India GOBangalore or Delhi: history in the north, mild weather in the south
Delhi or Bangalore comes down to what the trip is for. Delhi is history in bulk: eight capitals on one plain, three UNESCO sites and the usual start of a North India route. Bengaluru (Bangalore) is the easy-going southern metropolis, a plateau city at about 900 m that stays mild all year. Their good seasons barely overlap, so the month you travel often decides for you.
Bengaluru
India's tech capital keeps its older selves in plain sight: a rock-cut cave temple under a hill, a palace modelled on Windsor Castle, and the market lanes of Malleswaram and Gandhi Bazaar. Filter coffee and dosa at dawn, craft beer and bookshops after dark, and a plateau climate that stays mild all year.
📅 Best time: Nov–Feb
Delhi
Eight capitals stacked on one plain, and you can walk between them: a 12th-century victory tower, the Mughal tomb that taught the Taj its shape, colonial New Delhi's avenues, and the spice lanes of Chandni Chowk. Most trips to North India start here. Give it two days and it stops being just an airport.
📅 Best time: Oct & Feb–Mar
When to go
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Bengaluru | 🟩 28° | 🟩 31° | 🟢 33° | 🟢 34° | 🟢 33° | 🟢 30° | 🟢 28° | 🟢 28° | 🟢 29° | 🟢 28° | 🟩 27° | 🟩 27° |
| Delhi | 🟢 20° | 🟩 24° | 🟩 30° | 🟢 36° | 🟧 40° | 🟧 39° | 🟢 36° | 🟢 34° | 🟢 34° | 🟩 33° | 🟢 28° | 🟢 23° |
🟩 Best time · 🟢 Good time · 🟧 Better avoid. Figures are IMD daytime highs.
What the guide covers
| Bengaluru | Delhi | |
| Palaces & museums | 17 | 25 |
| Temples & shrines | 10 | 12 |
| Nature | 10 | 10 |
| Markets & shopping | 20 | 16 |
| Areas & streets | 3 | 5 |
| Other | 135 | 109 |
| Hotels | 13 | 14 |
Full guides, the map and festivals in India GO.
Open in India GOWho each city suits
Delhi suits a trip built around monuments. The Red Fort, Qutb Minar and the old city sit within reach of each other, and the guide counts three UNESCO sites. It is also a hub: the fast trains reach Agra in about 1 h 40 min and Jaipur in about 3 h 40 min, so Delhi is where the Golden Triangle starts. Read more on the Delhi page and the Golden Triangle route.
Bengaluru suits a slower city break and a soft landing in South India: a rock-cut cave temple under a hill, a palace modelled on Windsor Castle, the market lanes of Malleswaram and Gandhi Bazaar, and filter coffee with dosa in the morning. Mysuru is about two hours away by train, from ~₹80 (approximate, August 2026). See the Bengaluru page and Mysuru.
Seasons: when each city works
Delhi's best months are October, February and March. May and June are the months to avoid, with heatwaves of 45°C and more, and from November to January smog can push the AQI past 450 while winter fog delays trains and flights. The monsoon brings about 196 mm in July and 227 mm in August.
Bengaluru has no month to avoid: at 923 m daytime highs stay between 27°C and 34°C all year. It is driest from November to February. September and October are the wettest (about 208 mm and 186 mm), with heavy showers and local flooding.
Both in one trip: February works best, when Delhi is at its best and Bengaluru is still dry. In May and June Bengaluru's average highs are 30–33°C, while Delhi has its heatwaves.
Getting between Bengaluru and Delhi
The guide lists no train or bus for this pair, so the practical link is a flight: Kempegowda International (BLR) has direct flights from all major Indian cities, and Indira Gandhi International (DEL) handles domestic flights everywhere. Check train options on IRCTC if you prefer rail.
The airport legs differ a lot (fares approximate, checked in August 2026). BLR sits 40 km north of Bengaluru: 1–2 hours by the round-the-clock Vayu Vajra bus (~₹150–380) or by taxi (~₹800–1,600), and the guide advises leaving 2.5–3 hours for the airport run. DEL is 16 km from the centre, and the Airport Express metro from T3 reaches New Delhi station in about 20 minutes for ~₹65. Low-cost carriers use T1, which is on the Magenta Line instead.
Getting around and what it costs
Fares are approximate, checked in August 2026.
Delhi
The metro (more than ten lines) costs ~₹11–64 a ride and runs roughly 05:30–23:30; a tourist card is ~₹200 a day. Autos booked in an app start at ~₹30 plus ~₹11 a km. A cab hailed off the street asks 3–10 times the fair price, so use an app or a prepaid counter.
Bengaluru
Namma Metro has three lines at ~₹10–90 a ride. Autos through an app start at ~₹36 for 2 km, and Namma Yatri, which takes no commission from drivers, is usually the cheapest. Cabs across the centre start at ~₹150; in rush hour the metro is still faster.
Languages
In Bengaluru the guide lists Kannada first, then English, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. In Delhi it is Hindi, English, Punjabi and Urdu. English is second on both lists.
❓ FAQ
Which city is bigger, Delhi or Bangalore?
Delhi, by a wide margin: the guide gives a metro population of about 33.8 million for Delhi and 13.2 million for Bengaluru.
Which city is cooler in summer?
Bengaluru. In May and June Delhi has heatwaves of 45°C and more, while Bengaluru's average daytime highs are 30–33°C.
Can I see both cities in one trip?
Yes, and February suits it best: it is one of Delhi's best months and part of Bengaluru's dry season. Between them you fly; the guide lists no train or bus for the pair.
When should I avoid Delhi?
May and June for the heat, and November to January if smog bothers you: the AQI can pass 450 and fog delays trains and flights.