So my last post was ages back and it was about the British royal wedding. Now that William and Kate are on their first official tour to the United States, I too had been away on a jaunt to New Delhi. And it was not really my first trip to the place (I've been to that place about 4 times so far), but for all practical purposes it was. Never before had I been away from the watchful eyes of my parents for a period that long( 13 days). So, barring the 'few' mandatory morning-noon-afternoon-evening-night calls and texts from my parents I was on my own in a city as infamous as New Delhi.
- Don't talk to strangers
- Don't travel in autorickshaws
- To always reach home before sunset
- To keep my money safe
- To store a gazillion random relatives' phone numbers in my contact list and not hesitate in calling them.
I must admit though, I didn't follow a single instruction.
The day I reached Delhi, I was greeted with a thunderstorm. The temperature had dipped substantially and I was happy that I wouldn't have to face the dreaded Dilli ki garmi. But I was wrong. Nature, as usual was working on it's sinister plans.
The next day it was kind of a Loo and behold situation. For those who sucked at Geography Loo is the hot dry wind that blows in the Northern plains during the months of April-May-June. The Sun God was in the mood of showering all his blessings upon us. And my body's mast cells started working overtime giving me a bad cold and a worse cough. This was followed by numerous visits to the Apollo pharmacy for various OTCs ranging from lozenges to Otrivin. For most part of this trip, I was perpetually high on Otrivin and since I visited the Supreme Court pharmacy every other day, the pharmacist had actually started displaying more cough related medicines on the shelves. Had I stayed there for a few more days, they would've probably considered giving me a loyalty card.
Our journey entailed a daily commute from Noida City Centre to Pragati Maidan which is a good half an hour train ride. But the Delhi Metro is the most luxurious form of public transport you will ever come across. It's clean, air conditioned, organised and occasionally entertaining, a far cry from the Local trains of Mumbai which leaves you dehydrated and your toes mutilated by the end of your journey. The Metro staff was also happy to help and gave us the glossy Metro maps leftover from the Commonwealth Games which gave us a fair idea of what was where. Yellow, Violet, Blue, Green lines. Airconditioned stations. Bliss.
Oh by the way, if you're a stickler for courtesy avoid travelling by the Yellow line. The pre-recorded message never says "Please". It sounds almost like Big Brother is watching every move of yours and will abduct you if you don't mind the gap between the foot-board and the platform.
So, armed with a map and a measly amount of five grand each, we (my friend and I) set out to explore the heart of India. And I must say, it did not disappoint me. I was amazed to see how organised the city was. How every little landmark had it's own signboard. How clean and green the city was.
The Monuments:
Now Delhi is dotted with architectural wonders, new and old. Since, it has always been the seat of power for so many centuries this fact comes as no surprise. But you do get goosebumps when you see those imposing structures right in front of your eyes. The intricate carvings, the many facets of architecture. It's like your History book coming to life! Delhi boasts of 3 of the 15 World Heritage Sites that are present in India.
Red Fort ✔
Humayun's tomb ✔
Qutub Minar ✔
Jantar Mantar ✔
India Gate ✔
The Shopping
Delhi is a shopper's paradise and the best part about it is that it caters to every pocket. So you could splurge in the high end boutiques at GK-II or go shopping to the good ol' Sarojini Nagar Market. Dilli Haat is a place not to be missed. You could spend an entire day there and empty your wallet in a matter of few minutes. However, what really is put to test in Delhi are your bargaining skills. The more you call the shopkeeper "bhaiyaji", the more are your chances of getting stuff at a lesser price. I managed to bring down the price of an item of jewellery from Rs. 500 to Rs. 100 and I take pride in this achievement of mine. *grins* Places not to be missed also include Saket (Select City Walk) and Noida Sector 18 (Great India Place), if you're the kinds who's a sucker for malls. Connaught Place has some big stores too.
The Food
The cosmopolitan nature of the city reflects in it's food. So, you'll find carts selling the world's best momos with the world's spiciest chutney, tandoori chicken, chole bhature and chaat all in the same row. A word of caution must be sounded though. This eclectic mix of spices that the Delhi street food comprises of is not for the faint bellied. The famous paranthe wali gali invites you with the tantalising aroma that wafts all the way to the Chandni Chowk Metro station. However, the sight of the conditions in which the food is cooked and served is enough to send anybody into a fit of puke. No, I'm not a city-bred snob to be saying that. You have to see it to believe it. We settled for Haldirams' chola bhatura and Raj Kachori. However, you must not miss the awesome Mughlai food at Pind Baluchi and the D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S pasta and dessert at The Big Chill Cafe and the Cold Coffee at Nirula's. Ofcourse, there are plenty of McDonald's and KFC outlets too.
I also happened to visit the Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon. When you're visiting Delhi, you must make it a point to keep aside Rs. 750 to visit this one of a kind attraction. The Culture gully which showcases the food, handicrafts and culture of each state is worth every penny you spend on the entry pass. I didn't however get an opportunity to watch the Zangoora show which is touted to be India's answer to the Broadway.
13 days later, it was time to come back to Bombay. Oh and just so you know, the purpose of my trip was not all fun and games. I'm happy to announce that yours truly has successfully completed a summer course in International Law. :D
