Nitya Choubey

It’s March, and Delhi’s weather is arguably at its most gorgeous. The heat’s made a slightly earlyish appearance (or has it? Summer always feels like a slightly unwelcome prospect following a perfect spring) and everyone’s ditched the sweaters and jackets. March also, incidentally, means it’s time for Holi! One of Delhi’s favourite festivals, because we love getting down and dirty. Ahem.  The biggest ticket (literally – entry is bloody pricey) event this month is Ye’s India tour. The rapper and hip-hop giant previously known as Kanye West is heading to Delhi at the end of the month! Other big performers include Punjabi rapper Honey Singh, as well as a great lineup of comedy shows: Aakash Gupta, Anubhav Bassi, Prashasti Singh, and loads more.  It’s a big month in terms of general activity too: Ramzan is on, of course, which means certain neighbourhoods around Chandni Chowk and Jamia will be abuzz with loads of activity after dark. There will, obviously, also be loads of Holi parties (catered as well as BYOB) around the city. Our guide tells you which ones are worth your buck.

The Delhi winter's officially made a hasty exit and the first week of March is looking bright and sunny (though we've still got the last remnants of pleasant evenings before the summer well and truly kicks in).  This week's mostly all about Holi. For one, it's a public holiday, and two – it's a chance to get raucous (Delhi's favourite thing) in relatively good weather. While neighbourhood clubs and parks host their version of a Holi party every year, folks can widen their net a bit this time, since quite a few public parties are planned too, including a cover charge (some are BYOB, some cater). And if you're still interested in spending time outdoors without getting drenched in coloured water that's going to have you looking like the purple Teletubby for weeks, you could also check out the Amrit Udyan – the garden at Rashtrapati Bhavan – which is open for visitors currently. Other fun things including concerts by Rekha and Vishal Bhardwaj and Piyush Mishra. Two or three rather good exhibitions on, too – at the KNMA, NGMA, and galleries in Defence Colony. Read on to find out more!   

It’s a relief to shrug off a rather long and sluggish January. The sun’s coming out, the weather’s near-perfect, with cool mornings, bright afternoons, and evenings that are begging for bar crawls. And February may be the shortest month, but in Delhi this year, it's completely action-packed. The calendar’s stuffed to the brim with theatre, sport, music, culture, and ROMANCE (or did you forget about Valentine’s Day?), making it one of the most reliably busy months to be out and about. The big-ticket item this month is, of course, the T20 World Cup, with multiple matches in Delhi. The music scene’s alive and well too – The Lumineers, Armaan Malik, the India Jazz Project, the HT City Unwind (the GOAT Lucky Ali returns) and the Sufi Heritage Festival (featuring big draws Daler Mehndi and Sona Mohapatra) all in a single month. The Pride Parade and the Delhi Literature Festival are also big crowd pullers, along with the ongoing Bharat Rang Mahotsav, which kicked off in late January and features plenty of theatre productions through the month. We simply cannot forget the Surajkund Mela, which brings artisans from across and beyond India under one roof, selling some of the most unique things money can buy. You’ve also got the big V-Day bonanza starting mid-month, with loads of bars and restaurants hosting special events and offering hefty discounts, so make sure to catch those. But all in all, like we said, February’s weather is too good to be true – so don’t miss this chance to grab

As its capital, Delhi’s one of the most-visited cities in India. With that comes the obvious slew of world-class hotels – some of the very best in the country – but the thing about hotels is that they’re often located in the busiest junctions of the city. Even the budget ones have a habit of turning up on main roads or are cloistered thickly around the usual suspect neighbourhoods in central or south Delhi. And sure, this makes for a convenient tourist experience, but if you want to root around for something slightly more authentic at the same price or less, then Airbnbs are worth exploring. The Airbnb culture’s been slowish to take root in the city, but the best ones have come up in neighbourhoods that are lived in by real residents for generation after generation, making for an organic experience that shows you a side of Delhi you’d only be acquainted with if you’d lived in the city awhile.   How did these Airbnbs make it to the list? It’s true that lots of good Airbnbs in Delhi are concentrated in Hauz Khas Village, and offer views of the 13th century fort that the neighbourhood’s best known for, but I’ve put together this guide to show you cool picks across other neighbourhoods, too. Every Airbnb on the list’s been handpicked after in-depth research on customer ratings, feedback from the Time Out Delhi team, lists of amenities, location, and of course, general aesthetics. The article has affiliated links to other sites, which have zero influence over our editorial judgmen

Sanjay Van is one of Delhi’s largest green spaces – a sprawling, almost hulkish forest that straddles Vasant Kunj and Mehrauli – two neighbourhoods that are constantly abuzz. The forest, then, is a lovely contradiction, because it’s one of the least crowded spaces in Delhi.  The area – a protected forest, by the way – actually forms part of the residual Aravalli ranges, and the terrain reflects that lineage. No two trails look alike. Some stretches are flat and easy while others will slope sharply uphill, dip into uneven paths, or wind around water bodies. Giant rocks left behind by the Aravallis jut out of the earth in several places, and loads of natural water drains zig-zag through the forest. You can imagine the wildlife here, then –  silverbills, flycatchers, parakeets, cuckoos, egrets and sparrowhawks. The massive acreage allows you to shape a nice day out of it – a picnic in one of the clearings or by Neela Hauz lake (with some duck watching to go with!), cycling through the winding trails, a bit of a hike, even.  Time Out tip: Remain watchful of monkeys and stray dogs, even though guards patrol the area. They’re usually harmless if left undisturbed, but carrying a wooden stick can help keep them at bay when needed. Rough walking shoes advised.  Timing 5am to 8pm. Entry is free. Entry The main entry point is near the Qutab Institutional Area in Mehrauli. 

Sunder Nursery's arguably the most popular outdoor space in all of Delhi. A 90-acre heritage park located adjacent to Humayun's Tomb and across the Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti, the nursery's served a bunch of different purposes over the centuries. What began as a garden – Azim Bagh – built by the Mughals in the 16th century was transformed into a nursery by the British during colonial-era India in their attempt to cultivate a range of different species of plants. It was finally opened to the public in 2018 after extensive renovations in its current, full glory. You'll find traces of every bit of this history in the park today: all of the 15 monuments inside date back to the Mughal era, of which six are UNESCO heritage monuments. All of them – including the Sunder Burj, Sunderwala Mahal, Lakkarwala Burj and the tomb of Mirza Muzaffar Hussain – sit comfortably within the landscaped sections of the park, instead of being cordoned off. Some are large, central, and lit up at night. Others are tucked into the woodsier corners of the park. The entire space, in fact, harkens back to the Mughal pleasure garden: central fountains, paved walkways, symmetrical lawns, shaded paths. The site, by virtue of it sitting inside the larger Humayun's Tomb complex, is incidentally a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  You'll find traces of the nursery too: the entire left wall of the space has thousands of plants on offer, with some bulbs and seed varieties starting at a throwaway ₹15. There's some sort of r

One of the more well-known parks of Delhi, Deer Park is a hotspot for two reasons: because it forms a natural, wooded outcrop of the intensely popular Hauz Khas Village, and because it’s home to several absurdly adorable deer. Because it’s so large, it’s got something for everyone: a manicured bit with lawns and flowerbeds perfect for picnicking; a densely wooded section with trails that are preferred by walkers and joggers; a rose garden; several tiny Sultanate- and Mughal-era monuments (Bagh-i-Gumbad, Kufhe Walla Gumbad, Kali Gomti); a tiny water body section shared by rabbits and ducks; and, of course, the aforementioned deer enclosure.  The park touches three neighbourhoods: Hauz Khas, Safdarjung Enclave, and Green Park. On the Hauz Khas side, the park’s connected to the Hauz Khas District Park from the inside, which features a massive lake, a view of the Hauz Khas Fort, and a little alleyway leading to countless restaurants, bars, and cafes.  Time Out tip: Avoid bringing your vehicle if you’re entering from the Hauz Khas side. It’s a pain to navigate the tourist spot, especially in the evenings.         

Jahanpanah City Forest   Nitya Choubey    Jahanpanah is equal parts forest and park, spanning 435 acres of lush woods. It’s a jogger’s paradise, honestly: no screechy children, no picnicking adults, and a veil of silence interspersed sporadically with the sound of nature. The forest’s been a bit of a local secret, partly because it straddles a bunch of residential neighbourhoods, including Greater Kailash II and II, Alaknanda, Masjid Moth, Chirag Delhi, Govindpuri, and a little bit of Saket. Most entrances are unobtrusive and not too easy to locate. For this reason, the forest has a slightly mysterious, dark charm. It’s very densely forested in a way that, say, Sanjay Van perhaps isn’t – it feels much more like a wood than a jungle, if you know what I mean. The temperature drops by a couple degrees once you’re inside, and many of the paths aren’t paved. Vast sections of the forest also remain unlit at night.  Much of this is to protect the wildlife: birds including kingfishers, parakeets, hornbill, mynah, indian tree pies, babblers, bulbuls and sunbirds, and animals like the nilgai and jackal. It’s a rare treat to sometimes find a nilgai peeking out at you from behind some thick foliage. Because of the rich biodiversity, you’ll find that the park is shut during afternoon hours to give the animals a break.  Time Out tip: The tracks are winding and it’s not terribly hard to lose your way here, so keep your wits about you and perhaps don’t venture here alone after dark. Also kee

Another night, another moon - only that today's evening moon will be bloodier. A total lunar eclipse is the rarest. The Moon passes into the Earth's umbral shadow turning red, or sometimes black sometimes. The India Meteorological Department says that today's lunar eclipse the will be some 1.155 in magnitude, making it a profound total lunar eclipse. Catch the celestial spectacle in India, as well as in various parts of East Asia, Australia, and the Americas. In India, cities like Nagpur and Chennai will witness the Moon partially covered by Earth's shadow as it climbs above the eastern horizon. What's the visibility? Most people in India will be able to see only the final stages of the eclipse at moonrise. Northeast India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will view the red moon for a little lesser time. The best time to catch a glimpse in around 6.40pm, right when its ending. IMD specifies time-stamps for the entire eclipse: Eclipse Begins at 3:20 pm. Total Phase Begins at 4:34 pm. Total Phase Ends at 5:33 pm. Eclipse Ends at 6:48 pm (best time to catch the eclipse)    

Another night, another moon, except this one’s going to blush deep red. A total lunar eclipse is when the Earth slips directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its darkest shadow (the umbra) over the lunar surface. Instead of disappearing, the Moon turns coppery red (sometimes even a dusky brown) thanks to sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), today’s eclipse has a magnitude of 1.155, marking it as a deep total lunar eclipse. Will Delhi see the red moon? Here’s the catch: most of India – including Delhi – will miss the early and peak stages of the eclipse because they occur before moonrise. By the time the Moon rises over Delhi’s eastern horizon, the eclipse will already be in its final phase. So what you’ll catch is the tail end of the spectacle, which means a partially shadowed Moon, possibly tinged red, just before the eclipse concludes. Best time to look up in Delhi For Delhiites, the best viewing window is around 6:40pm, just before the eclipse officially ends at 6:48pm. Look toward the eastern horizon right at moonrise for your best chance. How to get the best view Head to an open space with a clear eastern view, so rooftops, terraces, parks. Reach your spot by 6:30pm to avoid missing the brief window. No telescope needed, because lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye. Binoculars can enhance the colour contrast if you have them handy. While cities further east – and

Before you step out in white kurtas and already-regrettable footwear, here’s a quick heads-up ahead of everybody's favourite holiday. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has issued an advisory announcing a delayed start to metro services on Holi, March 4, 2026. Trains on all lines will begin operations at 2.30pm from their respective terminal stations. Yes, all routes – that includes the Delhi Airport Metro Express (Airport Express Line) and the Noida Metro Rail Corporation’s Aqua Line. After 2.30pm, services are expected to run as per their usual frequency for the rest of the day. The late start follows the Metro’s annual Holi protocol. Every year, morning services are either suspended or pushed back to ensure safety across the network and allow operational staff to participate in the festivities, while security arrangements remain in place. For real-time updates, commuters can keep an eye on DMRC’s official social media handles. As for road travel, traffic is likely to be lighter than usual through the morning, though standard security barricading can be expected around sensitive zones, including diplomatic areas, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Connaught Place.

If you’re someone who zips between Delhi and Noida often, we've got news. The Delhi Noida Direct (DND) Flyway is going to be off-limits every night until March 18, 2026. The flyover will shut daily for seven hours – from 11pm to 6am – for repair and resurfacing work. The good news is that the repair work's not going to impact peak travel hours, but that doesn't necessarily mean you won't feel the pinch – especially commuters who work unusual hours. Thousands of vehicles use the DND every day, and for good reason. It’s fast, signal-free, and one of the most convenient links between Delhi and Noida (and by extension, the wider NCR). Which is precisely why the nightly closure is likely to pinch cab riders, airport runs, late office log-outs, and post-dinner drives. What are your alternatives? Here’s how to reroute without losing your sanity: Coming from Mahamaya towards DND? Skip the flyway and head to Chilla via Dalit Prerna Sthal instead. Travelling from Rajnigandha/Sector 15 towards Delhi via DND Toll? Take a U-turn at the toll plaza and proceed towards Chilla to enter Delhi. If your commute depends on the DND, factor in buffer time – especially for airport drops, early morning trains, or late-night returns. A little planning now will save you a full-blown road-rage episode later.  

A centenary calls for something substantial when it’s someone like Satish Gujral you’re celebrating. The iconic artist, who would’ve turned 100 this year, is being honoured in Delhi with one of the most expansive exhibitions of his work to date: Satish Gujral 100, now on view at the National Gallery of Modern Art. The show brings together over 165 works spanning painting, sculpture, architecture and personal archives, and you're in luck, because it’s on until March 30.  Gujral's been one of the most defining artists to emerge from India – and for most, his work begins and ends with the Partition. This exhibition, though, is one of those rare instances that uncover the full sweep of a career: one that stretched across continents and disciplines, from his formative years in Mexico, to his experiments with industrial materials – including sculptural forms and architectural projects that reshaped bits of Delhi's skyline.  My firm view's that this is not the kind of show you dip in and out of. It's been curated with a deep sense of care – in part because it's been put up collaboratively by the Gujral Foundation (run by Gujral's son and daughter-in-law) and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The displays touch on his passionate stint with architecture, the romantic life he guarded from the public eye, and his unusual habit of transforming the most ordinary things – rubber strings, wooden buttons – into art.  Without giving the best of it away, here's what to watch out for.   1.Mexico c

A crane lifts Delhi-based artist Tarini Sethi 25 feet into the air. Suspended at the top of a Lodhi Colony wall, roller brush in hand, she is at work on what she calls her biggest mural yet. 'This is the biggest wall that I've ever done,' says the 36-year-old, adding that the contemporary fusion piece is a collaboration between Indian and Spanish artists Ishaan Bharat and Suso. Tarini’s mural features colours from the flags of both countries on a rich green background. While Suso focuses on the background, Tarini and Ishaan are focused on depicting the diversity of Indian culture through multiple cartoons. The result looks similar to Indian characters frolicking in a Spanish-style garden. Her mural's one of several new works going up as the Lodhi Art Festival returns to mark the 10th anniversary of the Lodhi Art District –India’s first open public art district. You can catch the exhibition any day (for free!) until February 28. While the old murals remain as they are, empty walls get brand new ones. The theme this year is ‘Dilate All Art Spaces’, with murals designed to interact with the viewer’s movement and perspective. You can expect to see loads of artists – including internationally renowned ones like Elian Chali (Argentina), JuMu (Germany) and Pener (Poland) – at work on the walls of the district.  The festival, which is curated by St+Art India Foundation in collaboration with Asian Paints, will also host a bunch of workshops and panel discussions throughout the month.

Tourists, brace yourselves and your bank balances. The capital's about to get very busy, and very, very expensive, as the India AI Impact Summit 2026 kicks off on February 16.  Touted as the largest edition yet out of the four global summits held so far, the event's expected to draw CEOs, founders, investors, and tech heavyweights from all over. This means that luxury hotels, between February 15 and March 15, are either fully booked or quoting massively inflated rates. A stay that may have felt already a bit indulgent's going to be straight up unaffordable for most.  How steep is the spike? At The Leela Palace, a night from February 16 onwards is hovering around ₹3.5 lakh and above. The very same rooms drop to roughly ₹44,000–₹60,000 per night after March 15. At The Oberoi, February 16 is priced out at nearly ₹5 lakh for a luxury room that would otherwise cost about ₹50,000. The Taj Palace’s entry-level rooms are sitting at around ₹50,000 for that period, with top-tier options climbing as high as ₹25 lakh. Wait a few weeks, and similar rooms can be found closer to ₹24,000 a night. Meanwhile, several legacy luxury addresses in central Delhi, including Le Méridien, The Imperial, ITC Maurya and Sheraton, are completely sold out between February 14 and 20. The last available rooms at Hyatt Regency, though, are priced at about ₹70,000 per night and above.  Where can I stay?Fret not, we've got you covered with this list of the best Airbnbs in Delhi, which range in budget, location,

In India, travel by rail guarantees stunning views, jolly chit-chat with fellow passengers, and, of course, much less of a strain on the pocket compared to pricey airfare. The 2026 Budget, announced on February 1 by the union government, has put forth a plan to streamline travel even further (let’s be honest, some train journeys aren’t worth a day and a half) by proposing seven new high-speed rail corridors.  These train routes are set to cover key metropolises, hugely cutting travel time, hassle, and your carbon footprint. The proposed rail routes include:  Mumbai-Pune Pune-Hyderabad Hyderabad-Bengaluru Hyderabad-Chennai Chennai-Bengaluru Delhi-Varanasi  Varanasi-Siliguri When can you hop on? While it’s a step in the right direction, the government’s yet to outline a timeline for when travellers will be able to use the new high-speed rail routes.

Booking cabs in the Delhi rain or during the airport rush hour is, probably, one of the more painful experiences of living in a metropolitan city. Fares jump, drivers cancel, and suddenly a ₹500 fare's flirting with ₹800. But all that's set for a possible change with the entry of Bharat Taxi, a new ride-hailing app that's just rolled into Delhi with a big promise: fixed fares, no surge in pricing, and, very importantly, happier drivers. Launched under a cooperative model by the union government, the app is touted as India's first driver-owned ride-hailing platform. In short, that means no commission cuts from drivers, unlike other major players Uber and Ola, which reportedly cut about 30-40% from each ride’s fee. On this app, each driver registered will own a small stake in the cooperative, and instead of losing a chunk of their fee from every ride, they'd pay a flat daily fee to use the app. The idea is that this would convert to fairer earnings for drivers, and cheaper rides for passengers.  Another plus: where private apps' pricing might fluctuate wildly depending on traffic or weather, Bharat Taxi will promise a fixed fare with no last-minute hikes. Officials say fares may even be 30% cheaper than what you'd typically pay on Ola or Uber, since there's no commission baked into the price.   How does it work? The app, officially launched on Feb 5 in the capital, is available on both Android and iOS. Delhi-NCR's part of the pilot phase along with select cities in Gujarat, whi

Delhi’s much-loved independent bookstore Promenade Books is temporarily closing down and pausing both in-store and online book sales, the bookstore announced on Instagram. In a note to readers, Promenade explained the decision by saying, 'We are closing the store because it has become harder to hold space for looking, lingering and thinking in a time when people are taught not to look around.' The bookstore – which was especially popular among Gen-Z readers – was housed in a tiny, pocket-sized space in the winding lanes of Hauz Khas village. But fear not – this isn't goodbye. While the storefront goes into hibernation, Promenade’s work behind the scenes will continue as usual, said the post. The independent press will keep publishing stories from across India, even as it looks for a new physical home to return to. Founded in March 2024 by Abhay Panwar, Promenade is one of Delhi’s newer independent bookstores and publishers. Built especially for solitary readers and quiet browsers, it quickly became known for its tightly curated selection of rare, indie and classic titles – many of which were published by the store's own press.

If navigating the streets of Old Delhi to get to your favourite chaat corner or lehenga shop felt like an assault on the senses, help may be on the way. Delhi’s oldest neighbourhood – also called Shahjahanabad, the walled city –  is officially back in focus, with the state government stepping in to take charge of its redevelopment. Last week, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her government would give top priority to the area under the Old Delhi Redevelopment plan. Calling Shahjahanabad a symbol of Delhi’s historical and cultural identity, she added that it deserved to be developed into a major tourism hub. She was also appointed chairperson of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC), the body overseeing the project. So, what’s likely to change? Those familiar overhead electricity cables criss-crossing Old Delhi’s narrow lanes are set to be shifted underground to improve safety and the area’s appearance. To tackle the daily congestion in market areas, a comprehensive traffic management plan will be prepared, along with the construction of multi-level parking facilities to reduce on-street parking. Which parts of Old Delhi are in the spotlight? Earlier SRDC projects will be reviewed afresh, including the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk, development of the Jama Masjid area, beautification of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, and improvements along the stretch from Delhi Gate to Kashmiri Gate. Alongside development, the government has said special attention will be giv

Whether you think of the holiday as a capitalistic gimmick hounding your pocket or the best day to declare your love (or maybe even pop the question), Valentine's Day’s kind of the best excuse to have fun. There’s gonna be mood lighting at every restaurant, a big bonanza of red and pink, and chocolates on discount. This year, it falls on a weekend – and though a Saturday night dinner date sounds like the safest bet, Delhi’s got a whole bunch of other events that could easily imbibe a romantic energy if you’re game. Fear not – they’re not all bougie over-the-top excuses to splurge. And if you’re looking to hang with your buddies, this list’s got you covered, too. Solo flyers needn’t sulk either.  Swipe Right dating comedy show Comedy for matchmaking makes sense when you consider the wasteland that’s online dating. After more than 20 shows across six cities in India, Swipe Right arrives in Delhi right on cue for Valentine’s Day. It’s a one-of-a-kind matchmaking show where random audience members are pulled from the crowd to be set up with someone else. If you’re single, above 16, and looking to cast a wide net, don’t miss this.  When: February 14Where: Hide Out Comedy Club, Delhi How to get there: It's a 10-minute walk from the Malviya Nagar Metro Station (yellow line). Attend two back-to-back Candlelight Open Air concerts It’s back to the roots for this edition of Candlelight Concerts. The concept, still newish in India, will organise a live music set playing Bollywood tracks