Common Tourist Scams in New Delhi (and How to Avoid Them)
Connaught Place + Paharganj scams
- Connaught Place "free guide": a friendly local offers to "show you Delhi for a small tip." Ends at carpet shop / spice market / "VIP government tourist office" with high-pressure sales.
- "Government Tourist Office" — there's only ONE genuine India Tourism Office (located at 88 Janpath, Connaught Place). Anyone calling theirs a "government office" elsewhere is a private agent.
- "Your hotel is closed": scam pattern. Auto-rickshaw drivers tell you the hotel you booked is closed/full and offer to take you somewhere "they recommend." Call your hotel before getting in any vehicle.
- "Festival road closure": driver claims a festival has closed roads near your destination, offers detour. Very rarely true.
- Photo scams: women / children / monkey-handlers approach for photos with you. Then demand payment.
- Paharganj area: backpacker hub adjacent to New Delhi Railway Station. Cheap hotels but scam-dense. Prefer Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, or Greater Kailash.
FAQ
- What scams should I expect around Connaught Place?
- Several recurring patterns. The 'free guide' pitch where a friendly local offers to show you Delhi for a small tip ends at a carpet shop, spice market or 'VIP government tourist office' with high-pressure sales. The only genuine India Tourism Office is at 88 Janpath — anywhere else calling itself a 'Government Tourist Office' is a private commission agent. The 'your hotel is closed' scam: drivers tell you your booked hotel is full and redirect to commission alternatives — call your hotel before getting in any vehicle. 'Festival road closure' detours are rarely true. Photo scams with women, children or monkey-handlers demand payment after the shot. Paharganj backpacker hotels are cheap but scam-dense — prefer Hauz Khas, Defence Colony or Greater Kailash.
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