Aligarh City Guide
Image by Ahmad Attari via unsplash

India

Aligarh City Guide

Uttar Pradesh

Aligarh is a busy Tier 2 city in Uttar Pradesh known for Aligarh Muslim University and its lock manufacturing industry. It offers an authentic northern Indian city experience but lacks many modern conveniences found in bigger metros. The city is well connected but has limited options for tourists and remote workers.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Local Mughlai and Awadhi dishes are common. Street food like samosas and chaat is popular. Limited international options mainly include Indian Chinese. Vegetarian options are widely available. Most eateries close by 10-11 PM.

Local Dishes:
Kebabs, Biryani, Korma, Chaat, Samosas, Jalebi
International Cuisine:
Indian Chinese, Fast food chains
Vegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Poor
2

Nightlife is minimal with few bars or clubs. Socializing usually happens in restaurants or private gatherings.

Coffee Culture
Limited
4

Developing coffee scene with local cafes and Cafe Coffee Day but no specialty coffee shops.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Not required but 5-10% in restaurants is common if no service charge. Round up fares for taxis.

Top Attractions
Aligarh Fort
Historic
Historic fort in city center.
Aligarh Muslim University
Cultural
Famous university with architecture and museums.
Jama Masjid
Religious
Large mosque near the city center.
SIM Cards

Buy SIMs at local authorized stores with ID and photo. Top providers are Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea. eSIM depends on provider and device.

Available at:
Authorized mobile stores in the city
Recommended Apps
Google Maps(Navigation)
Ola/Uber(Transport)
Paytm/Google Pay/PhonePe(Finance)
Zomato/Swiggy(Food)
IRCTC Rail Connect(Travel)
MakeMyTrip/Goibibo(Travel)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Limited
4

Street cleanliness varies; some sanitation issues exist, especially with waste disposal.

24/7 Services
Poor
3

Very limited 24/7 services. Some stores may stay open late but few pharmacies or clinics.

Groceries
Vishal Mega Mart
Easyday Club
Reliance Fresh

Fresh markets offer fruits and veggies. Supermarkets like Vishal Mega Mart and Reliance Fresh carry some international goods. Shops usually open 10 AM to 9 PM; smaller ones may close on Sundays.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Card payments work in larger stores and restaurants, but cash is needed for street vendors and local markets.

ATMs

ATMs from SBI, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis Bank are common. Withdrawal fees of about 20-25 INR apply at non-bank ATMs.

Schools
Local only

Schools like AMU City School and DPS offer instruction mainly in English and Hindi. Admission aligns with April/July academic year.

Available Schools:
AMU City School
AMU Girls' School
DPS Aligarh
Spring Dale School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Not Available
Work-Friendly Cafés
Limited
Cafe Coffee Day
Wi-Fi and decent workspace.
Local cafes near AMU
Student-friendly cafes, some with Wi-Fi.
Domino's, McDonald's
Fast food chains with Wi-Fi seating.
Hotel lobbies
Quiet spaces with Wi-Fi in some hotels.
Alternatives:
AMU Libraries
Quiet but restricted access.
Private study rooms
Available through local contacts.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
1

Almost no digital nomad community or events. Remote workers mostly operate solo.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
6

Parks and AMU campus provide green areas, though shaded paths are limited outside university.

Running
Limited
4

Running popular on AMU campus roads. City traffic and air quality can be issues.

Gyms
Available

Gyms range from local centers to some with modern equipment.

Available Gyms:
Gold's Gym
Local fitness clubs
Tennis
Limited
5

Tennis courts at AMU and some private clubs; bookings usually manual.

Padel
Poor
0

No padel courts in the city.

Yoga
Limited
5

Several studios offer yoga with some English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Limited
4

Karate, Taekwondo, and Boxing gyms exist. Few advanced styles like BJJ.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing options; no mountains nearby.

Water Sports
Poor
1

Limited to small-scale boating if available.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing due to landlocked location.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving due to no coastal access.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
6

Hospitals like JNMC have some English-speaking staff. Private hospitals tend to offer better care. Pharmacies are common and often open late.

Hospitals:
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College
Various private hospitals
Pharmacies:
Local pharmacies throughout city
Tap Water Safety
Not recommended

Tap water is not safe to drink. Use bottled water or filters.

Common Scams
Overpricing for tourists, Longer routes with rickshaws, Touts at attractions

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Limited
5

Some parks and playgrounds exist but kid-friendly spots are limited. Attractions include Aligarh Fort and AMU campus.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Poor
3

Low acceptance and few safe spaces. National legal protections exist but social risks remain.

Pet Friendly
Poor
3

Pet services exist but few pet-friendly places. Vet clinics are available.

Communities
Aligarh News (Facebook Group) (Social)
Aligarh Public Forum (Facebook Group) (Social)
Aligarh Muslim University Official (Facebook Page) (Education)

Quick Facts

Population
1,131,160
Power Reliability
Good
6/10

Power cuts happen occasionally, more in summer and monsoon. Many use inverters or generators.

Languages
Hindi(90%)
Urdu(40%)
English(20%)
Emergency
100
Police
101
Fire
102
Ambulance
112
National Emergency

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Moderate Risk
5

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme Heat
May, June, July
Temperatures often exceed 40°C in summer.
Monsoon
July, August, September
Heavy rains can lead to local flooding.
Fog/Smog
December, January, February
Winter air quality worsens with fog and smog.

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