"ITC Maurya's landmark Awadhi room since 1989 — biryani and kakori kebab slow-cooked under sealed dough, for a special-occasion dinner in Delhi."
About Dum Pukht
Dum Pukht is the formal Awadhi dining room of the ITC Maurya hotel on Sardar Patel Marg, in the Diplomatic Enclave of Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. It was created in 1989 by the late Padma Shri chef Imtiaz Qureshi, the master credited with reviving the dum style of slow-cooking, and it has been a reference point for royal Awadhi cooking in the capital ever since. The blue-and-white room, modelled on a Lucknawi nobleman's haveli, is among the most elegant hotel dining rooms in Delhi.
The kitchen carries on the lineage Qureshi established. For more of the city's tables, compare the sister restaurant Bukhara at the same hotel, the North-West Frontier cooking at Peshawri and the modern Indian tasting menu at Indian Accent. For the wider category, see our Indian guide.
The Kitchen
The cooking is dum pukht itself: ingredients sealed inside a handi with a lid of dough and cooked slowly over a low flame, so the steam and aromatics stay trapped and the dish finishes tender and perfumed. The signature is the Dum Pukht biryani, layered with mutton and long-grain rice and sealed for service, opened at the table so the steam escapes in a rush of spice. Around it come the kakori kebab, a famously soft minced-lamb skewer, alongside galouti, rich curries and Awadhi breads. The cost for two runs roughly 6,500 to 8,000 rupees before alcohol, placing it among the most expensive Indian restaurants in the city, and the kitchen leans on long-standing recipes rather than reinvention.
The Room
The room is built to evoke the dining hall of a Lucknawi nobleman: hand-painted blue-and-white walls, high ceilings, chandeliers and formal place settings, with service to match. The mood is hushed and ceremonial, suited to a business dinner, an anniversary or a visitor's once-in-a-trip splurge rather than a casual meal. It sits inside the ITC Maurya in the Diplomatic Enclave, a short drive from the city's embassies and government quarter, with the hotel's security and parking around it. Reservations are recommended, especially at weekends and through the wedding and conference seasons when the Maurya is busy.
Best for Impressing Clients
The ceremonial Awadhi room and the ITC Maurya address make Dum Pukht a powerful choice to impress clients or hold a formal business dinner, and a memorable anniversary or birthday table in New Delhi.
Not for
Not for a quick or casual meal, or for diners after street-style heat — this is a formal, expensive Awadhi room built on slow-cooked richness and ceremony.
Frequently Asked
What is Dum Pukht known for?
Dum Pukht is known for royal Awadhi cooking in the dum style, where dishes are sealed in handi pots and slow-cooked over a low flame. Its signatures are the Dum Pukht biryani, opened at the table, and the famously soft kakori kebab.
Who created Dum Pukht?
Dum Pukht was created in 1989 by the late Padma Shri chef Imtiaz Qureshi, the master credited with reviving the dum style of slow-cooking. The kitchen at ITC Maurya continues to cook the Awadhi repertoire he established at the restaurant.
Where is Dum Pukht in Delhi?
Dum Pukht is inside the ITC Maurya hotel on Sardar Patel Marg, in the Diplomatic Enclave of Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, close to the city's embassies and government quarter, with the hotel's security and parking around it.
How much does Dum Pukht cost?
The cost for two is around 6,500 to 8,000 rupees before alcohol, placing Dum Pukht among the most expensive Indian restaurants in Delhi. Tasting menus are offered, and it is best treated as a special-occasion dinner rather than a casual meal.
Do I need a reservation at Dum Pukht?
Reservations are recommended, particularly at weekends and during the wedding and conference seasons when the ITC Maurya is busy. As a formal hotel restaurant it can seat some walk-ins, but booking secures a table in the elegant main room.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Dum Pukht
Reservations are recommended at weekends and in wedding season; Dum Pukht is inside the ITC Maurya in Chanakyapuri.
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Practical Information
AddressITC Maurya, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
NeighbourhoodDiplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri
CuisineAwadhi
PriceTop of the Delhi market; around ₹6,500–8,000 for two before alcohol
Dress CodeSmart; jackets common
SeatingFormal blue-and-white Awadhi dining room
ReservationRecommended
