Getting to IIT

J Phani Mahesh

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Credits ...... i

Getting to IIT Delhi ...... 1 Via Auto-Rickshaw ...... 1 Via Bus ...... 1 Via Metro ...... 3 Via Taxi ...... 4

Quick Info ...... 5 From Anand Vihar Railway Terminal (ANVT) / ISBT Anand Vihar ...... 5 From Indira Gandhi International Airport / Palam Airport ...... 5 From ISBT Kashmere (or Kashmiri) Gate ...... 5 From New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) ...... 6 From Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station (NZM) / ISBT Sarai Kale Khan ...... 6 From Delhi Junction / Old Delhi Railway Station (DLI) ...... 6

Born Appetite - Food Joints in and around IITD ...... 7 Inside IITD ...... 7 Immediately around IITD ...... 7 Outside IITD ...... 8 Secular House Canteen ...... 8 24 X 7 Food Court – JNU ...... 8 Ganga Dhaba – JNU ...... 8 Rajinder Da Dhaba – Safdarjung Enclave ...... 8

Markets ...... 10 Sarojini Nagar Market ...... 10 Lajpat nagar market ...... 10 Munirka market ...... 10 South Ex. & Kotla market ...... 11 Karol Bagh Market ...... 11 Nehru Palace ...... 11

Sports at IIT Delhi ...... 12

Errata ...... 13 Credits

I am but a messenger. The actual content in this book has been contributed by the following.

Cover page Shashank Yadav Getting to IIT Delhi Shivam Verma, Vaibhav Sharma Food Joints inside IITD Amandeep Singh Food Joints outside IITD Nikhil Kumar Markets Nikhil Kumar Sports facilities Bharti Singla Getting to IIT Delhi

Stuck in a traffic jam at C.P. and don’t know what to do? Feeling colour blind when it comes to differentiating Metro lines? Booked your tickets but clueless about public transportation? Our Mentorship Team suggests how. Living in the capital does have its perks, and one of them is easy access to public transport. What, with the Metro extending its foliage to cover almost every nook and cranny of the city and the auto-rickshaw epidemic swarming both the Puraani and Nayi Dilli, there are a number of modes and methods you can choose to reach IIT Delhi.* DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this section is subject to change over time since the day of its being written on July 4, 2012. Though care has been taken to review the content and update it in July 2013, neither the authors nor the editor claim that this information is complete, or was at the time of writing.

Via Auto-Rickshaw

The most iconic symbol of public transport in India, if there was one, would surely be the three- wheeled yellowish-green Auto-rickshaw. These colourful beasts command a gargantuan proportion of the otherwise black-and-white Delhi roads, cutting by, swishing and zigzagging past many-an-irritated drivers. But beware – auto rickshaw drivers have a reputation of overcharging their passengers and not running by meters. Excuses like “meter not working” or “Savaari nahi milegi” are commonplace, so do not fall for them – always insist on travelling by meter. If the driver refuses, walk away (slowly, and wait for him to call you back). That said, here is what you need to know. When coming from the New Delhi/Nizamuddin Railway Stations, you will find a Pre-Paid Auto-rickshaw booth just outside the station. There will usually be a huge crowd around this booth, but if you cannot find it, ask a traffic policemen (they are responsible for regulating the pre-paid booths). Once you declare your destination and pay the respective amount, the official at the booth will give you a receipt. Keep it SAFE, for it has to be returned to the auto-rickshaw driver at the end of the journey, for him to earn his bread & butter. The rates for Auto-rickshaws in Delhi are:

• For first 2 kilometres – Rs. 25 • For every consequent kilometre – Rs. 8/km

For example, the distance from NDLS to IIT is approximately 13.6 km., so the appropriate charge for an Auto would be Rs. 120. You may round it off to the nearest greatest integer. Consider it a tip of sorts. Our suggestion: After the Metro, this is your second-best option. If this is your first visit to Delhi and you wish to experience the city in all its glory, then for the now-buried JEE’s sake, take an Auto!

Via Bus

The most obvious and visible mode of transportation that most Delhiites are familiar with are DTC Buses. With a fleet of over 3000 buses traversing more than 700 different routes, the Delhi Transport Corporation Getting to IIT Delhi 2

(DTC) holds one of the largest CNG-powered bus fleets in the world. Bus routes connect between almost every corner of the city at frequent time intervals. There are kinds of buses available.

1. DTC TATA Non-AC buses 2. DTC TATA AC buses 3. DTC Traditional buses

The most important routes that you shall require are provided in the following section

Bus routes

Source Destination Buses Bus type New Delhi IITD Hostel 615 AC/Non-AC Railway Station Gate Old Delhi IITD Girls 502,603 AC/Non-AC Railway Station Hostel Gate Indira Gandhi IITD Main Gate Airport Info International Airport /Hostel gate Express¹ Unavailable Palam Airport IITD Main Gate 764,764A AC/Non-AC /Hostel gate 765 Hazrat Nizamuddin IITD Main Gate No direct Info Railway Station /Hostel gate route Unavailable IITD Main Gate 764,764A, AC/Non-AC Metro Station /Hostel gate 765,620, 511² Kashmiri Gate ISBT IITD Main Gate 622 Non-AC

Although we have tried our best to form an exhaustive list of bus-routes, the best thing to do when planning to travel by bus is to ask away! Ask any person nearby who you think might know the answer – Paan walas, Chaat walas, office-goers and students are especially well-versed with bus-routes (not kidding!). At the end of the day, however, travelling by bus is not the most comfortable journey you can make – most buses are extremely crowded during peak hours, and it is difficult to stand, let alone carry luggage, in such a situation. You must note that for every bus number, there are two routes. For example, bus number 764 goes from Nehru Place to Najafgarh, and also from Najafgarh to Nehru Place. You must board the bus going in the right direction. Just like in the Metro, there are seats reserved for senior citizens, the physically challenged and ladies. Our suggestion: Although very cheap, most buses are still too crowded. AVOID at all costs, on your first trip to Delhi!

¹Some mentors report that this bus was never sighted around IITD and there is no mention in the DTC web site. ²Only girls hostel gate. Getting to IIT Delhi 3

Via Metro

Ever since the introduction of the Metro Rail by DMRC, life has become so much simpler. With a direct line from the Railway Station/Airport to the Hauz Khas Station, this will be the beginning of many long metro journeys for you over the next four-five years. Cheap, fast, clean and convenient – the Metro offers everything a commuter can dream of. For those unfamiliar with this form of transport, the Metro Rail, simply referred to as the “Metro”, consists of a series of electrically-run super-fast trains, much like the Underground in London or U-Bahn/S-Bahn in Germany. These trains operate on a number of different lines, usually denoted by different colours – Yellow, Purple, Blue, Orange etc. Each line consists of a number of different stations and do not run parallel to the roads above ground. Lines usually intersect at major intersections or localities such as NDLS or Connaught Place. If you’ve never travelled on a Metro before, carpe diem! Riding in these trains is a pleasure, what with automatic-doors and fully air-conditioned coaches. The cost of travel usually starts at about Rs. 8. Taking large bags with you should not be a problem. The first coach of every train is reserved for ladies. Even in other coaches, there are seats reserved for senior citizens, the physically challenged and ladies. A few tips regarding directions now – The Metro station nearest to IIT Delhi is Hauz Khas on the Yellow Line. It is about a kilometer from IIT Main/Hostel Gate. To reach IIT Main/Hostel gate from Hauz Khas Metro, you can take

• Auto-rickshaw (price: Rs. 20-30) • Bus number 764/764A/765/511/620 (price: Rs. 5-10/head) • Share autos (Price Rs.10/head) If you have any luggage, avoid these. They are crammed. • If coming from NDLS, take the Yellow Line from the underground New station, directed towards Qutab Minar or HUDA City Center. Get off nine stations later at . • If coming from the Airport, you may take the Metro directly from the underground station IGI Airport. This station is on the Orange Line. The Metro from IGIA is a super-fast train called the Delhi Airport Metro Express (DAME). It includes spaces for keeping luggage and will get you to New Delhi metro station. DAME runs at an avergae speed of 135 km/h opposed to an average of 80 km/h for most metros. The cost of the ride is Rs 80, cheaper than most alternative ways to reach from the airport. Get off at New Delhi, and take the Yellow Line till Hauz Khas.

Our suggestion: If reaching Delhi during a peak hour, such as morning (8-10 A.M.) or evening (5-7 P.M.), you should avoid traveling by Metro when carrying heavy luggage. While your large bags may clear Security, it can be difficult navigating them through a sea of wandering humans. Use may an Auto/Taxi during these hours. At all other times, the Metro is your best bet. The Metro does not run from 11 PM to 6 AM, so avoid reaching Delhi during this time frame. Important Note: Exit from Hauz Khas Metro gate 2. Autos will be readily available, but to catch a bus, you will have to walk aa few steps in the direction you exited, and cross the road via subway to reach the bus stop. Delhi Metro map: http://www.delhimetrorail.com/zoom-route-map.aspx³

³http://www.delhimetrorail.com/zoom-route-map.aspx Getting to IIT Delhi 4

Via Taxi

A very convenient, though not-so pocket-friendly way of commuting from anywhere to anywhere is to catch a taxi, although they can be a bit harder to find than, say, a Metro station or a Bus stand. However, if coming from any of the Railway Stations/Airports, there are plenty of taxis available for hire. You will almost always find a pre-paid Taxi counter at the station/airport(s) exit. You may also hire Radio Taxis who are readily available – a simple call away. Google “Radio taxis in Delhi” for more info. Our suggestion: Unless you have a LOT of luggage (including parents’ luggage), prefer the Metro/Auto over this. The prices can easily run above Rs. 300 per ride. If the high price is not a factor, then this can be your most comfortable option. Quick Info

TIP: If in doubt, use Google Maps to find out the exact Train, Metro or Bus station closest to your starting/destination point. They have a “Public Transport” feature which tells you the exact time of arrival/departure, the closest stations and much more.

From Anand Vihar Railway Terminal (ANVT) / ISBT Anand Vihar

• Nearest metro station - At station itself (Anand Vihar ISBT) • Nearest bus terminal - Anand Vihar ISBT • Autos/taxis - Easily available outside

Tell-you-what! Anand Vihar Railway Station, Anand Vihar ISBT and the metro station are walking distance from each other. The Metro will be the cheapest and fastest form of transport, but it will take you at least an hour! Take the metro at Anand Vihar directed towards Dwarka. This station is on the . Alight at Rajiv Chowk. Unlike when traveling from the Airport, you do NOT need to exit the metro station (when buying your tickets, take the tickets directly to Hauz Khas). Take the Yellow Line till Hauz Khas.

From Indira Gandhi International Airport / Palam Airport

• Nearest metro station - At Airport itself (IGI Airport) • Nearest bus terminal - At Airport itself • Autos/taxis -Easily available outside

Tell-you-what! If arriving at a non-peak hour, you should preferably take the metro. You can also take the Metro during peak hours, but be prepared for some dhakka-mukki. If unsure, you can always take an auto/taxi.

From ISBT Kashmere (or Kashmiri) Gate

• Nearest metro station - At station itself (Kashmere Gate) • Nearest bus terminal - At Station itself • Autos/taxis - Easily available outside

Tell-you-what! If arriving at a non-peak hour, you should preferably take the Metro. You can also use the Metro during peak traffic hours, but be prepared for some dhakka-mukki. There is a metro station right at the bus station, and should be your ideal choice! Hop on at Kashmere Gate (on the Yellow Line itself) and hop off at Hauz Khas (see section on Metro). If unsure, you can always take an auto/taxi. Quick Info 6

From New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS)

• Nearest metro station - At Station itself (New Delhi) • Nearest bus terminal - At Station itself • Autos/taxis - Easily available outside

Tell-you-what! If arriving at a non-peak hour, you should preferably take the Metro. You can also use the Metro during peak traffic hours, but be prepared for some dhakka-mukki. If unsure, you can always take an auto/taxi.

From Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station (NZM) / ISBT Sarai Kale Khan

• Nearest metro station - Jangpura, Lajpat Nagar, INA • Nearest bus terminal - ISBT Sarai Kale Khan • Autos/Taxis - Easily available outside

Tell-you-what! The Station and the ISBT are at a walking distance from each other. While the Nizamuddin Station is only about 12-13 km from IIT, same as NDLS, the connecting public transport is poor, with no metro line at the station. Therefore, if possible, avoid travelling by a train which arrives at HZNS or a bus that arrives at Sarai Kale Khan. If you have already booked your tickets or cannot avoid the station, it is best to take a direct Auto/Taxi to IIT. There is no direct bus to IIT from ISBT Sarai Kale Khan.

From Delhi Junction / Old Delhi Railway Station (DLI)

• Nearest metro station - Chandni Chowk • Nearest bus terminal - ISBT Kashmere Gate • Autos/taxis - Easily available outside

Tell-you-what! If arriving at a non-peak hour, you should preferably take the Metro. You can also use the Metro during peak traffic hours, but be prepared for some dhakka-mukki. Chandni Chowk metro station is at a walking distance from DLI, and should be the ideal way! Hop on at Chandni Chowk (on the Yellow Line itself) and hop off at Hauz Khas (see section on Metro). If unsure, you can always take an auto/taxi. Born Appetite - Food Joints in and around IITD

Inside IITD

Throughout your programme you will be depending on these food joints of IIT to keep yourself Energetic. Especially for girls there is a Lipton cafe (Lip T) 24*7 open situated in Hostel Area famous for samosa and newly introduced bakery stuffs. And then 500 m away near neelkhant Mohter Diary and Safal is situated from where you can easily grab Dairy items, fruits and Groceries. In Institute Area (INSTI) we have Cafeteria (Sip B) till 9 has fully fledged menu where you can have lunch , thali that cost around Rs.50 you can have puri sabzi, masala kulcha chow mien dosa and Different fruit Juices. Beneath it we have Staff Canteen reasonable price thali idli samosa are available and they have a decent maggi @ 20. Under Library we are boomed with Nescafe All time open it has great deal of iced tea cappuccino cold coffee and differently stuffed burgers and patties. Two steps ahead we have Amul Cafe a Diary spot where big menu of Ice cream is available here, Near Scoops we have Lip T, small but enough to serve you with its Different stuffed pizzas cost around Rs.40, burger is bit costly and not that good. We have one Mother Diary near Kumaon and another with Safal near Nilgiri Hostel where you can have healthy fruits and Diary I and nearby GUPTA store is fledged with Groceries Snacks Cold drinks and anything you may need for Daily Use. We are blessed with two more LipT’s one is beside Bharti Building a nice place to sit, and the other is near Vindhyachal Hostel it is rushed between 4-5 for best of IIT’s somosa and the only place where you can eat after 3 AM in hostel area. We have 3 Tea Halts each in Kumaon, Karakoram and Girnar Hostel. These are famous for Masala chai Vada Pao@15 Sandwiches Pasta Paranthe Maggi Donuts Pastries and much more. For our NightOwls we have Night messes in each hostel with each having special varieties such as you can have Chinese and Indian @ Jwala, Big paranthe and maggi @ Nil and Ara, proper dhaba food @ shiva and Vindi, poori channa snacks @ Girnar, and fried rice/roti-sabzi @ Satpura.

Immediately around IITD

If Foodies out there still got some jumping Rats they can flew nearby places like

• SDA which is a proper hangout places like Barista, Rainbows, Spice Angan, Pizza square and much more. • Chetan Bhagat’s Sassi ka Dhaba near hostel gate famous for Shinkajvi paranthe and band (although not hygienic) • Ber sarai - proper place for fastfood like momos golgappe and samosa chat. • Jia Sarai - It has China Town (9711143143) and Roll Corner (9650918218). • Domino’s at green Park (01126513280).

Or just use Zomato.com or Zomato App. Born Appetite - Food Joints in and around IITD 8

Outside IITD

Secular House Canteen

• Distance – 260m from IIT - Jnu Gate – 2.5km from IIT Main gate. To reach it just stroll within the campus and go out from Jnu gate or if you are too tired or in hurry then take a auto from IIT Main Gate. • Serves Both Veg & Non-veg. Must have dish - Chilly Potato. • Comment A very economical food joint with great food. Although the ambience is not cool but you won’t complain if you guys get 10% discount further on the total amount. Option of home delivery is also there but no discount in that case.

24 X 7 Food Court – JNU

• Distance – 4.2km from IIT Main gate – 3km from IIT Hostel Gate. • How to reach – – From Main gate * Take auto or Bus No. 507A from IIT gate bus stop (Destination - Poorvanchal hostel). – From Hostel Gate * Take auto or Bus No. 615 from ISTM bus stop (Destination - Poorvanchal hostel) * Bus No. 507A, 621 from Ber Sarai bus stop (Destination - Poorvanchal hostel). • Serves Both Veg & Non-veg. • Comment Very economical with great food. No discount here but it is very light on wallet.

Ganga Dhaba – JNU

• Distance – 3.5km from IIT Main gate – 2.3km from IIT Hostel Gate. • How to reach – From Main gate * Take auto or Bus No. 507A from IIT gate bus stop (Destination - Poorvanchal hostel). – From Hostel Gate * Take auto or Bus No. 615 from ISTM bus stop (Destination - Poorvanchal hostel) * Bus No. 507A, 621 from Ber Sarai bus stop (Destination - Poorvanchal hostel). • Comment Ideal place for having home-like chicken. Very cheap.

Rajinder Da Dhaba – Safdarjung Enclave

• Distance – 3km from IIT Main gate – 4.2km from IIT Hostel Gate. • How to reach Born Appetite - Food Joints in and around IITD 9

– By auto. • Serves Both Veg & Non-veg. • Comment Ideal place for Tandoor Lovers. A bit pricy but the food almost makes up for it. Markets

Wondering where to buy what?

Sarojini Nagar Market

• Distance – 4.2 from IIT Hostel Gate – 5.4km from IIT Main gate. • How to reach – Take auto either from Main gate or Hostel Gate – Bus No. 615 from IIT hostel bus stop (Destination - Mori gate terminal) • What to buy All sorts of branded, non-branded clothes at reasonable rate. Visit mainly for non- branded daily use/college wear clothes at reasonable price (shorts, capri, t-shirts, shoes, sweat-shirts, trousers, bedsheets etc.). There are sports, cosmetics and household goods etc. shops too. There are instances of bargaining to a large extend in some cases. So pay according to merit of the thing you are buying. • Comment Need sweat-shirts? visit Sarojini during winters.

Lajpat nagar market

• Distance – 7.7km from IIT Main gate – 8.9km from IIT Hostel Gate. • How to reach – From Main gate * Take auto to Hauz Khas Metro or Bus No. 507 from IIT gate bus stop (Destination - Okhla extension). – From Hostel Gate * Take auto to Hauz Khas Metro or Bus No. 507 from IIT hostel bus stop (Destination - Okhla extension). • What to buy All sorts of branded, non-branded clothes at reasonable rate. Visit mainly for non- branded daily use/college wear clothes at reasonable price (shorts, capri, t-shirts, shoes, sweat-shirts, trousers, bedsheets etc.). There are some exclusive showrooms of various brands too. Market offers good combination of branded and non-branded stores. • Comment Generally a better collection of clothes is observed in this market (t-shirts, capri, trousers etc.).

Munirka market

• Distance – 2.5km from IIT Main gate – 1.3km from IIT Hostel Gate. Markets 11

• How to reach – From Main gate * Take auto or Bus No. 764, 620, 507 from IIT gate bus stop. – From Hostel Gate * Take auto or Bus No. 507, 620,764 from IIT Hostel bus stop. • What to buy Mattress, Bed sheets, coolers (local) and furniture related items. There are some handloom, grocery and garments shops too. • Comment There are instances of bargaining to a large extend in some cases. So pay according to merit of the thing you are buying.

South Ex. & Kotla market

• Distance – 5.1km from IIT Main gate – 6.3km from IIT Hostel Gate. • How to reach – From Main gate * Take auto or Bus No. 507 from IIT gate bus stop (Destination - Okhla extension). – From Hostel Gate * Take auto or Bus No. 507 from IIT hostel bus stop (Destination - Okhla extension). • What to buy Almost all brand stores are present here (South Ex.). Visit Kotla market for buying electrical appliances at subsidised rates (Pedestal fan, coolers etc.) • Comment Find the correct price of the appliance you are buying by visiting similar shops.

Karol Bagh Market

• Distance – 14.9km from IIT Main gate – 13.7km from IIT Hostel Gate. • How to reach – Take auto to Hauz Khas Metro and then the metro. • What to buy Ideal place for buying college wear (especially T-shirts). There is Vishal Mega Mart and V2 which have good collection of casual wears for both guys and gals (there are many such shops for girls as usual). • Comment – Must visit at least once.

Nehru Palace

• Distance – 6.3km from IIT Main gate – 7.5km from IIT Hostel Gate. • How to reach – Take auto or Bus No. 764 from IIT gate/ IIT hostel bus stop. • What to buy Ideal place for buying gadgets (All the laptop, mobile, tab etc related products). Few shops selling wallets ( for Rs. 50 only) and laptop bags are also there.

P.S. – For everything else malls are always there… :P Sports at IIT Delhi

Sports have always been an important extra-curricular activity at IIT Delhi. We have facilities for almost all sports and excellent coaches who are always eager to take in new students and practice with players everyday to make the best out of them. Numerous sports events are held throughout the year where all the sports enthusiasts are given a chance to participate and excel. The Sports events begins with the inter hostel tournaments in September where 11 boys and 2 girls hostels compete for the General Championship. In mid October trials for selection of the institute team are held. The Institute team participates in the Inter IIT sports meet, which is the biggest event of the Board for Sports Activities: a ten day sports meet in December held every year in one of the seven IIT’s. The inter hostel competitions go on till February. The month of March begins with the sports fest of IIT Delhi: The Sportech. Around 20 colleges from north India compete in this four day fest. Apart from the main competitions, many league matches are organized with other colleges in Delhi. All these events require dedicated and regular practice for which the institute provides ample facilities. Near the academic area, in front of the Bharti Building is the hockey and athletics field. These green well kept fields equipped with flood lights are always open for students to come and play. Right next to it is the cricket ground and pavilion. There are two basketball courts: for the beginners as well as pros. Then there is the football field where we have coaches from Baichung Bhutia School of Football. To the right of the SAC circle are the Tennis courts. Tennis has always been Delhi’s strong point in the Inter IIT sports meet. There are clay as well as synthetic courts. Adjacent to the tennis courts are the volley ball courts and “The Wall” for wall practice. Thanks to the flood lights, students are found playing tennis and volleyball as late as at 1 am in night. The Student Activity Center houses the Table Tennis, Squash and Badminton Courts. There is a gym, with separate timings for boys and girls and a weightlifting arena. For indoor sports we have billiards and snooker table and those facilities can be availed by getting a Pool membership. The swimming pool isn’t functional now but there are many options nearby like the pool near JNU and in Munirika where the aquatics team practices. Beginners can also learn swimming by paying a nominal fee at these swimming pools. Every year in the summer break, 3-4 weeks’ sports camp is organized. The players get to practice in the morning and evenings to increase their strength and endurance. Freshers and Beginners are always encouraged and welcome to learn any sport at IIT Delhi. Regular practice and dedication can make everybody a champion, even if one has no experience in sports. Errata

Please send in your corrections, if any, to [email protected]

• 15-Jul-13 - Auto fares updated to reflect the changed price. New fares since May 1st 2013 first 2kms - ￿ 25 for every consequent km- ￿ 8. Correction sent by Siddharth Jain. • 15-Jul-13 - Bus section updated. Corrections sent by Nikhil Kumar. – There is no bus which goes from IIT main gate to New Delhi station. There is 615 which goes from IIT hostel bus stop in Africa avenue to NDLS station. – There are two buses 502 and 603 which goes from IIT gate bus stop near girls hostel gate to Old Delhi railway station. – I have never seen any bus named “Airport express” anywhere near any bus stops around IIT neither there is mention of any in DTC.