Meat treats

Venture through Chandni Chowk (above) – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi – to Karim’s. Try the slow-cooked beef stew, or a dish of minced lamb with green beans. If you’re still hungry, walk down nearby Paranthe Wali Gali to pick up some paranthas (fried Indian bread). For dessert, visit Wenger’s on Connaught Place. They’ve been serving a huge range of cakes and sweet treats for the past 75 years.

Qawwali-ty time

Nizamuddin Dargah  is the mausoleum of one of the world's most famous Sufi saints, and holds the tombs of Indian poet Amir Khusrau and Mughal princess Jehan Ara. Visit Hanes history and stay for the music: every day from 6 pm-7.30pm and 9 pm-10.30pm, a party of talented musicians assemble in the courtyard to sing Qawwalis (Sufi devotional music) under the stars.

Wishful thinking

Architecture fans will enjoy the impressive pink sandstone-and-marble Swaminarayan Akshardham (pictured) temple. Join the locals taking part in the ritual ‘bathing of the murti’ (an image expressing a Hindu divine spirit), and say a prayer for wish fulfilment. If you fancy a stroll among the flowers, visit Humayun’s Tomb. It’s close to Sunder Nursery – a 16th-century heritage garden and Unesco World Heritage site.

What’s in store?

Prepare to haggle at Janpath and Tibetan Markets. It's worth it for the mirrored embroidery (above) and bright shawls. Looking for a gift? Aap Ki Pasand  sells every Indian tea under the sun, from Darjeeling and Assam to Nilgiri and Kangra. For a shopping trip with a Side Order of geography, visit State Emporium. As the name suggests, These Are The official emporiums of the different Indian states. Pick up carpets from Kashmir, puppets from Rajasthan and stone carvings from Odisha.

Neighbourhood watch

Rub shoulders with magicians, acrobats, mime artists, puppeteers, jugglers, folk singers and traditional dancers under the Shadipur Depot Bridge. For the past 50 years, this area has been home to the Kathputli Colony – around 2,800 families of folk artists, many of whom have represented India at shows abroad. The area was celebrated in Salman Rushdie’s novel Midnight’s Children, but has recently come under threat from developers. Visit soon before it’s gone.

BA’s Boeing 787-9 made its debut flight to Delhi in October. Abu Dhabi/Muscat and Kuala Lumpur are among the other routes planned.