Nitya Choubey

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

We’ve beaten a week of overcast mornings and moody weather to make it to the second week of February, and things are looking up! The sun’s managed to peek through, afternoons are becoming balmy, and everyone’s starting to make plans for the Valentine’s Day weekend. Fear not if you’ve got nobody to engage in a lovefest with – Galentine’s goes just as hard as date night with your significant other.  There’s some stuff going on through the week – there’s a couple of T20 World Cup matches being hosted at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, for instance, and Bharat Rang Mahotsav is on as well, with more than one play lined up everyday at Mandi House. Solid shopping opportunities at the Surajkund Mela, and of course, some stellar exhibitions at NGMA and the Humayun’s Tomb museum.  The weekend, though, is reserved for stuffing your face at the city’s best restaurants and hanging out with friends. Catch the two-day workshop organised by Opn Art House x Gaysi Family at Max Mueller Bhavan for some artsy-crafty fun, or check out some of these bowling alleys in Delhi if you’re planning to head out with a big bunch. It’s also just really great weather for being outdoors and doing nothing, and while Delhi’s famous for its monuments, some stunning heritage sites have flown under the radar, and are worth checking out if you don’t like crowds.  Here’s everything you need to plan a week that’ll keep you busy round the clock. 

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

February’s biggest draw has always been Valentine’s Day. And what did you picture when I said that? Chocolates? Candlelit dinners? Heart-shaped boxes? Yep, all of the above. But then Pride shows up to remind us all that love doesn’t come in one format.  I repeat – it’s finally time for the Delhi Queer Pride Parade! The excitement’s high after the parade was rescheduled from November last year, which means 2025 passed by without the event. It’s also finally not unbearably cold outside, which in Delhi, feels like a minor miracle after an icy January.  The half-day event’s the biggest celebration of queer identity in the city, and is set to chart its usual course: a march from Connaught Place until Jantar Mantar. Organised by the Delhi Queer Pride community, the event grows bigger and better each year, but the march itself remains as high on energy as ever: folks in snatched outfits, painted faces, bearing slogans. And glitter everywhere.  Here’s everything you need to know: When and where? Allies should flock to Connaught Place by 11am latest on Sunday, February 8 (the parade is always held on a Sunday). Reach 20 minutes early if you want to avoid jostling through a really heavy crowd. This’ll also give you a chance to exit the metro station peacefully (if you’ve come by metro) and chit-chat with people before the march begins.  I do advise against getting a personal vehicle here. The best course is the metro – get down at Barakhamba Road (on the yellow line), and exit from Gat

If you’ve ever accidentally spent an entire day around Mandi House in February, you already know what the Bharat Rang Mahotsav feels like. Darting between auditoriums, clutching paper tickets, debating a play they just watched over chai – it’s when the Delhi theatre neighbourhood really comes alive. And it’s that time of the year again – the National School of Drama’s (NSD) flagship festival returns on January 27. It’s India’s largest theatre festival, so the NSD is most definitely lining up performances beyond the capital, though Delhi’s got the lion’s share (no surprises there). You can catch plays at select locations in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata. But what’s interesting is that this year, the fest marks a new milestone – for the first time, a couple of productions are heading to Sri Lanka, marking its first international outing ever. Over the years, Bharat Rang Mahotsav has hosted everything from large-scale repertory productions and reinterpretations of classics to stripped-back experimental work, late-night performances and international collaborations. It’s also been a space where regional theatre travels. Audiences have been able to discover work in languages they don’t speak, and theatre-makers have found new audiences far from home. So when and where can you actually watch something?The festival runs from January 27 to February 20, with multiple plays often scheduled on the same day. In Delhi, most venues sit within walking distance of each other in the