The Delights of Delhi

26

March 29, 2011 by Preeks

Delhi is always in the news for all the wrong reasons. Women safety (or the lack of it!),  VIP Traffic, CWG fiasco. Hell, they made a swanky new awe-inspiring airport, and even that successfully crossed over to the negative side thanks to it’s extra long corridors. Seriously? Corridors? That’s your problem now? Come on. Be nice? 

I think what the country needs is a dose of some very good Delhi-isms. Things that would make you fall in love with the city! So here’s my compilation of must-do things in Saddi Dilli:

Picture Courtesy – The Hindu

1. Culture Curry! – You have missed a lot if you have not delved into Delhi’s culture potpourri. For starters, The “Music in the Park” series. This concert by Spic Macay invites some Maestros of music to perform in the splendid Nehru Park, and here’s where you’ll find the best of Delhites. You can spend an evening of delight in the pleasant months of February and March, sprawled on carpets on the grass, listening to some mind boggling renditions by artists such as Pdt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pdt Ravi Shankar, Mandolin Srinivas, to name a few. There are other good concerts too. For instance, I managed to catch Maestro Shashank in the Dakshinayan concert series last weekend, and suffice to say, he is a genius!
2. The Green Lungs – Delhi has some beautiful gardens – Lodhi Gardens, Nehru Park, Jamali Kamali (They were two famous poets of the Qutb Era). All you need to do is park yourself at a shady spot in these gardens on a lazy Sunday, and watch as the world goes by. There’ll be jolly picnickers, random guitar players, drama groups practising, friendly birds. Trust me on this one.
3. Andhra Lunch! – I know this sounds like a paradox, but when you gorge on that Thali at Andhra Bhavan, you know this is as less a paradox as you can imagine. Sumptuous Andhra meal, complete with Pachadi and Payasam, this is one place you cannot afford to miss. The portly man with a moustache reminds you of a strict mother – forcing you to eat fast, but making sure you enjoy!
4. Random Monument Hopping – You may not be a History buff, but Delhi’s historical trail will make you one, provided you are accompanied by an enthusiast. My sister managed to get me intrigued by all these monuments, be it Humayun’s Tomb, Hauz Khas ruins, Mehruali or Purana Quila. They have a story to tell. Listen carefully!
5. The Daryaganj Book Market – Every city has one book lover’s paradise. This is Delhi’s own Koti Market. 4 Km crowded road in Old Delhi, selling second hand books – Doesn’t get better. The smell of old paper, mixed with the smell of samosas from nearby Thelas, sigh. If you are really in a  mood, you could always walk down to Red Fort, make your way to Chandni Chowk and gorge on the famed Jalebis. If you are really in a mood.

Picture Courtesy – Wikipedia

So that’s  that then. Every city has something to make you fall in love with it. What made you fall in love with yours? 🙂

Signing out,