Whatever city we visit, Elliot insists on riding the metro. Delhi was no exception - and in fact, New Delhi's underground transit was by far the newest and nicest infrastructure we enjoyed during our entire stay in India.
Elliot on the metro platform in New Delhi. Clean, shiny & air-conditioned!
That being said - like everything in India, it's different. And crowded. First, you need to buy a token to get on the train - and you can only get a token from a person in a booth at the station from which you are departing. You can't buy a return token - just one-way. So there are long lines to buy tokens at every station. Then, there is another long line to get through the security screen. Or actually, two lines: one for men, and one for women and children.
Lines to get on the New Delhi metro, stretching into the distance.
Womens' and mens' security lines for the New Delhi metro.
Once you are through security and into the station, the platforms are clean and air-conditioned and rival (or beat) anything we have here in the US. The trains are smooth and quiet and air-conditioned. Sometimes, they're not even crowded.
Elliot makes two new friends on the New Delhi metro.
After one good experience, we decided to ride it again - but this time it happened to be rush hour. And the trains were packed. I mean, really packed.
Our friend Naveen asking if we're sure we want to do this?
Elliot squeezed into a packed car on the New Delhi metro.
I've been riding public transit my whole life and I think this was honestly the most packed in I've ever been. But like most experiences we had in India, the people were quite gracious about it.
Friendly stranger on the packed New Delhi metro.