AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair: Hotels & Where to Stay
9 Mar – 13 Mar 2027 Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan 100,000+ attendees
- Lock today's hotel rate
- Pay over up to 16 weeks
- Business invoices
- Free cancellation rooms
AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair is held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, in central New Delhi, with the 41st edition expected in March 2027. AAHAR is one of Asia's largest food and hospitality trade shows, organised across food products, processing, bakery, confectionery, hospitality equipment and tableware. It draws a very large trade audience of manufacturers, distributors, hoteliers, restaurateurs, importers and institutional buyers from across India and abroad, filling the modernised Pragati Maidan halls over its run. Because Bharat Mandapam sits in the heart of the city near Connaught Place and India Gate, it is served by a dense but heavily used hotel market, and rooms near the venue and along the airport metro corridor sell out early during show week as exhibitors and buyer delegations arrive together. Rates climb and flexible inventory thins as the dates approach. Event Escapes shows live, bookable rates for hotels around Pragati Maidan, sorted by real distance from Bharat Mandapam, so you can weigh genuinely near-venue options against well-connected metro-line alternatives before you commit.
Popular areas for attendees: Pragati Maidan / India Gate · Connaught Place · Aerocity.
- Hotels are distance-ranked from Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan, so the closest options surface first.
- Live 4-5 star rates are shown in your own currency for easy comparison.
- Free-cancellation options are prioritised so you can book before your badge or stand is confirmed.
- An instant tax invoice is issued for expense and GST/VAT purposes.
Event at a glance
- Dates
- 9 Mar – 13 Mar 2027
- Venue
- Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan
- City
- New Delhi, India
- Airport
- DEL
- Attendance
- 100,000+
Recommended Hotels for Business Travellers
Lock today's hotel rate
Reserve early and spread payments over up to 16 weeks.
Business invoices
Add company details during checkout.
Stay close to the venue
Hotels ranked by walking distance.
Flexible bookings
Pay Weekly available on free cancellation rooms.
Rates shown for the event window, Mon, Mar 8 → Sun, Mar 14 (arrive the day before, leave the day after) — or choose your own dates above.
Hotel rates near major event venues rise as the dates approach and the closest hotels sell out first. Booking a free-cancellation rate early locks the price with no downside.
On the map
The venue, your hotel options and where to eat — all in one view. Tap the map to explore it full screen.
Free AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair Insider Guide
Do AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair the easy way. Get our curated guide — plus first access to near-venue rooms before they sell out.
- The best hotels within walking distance of the venue
- Where to host clients for dinner near the halls
- How to beat the sold-out fair-week rooms
We'll email your guide and occasional AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair hotel deals. Unsubscribe anytime.
Need to expense this trip? Business invoices available at checkout.
Where to eat during AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair
Bharat Mandapam sits inside Pragati Maidan, with Khan Market and the Lodhi Road hotels a 10-15 minute drive south and Connaught Place about the same to the northwest. Delhi's dining runs from two of Asia's most celebrated restaurants to legendary kebab counters - plan around traffic.
Indian Accent
Modern Indian
The Lodhi hotel, ~15 min drive from Bharat Mandapam / Pragati Maidan
India's most feted restaurant - inventive tasting menus that rework Indian flavors (blue-cheese naan, galouti burgers) in an elegant hotel setting. The definitive Delhi client dinner.
Tip: Book well ahead; the vegetarian tasting menu is just as strong.
Open in Google Maps
Bukhara
North-West Frontier / tandoor
ITC Maurya, Diplomatic Enclave - ~30 min drive from Pragati Maidan
Legendary tandoor restaurant that has fed presidents and prime ministers - the dal Bukhara and sikandari raan are rites of passage. Rustic, no-cutlery format.
Tip: No reservations for small groups at peak times; go early.
Open in Google Maps
SodaBottleOpenerWala
Parsi / Bombay cafe
Khan Market, ~10 min drive from Pragati Maidan
A playful Bombay-Irani cafe revival - berry pulao, keema pav and vada pav in a kitschy, fun room that works well for a relaxed dinner with colleagues.
Tip: Khan Market's bookshops are worth 20 minutes before dinner.
Open in Google Maps
Karim's
Mughlai
Old Delhi, near Jama Masjid - ~25 min drive from Pragati Maidan
Operating since 1913 beside the Jama Masjid, Karim's is Old Delhi's most famous kitchen - mutton korma, seekh kebabs and khameeri roti in gloriously chaotic surroundings.
Tip: Combine with a walk through Chandni Chowk; go at lunch, not late night.
Open in Google Maps
Khan Chacha
Kebab rolls
Khan Market
The famous kebab-roll counter of Khan Market - chicken tikka and mutton seekh rolled in rumali roti, eaten standing. The quintessential quick Delhi bite.
Tip: The paneer tikka roll is the vegetarian sleeper hit.
Open in Google Maps
Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters
Specialty coffee
Khan Market
India's leading specialty roaster, showcasing single-estate Indian beans - a calm, air-conditioned spot for a coffee meeting away from the expo halls.
Tip: Try a pour-over of an Indian single estate - it will change your view of Indian coffee.
Open in Google MapsAfter the halls close: New Delhi
Client dinner, team night out or a free day after AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair — bookable experiences in New Delhi, same account, same checkout.
While you're in New Delhi
Delhi's sporting calendar peaks with IPL cricket in spring and international cricket through the winter, plus a growing stadium-concert circuit - all within 30-45 minutes of Pragati Maidan depending on traffic.
IPL - Delhi Capitals (Arun Jaitley Stadium)
IPL nights at the Arun Jaitley Stadium are Delhi's biggest regular sporting spectacle - the ground is only ~10 minutes from Pragati Maidan, but plan for match-night traffic.
Find ticketsIndia cricket internationals
Test matches, ODIs and T20Is come to the Arun Jaitley Stadium during the home international season - tickets for India games disappear fast.
Find ticketsVedanta Delhi Half Marathon
One of the world's premier half marathons, run through Lutyens' Delhi each autumn - popular with visiting business travelers who run.
Find ticketsStadium & arena concerts (JLN Stadium / Indira Gandhi Arena)
International tours increasingly include Delhi in the cooler months, playing Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Arena.
Find ticketsFixtures recur each season; exact dates for your fair week are confirmed at ticket search.
Getting there
From Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
- DEL is India's busiest airport, southwest of the city centre and well connected to Pragati Maidan.
- The Airport Express Metro reaches New Delhi station in around 20 minutes, from where the Blue Line connects toward the Pragati Maidan / Supreme Court area.
- Pre-paid taxis and ride-hailing (Uber, Ola) run 30-60 minutes to central hotels depending on traffic.
Getting around during AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair
Getting around Delhi and reaching the venue
- The Delhi Metro is fast and inexpensive; the Blue Line stops close to Pragati Maidan for direct venue access.
- Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Ola) and auto-rickshaws are widely available for shorter hops.
- Central roads are congested around peak hours, so the metro is usually the most reliable way to the venue.
Visa & entry
Entry to India
- India operates an e-Visa system covering tourist and business categories for many nationalities.
- Business visitors attending a trade fair typically apply for the business e-Visa ahead of travel.
- Apply online in advance and ensure passport validity meets the required minimum before departure.
Entry requirements change frequently and vary by nationality; always verify with the official Indian government e-Visa portal or your nearest embassy before booking.
First time at AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair?
- Bharat Mandapam is central, so hotels near Connaught Place or on the Blue Line give quick venue access.
- Delhi weather in March is warm and comfortable but crowds are heavy, so arrive at the venue early each day.
- Carry a metro travel card and keep a ride-hailing app installed for evenings.
- Have small cash for auto-rickshaws and tips alongside card and UPI payments.
Insider tips from repeat attendees
- Stay on the Blue Line to reach Pragati Maidan without dealing with peak-hour road traffic.
- Plan supplier meetings for the first hours after opening, before the halls become crowded midday.
- Aerocity, near the airport, offers convenient business-dinner hotels if you have early departures.
- Book a hotel with reliable air-conditioning and filtered water on site, and pace outdoor time in the heat.
AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair travel FAQs
Where should I stay for AAHAR?
Hotels ranked closest to Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan or along the Blue Line and near Connaught Place give the quickest venue access; Aerocity suits early flights.
How early should I book?
Book early. Central Delhi hotels fill fast during AAHAR as exhibitors and buyer delegations arrive together, so a free-cancellation room secured early protects price and availability.
What is the nearest airport?
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is Delhi's main gateway, well connected to the city by the Airport Express Metro and taxis.
How do I get to the venue?
The Delhi Metro Blue Line stops close to Pragati Maidan; ride-hailing apps and auto-rickshaws are alternatives, though the metro avoids road congestion.
Do I need a visa?
India offers e-Visas covering tourist and business categories for many nationalities; apply online in advance and confirm current rules with official sources before travel.
EventEscapes is an independent travel platform and is not affiliated with AAHAR — The International Food & Hospitality Fair or its organizers. Dates and venues can change — verify with the official event site before booking travel.