,750 o/w) and then get a Taxi to Ludhiana or get someone to pick you up. Its only an hour from Chandigarh. Will be a lot better then spending 5 hrs in the train. Although the Shatabdi is quite comfortable. There is also a evening Shatabdi that leaves at 4ish.

I would really reccommend that you book your Train in advance (via Indian railways website) as getting a ticket is close to impossible within a week of travel! (seriously) Also book your hotel in advance, the hotels are extremely busy in Delhi and the last thing you want to do is go from Hotel to hotel in the night. Taxi's are perfectly safe though.

I am currently working in and around Ludhiana. Feel free to PM me if you need any more help or advice.

lallyr and GUwonder,

Thanks again for your posts. I'll definitely take your advice into consideration especially regarding booking everything in advance. I came across another option but would like your opinion on how legit and practical it is. Someone on another website recommended taking a coach bus directly from DEL to Ludhiana. Suppodedly they leave every 2 hours, so we woudln't need a hotel the first night and could leave straight to Ludhiana. Here's the website.

http://indocanadiantransport.com/delhitopunjab.php

Have you ever used this service or know anyone who has?

I have never used such a service. While it sounds like it could work it also seems like it is oriented toward people of Indian origin (esp. those who speak the local languages or are familiar with India/things Indian). It's do-able but it can be uncomfortable for some first-time visitors to wander around the outside of the airport looking for the proper bus in the middle of the night. (If using the coaches, watch your luggage like a hawk at DEL -- even if it is going in the hold.)

I have never used it but hve heard of it. Yeah a lot of NRI's (non residental indian's) use it to travel. I have not heard any bad stories about it. You should be ok. Why dont you just hire a taxi, much more comfortable all the way to Ludhiana. My friend came to India for the first time and got a taxi straight from the airport to Punjab and came home and sleapt. I think he paid around rs2000. This was you can travel at your own will.

But if you are serious about this Indo bus thing then I can ask around fro you and then give you some advice.

Yeah, I'd definitely like if you can ask around and see if anyone you know has used it (how long did it take, how comfortable/convenient, etc?). The Ludhiana trip was in jeopardy for awhile but now it's confirmed so I'll definitely be going there. I will be traveling with someone who can speak a bit of Hindi. He studied it in college for 2-3 years so I think he's competent in rudimentary conversation.

Some versions of Hindi are hard even for "Hindi"-speaking Indians to understand. Toss in some of the more Punjabized versions of Hindi and I wish him luck.

More seriously, you'll be fine with this bus service if you can find the right bus and don't mind long bus rides of the Greyhound variety.

I am sure that 90% of the people on your bus or around you will be able to speak English. I have been working in Punjab for 2 years now and I can barely speak the local language well. English is like a second language... as long as you don't ask a rickshaw guy or a man of the street. Don't worry, communication is the last thing that you should be worried about.