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  >Terminal 1A Palam

  Roller Skating

  Blade runners can do what they love at the many DDA complexes around town. There is no equipment rental so you have to bring your own skates.

  Chilla Sports Complex

  >Dallu Pura, near Vasundhara Enclave

  Tel: 011 2262 3184

  Timings: Tue to Sun 6 am to 9 pm in the summer; 6:30 am to 8:30 pm in the winter. Timings are listed for non-DDA complexes and DDA complexes with specific skating timings.

  Entry: Rs 40 per day for Indians / Rs 100 per day for foreigners; school children pay Rs 10 from 10 am to 4 pm

  Web: www.ddadelhi.com/sports

  DDA Sports Complex

  >Sector 12, Rohini

  Tel: 011 2755 7314

  Nearest Metro: Rohini

  Timings: Tue to Sun 6 pm to 8:30 pm

  DDA Sports Complex Vasant Kunj

  >D-2 Vasant Kunj

  Tel: 011 2613 6731

  Timings: Daily 4:30 pm to 8 pm

  Dwarka Sports Complex

  >Sector 11, Dwarka

  Nearest Metro: Dwarka Sector 11

  Tel: 011 2508 9733

  Timings: Daily 4 pm to 6:30 pm

  Hari Nagar Sports Complex

  >Hari Nagar, Beri Wala Bagh,

  Near Deen Dayal Upadhyah Hospital

  Tel: 011 2513 6683

  Major Dhyan Chand Sports Complex

  >Ashok Vihar, behind Kanhaiya Nagar Metro Station

  Nearest Metro: Kanhaiya Nagar

  Tel: 011 2730 5338

  Netaji Subhash Sports Complex

  >Jasola Vihar, near Sarita Vihar

  Tel: 011 2697 1301

  Panjabi Bagh Club

  >Ring Road

  Tel: 011 2522 1082

  Timings: Tue to Sat 4 pm to 8 pm

  Paschim Vihar Sports Complex

  >A-6 Paschim Vihar, Near Shri Balaji Action Medical Institute

  Tel: 011 2527 0959

  Poorvi Delhi Khel Parisar

  >Shahdara, near GTB Hospital

  Tel: 011 2213 4167

  Rashtriya Swabhiman Khel Parisar

  >Pitam Pura, near Pitam Pura tower

  Nearest Metro: Pitam Pura

  Tel: 011 2744 6147

  Rohini Sports Complex

  >Sector 14, Rohini, near CRPF School

  Nearest Metro: Rohini East

  Tel: 011 2756 1986

  Saket Sports Complex

  >Saket, opposite Welcome Marriott Hotel

  Tel: 011 2956 1742

  Siri Fort Sports Complex

  >August Kranti Marg, near Siri Fort Auditorium

  Tel: 011 2649 7482

  Timings: Tue to Sat 5 pm to 8 pm

  Vasant Kunj Sports Complex

  >Sector D-II, Vasant Kunj, near Surya Gardens

  Tel: 011 2613 6731

  Yamuna Sports Complex

  >Sarajmal Vihar, near Vivekanand Mahila College

  Tel: 011 2216 4726

  Timings: Tue to Sat 4 pm to 7 pm

  Sports Complexes

  If you’re staying at a guest house or with family and you don’t have access to a gym, it may make financial sense to plunk down a monthly membership fee if you’re in Delhi for a week or more instead of paying hundreds or even thousands of rupees for a few hours at a fancy spa/gym in a 5-star hotel. A few minutes of paperwork can save you a bundle.

  DDA Sports Complexes

  DDA Sports Complexes are located throughout the city and offer a variety of sporting activities including tennis, yoga, golf, swimming, gyms, aerobics, horse riding, yoga and skating.

  >Entry: Day membership Rs 40 for Indians, Rs 100 for foreigners

  Web: www.dda.org.in/sports_complex.htm

  Pacific Sports Complex

  Located in South Delhi, the Pacific Sports Complex offers a variety of fitness activities including a swimming pool.

  >Andrews Ganj, next to Central School

  Tel: 011 6452 0554

  Timings: Daily 5 am to 9 am; 4 pm to 10 pm

  Entry: From Rs 1,500 per month

  Ryder Sports Academy

  Facilities at the Ryder Sports Academy include tennis, horse riding, roller skating and basketball. There are branches in Vasant Kunj and Gurgaon.

  >D-1 Vasant Kunj (near Heritage School)

  Tel: 011 5569 1920

  Entry: From Rs 900 to Rs 1,600 per month

  Web: www.rydersports.com/contactus

  >Aardee City, Gate No. 2, B Block, Sector 52, Gurgaon

  Tel: 92128 00 133; 98 101 41 889

  Saket Sports Complex

  The Saket Sports Complex offers riding, cricket pitches, a swimming pool, aerobics and chess among other activities.

  >Saket, opposite Welcome Marriott Hotel

  Tel: 011 2956 1742

  Siri Fort Sports Complex

  The Siri Fort Sports Complex set the gold standard in Delhi. It has everything including a golf course, Olympic size pool and skating rink.

  >August Kranti Marg, near Siri Fort Auditorium

  Tel: 011 2649 7482

  Timings: Daily 6 am to 9 pm

  DDA Sports Complex Rohini

  >Sector 12, Rohini

  Tel: 011 2756 1986

  Nearest Metro: Rohini

  Timings: Tue to Sun 6 am to 9 pm

  DDA Sports Complex Vasant Kunj

  >D-2 Vasant Kunj

  Tel: 011 2613 6731

  Timings: Daily 4:30 pm to 8 pm

  Swimming Pools

  If you’re staying at a hotel or guest house without a pool or with relatives who aren’t of the wealthy farm house variety, don’t despair when the mercury hits 44°C and you’re dying for a dip in some cool waters. Many hotels allow non-guests to use the pool, but keep in mind, this can be expensive.

  Hotels

  Aqua at the Park

  The pool is small and located near the bar, so it’s more for atmosphere than swimming laps.

  >The Park Hotel 15 Parliament Street

  Tel: 011 2374 3000

  Nearest Metro: Rajiv Chowk

  Timings: 7 am to 7 pm daily

  Entry: Rs 700 per person per day

  The Bristol

  The rooftop pool is a decent size. The crowd tends to be more expat than local.

  >Adjacent to DLF Phase I Gurgaon

  Tel: 0124 4351111

  Timings: 7 am to 9 pm daily

  Entry: Rs 550 per person per day

  Crowne Plaza Today

  Hold on to your swimming caps. This 25-metre infinity pool is for deep pocketed non-guests.

  >Sector 29 Gurgaon

  Tel: 0124 4534000

  Timings: Daily 7 am to 9 pm

  Entry: Rs 1,600 per person per day

  Gulmohar Club

  >Gulmohar Park, opposite Kamla Nehru College, Balbir Saxena Marg

  Tel: 011 2686 8139

  Entry: Rs 120 per person per dip

  Hotel Crown Plaza Surya

  >New Friends Colony Community Centre

  Tel: 011 2683 5070

  Timings: Daily 7 am to 9 pm

  Entry: Rs 750 adults; Rs 500 children per person per day

  The Metropolitan

  Decent size pool and it’s in the courtyard. It’s pretty empty during the week.

  >Bangla Sahib Road

  Tel: 011 4250 0200

  Timings: Daily 6:30 am to 7 pm

  Entry: Rs 600 per person per day

  Public Pools

  Most public pools require monthly memberships. However, for a price starting at Rs 500, if you’re in Delhi for more than a week or come to Delhi often, it sure beats the price of a one-off swimming session at a fancy hotel.

  Indian Aquatic Academy

  >Sector 24, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Noida

  Tel: 0124 238 1544

  Timings: Mon to Sat 5:30 am to 10:30 am; 4 pm to 10 pm

  Entry: Rs 1,200 per month

  Khazan Singh Academy

  >Kendriya Vidyalaya, Old JNU Campus, Baba Gangnath Marg

  Tel: 011 3293 3
828

  Timings: Tue to Sun 5 am to 8 am; 8 pm to 9 pm

  Entry: Rs 700 per month

  NDMC Swimming Pool Mandir Marg

  >NP Boys Senior Secondary School, Mandir Marg

  Tel: 011 2336 3629

  Entry: Adults Rs 400; children Rs 60 per month

  NDMC Swimming Pool Sarojini Nagar

  >Navyug School

  Tel: 011 2334 7296

  Timings: Daily 6:30 am to 10:20 am; 4 pm to 7:50 pm; ladies 5 pm to 5:50 pm

  Entry: Adults Rs 400; children Rs 60 per month

  Pacific Sports Complex

  >Kendriya Vidyalaya, Andrews Ganj

  Tel: 011 6452 0554

  Timings: Daily 5 am to 10 am; 2 pm to 10 pm

  Entry: Adults Rs 1,400; children Rs 1,200 per month

  Sports and Cultural Club

  >Sector 15A, Noida

  Tel: 95120 251 1586

  Timings: Tue to Fri 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm

  Entry: Rs 1,825 per month

  YMCA

  >Jai Singh Road

  Tel: 011 2374 666

  Timings: Mon to Sat 6:30 am to 10:30 am; 3 pm to 7:30 pm Entry: Rs 900 per month

  Tennis

  DDA Sports Complexes

  Siri Fort has the best tennis courts, but there are courts in DDA complexes throughout the city. Go to www.ddadelhi.com/sports for locations.

  >Khel Gaon Marg

  Tel: 011 2649 7482

  Entry: Rs 40 Indian / Rs 100 foreigner for day membership; Rs 50 / Rs 100 court fees

  Delhi Lawn Tennis Association

  The Delhi Lawn Tennis Association is a great option for a game of tennis. The courts are well maintained and there are ball boys and lights for evening games. No matter where you’re staying, the centrally located tennis courts will prove to be convenient. The entry fee is calculated by the court, not the number of players. Another great place to check out is the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The tennis courts were built for the Asian games, so they are still in pretty good shape.

  >1 Africa Avenue, opposite RK Puram and Safdarjung Enclave

  Tel: 011 2649 7482

  Timings: Mon to Fri 7 am to 10 pm

  Entry: Rs 150/hr Mon to Fri; Rs 200/hr Sat to Sun; Rs 300/hr Mon to Sun evenings.

  Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

  The courts in the old stadium of Rajpath are well maintained, but the registration process will have you screaming like John McEnroe. It’s worth it to register and then take your frustrations out on the tennis ball.

  >National Stadium, India Gate, near Patiala House

  Tel: 011 2338 9740

  Entry: Registration Rs 70, Rs 250 for an hour of play

  MAKE THE MOST OF MUSEUMS

  No. 1: National Rail Museum. Where else can you ride a toy train then take a trip through time as you explore other retired trains for so little money. All aboard!

  There may be lots of whining when the museum itinerary is discussed before the family heads out for a day of sight-seeing, but if an outing to the Gandhi Museum is framed by a visit to the Crafts Museum where kids can make pottery alongside the artisans or indulge in some hands-on activities at the National Museum of Natural History, they’ll actually thank you later. Delhi’s multi-faceted history is displayed in a bounty of museum displays that span 5,000 years. History, however, isn’t confined to walls full of art and glass displays. History can be seen everywhere through walking tours in Old Delhi or by catching the Delhi Parikrama Rail Sewa which winds its way past some historic monuments. Also included with the listings in this chapter, are nearby sights and nearby eats. It will help in planning visits and will save time by possibly fitting 2 museum visits in one day, especially if the museums are in close proximity. And after all that reading of note cards on the displays, you are bound to have built up an appetite. So, grab a water bottle, some comfortable walking shoes and get ready to discover Incredible India.

  Chugging through History

  One of the city’s still undiscovered treasures, the Delhi Parikrama Rail Sewa will give passengers a different view of Delhi in just under 2 hours and 35 km. Built in 1975 as a single diesel haul, it was thrust into the spotlight for the 1982 Asian Games. The circular route of 12 passenger trains roughly follows the ring road. Starting from Hazrat Nizamuddin station, the 2-hour journey provides breathtaking views of Humayun’s tomb and Gurudwara Damdama Sahib. You’ll catch a glimpse of Connaught Place from the Shivaji (Minto) bridge. Lajpat Nagar is the final stop on the journey before the train returns to the Nizamuddin station. Tea and snacks will be provided, however, it is encouraged that you bring water and other snacks if so desired. Robinson guides you on the journey.

  >Starting at the Hazrat Nizamuddin station

  Timings: 8:45 am to 11:15 am

  Entry: Rs 100

  Museums and Monuments

  Gandhi Smriti Museum

  This museum is at the house where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life before he was assassinated there on 30 January 1948. The memorial highlights many aspects of Gandhi’s life including his ideas, principles and values. The room where he stayed has some of his things including a bed, mat on the floor, eye glasses, books and a spinning wheel. A film on Gandhi is shown daily.

  >5 Tees January Marg

  Nearest Metro: Central Secretariat

  Tel: 011 2301 1480

  Timings: Tue to Sat 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

  Entry: Free

  Nearby sights: Indira Gandhi Memorial, National Museum of Natural History

  Nearby places to eat: Hotel Le Meridien, Imperial Hotel, Parikrama Revolving Restaurant, Nizam’s Kathi Kebabs, Bengali Market, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Nirula’s, Ruby Tuesday, Barista, Café Coffee Day and the food court at Dilli Haat.

  Hauz Khas

  Hauz Khas village once housed a large tank that provided a steady supply of water to Siri, the second city of Delhi. The village was founded by Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji and the tank was excavated in 1300. The tank was known as Hauz-i-Alai, hence Hauz Khas meaning royal tank. The tank fell into disrepair and it wasn’t until the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who ruled Delhi in the 14th century, that it was repaired. Additionally, several monuments were built by Firoz Shah including his tomb, a mosque and a madrassa (college). The monuments can be reached by taking a left turn just after the Aurobindo Palace on the main Aurobindo Marg. The entrance to the tomb of Firoz Shah is on the southern side. It has a big dome and decorated with Quranic inscriptions. To the west of the tomb is the madrassa which was built in 1352 for religious studies. Several staircases lead from the madrassa down to the tank which is encircled by paved pathways. Within the complex are several other monuments. The area is one of the most prestigious residential areas in the cities and it houses many chic restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. The Deer Park (see Beauty and the Beast, p.18) can also be found in the area.

  >Nearby sights: Hauz Khas Enclave, Kalkaji Temple, Lotus Temple, Nizamuddin’s Shrine

  Nearby places to eat: Park Balluchi restaurant in the Deer Park, Naivedyam or the Village Bistro.

  The Indian Air Force Museum

  The entire family would really enjoy a visit to the Indian Air Force Museum. From pictures to uniforms and of course, a collection of different types of military aircraft, visitors get a true history of the Indian Air Force. Every year on 8 October, which is celebrated as Air Force Day, visitors can view the larger transport aircrafts kept in the flight apron of Palam Air Base and a special parade of the Indian Air Force. (See Dudes, pp.41–2.)

  >Palam Air Force Station

  Timings: Wed to Sun 10 am to 5 pm, closed Mon and Tue

  Entry: Free

  Tel: 011 2569 7551

  Web: http://indianairforce.nic.in

  Nearby places to eat: Radisson, Centaur Hotel, Wimpy’s in Janakpuri, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Barista, Ruby Tuesday.

  Indira Gandhi Memorial

  The house where Indira Gandhi lived when she was prime minister of India serves as the Indira Gandh
i Memorial. It was here in her gardens that she was assassinated by her two bodyguards on 31 October 1984. The museum has limited items on display, but one can see the bloodstained sari she wore on the day she was killed. Also on display are the burned clothes and shoes of her son, Rajeev Gandhi, which he was wearing when he was assassinated by a bomb blast in May 1991. The whole stretch of the garden where she last walked is enclosed in glass, giving an eerie effect of time standing still. Children are certain to find a visit both enjoyable and educational, and the memorial is also very popular among domestic tourists who want to pay homage to their leaders and the sacrifices they made for the country.

  >1 Safdarjung Road, near Safdarjung’s Tomb and Airport

  Nearest Metro: Central Secretariat

  Tel: 011 2301 0094

  Timings: Tue to Sun 9:30 am to 4:45 pm

  Nearby sights: National Museum of Natural History, Gandhi Smriti Museum, National Gandhi Museum

  Nearby places to eat: Hotel Le Meridien, Imperial Hotel, The Lalit, Parikrama, Wenger, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Nirula’s, Ruby Tuesday, Delhi Darbar, Barista, Café Coffee Day and Nizam’s Kathi Kebabs.

  Mehrauli Archaeological Park

  Famously known for the location of the Qutab Minar (see If You Have to be a Tourist, pp.107–8), tourists usually visit the minaret and then head back home missing out on one of the gems of the city. Mehrauli Archaeological Park, spread over 100 acres is a treasure trove for history lovers as it has more than 70 monuments on its grounds including the Zafar Mahal, Balban’s tomb (he was the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in the thirteenth century); and Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb. INTACH organizes tours with guides who have a background in architecture, art or history that take about 2 hours.