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Adventure Club
Is only open to Indian nationals above the age of ten years and
promotes adventure activities. The club provides special packages in
all adventure activities - parasailing, mountain expeditions,
trekking, rock climbing, adventure camps and water sports, including
river rafting in the Ganga. Further details are available at the
Delhi
Tourism Adventure Tourism Division, 10th Floor, Mayur Bhawan,
Connaught Place, New Delhi.
Appu
Ghar
a Mini-Disneyland
in New Delhi is a crowd puller for the residents of the capital as
well as those of neighbouring towns. Children will have a time of
their life over here, while the enjoying the various rides like the
Roller Coaster, the Big Splash, Dodgem Cars, the Eerie Tunnel, Giant
Wheel, Columbus Jhoola - a ship high up in the sky, the Speeding Cup,
a Cable Car, a Saucer that works on centrifugal force and lots more.
Give it a call on 3318681 for more information.
Ballooning
What better experience could you offer your kids and what a brilliant
way to escape the throng of humanity that is ever present on the
ground? The Balloon Club of India on 8-B, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
telephone 3317977 is a wonderful way to view the surrounding
area. Check it out
you wont be disappointed. Balloons
generally hold from one to ten people and can rise to heights of over
800 feet. THe other place to contact regarding this sport is Wanderlust
located opposite the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. Contact them on
6875200 for more information.
Bike
Safaris
are
an excellent way to discover Delhi and its surrounds and a good way to
keep burn your kid's energy. Call Indian Shepherds located at
491, Pocket C, Sector A, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi on 6898191 for more
information.
Bird
Watching
in Delhi is a pleasant pastime and can be done at the Ridge and the
green areas surrounding the cities historic monuments. In winter, the
Delhi Zoo is transformed into a small bird sanctuary with migratory
birds halting by its artificial lakes. Painted Strokes, Pintail Ducks,
Bar headed Geese and spot bill ducks are among the migratory birds
which can be seen here. Delhi's tree - lined avenues are also reach in
avian life. So are the forests of Ridge, which harbour more than 100
species of birds, from peacocks to predators. The Ridge is accessible
through narrow paths that lead off Sardar Patel Marg.
Boating
Delhi Tourism has provided paddleboats on various bodies of water in
the heart of the city. These include the lakes near India Gate, Purana
Qila- Prasad Nagar Lake and Naini Lake in Model Town. A variety of
fibreglass boats have been acquired by the Corporation and can be
hired at reasonable rates. Special training programs in kayaking and
canoeing are organized at the latter too.
Bowling
can be done at First Bowl located at 32, Milestones Complex,
Delhi-Jaipur Bypass, Gurgaon Phone them on 8-322528 or at
Leisure Bowl which can be found at Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, Vasant
Kunj. They can be contacted on (91-11) 6895247 or 6121574
or you can try Little Paradise located at 12/7, Mathura
Road, Faridabad. Call them on 8-278469 and another good venue
is at Qutabowl located at the Qutab Hotel, Shaheed Jeet Singh
Marg. Call them on 6862711 or (011) 652 1234 for
more information. Then there is Bowl Out located at the Hotel
Surya Continental J- Block, Community Centre, Rajouri Garden, New
Delhi. Call them on 5122881/80. There are others too and your
best bet is to ask which, if any are located close to your hotel on
arrival.
Bungee
Jumping
Wanderlust Travels has set up a mobile crane for bungee jumping in
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. This is a great activity for
those brave folk out there. If you are not up to it yourself, you can
get some photos of those who are mad enough to give it a go.
Camel
Safari
An ideal trip for those with time to spare and with the desire to
experience the subtle sunset shades of the desert and the solitary
magic of the rolling golden sands. Camel safaris are available in the
Thar desert, and range from one to fifteen days duration. The best
safaris are in the heart of the Thar, in the Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and
Bikaner region, and will pass tiny villages and remote trading posts.
Another popular area is the Shekhawati region. The safari organisers
attempt to recreate the atmosphere of the old caravan journeys; music,
traditional food and campfire hospitality are all part of this unique
experience. Staff are available for assistance, and all necessary
equipment is provided.
Cinemas
The following is a list of movie houses (cinemas) and their telephone
numbers if you wish to watch Bollywood and other films.
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Anupam PVR-IV, Saket : 6865999
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Priya PVR-I, Vasant Vihar : 6140048
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Chanakaya, Chanakaya Puri : 4674009, 4670423
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Golcha, Deriyaganj : 3265192
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Liberty, Karol Bagh : 5722998
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Odeon, Connaught Place : 3322167
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Plaza, Connaught Place : 3320753
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Satyam, Ranjit Nagar : 5797387
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Sheila, Paharganj : 7772100
Dance
Shows
If its dance and music you are interested in, then you can choose
which kind you prefer watching and concentrate your energies in that
direction. If its the classical dance form you want to view, go
to the Kamani Auditorium or Siri Fort. Triveni
Kala Sangam has an auditorium too. Then theres India
International Centre on Lodhi Road that offers very good programs.
In the cooler months, many dance and music festivals are organized and
every corner of the city is alive with various interpretations of
movement and sound.
Fishing
This is a wonderfully relaxing pastime and if you enjoy this sport or
want to try your hand at it, pop down to the Badhkal Lake, Surajkund,
Okhla located on Mathura Road (closed on Mondays)
Fun
Food on the Street
On every street there are stands where you can buy nutrition-free,
yummy crackers and snacks (plastic wrapped). Kids love 50/50s and
Monacos cookies. Food in India is so different, even eating at
McDonalds or the Pizza Hut is a new experience. Try the Maharaja
burgers at McDonalds, the kids will love them.
Fun
"n" Food Village
presents reflections of past traditions and is an attempt to promote
Indian culture and traditional arts and crafts. It offers variety of
amusement rides catering to all age groups and provides an opportunity
to meet artisans and craftsmen who display their talents and exhibit
their creations before the public. There is also an open-air Theatre,
amusement rides and an animal parade worth seeing. Open everyday,
seven day's a week. Note: The Fun "n" Food Village
is free entry to blind, physically handicapped children and senior
citizens. All other visitors pay a minimal fee for entry.
Horse
Riding
is a wonderful pastime for the whole family and the following
establishments have horses for hire as well as lessons for beginners.
The
Delhi
Riding Club located on
Safdarjung Road can be contacted on 3011891 or if you have
kids with you try the Children's Riding Club on 3012265.
The other place to contact for more info is the Delhi Gymkhana
Club Limited
2, Safdarjung Road, ND-11. Phone: 3015533.
Ice
Games
Appu Ghar has now introduced ice games at Oysters, where four
acres of the Water Park are blanketed with ice for winter
sports. These include sledding, skiing, ice boating, where one can row
through a river full of icebergs and go bowling on ice. Amusements
for the grown ups are also available over here such as Rain Dance, Ice
Dance all to the tune of fast music and according to the seasons in
Delhi. This water park is the best place to cool down the sultry
summer heat. Entry to the park is from Gate No. 4 at Pragati Maidan
and you can visit the park on Mondays to Saturdays from 1.30 to 9.30pm
and on Sundays from Noon to 9.30pm.
Jain
Bird Hospital
located opposite the Red Fort is a great family outing. All children
will enjoy visiting this bird hospital, no only will they further
learn to appreciate animals as a whole but it will give both you and
your children further insight into the species found in the area. You
will find the hospital in the courtyard of the Digambara Jain temple.
The birds are cared for until they are well enough to be released. In
the Jain religion, any living thing is sacred. Note: When you
enter the temple, please leave any leather goods outside.
Jantar
Mantar Observatory
This "larger than life" stone observatory was built 450
years ago by the Maharaja of Jaipur. There are plenty of stairs at the
Jantar Mantar, making it the perfect place to satisfy the need for
younger kids to simply run around (not always easy to find the space
in Delhi) plus its educational and the older kids and parents will be
fascinated by the discoveries youll make here. The various
abstract structures within the Jantar Mantar are, in fact, instruments
that were used for keeping track of celestial bodies. Nevertheless,
the Jantar Mantar is not only a timekeeper of celestial bodies: it
also tells a lot about the technological achievements under the Rajput
kings and their endeavour to unravel the mysteries pertaining to
astronomy.
Jogging
is popular at Lodi Gardens in South Delhi and Nehru Park in
Chanakyapuri
Museums
One of the most favourite museums for kids is the National Museum
of Natural History which youll find on Barakhamba Rd.
Displayed here are stuffed animals, representing the diverse wildlife
of India birds, lions, tigers, shrews, snow leopards and the
like. Your kids will be fascinated and so will you. Another good
reason to visit is that it is rarely crowded and makes for a very
pleasant break from the masses outside. Two other museums most kids
(and certainly the Dads) will like is the Rail Transport
Museum. Here youll discover over 50 cars and engines, most
of which can be climbed on
Yippee
I can here the
kids say. The other museum (though more for the female family members
perhaps) is Shankars International
Dolls Museum
(Nehru House). In this museum there are over 6000 dolls from all over
the world! For information on other museums worth visiting check out
our list on the Sightseeing
Guide page.
Musical
Fountain at
Ajmal Khan Park
is spread over an area of five acres and provides a refreshing getaway
from the bustle of the city, that your kids are bound to enjoy.
The musical fountain is in operation for two hours every day after
sunset except on Tuesday. For further details, please call 3524834
Parks
and Gardens
There are many different parks and gardens around the
city and your kids will love being able to stretch their legs, play a
game of hide and seek, go fishing or boating. Whatever their fancy you
are sure to find one to suit your brood.
Roller
Skating
can be done at the Talkatora Skating Rink or in some parks in
the city.
Walking
Walk the bazaars as the narrow windy streets in the bazaar are
themselves a novel experience. Your kids will be fascinated by the
colour and the many oddities on sale and as Indians love kids, they
will be welcomed.
Sound
and Light Show at Purana Quila
The historic Purana Qila, which has stood witness to Delhis
rejuvenation, periods of anarchy and the rise and fall of empires, is
the venue for the spectacular sound and light show which brings alive
the history of the capital. The viewer is transported back in time to
where Delhi, the great empire rose and fell; where citadels of
emperors appeared and disappeared; a city of mysterious eternity whose
old ruins proclaim a majestic and imperial past and whose present
pulsates vibrantly with the ever flowing life force of India. Although
the younger kids may not understand the theme that much, the show
never fails to impress all ages. For details about the show contact
4629365, 4603178
Swimming
If you hotel doesnt cater to this wet activity, there are others
around the city that do, as follows:
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Talkatora Pool phone 3019901
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National Stadium Complex opposite India Gate, near Patiala house.
Call them on 3389470
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NDMC Pool Nehru Park, Laxmi Bai Ngr. School and Sarojini Ngr.
Phone: 6110552
Trekking
India is the ultimate destination for a trekking holiday, offering
everything from short and easy excursions that kids can handle to the
long challenges of the snowy peaks. To take a trek in India is to
rediscover the awesome majesty and beauty of nature around us.
Trekkers are reminded that it is forbidden to enter Restricted and
Protected Areas without the correct documentation. Please consult the
Tourist Office before departure or local tourist offices on arrival in
India to ascertain what restrictions may apply and what documentation
may be required. The trekking season varies from region to region;
check with the Tourist Office for further information. In general, the
season runs from April to June and September to November.
Water
Park
can be found at the Village Club in the Fun "n" Food
Village where you and your kids can enjoy the longest water slide in
the country, a 400 ft water channel, called the "Lazy River as
well as an artificial sea-like pool, which generates waves worth body
skiing. There is also Aqua Shoot comprising of two fast racing slides
as well as a "Super Slide" which is the first slide of its
type in the world. For tiny tots, a kid's pool has been provided which
contains a Frog Slide and different types of floating toys. Open
everyday, seven day's a week. Note: The Fun "n" Food
Village is free entry to blind, physically handicapped children and
senior citizens. All other visitors pay a minimal fee for entry.
Water
Sports
A multi-sports and leisure complex has been created by Delhi Tourism
at Bhalswa Lake, situated at Delhis north-eastern edge.
This offers facilities for boating in pedal boats, kayaks,
canoes and speed boats. Keen anglers can also
indulge in fishing. Hovercraft and water scooters are
also available here. Pedal boats at reasonable rates are available at
the Hari Nagar, India Gate, Purana Quila and Naini lakes. Special
training programmes in kayaking and canoeing are organised at all the
lakes. Call the Tourist Department for more information.
White
Water Rafting or River Running
is a fairly young sport in India and is really only safe for the
bigger kids among you. The snow-fed mountain rivers that run down from
the mighty Himalayas make northern India one of the best regions in
the world for this sport. Amateurs and first-timers have their choice
of quieter waters, but with the promise of a passage through some
truly spectacular riverside landscapes. Some rapids hit Colorado 8
(the highest is 10) on the scale, but most are on the 4 to 6 grade.
The main regions are Ladakh, Garhwal and the four rivers of Himachal
Pradesh. For more information contact the Indian River Runners
Association, 606 Akashdeep, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. Phone: 331
3229
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