When arriving in Delhi, walk towards immigration and look for the counters that say “e-visa on arrival”.
If you haven’t been handed the form “For Foreigners Only” on board of your airplane already, find one and fill it out. Alternatively, and this will replace soon the printed form, you can fill in your information max 72 hrs before arrival to India by clicking this link here (e-Arrival Card).
You need this form/arrival card, your passport and the print-out of your e-visa (ETA) in order to get issued your actual tourist visa at the immigration desk, which consists of a stamp in your passport.
After that, collect your check-in baggage.
If you have a direct transfer flight, for example to Srinagar, walk on towards “Domestic transfer”, and re-check in for your domestic flight.
If your connecting flight is just one day/night away (you still need to collect your baggage), we would recommend you to stay close to Delhi airport (International/Domestic Terminal 3, Domestic Terminal 2 or Domestic Terminal 1). The closest hotels would be 4-5 Star ones in a location called “Aerocity”, which can be reached from the airport by metro within a few minutes – it is one stop from terminal 3 to Delhi Aerocity – or alternatively, if you have heavy baggage etc. get a taxi.
Examples for 4 Star: Lemon Tree Premier, ibis New Delhi Aerocity, Red Fox Hotel, Pride Plaza Hotel
Examples for 5 Star: Holiday Inn, Roseate House, Aloft New Delhi Aerocity, Novotel New Delhi Aerocity.
The Aerocity also has a mall (WorldMark Mall) close to the metro station, filled mainly with restaurants and cafés. In order to get there, take the back exit of Delhi Aerocity metro station, walk towards the right, then take the first road left, and then turn left again after the Holiday Inn.
Very close to this location is an area called “Mahipalpur” and “Mahipalpur Extension”. You will find lots of 2-4 Star category hotels in this place.
Examples for 2 Star: Hotel Global Radiance, Treebo Trend Nysha Palace, Delhi Airport Super 51 Hotel, OYO 60790 The Atlantic
Examples for 3 Star: Hotel Z Suites, Hotel Almati Inn, Hotel Shanti Palace
Examples for 4 Star: Taurus Sarovar Portico Hotel, Hotel Le Seasons
From all of these locations it takes only about 10-15 Minutes to reach Terminal 3 and 2 by taxi. Reaching the hotel from the airport may take a bit longer due to some one way lanes.
Hotels in Mahipalpur and Mahipalpur Extension are best reached with a pre-paid taxi from the airport. If you have internet access and an Uber or Ola app, that will turn out cheaper than the pre-paid taxis you can order at a small booth outside the airport. If you order at the booth, ask for a taxi to “Mahipalpur”/ “Mahipalpur Extension” respectively, which should cost you about INR 400 (cash). Have the phone number and exact address of your hotel ready, in case the driver doesn’t know where it is.
Alternatively, you could try out the airport metro express line (from Terminal 3) and get a ride until its final destination “New Delhi“. There you find directly at the same building basically the Hotel “The Metrostay“. The metro ride takes about 16 minutes. Tickets you get at the station for about INR 64 each way.
If you want us to book your hotel for you, please contact us.