India International Trade Fair (IITF): Hotels & Where to Stay
14 Nov – 27 Nov 2026 Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan 800,000 attendees
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The India International Trade Fair (IITF) is India's largest general trade fair, organised annually by the India Trade Promotion Organisation at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, in central New Delhi. Held over roughly two weeks each November, it spans consumer goods, textiles, handicrafts, machinery, and government and international country pavilions. The opening days are reserved for business visitors before the fair opens to a huge domestic public, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees across its run. For a hotel-booking traveller, the venue's central location beside the Blue Line metro and Mathura Road makes access straightforward, but heavy congestion and road diversions during public days make a well-connected metro-corridor hotel far more valuable than proximity by road. Delhi offers lodging across every budget, from Connaught Place business hotels to eastern suburbs, so choosing a base near the Blue or Yellow lines keeps your daily commute to the halls short and predictable.
Popular areas for attendees: Connaught Place · Aerocity · Karol Bagh.
- Staying near a Blue Line metro station gives a fast, congestion-proof route to the Pragati Maidan gates.
- Central Delhi bases like Connaught Place put business hotels within one metro hop of the venue.
- November is peak Delhi travel season, so booking early locks in rate and availability near the fair.
- A metro-corridor hotel avoids the road diversions and traffic that snarl Mathura Road on public days.
Event at a glance
- Dates
- 14 Nov – 27 Nov 2026
- Venue
- Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan
- City
- New Delhi, India
- Airport
- DEL
- Attendance
- 800,000
Recommended Hotels for Business Travellers
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Hotels ranked by walking distance.
Flexible bookings
Pay Weekly available on free cancellation rooms.
Rates shown for the event window, Fri, Nov 13 → Sat, Nov 28 (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
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- 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
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Need to expense this trip? Business invoices available at checkout.
Where to eat during India International Trade Fair (IITF)
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 India International Trade Fair (IITF) — 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 Delhi Airport (DEL)
- Take the Airport Express (Orange) Line from IGI Airport toward New Delhi station, then interchange to the Yellow and Blue lines.
- Alight at Supreme Court station (formerly Pragati Maidan) on the Blue Line, adjacent to the venue; roughly 26 km and about 45-50 minutes.
- Prepaid airport taxis and app cabs (Uber/Ola) run direct to Pragati Maidan, around 15-19 km but 40-60 minutes or more in traffic.
By metro or rail across the city
- The Delhi Metro Blue Line links east Delhi, central Delhi and Dwarka directly to the venue.
- Main railway hubs New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin connect to the metro network for onward travel to Pragati Maidan.
- Buy tickets via the DMRC app to skip long ticket queues at busy stations.
Getting around during India International Trade Fair (IITF)
Metro to the venue
- Supreme Court (Pragati Maidan) on the Blue Line sits right beside the fairground gates.
- Trains are frequent and by far the most reliable option on crowded public days.
- Entry tickets for IITF public days are often sold through the metro app.
Taxis and ride-hailing
- Metered, prepaid and app-based cabs (Uber/Ola) are widely available across Delhi.
- Expect heavy congestion and road diversions around Mathura Road and Pragati Maidan during the fair.
- Allow extra time on weekends and public days when demand and traffic peak.
Visa & entry
e-Visa for most nationalities
- Around 160-plus countries, including the UAE, USA, UK, EU states, Australia and most of Southeast Asia, are eligible for India's e-Tourist or e-Business e-Visa.
- Apply online at the official Indian visa portal, generally at least four days before arrival, with processing around 72 hours.
Who needs an advance visa
- The e-Visa is not available to Pakistani passport or origin holders, who must obtain a regular consular visa.
- Afghan nationals use a separate process, and any nationality not on the e-Visa list needs a sticker visa from an Indian mission in advance.
Entry rules change; confirm current requirements with the India embassy or official immigration site before booking travel.
First time at India International Trade Fair (IITF)?
- Use the DMRC metro app to buy travel and, where offered, IITF entry tickets in advance.
- Visit on a business or weekday to avoid the intense weekend public crush.
- Carry a photo ID, as security checks at the gates are thorough.
- November mornings and evenings can be cool, so pack a light layer for outdoor queues.
Insider tips from repeat attendees
- Base yourself along the Blue or Yellow line corridor for a one- or two-line hop to the venue.
- Business days early in the run are far calmer than the public days that follow.
- Head to state and international pavilions early before the crowds build.
- Keep small cash for local buses, autos and food stalls, which may not take cards.
India International Trade Fair (IITF) travel FAQs
Where should I stay for India International Trade Fair (IITF)?
Stay along the Blue or Yellow metro lines for a direct ride to Supreme Court (Pragati Maidan) station beside the venue. Central Delhi around Connaught Place suits business travellers, while eastern suburbs like Mayur Vihar and Laxmi Nagar offer value with easy metro links.
How much do hotels cost during India International Trade Fair (IITF)?
Rates vary widely by district and star rating, from budget guesthouses to premium central business hotels. November is peak season in Delhi, so prices rise and availability tightens; booking early secures better value near the metro.
How early should I book hotels for India International Trade Fair (IITF)?
Book as early as you can, ideally several weeks to a couple of months ahead, because mid-to-late November is a busy travel period in Delhi and well-connected hotels near metro corridors fill quickly.
Which airport do I fly into for India International Trade Fair (IITF)?
Fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), Delhi's main international gateway. From there the Airport Express metro plus Blue Line reaches Supreme Court (Pragati Maidan) station beside the venue in around 45-50 minutes.
When is the business-only period at IITF?
The opening days of the roughly two-week fair are reserved for business and trade visitors before it opens to the general public. If you are attending for trade, the early days are quieter and better for meetings.
EventEscapes is an independent travel platform and is not affiliated with India International Trade Fair (IITF) or its organizers. Dates and venues can change — verify with the official event site before booking travel.