Guest post by Artjom.
When I've just arrived to Dheli at 03:00 am and exit the airport gate about 4 guys ran to me and said that they can take me to the city center for 50 rupees(about 60 cents). I said no thanks, I have a friend who will pick me up( although it was a lie, but it's better to say like that). I went straight to the metro and one guy followed me repeating that he can lift me to the center. And the funniest part is that the metro works from 06:00 am and I just sat on the floor at the station for 3 hours with a guy, who keeps repeating that he can lift me to the city centre.
When I've got to the city centre by metro it was about 6:30 AM. And that is when I got a little bit shocked. Completely everywhere garbage, food leftovers, the air was heavy and smelly, a guy washing himself right in the centre, skinny dogs walking on the street.
I had to get to the Pahar Ganj( on this street are a lot of budget hotel). I've asked the way some rickshaw driver and while he was thinking two other guys came and said that they're going there. So I just followed them.
When I got to the Pahar Ganj old Indian came to me and just repeated these words:"free wifi, air conditionere, big bed, shower, 400 rupees". When I've heard the price I thought why not and followed him. When we got to the hotel the price magically turned to 1400 rupees. I've tried to bargain, but he didn't want to lower the price.
After he showed me another hotel with wifi and air conditioner for 600 rupees a day ( about 7 Euros ). I bargained to 500 rupees. When I had entered the room it was 9:30 am. I was very tired and straight went to bed.
I got up at about 20:00 pm went outside and I got outside I was a bit stumbled again cause when I've walked in the morning there were only few people walking on the street but in the evening the rickshaws, motorcycles, bicycles, cars and people were everywhere. And i thought that I was a celebrity cause a lot of people were saying "Hi" to me. I walked the whole Pahar Ganj street to buy a water but also bought a RayBan sunglasses after I went back to my hotel room.
On the next day I went to see the Red Fort castle. It was only 3 stops by metro so I got there in about 20 minutes. Inside the castle there were some kind of maintenance and repair work going on so a lot buildings were closed but overall I really liked the Red Fort
First time Indian streets looke noisy and overcrowded after few week it will be comfortable.