Delhi
You debate on the IIT Delhi campus in Hauz Khas and stay at The Grand in Vasant Kunj, half an hour away. Some of the city's oldest monuments and best food are between the two.
- Debating at
- IIT Delhi
- Staying at
- The Grand New Delhi
- Airport
- Indira Gandhi International (DEL)
- Nearest metro
- IIT Delhi, Magenta Line
- Late June
- 35–40°C, monsoon breaking
IIT Delhi
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, in Hauz Khas. A green campus you can walk end to end.
Preliminary rounds run in the lecture theatres, which are tiered and air conditioned. The opening ceremony, the later knockout rounds and the grand final are in the main auditorium. The registration desk, the draw and the briefings are all in one place.
The IIT Delhi Debating Society hosts the tournament. Its members run the desk each morning, so ask them if you get lost.
The IIT Delhi metro station, on the Magenta Line, is at the gate. Hauz Khas Village is about twenty-five minutes away on foot, or five by auto.
Accommodation
The Grand New Delhi, in Vasant Kunj. Twin rooms, a pool and a garden.
The hotel is about twenty minutes from the airport and half an hour from campus, longer in heavy traffic. Vasant Kunj is a quiet residential area with two large malls in walking distance.
Rooms are twins. Once your registration is confirmed, we will ask who you want to share with and whether you need extra nights before or after the tournament.
The USD 630 registration fee covers your room, the airport pick-up and drop, and the buses between The Grand and IIT Delhi every morning and evening.
The city
Where to go if you have a free morning or evening.
Hauz Khas
A medieval reservoir, a madrasa and a tomb, next to a deer park and a village full of bars and restaurants. Five minutes from campus by auto, and the usual place to go after rounds.
Qutub Minar
The tallest brick minaret in the world, begun in 1193. About fifteen minutes south of campus by road. Go early to beat the heat and the queue.
Mehrauli Archaeological Park
Next to the Qutub Minar and far quieter. Tombs, stepwells and a ruined mosque spread through open scrubland.
Lodhi Gardens
A ninety-acre park with fifteenth-century tombs, where Delhi goes for a walk. Twenty minutes north of campus. The street art in Lodhi Colony is next door.
Humayun's Tomb
The Mughal garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal, well restored and worth the trip east.
Old Delhi
Chandni Chowk, the Jama Masjid and the lanes around them. Loud and crowded, with the best street food in the city. Take the Yellow Line metro to Chandni Chowk; driving there is slow.
Eating
Food from all over India in one city: Punjabi, Mughlai and South Indian everywhere, Tibetan in Majnu ka Tilla, Bengali in CR Park. Vegetarian food is easy to find.
Getting about
The metro is cheap, air conditioned and reaches most places on this list. You can buy a tourist card at the airport. For everything else, use Uber or Ola instead of hailing an auto.
A warning
Late June is very hot. Drink more water than you think you need, and avoid long walks in the middle of the day.
Getting here
Fly into Indira Gandhi International. We pick you up from there.
Indira Gandhi International (DEL) is Delhi's main airport. It has direct flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, Colombo, Dhaka and Kathmandu.
Airport pick-up and drop are included in your fee. The hotel is about twenty minutes from the airport by road.
If you are coming overland from Nepal or Bangladesh, or by train from elsewhere in India, tell us when you register and we will arrange to meet you.
Visas
Most of the region can apply online. Apply early.
Most nationalities at this tournament can get an Indian e-Visa online before they travel. It usually takes a few working days, but the rules differ by country, so check with the Indian high commission in yours.
Some nationalities need a regular visa from a consulate. That takes longer and usually needs an invitation letter from us.
Weather and kit
The monsoon usually arrives during the tournament.
Heat
35–40°C in the day and rarely below 28°C at night. Humid once the rain starts.
Rain
The monsoon usually reaches Delhi in the last week of June. Expect short, heavy downpours.
Indoors
The debating rooms and the hotel are air conditioned and can feel cold. Bring a layer for rounds.
Clothes
Light cotton or linen, one smart outfit for the final and the dinner, and sandals you can get wet.
Carry
A refillable bottle, sunscreen, an umbrella and any medicines you take. Pharmacies are everywhere, but they may not stock your brand.
Power
230V, with Type C, D and M sockets. A universal adapter works.
Access
What we know so far about getting around the venue and the hotel.
The campus and the hotel both have lifts and ramps in places. We have not yet checked either fully for step-free access, so we will not call them step-free. If you have access needs, email us and we will tell you what we know.