New Delhi to Old Delhi Distance – All You Need to Know
What is the distance between Old Delhi and New Delhi? Visitors often wonder about this and how to get from one to the other. New Delhi, Old Delhi, Delhi – they are all part of the same city. Here’s the breakdown.
What is the Distance from New to Delhi to Old Delhi?
The distance between New Delhi and Old Delhi is just over 6 km.
They are not far apart at all, but Delhi roads and traffic conditions being what they are, walking takes over an hour and driving takes at least 25 minutes, and much longer at peak times.
Where are New Delhi and Old Delhi?
New Delhi is in central Delhi and Old Delhi is in north Delhi.
New Delhi is located in a less congested part of the city, close to Delhi’s green belt, the Central Ridge Reserve Forest. Central Ridge Reserve Forest is known as the lungs of Delhi. It is 8,000 hectares with forests, parks and historic monuments. The air is literally cleaner in New Delhi.
Old Delhi is north of New Delhi, on the west side of the Yamuna River. Back when Old Delhi was home to the Mughals, the Yamuna was much closer to Old Delhi, it ran directly behind the Red Fort, one of Delhi’s world heritage sites.
Now Old Delhi is surrounded by Paharganj, Delhi’s backpacker area and the Civil Lines area to the north – the old stomping grounds of the British Raj.
What is the Difference Between Old Delhi, New Delhi and Delhi?
This confuses a lot of visitors. There’s Old Delhi, New Delhi and Delhi.
It becomes even more confusing because New Delhi and Delhi are often used interchangeably, but in fact they are different. Old Delhi and New Delhi are both parts of Delhi. Thanks to my years of living in Delhi, I can explain it to you!
Old Delhi
Old Delhi is the historic part of Delhi built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan between 1639 – 1648. Back in those days it was the capital of India and called Shahjahanab.
Old Delhi has retained a lot of the historic buildings, markets and lanes from the Mughal period. To explore Old Delhi, do this free DIY heritage walk of Old Delhi.
Even though it is now one of the most densely populated parts of Delhi and generally bonkers, it is a very important part of the city.
Affectionately called Delhi-6 (in reference to the postal code) by locals, Old Delhi has many important sites, like Chandni Chowk, Red Fort (UNESCO), Jama Masjid and the famous spice market, Khari Baoli.
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital of India. It is one of 11 districts in Delhi. It’s one of the greenest capital cities in the world.
It was built by the British in the 1920s and 1930s, and predominantly designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. This part of New Delhi is often called Lutyens’ Delhi. It has wide, leafy boulevards, roundabouts and many white colonnaded buildings.
Delhi
Officially, Delhi is a city and a Union Territory of India. It is a mega city (population is 33 million) with 11 districts. One of those districts is New Delhi, the capital.
Delhi and its environs are often referred to as Delhi NCR (National Capital Region), or simply the NCR.
It’s a bit confusing, but all you really need to remember is that Old Delhi and New Delhi are just parts of Delhi.
How to Get to Old Delhi from New Delhi
Even though the distance between New Delhi and Old Delhi is only 6 km, it can take over 30 minutes to travel from one to the other.
The fastest way to cover the distance from New Delhi to Old Delhi is by metro. Both areas are well serviced by the metro with multiple stations.
Other options are Uber or Ola, the two ride share programs most popular in Delhi. Both are reliable and inexpensive. You can also take an auto rickshaw. They’re everywhere in Delhi and easy to use.
But for going into Old Delhi an auto rickshaw would not be my first choice. Auto rickshaws are open, and there will be nothing between you and the noise and traffic of Old Delhi, which is usually a lot.
How Long is the Metro from New Delhi to Old Delhi?
Travel time between Old Delhi and New Delhi is 15 – 25 minutes. Old Delhi and New Delhi are both on the Violet and Yellow metro lines. It’s between 5 and 10 stops, depending on where you are and which route you take.
Where to Stay in New Delhi and Old Delhi
Old Delhi is not the best area to stay in for a visitor, and I don’t recommend it. If you really have your heart set on Old Delhi, then this is the best place to stay:
- Haveli Dharampura and Golden Haveli (luxury): Beautifully restored traditional havelis that are now boutique hotels. They are sister properties, 50 metres apart. The restaurant and cultural activities are at Haveli Dharampura, which is a UNESCO awarded heritage property.
These are best the places to stay in New Delhi. They are located near many sites and in safer areas:
- The Imperial New Delhi (luxury): Beautiful heritage hotel full of charm and character. The location is excellent for exploring Delhi in a walkable area close to many sites, shops and restaurants. This is my favourite Delhi hotel.
- Lutyens Bungalow (mid-range): Heritage boutique property in one of the best areas of the city next to Lodhi Garden. Fantastic area near many sites. Breakfast is included.
- YWCA International Guest House: (budget) No-frills hotel, but rooms are large, have AC and ensuite bathrooms. Amazing location for this price in one of the most exclusive areas of Delhi. Breakfast is included.
Where to Eat in New Delhi and Old Delhi
Delhi is the food capital of India and there are so many options in both parts of the city.
Some of Delhi’s most famous restaurants are in New Delhi, like Diggin, Guppy and Bukhara. Even if you don’t like Indian food, there are many excellent non-Indian restaurants.
Old Delhi is the epicentre of Delhi’s famous street food. You can do your own self-guided street food tour, or try one of Old Delhi’s best eateries, like Karim’s, Kake di Hatti or the beautiful Lakhori restaurant.
Best New Delhi and Old Delhi Tours
If exploring the distance between Old Delhi and New Delhi on your own is a bit daunting, why not take a half day tour? I highly recommend these tours by local companies:
- Old Delhi Walking Tour
- Bicycle Tour of New Delhi
- New Delhi Food Tour
- Old Delhi Night Food Tour
- Nature Walk of New Delhi
Last Words on New Delhi to Old Delhi Distance – All You Need to Know
The distance between New Delhi and Old Delhi is only a few kilometres, but figuratively speaking they are worlds apart. Luckily, it’s easy to travel from one to the other. Have fun exploring these two very different parts of Delhi.
