Gurugram
Gurugram, formerly known as Gurgaon (गुड़गांव), is a suburban city of India's capital Delhi, just outside the National Capital Territory, in the state of Haryana.
Understand
Not long ago a sleepy suburb of Delhi, Gurugram now boasts over a million inhabitants, slick office complexes housing companies ranging from Accenture to Xerox, and more shopping malls per square mile than anywhere else in India. Alas, the infrastructure is still struggling to catch up with the boom and there's plenty of dust and traffic jams, but it's still an exhilarating glimpse into the India of the future.
Climate
Gurugram has the typical north Indian climate, almost the same as that of Delhi: expect cold, foggy winters, drenching monsoons and scorching hot, dusty summers. Winter runs from early November till mid-February; usually January is the coldest month. In winters, temperatures may even drop to 2 °C. Fog on winter nights can last up to 7 hours. In March and April the temperature is pleasant. The summer starts in May and goes till July, with temperatures exceeding 40 °C at times. The heat is broken by the monsoon in mid-July, which pours rain until mid-September.
Get in
By plane
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is just across the border of Gurugram, making it easily accessible for recreational and business travellers.
By train
The northeastern part of Gurugram is served by the Yellow Line of the Delhi Metro, which runs from NH-8's IFFCO Chowk crossing along MG Road over the border towards Qutub Minar, Saket and straight to Connaught Place. Travel time is about 50 minutes, with tickets ₹25 one way.
Gurugram also has a small rail station on the Delhi-Jaipur railway line, but it only receives about five trains a day. The station is near The colony bhim Garh Kheri Part 2.
By bus
DTC and Haryana Roadways buses runs down National Highway 8 in Delhi. Buses to Gurugram can be best boarded at Dhaula Kuan (on the Inner Ring Road). Alternatively, there is a small dedicated Gurugram-bound bus terminal at Karol Bagh near the unmissable 100-foot Hanuman statue, a five-minute walk west of Jhandewala Metro station or a short cycle rickshaw ride (₹10) from Karol Bagh metro station. Buses cost ₹22 one-way.
Also Haryana Roadways, Mewat and Kamal (Private buses) runs from Sarai Kale Khan to Gurugram Bus Stand whole day. Also there is frequent service of DTC buses between Gurugram Bus Stand to Badarpur Border via Mehrauli and Khanpur.
By road
National Highway 8, now an eight-lane expressway, connects Delhi to Gurugram and Jaipur. Travel time is under 30 minutes in optimal conditions, but is regularly jammed during peak hours. The road is additionally still victim to water logging in heavy monsoon rains.
Get around
The Rapid Metro Gurugram[dead link] connects Delhi Metro's Sikanderpur station with the "Cyber City" office district to the north, and Golf Course Road to the south. Trains run every 6 minutes or so, the fare is reasonable (usually below ₹35) and you can use Delhi Metro's smart cards.
Starting from the bus stop "IIT Gate" south of the IIT flyover of the Outer Ring Road in Delhi you can get all day and night (because of 24-hr service for call centres) jeeps and cars with yellow plates carrying you for ₹10 (Aug 2007) to places like the Bristol hotel or the IFFCO chowk. Sitting in these cabs at peak times means to use the normal back bench of a car with 3 to 4 other people and without AC, but at off times you travel in the comfort of a taxi for only ₹10!
Other than that, the main option is cycle rickshaws, who are notoriously mercenary. The fare is supposed to be around ₹20 per head for a distance of 1.5-2 km, but it's not unheard of to be asked for 10 times this amount.
There are some intercity mini-buses which go from Gurugram Bus Stand (near Police Lines) to Mall region and ahead on the MG (Mehrauli-Gurugram) road, which costs ₹20 per head. Ladies don't need to worry about traveling in these buses as more often than not, the conductor ensures that the lady gets a seat.
Taxis and rental cars are available online. Popular mobile app based aggregators like Uber and Ola are also plentiful and usually work out cheaper.
See
- 1 Damdama Lake (1 hour drive away from Gurgaon).
- Leisure Valley Park (Near IFFCO Chowk).
- 2 Sheetla Mata Mandir (Ahead of Sector 14).
- Sohna Lake. Sohna Lake is about 10 km from Gurgaon. It is best to visit after rainfall and during winters.
- 3 Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary (Sultanpur National Park). This park is about 15 km from Gurgaon. You can spot a variety of migratory birds around a natural lake. Park is open during winters from October to February.
- Vintage Camera Museum and Foundation, 23/5, DLF Phase 3, Sector 24. India's largest camera museum. One can visit from Tuesday-Saturday from 11AM-5PM only via appointments.
- NeverEnuf Garden Railway, Panchgaon Tauru Rd. Weekends and holidays only. Miniature railway modelling project about 5 km off National Highway 8 through a bumpy road. A labour of love rather than a money grab, visits must be pre-registered by contacting through the details mentioned on their website. A great place to revel in the detailed world building or a leisurely family picnic spot during winters. Carry your own food, only light snacks are available on site. ₹500 per person.
- 4 Dronacharya Temple, Subhash Nagar. A rare temple dedicated to the teacher Dronacharya in the Mahabharata epic.
Do
See movies
- DT Cinemas. DT City Centre and Mega Mall. Tickets would cost you around ₹150 on weekdays and as much as ₹200 on a big opening on weekends. Late shows too last show starts around 11PM!
- 1 Kingdom of Dreams, Sector 29 (near IFFCO Metro Station), ☏ +91 124 452 8000. An entertainment venue and performing arts theatre at which you can see live, traditional Indian cultural performances. Its design is like a fairytale, escape-from-reality palace.
- PVR. Sahara Mall (2 screens), Metropolitian Malls (9 screens), Ambience Mall (9 screens). Good thing is that there are lot of late shows the last show starts almost at midnight Tickets would cost you around ₹140 on weekdays and around ₹175 on weekends..
Other activities
- Devi Art Foundation, Plot 39, Sector 44, Gurgaon 122002 (Behind Epicentre (Apparel House)). 11AM-7PM. The Devi Art Foundation is one of the first not-for-profit spaces dedicated to showcasing contemporary art from the Indian Subcontinent. It is envisioned as a space that will enable wider audiences to interact with cutting edge and experimental art works. The current exhibition, 'Where in the World' takes a look at the effects of globalization on contemporary Indian art and has 65 art-works by over 20 Indian artists. The Foundation is open to the public on all days except Monday, from 11AM-7PM. Free entry.
- Wet and wild resort (About 15 km away on the Jaipur highway, lookout for turn to left before Manesar). Chill down your summer heat, water games and sports are great fun. Don't forget to take you swim wear.
- Sky Jumper Trampoline Park, ILD trade centre, Sohna Road, sector 47. An exciting place to be, especially for kids, with more than 100 trampolines connected with built-in rock climbing optional too.
- Oyesters Amusement Park (near HUDA city centre). Another good place to be to beat Gurugram's heat.
- 2 Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Medicity, Islampur Colony, Sector 38. A multi-purpose sports complex hosting football and cricket matches.
Buy
Shopping malls abound in Gurugram, mostly along the central thoroughfare of Mehrauli-Gurugram (MG) Road. The best way to get there is via private mini-buses from Gurugram Bus-stand near Jain Temple and say "Mall". A one-way ticket costs ₹5.
- 1 Ambience Mall Gurgaon, National Highway - 8, Ambience Island (Near Toll Plaza), ☏ +91-124-4737123, +91-124-4737101, +91-124-4737149, mail@ambiencemalls.com. The biggest mall in town, host of premium stores and an enormous food court.
- DLF Grand Mall, Saraswati Vihar DLF City Phase IV. Land Mark the book store
- DLF Mega Mall, Phase 1.
- DT City Centre, Maruti Housing Colony DLF City Phase IV. Pharmacy, Pizza Hut, Ruby Tuesdays, cineplex.
- Galaxy Mall, Sector 15 (Near 32nd Milestone, NH-8). National Highway 8, hotel plus mall for ethnic items.
- Gold Souk. Specializes in high-end jewellery.
- ILD Trade Centre, Sohna Road, Sector 47 (near Uniworld Gardens). Hosts a number of restaurants like Bikanervala, KFC, Vaango, Dominos Pizza, Pizza Vito, RedKiwi (a general store), a pharmacy store and has some stationary and sports shops.
- MGF Mega City, 3, 1/1/16, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd, A Block, Maruti Housing Colony, Sector 28. MG Road (near NH-8).
- MGF Metropolitan, DLF City Phase II, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd, Heritage City, Sector 25. MG Road. One of the largest and most popular malls, anchored by a large PVR cineplex (9 screens). Food court on the 3rd floor and a good selection of upscale restaurants.
- MGF Plaza, MG Road (near NH-8), Sector 29. . Devoted to furniture and home decoration, but there are some good restaurants on the top floor.
- Raheja Mall, Sohna Road, Sector 47 (near ILD Trade Centre). It has a Bata shoe shop, SRS Value Bazaar, electronic shops and some other stores.
- Sahara Mall, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd, Saraswati Vihar, DLF Phase 1, Sector 28. Features a perennially packed two-level Big Bazaar supermarket. Awesome pubs and restaurants on the top floor which are open till quite late.
Eat
Budget
- Bikanerwala (near Leisure Valley and in ILD Trade Centre). Great ambience and assortment of Indian dishes like chole bhature, lassi, kulfi, dosa, Chinese food, pizza. Indian cuisine is good, only vegetarian food is available. Try their Alphonso ice-cream in summers a very exotically-packed ice-cream inside a mango!
- Haldiram's. Sahara Mall GF/1F, MG Road, also at kherki Daula on NH-8. The local mega-outlet of the famous manufacturer of Indian sweets, but the emphasis here is on the fast food, especially their versions of Delhi chaat. Try the Raj Kachori, a crispy bowl filled with stuffing, yoghurt and spicy chutneys. All chaat are under ₹50, or you can get a full daily thali for ₹128. Vegetarian.
- Om Sweets. Sector 14 and Sector 31 markets they also have outlets in sector-4 market, sector 23 market and sector 57's hongkong bazaar Famous for sweets like dodha rasmalai, rasgulla etc. Gol gappa jalebi kulfi and paneer tikka are some of the favourites Indian cuisine is good, only vegetarian food is available
- Roots - Cafe in the Park, Leisure Valley, Sector 29. A rustic cafe to get breakfast or brunch. It is situated inside a park and has notoriously long waiting lines on the weekend. They have a variety of egg dishes but no meat. Closes at 8PM.
Mid-range
- Ki Hangla, SuperMart 1, DLF Phase 4. A small, authentic Bengali cuisine joint run as a family affair. The rolls here are recommended and so is the fish. They are generous with their mustard so be aware. Costs ₹350-400 per head.
- Khaaja Chowk!, MGF Plaza 3F, MG Road (near NH-8). Simultaneously retro and modern, you can choose to dine at glass tables or inside a pimped-out autorickshaw. The speciality here is Indian street food, and the Great Indian Chaat Platter (₹130) is worthy of the name. Veg and non-veg options, lunch sets around ₹150, in the evening around ₹200/head..
- The Pasta Bowl Company, Cross Point Mall, DLF Phase IV. A charming, small cafe specializing in gourmet pastas. Their menu is seasonal and includes a limited set of pizzas and wines. It is a popular place so get there early or book a table in advance.
Splurge
- China Club, Lobby Level, Tower C, Global Business Park, MG Rd, ☏ +91 124-2566000. Fancy Chinese restaurant with waiters in bowties and round tables, serving up actual Chinese food (as opposed to the Chindian variety) for a premium price. Try the Szechuan double-cooked pork. ₹500.
- K2, MGF Plaza 3F, MG Road, ☏ +91 124-4379151. The two K's stand for "Korea" and "Karaoke", the mainstays of this hip red-and-black Korean-run restaurant-lounge. Catering largely to Delhi's small Korean expat community, the food is authentic (they even have beef!). ₹300-500.
Drink
Most of Gurugram's nightlife spots are tucked away — where else? — on the top floors of malls.
- Chinese and Thai Cafe (On the 1st floor of JMD plaza, opposite Sahara Mall.). The destination for all you lovers of rock music. The best place in town for some head banging!
- Komachi, 3rd floor, MGF Plaza Mall, MG-Road, IFFCO-Chowk, ☏ +91 124-4261193. The chefs there are hand picked and flown all the way from Japan to produce a very authentic, and fine Japanese cuisine serving a wide range of Japanese delicacies and drinks. Komachi is one of the highest rated Japanese restaurants in the guidebook which makes it the ideal place to eat, relax, and enjoy a evening or a lunch.
- TGI Friday's, Metropolitan Mall, MG Rd. Yes, it's just like every other TGI Friday's on the planet, but this is still a favourite way to start off an evening. Food is decent but expensive, so most stick to happy hour beers. Open noon to midnight.
Sleep
Demand far outstrips supply in Gurugram and prices are terribly inflated; it's hard to find any halfway decent bed for the night for under ₹14,000. If comparing prices in Gurugram and Delhi, remember that Delhi hotels charge tax on the rack rate, while Haryana (Gurugram) hotels don't.
Budget
- Ginger Hotel, Manesar, ☏ +91 124 6763333. A Tata Enterprise is in the industrial town of Manesar and offers accommodation from ₹1900/night
- Silver Oak, ☏ +91 9873145941, +91 124-4052382, silveroakhotels@gmail.com. Budget hotel and guest house for the corporate traveller. Very clean, spacious. Many central locations in Gurgaon. Walking distance to Metro Stations. Malls & corporate offices in immediate vicinity. 24 hr. Room Service & manned reception.
Mid-range
- OYO 532 Hotel Alpine Park Gurgaon, 22, Q2, Near, Sikanderpur Metro, DLF Phase 2, ☏ +91 124 620 1321. Corporate guest house, walking distance to Sahara Mall and MG Road. ₹1500.
- Alpine Park Hotel, DLF Phase 2 Nr Cyber City. Corporate hotel motel lodge, walking distance to Sahara Mall and MG Road. ₹2100 onwards.
- Bloom Boutique (Signature Towers). Colorful, value for money hotel with decent facilities and a business-like atmosphere. Tariff starts at ₹2600 per night.
- Best Western Resort Country Club, Pachgaon-Mohammadpur Rd, ☏ +91 1267-278202. Four-star resort in Manesar along NH-8 to Jaipur, a good 30 km south of central Gurgaon.
- Best Western Skycity.
- Central Blue Stone. ₹3000/night onwards
- Ibis Gurgaon, Block 1 Sector 53 Golf Course Rd, ☏ +91 124-4755000. Opened in August 2008, this was the first Accor hotel in India. Slick modern rooms, free Wi-Fi. ₹4400.
- jüSTa Gurgaon Hotel, NR-40, MG Road, DLF Phase-3, Opp. Neelkanth Hospital, ☏ +91 9590 777 000. Full service hotel. From ₹3,000, depending on the month.
- Lemon Tree Hotel, City Center, 287, Millennium City Center, Sector 29, ☏ +91 124 4160303, Email-hi.cc@lemontreehotels.com.
- Lemon Tree Hotel, Udyog Vihar, 866, Udyog Vihar, Phase V, ☏ +91 124 4423232, Email-hi.uv@lemontreehotels.com.
- Park Inn, Gurgaon, Civil Lines, ☏ +91 1244795555, pigrg@sarovarhotels.com. Nice, but far from the metro and the new shopping districts. ₹9,500 onwards.
- Kuchesar Fort.
Splurge
- 1 Crowne Plaza, Site 2, Sector 29 (Opposite Signature Tower, off NH-8), ☏ +91 124 453 4000, reservation@cpgurgaon.com. Amenities include mini golf, a swimming pool, spa, tennis courts, gym, and badminton courts. Rooms starting from ₹3,400.
- Park Plaza Gurgaon, ☏ +91 124-4150000. B Block, Sushant Lok. From ₹22,000.
- Park Premier Hotel. ₹7000/night onwards
- Trident Gurgaon. Looking like a space-age cross between the Taj Mahal and a UFO cult, this supermodern hotel defies hyperbole and is head and shoulders above the competition. Two good restaurants and bar. If you can afford it, about the only negative is that there are no shopping or other facilities within walking distance. . ₹29,000+.
- 2 Westin, 1 MG Rd, ☏ +91 124 497 7777. Opened 1 Oct 2010
Manesar
- 3 Aamod (Manesar), B-14 Uppal Farms, Bilaspur Village, Near Manesar, Gurgaon (2 km from NH8 (Delhi-Jaipur Highway)), ☏ +91 9213022540. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. 'Aamod at Manesar'. 8000 - 12000.
- Raorajvilas. Kuchesar fort.
- Kuchesar Fort. Kuchesar Fort.
Stay safe
Hospitals
| Hospital Name | Address | Emergency Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Medanta | Sector 32 | 7838859373, 09717156157,09811179946 |
| Paras | Sushant Lok | 124-4585666 |
| Umkal | Sushant Lok | 124-4100000 |
| Max Healthcare | Sushant Lok | 011-40554055 |
| Artemis | Sector 51 | 124-6767000 |
| Uma Sanjivani | DLF Phase-2 | 124-2350960 |
| Columbia Asia | Palam Vihar | 124-3989896 |
| Alchemist | Golf Course Road | 9891903659 |
| Kalyani | MG Road | 124-2303101 |
| Civil | Civil Lines | 124-2321121 |
Go next
- Delhi - just a short hop away
- Jaipur - Rajasthan's fabled "pink city", a 5-hour drive down NH-8
- Noida - Another rapidly developing city in the National Capital Region, around 1½ hour drive from here.