A couple of days back, my friends were sitting and discussing the elections. The conversation then, moved to our childhood memories of the Ayodhya related riots in Delhi in 1990s, then the 1984 riots, etc. We all feared that BJP coming to power would also vitiate the atmosphere, and everything would just boil down to religious politics. People were not as afraid during the last BJP government, as Atal Behari Vajpayee was seen as a statesman figure, but Modi with his cronies like Amit Shah,…Continue Reading “My Memories of Curfew in Old Delhi”
Another winter morning. Another walk with our dear Sohail Hashmi with his mix of professor and grandfather tales. We are addicted for sure. This walk, especially, held a lot of promise. The stories that we had heard in Old Delhi about it and William Darlymple’s book had built too much expectations and we just could not wait to meet the famed djinns that inhabited the ruins. Everyone woke up to these ruins quite lately. They were not the mighty Qutub Minar or everyone’s favourite Humayun…Continue Reading “Feroz Shah Kotla Fort – Letters to the djinns and other tales”
The summers are here. The best time to leftover photos of last year’s monsoons. Expecially, when they were such good times. I had taken a few months off from work and my wife was working on a project at JNU. So, I doubled up as the chauffeur. I would park the car, walk around the whole campus, chase the slimy peacocks and fail to take photos, play cricket with the students, take a hundred close up photos of different flowers, eat sattu paratha, have overboiled…Continue Reading “Monsoons in Jawaharlal Nehru University”
One does not say no to food. And, a foodie never says no to a celebrity chef. Moreover, the meet was organized at a fancypants Italian café in Hauz Khas Village – Zo. We all turned up, expecting something special and we were not disappointed. Chef Saransh Goila does not fit the mould of a celebrity chef. Saransh is in his mid-twenties; his hair is natural black and does not a sport a paunch. To be honest, he seemed just like another hyperactive ambitious boy…Continue Reading “Chef Saransh Goila – Fun with foodies at Zo cafe”
I was at the airport to receive someone. The flight was slightly delayed. I had sometime at hand and didn’t know what to do. So, I decided to take photos of all the restaurants, so you can plan your meal in advance. Previously, I had written about Delhi airport food but this one is for the people waiting outside. And, this time, I didn’t eat anything 🙁
There are many monuments in Delhi. This one is one of a kind too. There was a time when lots of single screen theaters did good business in Delhi. Many reason that the multiplexes edged the single screens out. But that is highly illogical and just does not happen. At worst, both may end up catering to different spectrum of the audience and still do good business. It’s seriously expensive to watch a movie in the multiplexes. I refuse to believethat the single screen’s audience…Continue Reading “Cinema Excelsior, Old Delhi”
Much has been written about Kabootarbazi. And, that is an utterly idiotic thing to do. Kabootarbazi of Chandni Chowk should be seen, standing from the top of a five storeyed building, against the background of Jama Masjid. Anything else is a shamless counterfeit. But, given that you were not there, here is an improvisation. The following video was made on 26th January. The D day for Kabootarbazi, same as 15th August is the day for patangbazi. Getting to see it live is not an easy…Continue Reading “Kabootarbazi seen up close in Jama Masjid area, Old Delhi”
After I wrote about the Purana Qila walk with Sohail Hashmi sahab, we have done three more. I have been planning to write about them but the walks are long, filled with interesting tidbits and writing is painstaking. Anyway, this needs to be done and here is a brief narration of the awesome fun that we had and the stories we heard on the walk of Mehrauli Archaeological park. At quarter past eight on a cold January morning, we gathered around the entrance of Qutub…Continue Reading “Adham Khan Tomb & Gandhak Ki Baoli with Sohail Hashmi”
Travel. I wish we did more of that. But it takes a lot of time and money. A lot of planning and mindspace. The burden of the word has, somehow, made the action scarce. We decided to take some load off it. This winter, we decided to see Delhi like a tourist. Not just see touristy places, but go all the way – go to tripadvisor to see the city in the list format, read outsiders’ blogs, take some advice from Lonely Planet (may it’s…Continue Reading “Purana Qila / Old Fort – Delhi Heritage Walks with Sohail Hashmi”
There is one going on in Delhi these days, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Like hundreds of other people, we went there expecting to be surprised. However, any man with average intelligence could soon decipher that it is a massive govt conspiracy. Here are a few speculations about where the idea came from: • After having lost the Delhi elections so badly, Congress had planned a revenge on the city folks and this is one plan that was executed to perfection. • American government wanted to…Continue Reading “National Street Food Festival 2013 Is A Govt Conspiracy”
The horrible horrible thing about Delhi is that it takes a lifetime to go one place to another. The best thing about Delhi is that you never know what you will run into when you get to that place. On most nights, we give in to the fear and stay in. A few others, we are thrilled about the surprises and venture out. Now, this was a boring Saturday night. We went to Odean at Gole Market to eat gol gappas and headed to Connaught…Continue Reading “Delhi Youth Festival @ Central Park”
In one my earlier rants about why all bloggers should go on a strike, I had mentioned how most bloggers are ready to work for food and why every blogger should go on a strike. I was ashamed of the fact at that time. Now, it sounds like a motto I can live by. Few days back, I got the lonely perk of being a reviewer on Zomato – an invitation to one of their meet ups. The event was to be held at Pirates…Continue Reading “Pirates of the Grill – Zomato Meet Up”
During my twelve years in Delhi, I have been to the CR Park durga puja only three years. It is that tough. The traffic is bad. The queues to see the pandals are the longest. The food is expensive. There is never any parking and when you come back to your car, people would have parked around in a circle. Last few years, we braved the crowds and made the mandatory trip. This time, we were smarter. We went there only after midnight. Most of…Continue Reading “Durga Puja Pandal, CR Park”
Do you know why godmen around the country are going berserk? It seems that the task they have been assigned is too much for the 33 crore gods in Hindu religion – to keep you from pulling out your lulu and spraying holy water. Translation: Urinating here is prohibited. The diverse uses of Gods that we have found is unparalleled in the world. We have been hanging them on doors for profit, leaving them by the roadside for donations etc etc. But to keep men…Continue Reading “Stop peeing, for god’s sake”
There are only a few times when the colourful Old Delhi becomes even more colourful. This is partly the reason why Eid is the one of the most represented festivals in the media. The morning namaz is the most important prayer of the year. Supplicants fill the mosques and flow out into the streets. Morning after, the papers are filled will pictures of Jama Masjid. One would think all the streets would lead to this mosque on the morning of Eid. As it happens,…Continue Reading “Eid in Old Delhi”
In one of my earlier reviews, I had mentioned why it is so difficult to write reviews for places in Old Delhi. It is so appropriate that I am going to quote it here. Moti Mahal is probably the second most loved place in Old Delhi, second only to Karim’s. It beats Karim’s at accessibility and ambiance, though. It is on the main road, you can park in front, on the other side. Uniformed guards will receive you and show you in. Unlike other restaurants…Continue Reading “Moti Mahal – Daryaganj”
Let me warn you, this is not an informative piece. If you are looking for admission help or any stats, head back to Google and use better keywords. If you keep finding me, you just have to accept the fact that I am damn good at SEO. You may ask what kind of a post it is then. I have no idea. A decade after passing out, there are no strong feelings for most things. The colours bleed into each other, the sounds mingle and…Continue Reading “Delhi school of economics – the years those were”
I was introduced to sizzlers twelve years back at an amazing restaurant in Green Park. I know the name started with a C, but I have, somehow, managed to forget it. Anyhow, the point being that the standards were set pretty high. When Mumbai’s famed Yoko Sizzlers decided to open a restaurant here, we were all very high. We got to visit the restaurant only recently. The Defence Colony outlet is located at a twisted end of the road. Though it is on the main…Continue Reading “Yoko Sizzlers, Defence Colony”
The rains…they make everything look better. The all drenched girlfriend looks better, the chai and pakoda looks better, go out with a shitty camera and every photo you click looks better. Only if someone would have remembered to air condition the world (talking to you, god!). Anyway, here is a little proof of the monsoon beauty: This is what every amateur, wanna be, under-talented photographer does. Point his camera at the flora and fauna and feel like a rockstar. I believe when the object is…Continue Reading “Monsoon, photography, nobel prize, dragonfly etc”
The listing on Zomato shows the average cost for two to be Rs.300. It can never happen unless you are mutant hedge hogs. It is the cheapest food outlet in Connaught Place. That does not say much but trust me on this. The dosas are good and the special Mushroom dosas cost just 60 bucks. I have never tried that and don’t intend to, but, heck, two plates of gol gappas at any neighbourhood thela costs more. Like a true hole-in-the-wall south Indian outlet, they…Continue Reading “South Indian Snacks, Jantar Mantar”