5 Days in India for Business: Delhi and Chandigarh Itinerary with Fast Flights from Australia

A focused, five-day India itinerary designed for business in Chandigarh with smart time in New Delhi—plus practical advice to find the cheapest sub-20-hour business-class flights from Adelaide via Sydney or Melbourne.
A well-lit home office setup featuring a laptop, monitor, and glasses, ideal for remote work.
Photo by Elle Hughes on Pexels

Ancient empires, modern design, and unforgettable food—this five-day India itinerary balances work time in Chandigarh with just the right amount of New Delhi’s history and dining. You’ll touch down in Delhi, move swiftly to Chandigarh for meetings, and circle back to Delhi for one great night before flying home.

Chandigarh is India’s only planned city by Le Corbusier, an architectural statement set against the Shivalik foothills. Nearby, the surreal Rock Garden and serene Sukhna Lake show the city’s creative spirit. In Delhi, layers of Mughal, colonial, and contemporary India meet in monuments like Qutub Minar and lively quarters such as Chandni Chowk.

Practical notes: Australians typically use India’s e-Visa (apply several days in advance). Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is your best gateway; Aerocity hotels make tight schedules easy. Air quality in Delhi varies seasonally—check forecasts if you’re sensitive. Cards are widely accepted; ride-hailing apps and pre-paid taxis are reliable.

Flight game plan: Adelaide to Delhi (Business Class, ≤20 hours)

Cheapest sub-20-hour options usually involve a self-connect to Sydney or Melbourne, then a nonstop to Delhi in business—often the best value versus one-stop premium fares.

  • Adelaide → Melbourne → Delhi (Business): ADL–MEL (1h20) + MEL–DEL nonstop (~12h). Typical total travel time: 15–18 hours with a sensible buffer. Business-class round-trip often ~AUD 3,500–5,500; watch for sales.
  • Adelaide → Sydney → Delhi (Business): ADL–SYD (1h55) + SYD–DEL nonstop (~12.5h). Total: 17–19 hours. Pricing similar to the Melbourne option.
  • Adelaide → Singapore → Delhi (Business): One-stop via Singapore. Total: ~15–17 hours; fares often ~AUD 4,500–6,500.

Tip: Avoid long Middle East routings (often 20–23 hours). Midweek departures (Tue–Thu) commonly price lower. Set duration filters to ≤20h when searching.

New Delhi

India’s capital rewards short stays with big hits: UNESCO sites (Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb), leafy Lutyens’ boulevards, and a culinary scene that ranges from legendary Mughlai kitchens to sleek tasting menus. For quick turnarounds, Aerocity hotels beside the airport keep transfers painless.

Top bites: Slow-cooked kebabs and dal at classic Mughlai institutions; inventive regional tasting menus at Indian Accent; street eats in Chandni Chowk (think parathas, jalebi). For coffee and wine, try Blue Tokai roastery or Perch Wine & Coffee Bar.

Stay near the airport if you’re in and out, or pick central icons like The Imperial for heritage flair. Browse stays on Hotels.com (New Delhi) or apartments on VRBO (New Delhi).

Delhi–Chandigarh is an easy hop by premium train or short flight. Compare options on Trip.com (trains) and Trip.com (flights).

Chandigarh

Chandigarh is clean lines, roundabouts, and parks—a modernist vision brought to life by Le Corbusier. It’s efficient for business and pleasant after-hours with lakeside strolls, microbreweries, and hearty Punjabi food.

Don’t miss Nek Chand’s Rock Garden (a labyrinth of sculptures from recycled materials), Sukhna Lake at golden hour, the Rose Garden in bloom, and the Capitol Complex’s monumental architecture. Chandigarh’s café culture runs strong—think good espresso, fresh bakes, and all-day brunches.

For stays, business favorites include JW Marriott Chandigarh, Taj Chandigarh, Hyatt Regency Chandigarh. Browse options on Hotels.com (Chandigarh) or apartments on VRBO (Chandigarh).

Day 1: Arrive New Delhi (afternoon arrival)

Morning: Fly from Adelaide; aim for a routing that arrives Delhi early-mid afternoon. For business-class searches under 20 hours, use Kiwi.com or Trip.com.

Afternoon: Check into an Aerocity hotel to simplify tomorrow’s early transfer. Shake off jet lag with a slow walk in Lodhi Gardens or a short ride to Qutub Minar’s 12th-century minaret for sunset photography.

Evening: Dinner options: Indian Accent for a refined tasting menu (book ahead), or Bukhara for tandoor classics and the famed dal. For a lighter night, Perch Wine & Coffee Bar pairs small plates with a great European-Indian wine list.

Day 2: Delhi → Chandigarh (morning transfer) + lakeside evening

Morning: Take the Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi to Chandigarh (approx. 3–3.5 hours). Book Executive Class for wider seats, breakfast service, and easy boarding; fares ~INR 2,200–3,000 (≈AUD 40–55). Alternatively, a 50–60 min flight in business on Vistara or Air India typically prices from ~INR 7,000–22,000 (≈AUD 130–400). Compare on Trip.com (trains) or Trip.com (flights).

Afternoon: Check in near Sector 17/22 for central access. Lunch at Pal Dhaba for homestyle butter chicken and black dal; or head to Backpackers Café for fresh salads, pasta, and all-day breakfast.

Evening: Stroll Sukhna Lake as the sun sets over the Shivaliks. Grab a craft pint at The Brew Estate or Hops n Grains; or dine al fresco at Virgin Courtyard (Italian) if you’re keeping it mellow.

Day 3: Chandigarh business day + Rock Garden night

Morning: Meetings on campus or in a coworking space; consider Innov8 or Regus for quiet rooms and reliable Wi‑Fi. Coffee runs at Nik Baker’s or The Hedgehog Café.

Afternoon: Quick thali lunch at Gopal’s Sweets (efficient, vegetarian, fast), then continue meetings. If you get a window, swing by the Rose Garden for a short walk.

Evening: Explore Nek Chand’s Rock Garden—an intricate world of recycled-art sculptures and waterfalls—then a relaxed dinner at JW Marriott’s all-day restaurant (buffet plus à la carte North Indian), or Urban Café at Hyatt Regency for kebabs and grills.

Day 4: Chandigarh → New Delhi (morning transfer) + Old Delhi flavors

Morning: Return to Delhi by Vande Bharat Executive Class (~3–3.5 hours) or a short business-class flight (~1 hour). Reserve via Trip.com (trains) or Trip.com (flights). Check back into Aerocity or a central hotel.

Afternoon: Head to Old Delhi for a sensory snapshot: Jama Masjid’s grand courtyards, then Chandni Chowk for street eats—paratha, jalebi, chaat. If you prefer sit-down, try Karim’s or Al Jawahar for kebabs and roghan josh.

Evening: Cap your last night with a contemporary-Indian feast at Indian Accent, or go regional at a specialty spot focusing on Awadhi or Punjabi cuisine. Nightcap at a hotel lounge for a quick turnaround tomorrow.

Day 5: New Delhi (easy morning) → fly out (afternoon)

Morning: Late breakfast at Blue Tokai (single-origin pour-overs) or The Grammar Room (brunch favorites). Quick shopping at Khan Market for teas, spices, and handicrafts.

Afternoon: Head to DEL in time for business-class lounge access and a stress-free departure. Search sub-20-hour returns to Adelaide via nonstop SYD/MEL connections or a single stop via Singapore: Kiwi.com (flights) or Trip.com (flights).

Where to stay (quick picks)

Getting around

  • Delhi: Metro, ride-hailing, and hotel cars are the most efficient. Allow extra time for security checks at major sites.
  • Delhi ↔ Chandigarh: Vande Bharat Executive Class (≈3–3.5 hours; ~INR 2,200–3,000) or business-class flights (~1 hour; ~INR 7,000–22,000). Book via Trip.com (trains) or Trip.com (flights).

Optional pre-trip warm‑up in Adelaide (if you have a spare day)

If you’re staging from Adelaide before self-connecting to Sydney/Melbourne, these well-run tours make an excellent bonus day. They’re turnkey, include transport, and finish on time for next-day flights.

Dining cheat sheet

  • Delhi breakfasts: Blue Tokai (roastery cafés), The Grammar Room (brunch), Saravana Bhavan (South Indian).
  • Delhi lunches: Karim’s or Al Jawahar near Jama Masjid (Mughlai), SodaBottleOpenerWala (Parsi comfort classics).
  • Delhi dinners: Indian Accent (innovative), Bukhara (tandoor), Dum Pukht (slow-cooked Awadhi).
  • Chandigarh cafés: Nik Baker’s, Backpackers Café, The Hedgehog Café.
  • Chandigarh Punjabi mains: Pal Dhaba, Virgin Courtyard (Italian break), Urban Café at Hyatt (grills, kebabs).

Booking checklist

In five days, you’ll glide between Delhi’s headline sights and Chandigarh’s business-friendly calm, with efficient transfers keeping total travel time lean. The self-connect strategy from Adelaide helps lock in the cheapest business-class seats under 20 hours each way—so you arrive rested, ready, and on schedule.

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