jacketwatch

We will be in Delhi in Jan. for the 1st time in over 7 yrs. What sort of changes can we expect to see? I have heard there is a new, large indoor mall there as well. Is that so? Any advice appreciated. Thanks, Larry

Cicerone

I haven't been to Delhi in 3 years myself, so I don't think I can comment on changes, they happen so fast in that growing economy. . . .what you may notice is that everyone has a cell phone, the eletricty is much more reliable, and there are more new and trendy restaurants (and not just in hotels)

jacketwatch

OK. Thanks amigo.

indie

Jacketwatch

My trip was to Bombay and Pune, I was amazed by some of the changes. Proliferation of fast food chains, there's a new chain of coffee shops called Barista.

In Pune even a couple of dinky little roadside restaurants were offering pasta and mexican food - quite unheard of during my previous trip in 1996. The cars look nicer, cell phones everywhere. Of course driving through the poorer areas, you'll see things have not changed a whole lot for some of the population.

All in all there is a lot of hope and excitement in India about the future - something that was lacking earlier.
have fun!!

indie

Ooh and also the new intercity roads - waaaay better - especially up north I am told the highways have been vastly improved, yes malls and especially large department store type places aplenty.

bjm

On the way to and from the airport, in Guragaon (spelling may be incorrect), there are a couple of new malls. They are very nice, quite upscale, and carry the types of products one might buy if they were living in India and middle class. I purchased a long kurta (sp?) and a tablecloth, but these are not the same sort of things that I would buy if looking for Indian objects to take home for gifts to my non-Indian family.

You'll find the traffic in Delhi horrendous, but in a way,a bit more orderly, emphasis on the bit. There is a lot of road construction going on--I believe it's for an underground.

Yes, cell phones are abundant and they are the more reliable than the standard phone system. The phones were down for over a week in the Guragaon area in June. The electricity went off routinely in June and July but more people have generators and in upscale complexes or gated communities there are backup systems. Also, gratefully, in June and July, there was more air-conditioning.

More men were wearing bermuda shorts, middle age women were still dressed traditionally. Younger women dressed in jeans. The old customs are there but with some major inroads, particularly in material purchases. Pizza hut and other fast food chains are to found in the malls that you asked about.

Bonita

Hi there...Well, 15 years in and out of delhi, and yes, I have witnessed some changes in various sectors, but by and large, u will still find a bustling vibrant busting metropolis made up of diverse neighborhoods, small shooping markets or complexes, mixing the old and the new, the rich and the poor, the modern and the very ancient, in its haphazard way. YES, fast food chains like MCDONALDS, pizza hut, and even TGi fridays have come and made a mark with the upwardly mobile, and can see these joints in places like connaught place, Vasant vihar, Greater KALISH, ETC.., mobile phones are everywhere, coffee chains have sprung up including coffee day, Barista and a few others, and yes, a huge indoor mall called Ansal PLAZA was launched(with Benettons), and a few more on the way.What other changes, well, the Delhi metro has come, and also rickshaws have switched to CNG-(natural gas).But still, the city does not look like a Bangkok or a Singapore by a long shot, and although there are a few department type stores, well, it is not on those levels, by any means..Living in Delhi, i still go to the local market and buy my day supplies, and a seperate stall/shop for veggies, fruit, milk, meat, etc..get my clothes get made at the tailor, i still ride by rickshaw, and there are still the occasional power failurues and other strange occurences..etc..The economy is growing, and changes are happening all around, but it will be a very very slow process , and even with the introduction of the new, the old is still very much prevalent, take a wander around old Delhi..The city is a combo of evrtyhing, mixing its ancient heritage and marching on to the next century...There are still the incredible rich, and the terribly poor, and a huge growing INDIAN middle class...a delicate balance...enjoy..

jacketwatch

Thanks for all the great info. I am really looking forward to see all the changes. My TA told me the air quality in Delhi is vastly improved as well due to changes in gasoline and in emission controls. Now the wait. Sigh.

hobbes

Pollution in Delhi is MUCH improved due to the compulsory switch to CNG so sure you will appreciate that - really visible in the winter when you are visiting. Many new restaurants have come up as liquor licenses are more easily available than before so do go to some of them. The shopping areas have moved - near the Qutub Minar at Mehrauli is one of delhi's trendiest shopping areas, lots of designer boutiques scattered around and in a uilding called Ambawatta Complex. In the same vicinity is a great fusion dining place called Olive. If you have the inclin make a visit - great food, even better ambience - make a reservation and ask for a table outside if it is not very cold. The mall you mentioned is actually 3 malls in Gurgaon (close BJM!) - IMO not worth visiting unless you are near there. Alternatively you could be thinking of Ansal Plaza near South ex in South Delhi which is a combination mall and shopping plaza. One thing which has happened in Delhi over the last few years is the shopping center has moved from Connaught Place to South Delhi - South Ext and Greater Kailash in particular. Another trend is the opening of outlet discount shops - one of my favourites is the Shyam Ahuja one in Greater Kailash 2 market - amazing deals on dhurries and other home furnishings.