Delhi has for long been the seat of political hegemony, except during the better part of the British rule when erstwhile Calcutta was the Indian capital. Delhi flourished in terms of architecture especially under the Mughal rule. The post independence era saw the birth of edifices of a different kind- patriotic memorials whose modern design had been influenced by British architecture.
Thus while a part of Delhi offers architectures that tells stories of a kingly past, the newer Delhi has roads and buildings that bring to mind India’s tryst with the western world. In all, Delhi is huge and an explorer’s delight.
The only problem is that Delhi is too huge. Plus, the unavailability of a world class dedicated bus service to tour the destinations was a major problem until recently. The recent launch of the Hop on Hop Off Bus Tours in Delhi, has made sightseeing a breeze. No more waiting in queues, no more worries about getting defrauded, and no more sweating over a dysfunctional air conditioner.
The Hop On Hop Off Bus tours cover all major sightseeing points in Delhi. They also operate a tour called ‘Tour Delhi by Evening’ where you get to see a view of the famous Delhi monuments- all lighted up. The buses run on two more routes called the Red Route and the Green Route. If you really want to do a comprehensive tour of Delhi, opt for the Red + Green Route.
The Red Route
The Red Route covers fourteen destinations. They include:
- Baba Kharak Singh Marg- The street has 18 state government emporiums. It is a haven if you are an international traveler looking to buy Indian handicraft.
- Feroz Shah Kotla- A majestic sandstone obelisk of the 14th century. The Ashoka Pillar which is even older- erected before 240 BC is also seen here- a perfect testimony to Delhi’s history which has seen both Hindu and Muslim rulers.
- Red Fort: Also called the Lal Quila, it is from the ramparts of the Red Fort that the Prime Minister addresses the nation on Independence Day.
- Rajghat- This is the memorial of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. His dying words ‘Hey Ram’ are inscribed on it.
- National Gallery of Modern Art: This erstwhile palace has a collection of 15000 paintings, sculptures and other artistic works.
- India Gate: It is a memorial to all the Indian soldiers who died during World War I fighting for the allied forces.
- Purana Quila: Though constructed by a Muslim ruler, the architectural style of this edifice is secular.
- Humayun’s Tomb: A UNESCO World Heritage site, it has a distinct Persian influence.
- Safdarjung Tomb: A lot like Humayun’s tomb, this is widely considered the last of splendid Mughal architecture.
- Indira Gandhi Museum: This museum has memorabilia from the life of our first woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.
- Nehru Museum- This museum is dedicated to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.
- Rashtrapati Bhawan: This is the official residence of the President of India.
- National Museum: This is the largest museum in the country, and it is aimed at preserving historical artifacts.
- Jantar Mantar: Now a regular venue for protests an demonstrations, the Jantar Mantar is actually a highly advanced site for astronomical observations. It corroborates the fact that India has actually been a forerunner in the field of astronomical sciences.
Start point: Baba Kharak Sngh Marg, Connaught Place
First Bus leaves at 8:30 am. Buses ply every 45 minutes after that. Last bus leaves at 4:45 pm.
Ticket prices:
Adult: Rs 400, Child: Rs 200 (Indians)
Adults: Rs 700, Child: Rs 350 (Foreigners)
The Green Route
The Green Route covers 10 destinations, 4 of which are included in the Red Route. The destinations are:
- India Gate
- National Gallery of Modern Art
- Humayun Tomb
- Lajpat Nagar: This is one of the oldest and yet one of the most happening market places in Delhi. Shoppers visit this market in droves in search of great bargains on the latest clothes, footwear and accessories.
- Lotus Temple: A one-of-its kind architectural marvel- a Bahaii place of worship.
- Saket Malls: This strip with 4 huge malls, is a glimpse into the high end lifestyle of the people here.
- Qutab Minar: Another architectural gem of the Mughal era, the Qutub Minar holds the distinction of being the highest single tower in the world.
- Hauz Khas Village: Historically this place is the battleground where Timur defeated Mohammed Shah Tughlaq in 1398. Today the lights, wafting music and click clack of slender hills, tell a different story. Hauz Khas is the place where every top end designer in India has a studio. The narrow streets are lined with high-end boutiques, pubs and discotheques.
- Dilli Haat: A lively little place that brings all the colors of India in one place, and yummy regional food too. The place has more than 60 stalls selling crafts and more than 25 food stalls.
- Safdarjung Tomb
Start point: India Gate
First Bus leaves at 8:30 am. Buses ply every 60 minutes after that. Last bus leaves at 4:30 pm.
Ticket prices:
Adult: Rs 350, Child: Rs 175 (Indians)
Adults: Rs 700, Child: Rs 350 (Foreigners)
Red + Green Route / Purple Route
This route covers all the destinations of the red bus as well as the green bus. You can opt for this ticket and alternate between the red bus and the green bus depending upon your point of interest.
The destinations that can be covered in this route are in the following order:
- Baba Kharak Singh Marg
- Feroz Shah Kotla
- Red Fort
- Rajghat
- National Gallery of Modern Art
- India Gate
- Purana Quila
- Humayun Tomb
- Lajpat Nagar
- Lotus Temple
- Saket Malls
- Qutub Minar
- Hauz Khas Village
- Dilli Haat
- Safdarjung Tomb
- Indira Gandhi Museum
- Nehru Museum
- Rashtrapati Bhawan
- National Museum
- Jantar Mantar
Ticket prices:
Adult: Rs 600, Child: Rs 300 (Indians)
Adults: Rs 1200, Child: Rs 600 (Foreigners)
Passengers can start their journey by boarding any of the buses at whichever destination point they choose.
Delhi by Evening
This bus tour takes you along all several monuments and areas of Delhi that look splendid it up by artificial lights in the evening. The destinations include:
- Baba Kharak Singh Marg
- Red Fort
- India Gate
- Purana Quila
- Dilli Haat
- Embassy Lane: The embassy lane in Chanakyapuri is straddled on both sides with embassies of several countries. The roads, the architectural styles- everything suggest that now you are in the midst of the high and the mighty.
- Rashtrapati Bhawan
- Connaught Place: This is by all means the most cheerful place of Delhi. Perhaps the large number of offices here is balanced by an equal number of restaurants, bars and shops selling apparels, making it a huge commercial hub.
One specialty of this tour is the on board live commentary.
Ticket prices
Adult: Rs 400, Child: Rs 200 (Indians)
Adults: Rs 700, Child: Rs 350 (Foreigners)
How is Ho Ho different from all other bus and taxi services?
HoHo has a fleet of buses that dedicatedly move along the red and green routes. So you can hop off any bus at any point, take your time to explore any destination, and then hop on back when the next bus comes along. There will be no bus conductor on your back, shouting at you to board the bus, even before you have inhaled the serene air around Humayun’s tomb, or have had one of those crunchy golgappas at Dilli Haat.
Moreover these buses boast facilities like air conditioning, on board guides, on board attraction tickets, large windows for a better view, and low bus floors.
Other attractions:
HoHo also offers customized group tour packages offering pick up and drop options, a dedicated tour guide and even a musical fun time inside the bus as you travel.
HoHo has also introduced a complimentary service called the Grand and Royal in which bus passengers get a chance to watch the Change of Guard every Saturday morning at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
You may book tickets in advance on their website or buy tickets on board.
Ticket Validity: The Red and Green route tickets are valid only for a day, while the Red + Green / Purple Route Tickets are valid for two days.
Remember that the Hop on Hop Off Bus Service remains closed on Mondays.
For more information you can contact the Hop On Hop Off Bus Service providers directly:
E-mail: info@hohodelhi.com, customercare@hohodelhi.com
Helpline no: 011- 40940000, 09289808040
Image credit : surojit