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Saturday, 16 February 2008 |
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OK, you've stashed your cash. Next it's time to make your way out of the airport. This used to be a positively perilous experience, as you are perceived to be a hapless rich tourist ripe for the picking. It's quite easy to avoid this as they know that some westerners are professional travellers and not easy pickings.
Recently the Delhi authorities have made it much safer by instituting strict ban on unregistered taxis entering the airport arrivals area. They have pretty much solved the worst problem, which was getting ripped off or taken somewhere you didn't want to go by a cheating taxi wallah.
You then proceed to the arrival hall where one or two persons behind a counter will be beckoning you to book a taxi or hotel with them. One of the signs says "Prepaid Taxi" but that's not the real prepaid booth. You may even be approached by a taxi man (taxi wallah), though this is forbidden (they lied and/or bribed their way in to do this). Ignore all of them.
In addition to the DTP prepaid booth outside the arrivals hall, they have opened a new Dehli Taxi Police prepaid booth inside the arrivals hall on the left, just as you exit the customs area. The other non-DTP booth (who will becon you) is next to them, to their right. You can ignore him and go to the DTP desk or use the other DTP desk outside the arrival hall. The price is the same at both booths. Including the night charge, a taxi to Paharganj is Rs 260. There is also a new Railway booking desk across the room, but it opens at 8:00AM, so is pretty useless if you arrive at 4:00 AM.
If you pre-booked a taxi, there will be someone in the arrival hall with a sign with your name on it. Simple enough. Follow them to the car. You may be approached by "helpful" fellows who want to put your luggage in the trunk (boot) of the taxi (for some gratuity, of course, 10 rupees or so to do something you don't need done at all). You can shake you head and say "Nay" and if they are persistent they can be waved off with "Nay bhai, chalo!" which means more or less "No thanks and get lost!" and a dismissive hand gesture or two. Watch as the trunk (boot) is closed and locked. Hop in the taxi and you're on your way. The driver may want a few rupees for parking and may want some payment in advance to buy diesel. This is OK, but seems to happen more often coming back to Delhi from Mathura. If you come back to Delhi in a taxi, unless you are in an actual taxi (with the word "Taxi" painted on it) the driver may want to be paid a mile before the airport. This is because there is no such thing as private cars for hire and the Traffic Police will want to fine the driver if you are seen paying him there in front of the terminal.
In general you pay the driver the amount you were quoted on the phone when you arrive at the destination. This companies whole business is driving devotees around, so they don't engage in any cheating or funny business, unlike the other taxi wallahs. Somewhere along the way, the driver may stop for lunch or dinner at a pure veg dhaba (roadside eatery) on the fringes of Vrindaban dham. This is particularly entertaining when coming from Delhi because it's on the opposite side of the divided highway (dual carriageway). The solution? Drive on the wrong side of the highway for a hundred yards or so, of course! The stop usually lasts about 20 minutes. You might like to take this opportunity to step out and stretch your legs, use the toilet or buy some water. Don't leave your valuables unattended in the car.
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Arriving in New Delhi 
