Motley Delhi

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

An "Arc-de-Triomphe" - India Gate

HOW TO REACH HERE:
By metro: Get down at Barakhamba Road Metro Station or Patel Chowk
By road: It is in connought Place Near Rajpath

India Gate at night.

HISTORY: The India Gate was structured and designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1921.The foundation stone was laid by His Royal Highness - The Duke of Connaught. The India Gate was built to commemorate the British and Indian soldiers who died in the First World War and hundreds of soldiers who lost their lives in the Northwest Frontier, the Afghan war of 1919 and the Indo-Pak war in 1971. Today it salutes the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War I.

The India gate, which is illuminated every evening, from 19:00 to 21:30, is a major tourist attraction. Motor cars, moved through India Gate, till it was closed to traffic. The Republic Day Parade starts from Rashtrapati Bhavan and passes around the India Gate.

Inscription

The 42-metre tall India Gate, stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge moulding. The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is rarely done. The India Gate hexagon complex, with a diameter of about 625 metres, covers approximately 306,000m² in area.

The cornice is inscribed with the Imperial suns while both sides of the arch have INDIA, flanked by the dates 1914 at left and 1919 at right. Below the word INDIA, is inscribed, in capital letters:
TO THE DEAD OF THE INDIAN ARMIES WHO FELL HONOURED IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS MESOPOTAMIA AND PERSIA EAST AFRICA GALLIPOLI AND ELSEWHERE IN THE NEAR AND THE FAR-EAST AND IN SACRED MEMORY ALSO OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED AND WHO FELL IN INDIA OR THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER AND DURING THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR.

Amar Jawan Jyoti, or the flame of the immortal soldier, is a structure consisting of black marble plinth, with reversed rifle, capped by war helmet, bound by four urns, each with the permanent light (jyoti) from (CNG) flames, erected under the India Gate in the wake Liberation of Bangladesh in December 1971 to commemorate Indian soldiers killed in the defense of their country. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 26 January 1972, the 23rd Republic Day. Since the installation of the Amar Jawan Jyoti, in 1972, it has served as India’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Amar Jawan Jyoti is manned round the clock by soldiers drawn from the three services of the Indian armed forces. Wreaths are placed at the Amar Jawan Jyoti on Vijay Diwas, and on 26 January, by the Prime Minister of India, Chiefs of Armed Forces, and other dignitaries

About 150 metres East of the India Gate war memorial, at a junction of six roads, is a 73-foot cupola, inspired by a sixth-century pavilion from Mahabalipuram, under which was a fifty-foot tall statue of King George V, by C.S. Jagger, until it was removed to Coronation Park, in which are located a number of other British Raj-era statues. In recent years rumours of placing a statue of Mahatma Gandhi or another national hero have circulated, but as of September 2013 no plans have been made to do such a thing.

India Gate- A salute to our soldiers.

Agarsen ki Baoli

HOW TO REACH HERE- By Metro: Get down at Rajiv Chowk metro station.By road: Hailey Road, near KG Marg, Connaught Place

TIMINGS: 9am- 5pm

HISTORY: Ugarsen ki Baoli is a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical step well on Hailey Road near Connaught Place, a short walk from Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. It is also known as Agarsen ki Baoli. Although there are no known historical records to prove who built Agrasen ki Baoli, it is believed that it was originally built by the legendary king Agrasen during the Mahabharat epic era and rebuilt in the 14th century by the Aggrawal community which traces its origin to Maharaja Agrasen.
Water temples and temple step wells were built in ancient India and the earliest forms of step well and reservoir were also built in India in places like Dholavira as far back as the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Baoli divided into various stages

A side view of the Baoli.

Greenery around the Baoli.

Well at the Baoli.

It is among a few of its type in Delhi. Some areas of the well, with 103 actions, are completely engrossed in water. The noticeable areas of this traditional phase well involve three stages. Each stage is covered with curved marketers on both factors. These stages are used as resting place. Agarsen ki baoli has unique structure which is quite different from the traditional round shape. The center of the well has water and the water is also linked to a well dug in a covered platform. The gallery and chambers surrounded walls of Agarsen ki baoli are carved profusely. These chambers used to become cool and provide quiet retreats during summers.From an structural viewpoint this phase well was probably renewed during the Tughlaq interval.

Pigeons resting in peace at Baoli.

If you want to go out with your gang to sit, gossip, click pictures, sing, play guitar this is the most peaceful place with the most peaceful birds - pigeons.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

GK-1 M block Market - Shopper's paradise!

GK-1 M block market has always been a hot shopping destination for people of all age groups. Owing to the big brand outlets, exquisite fashion labels, high-heeled customers, posh setting, shopping here is sheer fun for a shopaholic.

Some of the popular names here include Barsita, CCD, Pizza Hut, Sisley, Puma, Levi's, woodland, United colors of Benetton,Mascot studio, Moti Mahal, prince paan and Lords.

The market with its 261 shops has a range of products and brands, interspersed with eateries popular with foodies across the city. The market looks like a uniuqe blend of a open market and a mall owing to its close Circuit rectangular shape. With sufficient number of exit and entrance points the structure is easy to maneuver. For shoppers convenience, benches have been provided inside the beautifully developed central park, which falls in very middle of the market.

The market has more than 25 jewelery shops including renowned brands like Chawla, champalal jewelers, Hazoorilal jewelers, and krishna jewelers. To savour chatpati chaat, Prince paan and Chaat corner are the popular places that also sell branded cigars and have the facility of money exchange. There are many shops that sell national and international brand of cosmetics, clothing, footwear.Even book lovers will not be disappointed here.

With products that cater to all kinds of pockets, these stores have wide variety to choose from.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

The tallest minaret - Qutub Minar

HOW TO REACH HERE: By metro: Get down at Qutub Minar metro station.
By road: It is in mehrauli which is 16 kms from Connaught Place.

HISTORY: Qutub Minar's history has an interesting story behind it.Qutub-ud-din Aibak's wife did not use to eat anything before seeing the Yamuna river. Every morning she used to go till the river, pray and then eat. Seeing this Qutub-ud-din Aibak decided to build a tall Minar, from the top of which his beloved wife could see the holy river and she doesn't have to go till the river bank every morning. The construction was started in 1192 by Qutub-ud-din Aibak but unfortunately he died before it completed. Then it was completed by Iltutmish- his successor and used as a watch tower. The Qutub Minar is built on the ruins of the Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Tomars and the Chauhans, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi.

Qutab Minar is another great masterpiece of Mughal architecture. Located in Delhi, the Qutub Minar is made of red sandstone and marble. The tower has 379 stairs,[3] is 72.5 metres (237.8 ft) high, and has a base diameter of 14.3 metres, which narrows to 2.7 metres at the top storey.

The Qutab Minar is made of red sandstone covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur'an. Numerous inscriptions in Parso-Arabic and Nagari characters in different sections of the Qutub Minar reveal the history of its construction.

The Qutub Minar comprises several superposed flanged and cylindrical shafts, separated by balconies carried on Muqarnas corbels. Various quotes have been engraved on these cylindrical shafts too. One engraving on the Qutub Minar reads, "Shri Vishwakarma prasade rachita" (Conceived with the grace of Vishwakarma).

The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, located at the northeast of Minar, was built by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak in AD 1198. It is the earliest mosque built by the Delhi Sultans.[8] Later, a coffee arched screen was erected and the mosque was enlarged by Shams ud Din Iltutmish and Allaud - din Khilji.

The Iron Pillar is 7m tall, weighs 6 tons and made out of solid iron. It has been standing since circa 420 AD. It has baffled modern metallurgists because it has not corroded at all! There is a lot of mythical lore around this pillar. One of the stories is that if someone could completely encircle the pillar with their arms, with their backs to the pillar, all their wishes would come true. Needless to say, many people tried this, and some of the inscriptions started to rub off. It is now encircled by a fence. The inscriptions are in Sanskrit.

#Before 1981, the general public could climb to the top of Qutub Minar by climbing up the seven-storey, narrow staircase. However, on 4 December 1981 an accident occurred when an electricity cut plunged the tower's staircase into darkness. Around 45 people were killed in the stampede that followed the electricity failure. Most of the victims were children because, before 1981, school children were allowed free access to historical monuments on Fridays, and many school groups were taking advantage of this. Subsequently, public access has been forbidden.
In addition, the top two levels of the tower were damaged in an airplane-crash accident a few years ago because of which now, Qutub Minar has 5 levels only.

It is a truly magnificent structure.

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Friday, June 7, 2013

Dormitory of the Mughals - The Humayun's Tomb

HOW TO REACH HERE:
By road: It lies Opp. Dargah Nizamuddin on Mathura Road.
By Metro: Get down at JLN Stadium metro station.

ENTRY FEE: 10 (Indians), 250 (foreigners)

HISTORY: Humayun died in 1556, and his widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture. It is well known that Humayun picked up the principles of Persian architecture during his exile, and he himself is likely to have planned the tomb, although there is no record to that effect. The tomb was constructed at a cost of 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million). Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian, was the architect employed by Haji Begam for this tomb.

It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India, close to the Dina-panah citadel also known as Purana Qila (Old Fort).The tomb built of rubble masonry and red sandstone, uses white marble as a cladding material and also for the flooring, lattice screens (jaalis), door frames, eaves (chhajja) and for the main dome.

As we headed towards Humayun's tomb we crossed a pathway with vast gardens on both sides. Under scorching sun it was really tiring to walk till the main tomb enclosure of Humayun.

Besides the main tomb, there are several smaller monuments dot the pathway leading up to it, from the main entrance in the West.

The high rubble built enclosure is entered through two lofty double-storey gateways on the west and south, 16 meters high with rooms on either side of the passage and a small courtyards on the upper floors.

Humayun's cenotaph stands alone in the main chamber; the real grave lies in the basement below

In all there are over 100 graves within the entire complex, including many on the first level terrace, earning it the name "Dormitory of the Mughals", since the graves are not inscribed their identification remains uncertain. (And it is very difficult to explore all of them).
The building was first to use its unique combination of red sandstone and white marble, and includes several elements of Indian architectural, like the small canopies, or chhatris surrounding the central dome, popular in Rajasthani architecture and which were originally covered with blue tiles.

The Humayun's tomb is the first Indian building to use the Persian concept of a double dome.

Just wing it.

Closest metro station: Jasola Apollo

Visit the Okhla bird sanctuary on the Yamuna and spot resident and migratory birds.

Leaving the only asphalt road in the park behind us, a 30-metre long bamboo pier takes you deep into winding muddy paths. inside this four-kilometre green playground, on the nature trails, and two watch-towers and floating man-made mud-islands full of birds.
Home to more than 300 species, the Okhla Bird Sanctuary resonates with birdsong. Gates open at 7am and you can take the car right till the mud trail near the watchtowers. Find a perch for yourself and your binoculars or camera, and try to spot various species of resident birds and guests (the migratory birds) as they fly to the 200 plywood nests that the forest authorities have places all over the park (all of them have occupants).

In the winter, the sanctuary attracts birds from Tibet, Europe and even Siberia.
Of the many residential birds found her, the Spotted Owlet, Grey Hornbill, and the Rose-Ringed Parakeet are some that you could spot on land. The best time for bird watching is sunrise. So sleep early. Yes, even here, the early birds gets the worms (you being the bird of course)!

Nature trails leading deep into the sanctuary, that are connected by bamboo piers.

See the Taj at Dawn.

Zip down the Expressway and beat the tourist onslaught.

The last time we went from Delhi to Agra to see the Taj, we drove for four hours and took another 60 minutes tackling the traffic jams within Agra city. The queues, just to get into the Taj compound, were nearly a mile long! And there was a separate queue at the ticket counter. Plus, we were told there were more than 2,000 people inside waiting to see the Monument of Love. (Well, that’s the way an average day in Agra is like!) We simply turned back towards Delhi.

So, this time round, we drove to Agra in the early morning hours to avoid the traffic. Starting from Delhi at 5am, we zipped down the Delhi-Noida-Agra expressway and were in the Mughal city in about two-and-a-half hours. (Yes, it takes that long and not 90 minutes as the ads claim – if you drive within the speed limit of 90 kmph, that is).

The drive itself is a pleasure. Free of heavy traffic and potholes, the expressway in the morning is every driver’s delight. By 7.30am, we were among the first people standing in the queue at the Taj. Tickets were done in less than two minutes, and we sat down at a dhaba outside the main entrance for an early breakfast of chai and samosas. That done, we went in with only a small group of students for company.

Walking inside the tomb with the sound of birds is both romantic and refreshing. We even posed for the quintessential Taj picture.
In less than four hours, our trip was done and we were back on the expressway to Delhi. This time I really felt like saying ‘Wah Taj!’

A hassle-free, romantic drive to the Monument of Love.

Ride the first metro.

Catch the coolest public transport in Delhi at dawn

Even the heat wave was taking a breather it appeared. On a hot week-day, when I took the first Metro on the Violet Line, the latest colour in the rainbow of hues which is the Delhi Metro, boarding the train was a breeze.

On most lines (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green etc), the first train starts between 5.25am and 6am (as is the case on the Violet Line). In the morning, smiling CISF personnel haven’t yet acquired the 5,000-yard stare they get after frisking thousands of commuters. The noise levels inside the coaches are tolerable. So, you see a student taking down notes on Modern Indian history and a senior citizen browsing the classifieds section of the Hindustan Times.

Every day, close to 1.5 lakh travellers ride the Violet Line (launched in 2011), taking about 30 minutes to cover the 20-km stretch between the cluster of sarkari offices near Central Secretariat, to Badarpur on the periphery of the city.

Since Apollo Hospital is en route, you come across people carrying breakfast for patients. A solitary cricket player with the intense look of a future Dhoni, deboards at Nehru Stadium station.

A few hours later will be the frantic rush hour, when laptops clang against tiffin carriers, elbows plunge into shoulders and the throng of humanity begins pushing you. But at 5.45am, workers going to the Mohan Industrial Estate patiently wait for the first train. Devotees alight at the Chhatarpur Temple. If you are not so devout, but still want to experience the calm of the Bahai House of Worship at the Lotus Temple, get down at the business district of Nehru Place, the closest station. It is the right time of the day to practice Zen and the art of meditation, Metro-style.

A stress-free ride, it’s the Metro at its calmest.

Play the gardener.

Visit a nursery on a weekend.With the luxury of space at their disposal, Delhiites love surrounding themselves with greenery. For many of them, early morning visits to any of the nurseries dotting the city, is the best idea ever.
That’s what West Delhi entrepreneur Aditya Vij does every few weeks. The nature enthusiast has close to 50 potted plants on the terrace of his Bali Nagar residence and yearns for more. On weekends, Vij visits the cluster of nurseries located at Nangloi, along with his daughters.

Whether it is flowers like roses, sunflowers or gerberas, or plants such as croton or even fruits like guava or grape, everything is available at these nurseries at decent prices. They open at about six in the morning, and get a steady stream of early morning visitors who want to buy saplings and plant them immediately.
“The prices range from Rs. 10 to Rs. 3,000," says Rinku, founder of Saini Nursery, one of the largest in the area.
Plenty of visitors like to pack sandwiches and have chai at the tea-shops adjacent to the cluster of nurseries. Then it becomes like a family weekend outing and therefore, even more enjoyable. Plus, there’s an opportunity to spot some winged beauties such as as sunbird, parrots and peacocks.

Pick up your favorite saplings at down-to-earth prices.

Fame the city.

Photowalk with the Delhi Photography Club

The Delhi Photography Club organises a photowalk every fortnight. This time it was at Firoz Shah Kotla, the absolutely fabulous fortress (not to be confused with the stadium).

One of the best way to discover the monuments of the Delhi Sultanate is through these kind of events. I’d been to Firoz Shah Kotla once before to watch a play performed against the historical backdrop. But then, I missed the mosque, the Ashokan column, the palace ruins, the lush green gardens.

We met at 7am, a group of 20-odd amateur photographers and a handful of professionals. For 15 minutes, we were briefed about the site – its lost gilded stones, the Ashokan pillar that was moved here by Firoz Shah Tughlaq from Ambala, and the tamarind from the trees that was used to tan leather back then.

We had two hours to shoot whatever we liked and so we scattered around. The idea is not to teach photography but to motivate you to shoot. But help is always at hand. Ritu Sharma, a 27-year-old student, says she has learnt a lot over half a dozen walks in the last year. “You can see how people take shots and discuss their photos with them.” You’ll see people lying down, crouching, or climbing up something – and you’ll see at least three others copying their frames. There’s always someone showing off their photos and someone dispensing free advice.

By the time you’re at breakfast (arranged by the club), you’ll have made a few friends too!

You don’t need to be an amazing photographer, all you need is a camera. My phone is the best camera I have and I’m terrible at taking photos. Yet, this was fun and I got one good photo out too (thanks to Instagram!)

Different locations every fortnight. In the last few months, they’ve covered Azadpur mandi, Red Fort, Khari Baoli, Qutub Minar and more.

Hunt for bargains at Chor bazaar

Visit Chor Bazaar opposite the Red Fort on Sunday mornings, 5 am onwards.

Closest metro station: Chandni Chowk

If you’re squeamish about using previously owned items and think you’ll be greeted by shining, new things here, then go right back to sleep. Chor Bazaar is exactly what the name suggests. Emphatically scrubbed clean second-hand clothes and shoes; local factory-made electronic items, MP3 players, leather accessories, gym equipment, recycled bottle lamps and mugs – these are just some of the things you’ll find here.

The bazaar shifted from behind Red Fort to the road from Darya Ganj to Meena Bazaar in the early 2000s. You won’t get the best of spoils (LPs, old gramophones, even hardware and kitchen equipment) that early in the morning. But as the sun rises, so do the number of people and they are not afraid to push you out of the way. So be all arms and elbows once you reach there.
And if you are a woman like me, be prepared to be gawked at, no matter what you wear. A busybody asked me to “dress better” or sahi se kapde pehno, when I was clad in tattered pajamas and T-shirt.

Most hawkers have been dealing there for at least a decade, so stick to your guns when haggling for a lower price. And they will relent. Don’t be put off if you can’t find anything worth buying. Be patient and look closer, there will be decent jeans with just the right shade of fade and quirky lamps that can up your home’s kitsch quotient a few notches. And who knows, you might even get what you came looking for.

Where else will you find perfectly worn-out leather boots for Rs. 200 or less (depending on your bargaining talent)?
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Hit the food trail.

Closest metro station: Chawri Bazaar

(Eat till you drop in Old delhi - Clockwise: Canary-yellow halwa and hot puris; fragrant nihari that just melts in the mouth and the Old Delhi meetha paan with 20 ingredients.)

Have a nihari breakfast at Matia Mahal opposite Jama Masjid, from 5am - 7am.

So you think dawn is too early to eat? Go to Matia Mahal and you’ll never want to sleep through the morning again. As soon you enter the lane opposite gate number one of Jama Masjid, you’ll be drawn to the canary-yellow halwa and the fresh puris at Shop No. 924 (next to Hotel Bombay Orient), which opens for business at 4am. You can choose to sit inside or wait out in the cool air before you demolish a plate (just Rs. 24).

A few steps away is the Mohd Yonus Milk Store, which serves hot milk for Rs. 20 a bowl (have it with a bun or on its own), lassi at Rs. 25 a glass and the surprising house specialty, a fresh-off-an-old-fashioned blender banana milk shake. But save this for the end, as we did, or you won’t be able to eat anything else, it’s that filling.

As you walk under the wire-meshed sky, don’t balk at the sight of shiny brown, leathery-looking livers, slippery coagulated pink brains and other animal limbs openly displayed alongside. Ask for directions to the several bakeries in the area. You are likely to see one called Golden Bakery and another one right opposite, called Champion. Try the Tabrak, a delicious tawa biscuit baked overnight which you can get only in Old Delhi.

While one of the more famous shops is Kallu Nihari, Shop No. 80, don’t rush there, like we did. It serves the slow-cooked dish from 5pm -7pm and not early in the morning.

So we walked to Haji Shabrati Nihariwale Shop No. 722, which is equally famous. Established in 1955, it packs and sends nihari for patrons as far away as Mumbai, Kanpur, Kolkata and even Dubai. The nihari – a very spicy stew dish cooked overnight with the thigh meat of a goat or a buffalo – at Shabrati is fragrant, melt-in-mouth and its spiciness doesn’t hit you until it reaches the back of your throat, because of the ghee tadka they use. Served with soft khameeri rotis, it’s heavenly. The story goes that nihari originated in Shah Jahan’s reign when he had it cooked overnight as a healthy, nutritious dish for the poorer people of the city.

Finish off at the Five Star Pan Bhandar at the entrance of Matia Mahal that is open 24x7. We had the famed Old Delhi meetha pan (Rs 30) with 20 different ingredients and then went to Jama Masjid for some good old peace and quiet. You?

The Jama Masjid looks beautiful; and you see Old Delhi in a new light, when it’s buzzy but not too crowded.

Be a padal pusher.

Cycle your way around the Capital. The roads are nearly-empty, the breeze is pleasant and Delhi seems like a new terrain.The roads are nearly-empty, the breeze is pleasant and Delhi seems like a new terrain.
There could be many reasons you should not get on to a cycle early in the morning – they’re mostly to do with wanting to sleep just a little more. But I can you give you many more compelling reasons why you should get on to that bicycle. It’s a fitness aspirant’s best choice - cycling, especially outdoors, is a great way to build stamina, burn fat and strengthen the legs, back and butt. It’s cheaper than say, joining a gym, or taking up a sport. Even a beginner can try cycling. You see the world around you at your own pace, without any ambient disturbances.

All these sound like textbook cliches till you actually get your a** moving – like I did.

An unearthly 5:30am is the reporting time for most cycling clubs, like the Delhi Cyclists Club which has 2,080 members. Membership is free, and if you don’t have a superbike, you can hire one for Rs. 200 per trip, with helmet.

“The group (usually around 60 people) cycles on Saturdays and Sundays,” says founding member Gaurav Wadhwa.
“On Saturdays, we cover around 35 km, but Sundays are reserved for longer rides of about 100 km.”

The routes chosen have few people and minimal traffic. I joined the group on their 35-km ride from Yusuf Sarai to the airport (Terminal 3) and back.With a cool breeze blowing, about 60 of us set off. The group tries to stay together as it cycles and gets a lot of attention, even at this early hour!

Pit stops are a great way to recuperate for a bit (drink water, take a photo), before carrying on again.

This was a first for me – reaching the airport without a car. But it was a great experience. After I finished the trip, everyone asked how I did it.

Actually, it was simple. Once you are on the bike, all you do is pedal and soak in the beauty of everything around you – the green trees, the undulating flyovers, the quiet roads. Everything seems curiously magnified. And once you start, you can’t help but finish. It’s the best high you can get. So give it a shot!

A workout that also helps you get acquainted with the city.

Buy roses, for a song

Flower-shopping at the Phoolon ki Mandi in East Delhi.

If you like fragrances and colours or if you love having vases of fresh flowers all over your home, head to the Ghazipur Flower Market in East Delhi. This is a wholesale market that supplies flowers to retailers in the city. But there’s nothing to prevent you from going there and stocking up on flowers for your home – at really cheap prices.

Before they were relocated to Ghazipur, the flower sellers used to operate out of Connaught Place, Fateh Puri and Mehrauli. Though October to February are probably the best months for business, the mandi does reasonably well in summer too. Roses, orchids, carnations, lotuses, chrysanthemums, helconia – you get a big range.

The exotic-looking helconia, which could be mistaken for Bird Of Paradise, comes from Bangalore and costs Rs. 80 per stem here. If you buy them from your neighbourhood florist, they can cost anything between Rs. 120-200 per stem. Anthuriums are sold at just Rs. 10 per stem! If you’re fond of lilies, they can be yours for Rs. 10 per stem, almost one seventh the price everywhere else. Orchids, in hues of purple, deep blue and white, are sold in batches of 10 stems, for just Rs. 150. Roses (sold in batches of 20 stems) come in two varieties – Bordo (from Nasik) and Taj Mahal or Tata (straight from Kulu). The former cost as little as Rs. 60 and the latter cost Rs. 170 and come in yellow, orange, pink and white.

Nobody shouts or hounds buyers at this mandi. So don’t bargain like you would at Janpath or Sarojini Nagar. If you just smile and talk politely, you have a good chance of getting 100 Bordo roses for just Rs. 50! That’s the bargaining power of a smile at ever-blooming Ghazipur!

Exotic varieties at amazingly cheap rates in the biggest bloom bazaar in town.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Walk the green mile. - Lodhi Gardens

(The Brunch magazine last week published some fascinating articles about - 10 things you can do on summer morning in Delhi. I've posted these articles at Motley Delhi for the people who do not read the Brunch magazine.) Stay connected for more.

WHAT: Go for a walk in Lodhi gardens, followed by breakfast at Khan market

CLOSEST METRO STATION: Khan Market.

HISTORY: The question is what makes Lodhi Gardens so spectacular in their incredible history. Spread over 90 acres in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi, it has breathtaking medieval monuments dating back to the 15th century. Created by the British in 1936 (It was called the Lady Wellington Park then), the garden was re-land scaped by American landscape architects Joseph Allen Stein and Garrett Eckbo in 1968.

# Delhi is stunning in winter. But summer mornings, as we recently discovered, can take your breath away too.

The roads are almost deserted at dawn. People smile as you walk past them. You reach Lodhi Gardens and sheer; beautiful greenery hits you! It makes you want to pitch a tent and live there. as you jog, run, walk, do Yoga, or just sit quietly by yourself, you can take in the sights - Mohammed Shah's Tomb, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb, Shesh Gumbad and Bara Gumbad. Lodhi Gardens comes alive in the morning, with ducks quaking away in the tiny lake and birds chirping in the trees. Isn't that too amazing?
After a few rounds of the park that could range from two-kilometers to ten-kilometers, head to Khan Market (Literally a stone's throw away) for fresh baked croissants at L'Opera (the patisserie opens at 8am). They're melt-in-your-mouth creations, flanky and gloriously buttery. They're a bit expensive (about Rs.94 each) but it is worth it.
If hot coffee doesn't sound that appetizing, try the chilled pomegranate lemonade, which comes in the quirky old-fashioned glass bottle.
The most stunning setting for a public garden anywhere in the world.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Young. Savvy. Trendy. - Ambience mall

LOCATION: Ambience malls are located at Vasant Kunj and Gurgaon.

Ambience mall is of the most well built malls of South Delhi. For people like me, who can not go out shopping on street markets like Sarojini Nagar and Janpath, this is a perfect place.

It is one stop place for all major brands. Zara, Charles and Keith, Aldo, French Connection, Mango, - name any brand and you'll find it HERE. The currently open stores include the anchor stores, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams, along with Next, Pantaloons, Reliance Trends, BMW car showroom, Jumbo Electronics, and Big Bazaar Hypermart. It has more than 100 brands and 30 expensive restaurants in it. You need a whole day to explore this mall fully. You are going to find wide range of Exquisite Cuisines over here.

The mall will also have a platinum shopping tower. The mall also features a bowling alley on the top floor, namely, PVR Blu-O which is the most famous and one of the most expensive bowling places of Delhi. .The mall now also features an indoor Ice-skating rink, iSkate, spread over an area of 15000sq.ft. Moreover, you've got a legal beer island here where you get freshly produced beer. It has a 5 star hotel adjoining it - The Leela Hotel.

(Deepika Padukon, Saif Ali khan And Daina Penty at Ambience mall).

You might come across some celebrity randomly over here, as it has all the posh crowd of Delhi shopping in it.

And as their logo says: Space for a million smiles.
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Steal a deal at Sarojini Nagar.

Nearest metro station: INA
Timings: 11am to 8 pm
PS. The market is closed on Mondays.

For people who shudder at the thought of jostling the crowds only to select a nice pair of shoes- will be pleasantly surprised by the morning view of the market opening up to bright young things. Sarojini Nagar Market is very popular among the Delhi citizens especially the college students who like wearing a cheap, funky pair of shorts and top because they can do great bargaining here in every product.

The shops in the market are drop at the sides of the road and shopkeeper offer the customers everything such as home furnishing, fashionable clothing, bags, cosmetics, belts, sweaters, footwear, and other accessories. It is situated in the posh area of the South Delhi that is known as Sarojini Nagar.

It is a vast market so if you wish to explore the whole of it, you need to have a full day free. The export lane of this market has the best lot of clothes. You can pick up T-shirts at Rs 50, dresses at Rs 200 and tops at Rs 100 – fashionable largesses from the world of export rejects there. You can even hunt for fake labels and walk away with Gap, Tommy Hilfiger and Lacoste – who's to know anyway, right?

It is fit for a princess, robbed off her principality and left with little to buy a dress for the evening ball where she is to meet her dream prince.
Sarojini Nagar for all you Shopaholics!
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My City. My love.

Delhi completed a full century about an year ago. In these hundered years it has transformed from 'Belgadi to Metro'. Dilli had become the heart of India. It has LITERALLY become the soul mate of every Delhite. There are memories connected with this place. Maybe good or bad.
Be it those roads overloaded with traffic, or beggars at every red light. From the seven star hotels to the street-food, everything in this city is unique. From the high streets of the town to the damaged sleek lanes of Chandni chork - we love them all.
It is a place where rickshaws run with expensive cars on the same road. Nothing can beat the colourful chaos of Dilli Haat and the swarming roads of Kamla Nagar. From the Meadows full of daffodils to the plain Ramlila gound- we love them all.
Chilled coke in the blazing Sun and a hot cup of coffee in the freezing winters is all we need here. Be it the malls of Saket, Greater Kailash or Janpath, Sarojini Nagar everything has its own identity.
'Street chaat purani Delhi ki Jaan hai to Bade bade malls New Delhi ki pehchan hai.'
Bhool Bhulaiya of Jantar Mantar, the lighting of Akshadham, bike stunts at India Gate, the love among the people of Delhi-6. The craze among people to see Red fort, Qulab minar, Lotus temple, old fort. Everything is so special here.
Proud to be a Delhite,
Took my first breath here. Will take my last breath here.
In LOVE with Dilli. <3
To know more about this city CLICK HERE

Thursday, May 16, 2013

A true combination of beauty and purity. - Nizamuddin Dargah

HISTORY: This is the mausoleum of Atgah Khan, foster-father to Mughal Emperor Akbar, and minister at his court. He was murdered by Adham Khan (a foster-brother of Akbar, not Atgah Khan’s son) out of jealousy. It was built by Muhammad bin Tughlaq. This Dargah is built over the top of a tank. The square chamber of the Dargah is designed with verandahs and arched gateways.

HOW TO REACH HERE:
By Road to Nazamuddin Dargah: It lies in Nizamuddin near Mathura Road.
By metro: Get down at Jangpura metro station.

#It is the Dargah of the world's most famous saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. Every Thursday evening the Dargah lits up and one can hear Quawwalis at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah Delhi.
It is one of the most holy places in Delhi.Best time to visit Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah is during the various Islamic festivals like Eid. Also one can visit the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah Dargah every Thursday evening during prayer time. It is not just a mosque but has the following attractions in it:

>Jama’at- Khana Masjid
>Chini Ka Burj

>Tomb Of Jahanara

>Amir Khusraw’s Tomb

>Kali-Or Kalan-Masjid

>Baoli

>Khan-I-Jahan Tilangani’s Tomb

>Chaunsath-Khamba

>Ataga Khan’s Tomb

>Ghalib’s Tomb

>Bara-Khamba

>Lal-Mahal

>Khan-I-Khanan’s Tomb

>Barapula
which would definitely fascinate you. But not to forget, your fair is also held here.

And Yes! It is a true combination of beauty and purity.

To know more CLICK HERE

Monday, May 13, 2013

A village with expensive cafeterias - Hauz Khas Village

HISTORY: The Hauz Khas fort was built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq. (also known as Feroz Shah Kotla who was an enlightened ruler.) He was known for “his keen sense of historical precedent, statements of dynastic legitimacy and the power of monumental architecture” He built the fort alongside the lovely and Royal tank of Hauz Khas, and built his own tomb next door. The lake that was originally a tank was dug by the emperor Alauddin Khilji for supplying water to the residents of his capital city Siri (in the present Siri Fort area). Feroz Shah also built along the sides of the reservoir a beautiful Madrasa or university, which in its hey day was considered the most eminent center of Islamic learning in the world.

HOW TO REACH THERE:Get to Hauz Khas Village by Metro: Yellow line to Green Park.
By Road: Take a left after Aurobindo Market and keep straight. Makeshift parking is on the left at the start of the village walk.

#Hauz Khas Village is like a little island in South Delhi. Offering a mix of modernity and tradition, this vibrant and wealthy neighborhood is filled with uncountable art galleries, bookstores, antique shops, modern bars, Restaurants and some sophisticated restaurants and is located just a few steps away from the slums and the noisy streets of Delhi. Most importantly it has a beautiful lakeside fort and deer park. It's crooked lanes lead through a tiny urban village.

Grafity on the streets of Hauz Khas village.

It attracts a young crowd of creative people, foodies, travelers and tourists who flow through the variety of shops here. One could argue there is something of a “hippie” background to this neighborhood where people seem to enjoy simply relaxing and wasting time. Many of the local establishments are owned or managed by foreigners themselves who have fallen in love with the magic of the village. Today the so called royal lake and the surrounding place is the most beautiful place in Delhi to visit, but the environment there is not worth visiting with family because it has turned into just another lovers' park.

FEROZ SHAH'S TOMB - The tomb, a square chamber, is made of local quartzite rubble with a surface plaster finish that sparkled in white colour when completed. The door, pillars and lintels were made of grey quartzites while red sandstone was used for carvings of the battlements. The door way depicts a blend of Indian and Islamic architecture. Another new feature not seen at any other monument in Delhi, built at the entrance to the tomb from the south, is the stone railings (see picture). There are four graves inside the tomb, one is of Feruz Shah and two others are of his son and grand son.
Yet in the photo above you've just seen a pretty part of Hauz Khas village. There is so much more to be witnessed here!
It is not at all a typical village but much more than that.
To know more CLICK HERE