Noida, an abbreviation of New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, is a suburban city of Delhi just across the state line in Uttar Pradesh.
Understand
Just across the Yamuna River from Delhi, this is Uttar Pradesh's most modern city and a popular location for businesses looking to escape Delhi's congestion and steep rents. Noida boasts the best roads in the NCR, with excellent street lighting and cat-eyes which ensures maximum visibility during nights. Now with Delhi Metro being extended to Noida, you can reach Indira Gandhi International Airport in around 1 hour.
Get in
The easiest way to go to Noida by public transport is to take the Delhi MetroBlue Line, which has numerous stops around the city. The Magenta Line also connects Noida and links Terminal 1D, Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The other alternative is DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) buses. Public transport is still in its nascent phase and needs good connectivity. Mobile based app driven transport like Uber and Ola are quite popular among the locals to move around.
The DND Flyway toll bridge connects Noida to Delhi and is a pleasure to drive. Note that if you're driving a black-plated commercial vehicle — in particular, a rented car — you're not allowed to use the bridge unless you've already paid the Uttar Pradesh road tax of ₹240/day (there are no facilities for paying it here).
National Expressway 2 or Eastern Peripheral Expressway connects Noida to cities around Delhi as a bypass, especially for trucks to decrease pollution there. In particular, Faridabad and Ghaziabad can be reached via this road. The Western Peripheral Expressway should soon be completed, making a loop around Delhi to connect Noida with more cities.
Get around
Noida is spottily connected by buses and rickshaws. The buses are chiefly from Delhi.The best option for getting around by taxi is to book it online by online car rental companies sites where you have the luxury of choosing from a variety of options. They provide the services to travel intra-city also for visiting Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal) and other places in and around Noida.
The Aqua Line of the Noida Metro has been completed, connecting the center of the city to its southern suburbs, including the Greater Noida area.
The Delhi Metro also has a couple stops in the city.
See
A scenic relief from Delhi, Noida is low on traffic and pollution (by Indian standards) and is dotted with parks and statues, none of them particularly noteworthy though. The city has done very well to keep up the green cover and the plantation of trees is done from time to time.
Noida Film City - A hub for films and television in India - Founded by Sandeep Marwah of Marwah Studios
- 1 Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi Noida Direct Flyway (1 km from Sector 18 Metro Station, 'Noida' West). A haven for over 300 bird species, especially waterbirds.
- Stupa 18 Gallery (Art Gallery), K - 64, Sector 18 (Close to Sector 18 Metro station), ☏ 98 11028157. W-M 11AM-8PM. An art gallery where you can see and buy art pieces by various new as well as established talented artists. Open to public, this gallery has interesting exhibitions every month. ₹2000 onwards.
Do
- Greens Golf Resort.
- 1 Worlds of Wonder, Sector-38 A, Entry Gate No. 11, Entertainment City, toll-free: 1800-103-1415, ✉[email protected]. There are two sections within the modern theme park complex, a water park and amusement park. A third section, a go karting track, is being constructed.
- Mojoland, MojoLand, GT Road, Murthal, Sonipat, Haryana 131039, ☏ 91 705-665-1111, ✉[email protected]. Mojoland is a picnic destination with lot of adventures, such as a water park, amusement park, aero sports park, snow park, and theme park.
Buy
Shopping malls
Noida is filled with malls and shopping centers.
- DLF Mall of India, Sector 18
- Gardens Galleria Mall Noida, Sector 38A, Entertainment City
- CenterStage Mall, Sector 18 (Atta Market, behind the Radisson).
- Great India Place (Next to Sector-18). Big Cinemas cineplex, slick (and pricy) Spoon food court on the 3rd floor, Big Bazaar department store, somewhat forlorn amusement part outside.
- Sab Shopping Mall
- Shipra Mall, Located in Ghaziabad but just touching Sector 62.
- Shopprix Mall, Sector 61. Small, but every facility available, amazing budget food court, 3 retail stores.
- Spice Mall. Features a multiplex with 8 screens.
Markets
Noida has many old-style Indian markets like Atta, Indira Market, Choura, Khoda, Chellara, Harola, Naya Bans etc.
Learn
- Ishaan School of Art-n-Music, P-19, Sector-12, ☏ 919310034746-7. The only centre in Noida with recognised courses and recognition by Noida Authority. Learn Indian classical, Western and Bollywood style dance; vocal and instrumental music. Drawing and painting. Expert faculty.
Eat
Must try
- Teasta - The Tea Shop, Sector 37 (Behind Army Public School Noida)
Teasta, is one of the oldest tea cafes in NCR since 2006. The area usually has a lot of young crowd with plenty of eating options to choose from.
Budget
- Brahmaputra Market, This place is flooded with food vendors in the evening, and good veg & non-veg out there, Sector 29.
- Haldiram, The best quality food with great hygiene @ PVR Spice Mall and also a new Haldiram is open @ Noida electronic city entrance on the left side.
- Laxmi Coffee House, This is good old South Indian food joint. Cheap and tasty. Brahmaputra Market, Sector 29.
- Reena Restaurant, This offers very good south Indian food at reasonable rates.
- Sagar Ratna, This is good solid South Indian food. Many locations in Noida, at Gulmohar Shopping Complex at Sec 15, Sector 18 and at Shopprix Mall.
- Taste of India, Centerstage Mall Level 1, Sector 18. Food court style operation with eight stations dishing out a full range of Indian food, all of it vegetarian. Large set meals from ₹100.
Mid-range
- Bamboo Shoots, Sec 18 - Some good Chinese there.
- Bercos Gardens Chinese Joint, Baraat Ghar, Sector 12
- Desi Vibes, Indian Joint, Sector 18.
- Dominoes, Sec 18, Sec 51, Sec 110 (In Front Of Kendriya Vihar Apt, Nr Sec-82).
- Fortune Platters, Joint offering Indian, Chinese, Mughlai, Italian under one roof. It is in Center Stage Mall, Basement, Sector 18.
- K65 Restaurant, Sec 65 - Homely food served here!
- Lets Noodle, Sec 18 - Awesome Chinese Food!
- Nirulas, Sec 2.
- Pearl Regency, Ganga Shopping Complex, Sector 29. Offers Indian Mughlai and Chinese.
- Pizza Hut outlets in Sec 18, Center Stage Mall (again sector 18), Shopprix Mall, Spice Mall, Parshva Plaza (Sec 27), Sec 110 (In Front Of Kendriya Vihar Apt, Nr Sec-82).
- Punjabi Galiyara, Sec 18.
- Samarkand Offers Indian Mughlai and Chinese, Ganga Shopping Complex, Sector 29.
- Uncles Restaurant, Sec 11 - good food served here.
- 1 Yellow Chilli, 1 A/31 H Block. Commercial Market, Sector 63, ☏ 91 22 26735014, ✉[email protected]. Lunch noon-3:30PM dinner 7:00PM-11:30PM daily. One of celebrity chef Sanjiv Kapoor's restaurants. The food is varied and is inspired by dishes from all over India though there is a emphasis on Punjabi and Mughlai cuisine.
Splurge
- Chor Bizarre, Sector 16
- The Great Kebab factory, Sector 18
- Moti Mahal, Sector 18 - For absolutely amazing Mughlai cuisine!
- Octopus, Sector 16
- Punjabi by Nature, ☏ 91-120-4250111. P-19, Sector 18 (Atta Market). The local outlet of the exuberantly hip Punjabi chain, serving up tandoori lobster and vodka golgappas next to crazy decor that's half dhaba, half crystal chandeliers and indoor waterfalls. While there's a premium to pay for the surroundings, the food is solid and the makki ki roti with sarson ka saag is worth the price tag. ₹500, more if you sample the booze or seafood.
Drink
Alcohol in Uttar Pradesh is somewhat pricier than in Delhi. The main nightlife district is Atta Market (Sector 18).
- Flluid, Mosaic Hotel, Sector 18. Slick two-floor bar and nightclub that looks somewhat like an Arctic cavern, with billowing white shapes and blue lighting. Kingfisher ₹200.
Restrobars
- Anchor, Sector 18.
- Chicane, Sector 25A, Spice Mall.
- Ice Cubes, Sector 38-A.
- Mamouchee, 4th Floor Centre Stage Mall. offers quite good range of cocktails. On the food side , good Lebanese options
- Pacific Blues, Sector 18.
- Patiala Kings, Sector 18.
- Pearl's Regency, Sector 29, Ganga Shopping Complex.
- Quantum (elevate), centerstage mall (sector 18). arguably one of the best nightclubs in Delhi-NCR.
- Vinnys, Sector 18.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
- Fortune Inn Garzia, Sec-18.
- Nirulas, Sec 2 (Next to main Metro Line). Oldest hotel of Noida. Possibly 3-star. Good fast food joint, pastry shop, bakery, tea/coffee lounge, bar. 5000.
Splurge
- 1 Mosaic Hotel, C-1, Sector 18, ☏ 91 120 402 5000, ✉[email protected]. A hip, trendy hotel. Rooms are modern and comfortable, service is friendly and efficient, but wireless Internet is expensive and patchy. Has a bar called Flluid and a restaurant called Latitude. From ₹4,000.
- Park Plaza, C Block, Sec-55, ☏ 91 -12-04678888.
- Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Noida. Noida's first but no longer only branded hotel. From ₹8,000.
Go next
Agra and the Taj Mahal are a 3-6 hr drive or 2-5 hr train ride each way. By road Taj Mahal can be reached in 3 hrs through Yamuna Expressway from Delhi. Book tickets in the train cars with seats far in advance, and look for the seats put aside especially for tourists. You can also rent a car and driver for the day and shouldn't pay more than ~₹ 5,000 roundtrip (if not less). The Taj Mahal is closed on Friday.
Gurgaon, a southern suburb of Delhi, is a 1 hr drive or a metro ride away.
Jaipur and Rajasthan are reachable by plane or overnight train from Delhi.
Faridabad is in the Southern National Capital region just 25 km south of Delhi.