Weekend hangout: Damdama Lake

Damdama Lake- Moody and withdrawn, the lake unites a haunting loveliness to a raw desolateness. Tired of crowded week-end malls? Pissed of queuing to buy a Mc’ Donald’s burger? Bored of another 'Devdas' type movie? Try this for a week end outing, its Damdama Lake, away from crowded city centers, it’s much peaceful and enjoyment for all. Get the village feeling in the walled city.So take a break from the noise and pollution of Delhi to refresh and rejuvenate.

Sun set at the lake: Often did I wonder why the setting sun Should look upon us with a blushing face: Is't not for shame of what he hath seen done, Whilst in our hemisphere he ran his race? Water Banks lakeside village style resort is an island in the Damdama Lake less then an hour's drive from Delhi and only 30 minutes from the airport. The Resort has 15 ethnically village style independent cottages with modern luxuries- all facing the beautiful environs of Damdama lake.

A small hut by the side of lake-Many miles away there's a shadow on the door of a cottage on the Shore of a dark beautiful lake. Only reached by boats, activities here include rowing, fishing, bird watching, nature walks in the nearby Aravalli mountain ranges, rock climbing and hot air ballooning. Ideal for conferences, training program, leisure retreat, bar-be-cue dinners and weekend breaks. You will love the swinging Burma bridge and the 30 feet tall private machans to enjoy the quite interiors of the lake and its bird life.

In quest of top: One does not climb to attain enlightenment, rather one climbs because he is enlightened. A smooth blend of comfort and nature where you naturally revel in its richness and relax in its serenity. Tune your body and free your spirit at Waterbanks. Peaceful and eco friendly, it encourages people to live in harmony with the environment. In the tranquil surroundings of the Damdama lake, framed by forests, wildlife, bird life and the Aravalli ranges, Waterbanks captivates the romantic and releases the adventurer in you.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake. There is never a dull moment here, not even when the sun goes down. In fact, the real fun begins when dusk brings in a subtle change of mood around a bonfire and a barbecue at the lakeside. A perfect time for socializing perhaps with light and soothing music.See that flush back on your children's faces as they ride, boat, trek and breathe the clear fresh air or just climb up the exciting machaans for a view over the beautiful lake and its environs, only an hour away from Delhi. On the whole, have a whale of a time.

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Delhi Belly: 'Paranthe wali Gali'

In the heart of old Delhi's commercial hub, Chandini Chowk, lays a historical landmark since the time of the Mughals - the "Paranthe wali Gali." A very famous street, "Paranthe wali Gali" (‘gali' means street that sells ‘paranthas' - an Indian food delicacy, sort of chapatti) has seen almost three passed centuries. It houses descendants of the royal chefs of yore who make Paranthas that taste heavenly. So much so, that the Parantha is perhaps the only food in the world to have an entire street named after it!

The first impression of the gali is that of a bustling narrow by lane, crowds walking, bikes, cyclists' driving past, people browsing through the sari and jewellery shops! But as one strolls deeper into the street there begins an irresistible tingling sensation in the nostrils.

And one looks around sniffing the air for more of it and then you know for sure that you're in the right place. Sizzling hot paranthas are being fried here! Each day the dexterous hands of these chefs toss out the most amazing concoctions of a parantha.
Plain paranthas, salted or sweet paranthas, dal (pulses) ka parantha, gobhi ka parantha minced cauliflower), radish parantha, pudina parantha (mint), popadom parantha, cashew nut parantha - the variety is endless. You name it and they have it! All one is required to do is to knead some dough into small balls, roll it on a wooden base, addfillings ranging from cottage cheese, potatoes sprinkled with chopped ginger, and exotic Indian spices, fry it in ghee or butter and viola, it's the perfect recipe for a lip-smacking parantha.

At the moment there are about 40 varieties of paranthas and these chefs plan to add another 50 varieties in the coming years. The Paranthe wali gali caters only for the pure vegetarian - even no onion and no garlic!

What's different about the paranthas of Chandini Chowk is that they are fried in a kadhai, which is a griddle of sorts but very deep almost like an iron bowl. So the paranthas are doused in ghee or butter. The more oil used for frying the parantha the tastier it gets. It definitely is a satiating experience.

Earlier in the 1980s the gali had thirteen eateries cooking these sumptuous paranthas. But as more and more families are diversifying into other business ventures, only three families of Chandini Chowk are left in the field of parantha-making. It is their sixth generation that has taken on the endeavor to preserve the gali's name and offer the flavor of the past to the present.

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Capital Trend: Tea Lounges

The Tea Lounge, Lajpat Nagar: If you are meeting up with old friends partying late into the night is inevitable. Before the gang returned to their respective permanent addas in Maharashtra, we did some partying here in Delhi. A lot was cooked but only a little was photographed. I was too rushed at times, and the fact that my ‘food photography’ was the source of some amusement to the lot was not lost on me. All in good humor, of course.

Masala Chai, Kidwai Nagar: It may seem to some, who don’t live to eat, that tender ginger, giant cucumbers, and cups of tea, are not the best subjects for photography. Obviously they have forgotten all the art appreciation classes we had as undergraduates students of architecture. Food and drink are very suitable still-life subjects.

Cha Bar, Oxford Book Store: (Cha Bar, Oxford Bookstore, Statesman House, 148 Barakhamba Road, 011-23766084). Most Delhi wallas are tea lovers but only within home. Outside, they talk like coffee connoisseurs. That may be changing. No longer is this humble drink confined to grimy dhabas and JNU addas, or locked behind the counters of 5-star hotel lounges. Chai is becoming cool. Tea bars are the new hotspots. The brewed beverage has started infusing into the milky layer of the Delhi social scene.

App ki Pasand, Daryaganj: Most Delhi wallas are tea lovers but only within home. Outside, they talk like coffee connoisseurs. That may be changing. No longer is this humble drink confined to grimy dhabas and JNU addas, or locked behind the counters of 5-star hotel lounges. Chai is becoming cool. Tea bars are the new hotspots. The brewed beverage has started infusing into the milky layer of the Delhi social scene.

Everest Tea (Everest Bakery Café, G. No. 4591, Dal Mandi, Main Bazar, Paharganj) I sit down on the cane sofa, beside a samovar. Staring wide-eyed at the giant tea caddies, as a Japanese-speaking attendant serves Jasmine in a moderately large glass bowl. He insisted on iced tea but I wanted it warm. Though the chai's heady fragrance is soothing, its faint fruity sweetness playful, I continue to feel lethargic. It is eventually the zesty Neelgiri that lifts me from my afternoon languor.

Crafts House (Craft House, Metropolitan Hotel Nikko, Banglasahib Road (011-42500200)While the Craft House at the nearby Metropolitan Hotel oozes the same character as that of Premier's, here it's not only about the tea. The bar-counter with its cookie tray, and the wooden shelves with their Orange Pekoe and Organic Makabari share the showroom space with spices and silk, perfumes and pashmina. It helps that the place employs two knowledgeable attendants. Try visiting during noon when their work-shift timing clash. As the lady from Imphal prepares the chai, the other explains the art of tea-tasting.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
There are lots of reasons why I enjoy a hot cup of tea: I love the aroma of various flavors of tea; holding onto a hot tea mug warms my hands on a cold winter morning; sipping tea in front of the fireplace is a great way to relax. And those are just the feel-good reasons. If you're not drinking tea yet, read up on these 10 ways tea does your body good and then see if you're ready to change your Starbucks order!

1. Tea contains antioxidants. Like the Rust-Oleum paint that keeps your outdoor furniture from rusting, tea's antioxidants protect your body from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution.

2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. Coffee usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea (unless you're a fan of Morning Thunder, which combines caffeine with mate, an herb that acts like caffeine in our body). An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg caffeine; tea contains only 30 to 40 mg per cup. If drinking coffee gives you the jitters, causes indigestion or headaches or interferes with sleep -- switch to tea.

3. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Unwanted blood clots formed from cholesterol and blood platelets cause heart attack and stroke. Drinking tea may help keep your arteries smooth and clog-free, the same way a drain keeps your bathroom pipes clear. A 5.6-year study from the Netherlands found a 70 percent lower risk of fatal heart attack in people who drank at least two to three cups of black tea daily compared to non-tea drinkers.

4. Tea protects your bones. It's not just the milk added to tea that builds strong bones. One study that compared tea drinkers with non-drinkers, found that people who drank tea for 10 or more years had the strongest bones, even after adjusting for age, body weight, exercise, smoking and other risk factors. The authors suggest that this may be the work of tea's many beneficial phytochemicals.

5. Tea gives you a sweet smile. One look at the grimy grin of Austin Powers and you may not think drinking tea is good for your teeth, but think again. It's the sugar added to it that's likely to blame for England's bad dental record. Tea itself actually contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay. So add unsweetened tea drinking to your daily dental routine of brushing and flossing for healthier teeth and gums.

6. Tea bolsters your immune defenses. Drinking tea may help your body's immune system fight off infection. When 21 volunteers drank either five cups of tea or coffee each day for four weeks, researchers saw higher immune system activity in the blood of the tea drinkers.

7. Tea protects against cancer. Thank the polyphenols, the antioxidants found in tea, once again for their cancer-fighting effects. While the overall research is inconclusive, there are enough studies that show the potential protective effects of drinking tea to make adding tea to your list of daily beverages.

8. Tea helps keep you hydrated. Caffeinated beverages, including tea, used to be on the list of beverages that didn't contribute to our daily fluid needs. Since caffeine is a diuretic and makes us pee more, the thought was that caffeinated beverages couldn't contribute to our overall fluid requirement. However, recent research has shown that the caffeine really doesn't matter -- tea and other caffeinated beverages definitely contribute to our fluid needs. The only time the caffeine becomes a problem as far as fluid is concerned is when you drink more than five or six cups of a caffeinated beverage at one time.

9. Tea is calorie-free. Tea doesn't have any calories, unless you add sweetener or milk. Consuming even 250 fewer calories per day can result in losing one pound per week. If you're looking for a satisfying, calorie-free beverage, tea is a top choice.

10. Tea increases your metabolism. Lots of people complain about a slow metabolic rate and their inability to lose weight. Green tea has been shown to actually increase metabolic rate so that you can burn 70 to 80 additional calories by drinking just five cups of green tea per day. Over a year's time you could lose eight pounds just by drinking green tea. Of course, taking a 15-minute walk every day will also burn calories.

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City hangout : PVR Priya

Lets go for movie: One of the most famous hang outs in South Delhi is PVR Priyas, which is usually full of young turks from near by colleges like IIT Delhi, Jesus & Mary , Lady Shri Ram college & also from diplomatic enclave in Chankyapuri. Its crowded on weekends, full of young guns and dating couples.

Unstable Isotopes :Apart from a cinema complex, here you can find all major global brands and second hand book store right at the entry point, its must visit for book lovers. Across India, the way we watch movies today has changed completely, thanks to Ajay Bijli who came up with India’s first multiplex at Saket in New Delhi in 1997. Today, his company PVR is not just a film exhibitor but also a producer and distributor under the PVR Pictures banner.

Why should boys have all the fun? There are some good eating joints like 'Khaaza chowk' , Mcc Donalds, Nirulas, Pizza hut and many other restra offering Indian, chinese, thai, mughlai and other diffrent cusines, making it a good visit for food lovers & also dating couples and college/school bunkers. Beautiful girl can make you dizzy here , like you been drinking jack and coke all morning, they can make you feel high, for the single greatest comodity known to man - promise. promise of a better day, promise of a greater hope, promise of a new tomorrow. this particular aura, can be found in the gait of a beautiful girl, in her smile, in her soul, and the way she makes every rotten little thing about life seem like its gonna be ok.

Show what you have: The youngster here can be seen flaunting the latest bollywood fashion, hair style and wandering with most on window shopping. Smokers have thier own place, at the rear end of the complex. It has a disco and a famous bar.

Beware of night: Crowded by richie-rich kids, the bar here is place to show off money, power and lot more.

Young & restless : Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!

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Lodi Garden : Mecca of Lovers

The Mecca of all the lovers, without places to go and extra money to spend in Delhi, is the beautiful and serene Lodi Garden. Its original purpose was hardly that however. It was designed over two dynasties – the Sayyids and Lodis (15-16 th century) – to be a sort of everyone-take-one graveyard for their families.

During the British times the garden went under the moniker of Lady Willingdon Park, all that stopped with the Independence when they reverted back to being good old Lodi garden. In 1968, the gardens were spruced and relandscaped by JA Stein and Garrett Eckbo.

There are several tombs in this area. You can climb to the top of some of them. However the steps are very steep and dark so it's strictly not recommended. Apart from breaking your neck, you might end up being bitten by a snake or something ('nuff said!). There is no remedy for love but to love more - Henry David Thoreau
Lovers are careless. They are not bothered with the demands of the world. All the cares dissolve down into the substance of the lover. The entire universe gets secreted into the being of that person. Nothing seems important other than the lover. The hustle-bustle of the larger life ceases. All other significant relations - parents, siblings, friends, colleagues - are silenced; their existence reduced down to the melodious hum of the surrounding traffic that whirrs dreamily around the circumference of the garden. Everyone and everything is forgotten. Oh yes, lovers are careless people. A life without love is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead – Oscar Wilde

Lovers are boring. There is nothing new about them. They are occupied in doing exactly the things that millions of people have already done before them. These lovers have no eagerness to the surrounding world. Their eyes do not see beauty in the flowers. Their skins do not tremble under the cool shade of the thick trees. Their hands do not feel the fresh wetness of the evening grass. Their ears do not hear the chirping of the birds. Their sensibilities do not get invigorated by the sight of decaying monuments. Their nerves do not get nervous as the blue sky gradually shuts down to the darkness of the dusk. The lovers are immune to the worldly senses. They have no interest in anything that does not add up to their lover. Oh yes, lovers are boring people.

Romantic love is an illusion – Thomas Moore
Lovers are dreaming fools. Their world is false. The lovers are stupid to fall in love with people who do not belong to their caste. Sometimes, even their religions are different. Occasionally, their families speak different languages and cook different cuisines at home. The lovers forget, momentarily, that they have the aspirations of their parents and the legacies of their families to preserve. That their life is not just their life. In one person lie dreams of many people. The lovers overlook that the world does not consist of just the lovers. They carry on with their romance. They continue seeking dark corners in secret gardens to knit the dreams of a future in which they fancy to live the rest of their live together. Fools! Oh yes, lovers are dreamy, foolish people.

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Dastkar- Delhi Haat

The Delhi Haat is an Arts and Crafts market developed by the Indian Government. A "Haat" is is rural market that is constantly on the move. Craftsmen set up markets to display their wares. Here in the Delhi Haat, the area has been designed like a rural village, and artists from all over India come to showcase the crafts and work from their region. The Haat also serves as a great place to taste sample Indian food from all the states. It is truly a delight to the palate. This market is spread over a six acre spread with imaginative traditional rural architecture and provides an ambience for the market. The stone and brickwork paved paths interspersed with grass patches make browsing and ambling fun.

The Haat also serves as a spot for exhibitions from all over India. This gallery showcases performances and exhibits from "Dastkar" - honoring the craftsperson rather than the crafts, and also an exhibit titled "Mapping ancient Indian crafts with Jaya Jaitley". The works featured here are from this exhibition. Artists painstakingly painted maps showcasing the different crafts from each state in India. The color and the detail of these paintings are a treat to the viewer. I have tried to photograph as many as I could.

The acrobatic dancers at Delhi Haat

Human Pyramid

Dilli Haat is a combination food plaza and craft bazaar located in the heart of Delhi, near the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and opposite INA Market. Dilli Haat has stalls representing each state of India, giving a complete variety of tastes available all over India. There are also stalls of crafts from all over India, and from a variety of cultural traditions of India. Around 2003, this market became fully wheelchair-accessible, including an accessible bathroom This is a relative rarity in India.
There are plans to open more Dilli Haats all over Delhi. Unlike the traditional weekly market, the village Haat, Dilli Haat is permanent. Some shops are permanent but other sellers are rotated, usually for fifteen days. Products offered may include rosewood and sandalwood carvings, embellished camel hide footwear, sophisticated fabric and drapery, gems, beads, brassware, metal crafts, and silk and wool fabrics. Shows promoting handicrafts and handlooms are held at the exhibition hall in the complex. To sell wares, there is an application process and spaces are allocated according to which state the seller is from. There is a nominal entrance fee to shop at Dilli Haat (Rs15/- for adult and rs !0 for child.)Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTIDC) is an undertaking of the Government of Delhi, India, that was established in December 1975 for the purpose of promoting tourism and related services in the city of Delhi. It has an authorized share capital of Rs. 10.00 crores and a paid up capital of Rs. 6.28 crores. It is involved in several other activities, some of which do not fall under the core activity of promotion of tourism, such as the selling of liquor. This particular activity, however, provides the corporation with revenue that can be utilized in tourism or other related development activities for the National Capital Region of Delhi.The Corporation provides several other activities for tourists. They are:
Azad Hind Gram - a rural tourist complex with amphitheater and a museum in the memory of the freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose
four Coffee Homes - run by the Catering Division of DTTDC are located at prime locations in Delhi.
Dilli Haat - a market providing items for sale directly by the craftsmen from different parts of the country at one place, recognized as an art, crafts and cultural centre of Delhi, which was visited by approximately 16 lakhs visitors in 2001.
Exhibition and Conference Musical Fountain - located at Ajmal Khan Park with water cascades synchronized to coloured lights, each show lasts 20 minutes.
Sound and Light show (Son-et-lumiere) - takes place at the Old Fort and projects the Fort's history realistically through weekly one hour shows in Hindi and English covering the history of Delhi over a period of 5000 years.
Other activities include boating at nearby lakes and arranging for parasailing and mountaineering activities in India.
Selling of liquor Besides the core activity of promotion of tourism, the Corporation directly sells liquor all over Delhi, which is one of the few activities that provides net profit to the corporation. The sale of liquor is carried out through liquor shops, which number over one hundred, and includes the direct selling of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Country Made Liquor (CL).
Infrastructure The Corporation constructs flyovers as part of the development of infrastructure for easy commuting by tourists in Delhi. The revenue for the construction of some of the flyovers in Delhi has been generated from a share of profit that the Corporation earns from the sale of Country made Liquor (CL). The Corporation charges a flat rate of profit, a margin of Rs.6 per bottle of country liquor, of which a share of Rs.5/- has been fixed as a contribution towards the construction of flyovers. The construction is carried out by the Engineering Division of the Corporation.
Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (Delhi Chapter) provides short-term diploma programme on Tourism and Travel Management on a continuous basis, which assists development of tourism by transferring knowledge in areas of tour and tourism.
Proposed projects
DTIDC has several projects planned:
Said-Aj-Ajaib
Development of Four Dilli Haats.
Water Sports Tourism Complex at Bhaalswa Lake
Establishment of Wayside Amenities at N.H.-8.
Development of a Mini India Heritage Complex
Restoration of denotified monuments
Refurbishment of monuments
Tourist reception centres
Meet and Assist Services
Radio Cabs
Photo Identity Cards .
Illumination of Monuments
Development of Lakes
Use of Information Technology-Helpline/ call centre
52 Episode tele-serial on tourism
Handy Audio reach kit
Computer kiosks with WLL phones.

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Aloo Karare!!

The humble potato is Delhi's delight during the winter months. And aloo chaat, is the best form in which the potato can be consumed in this part of the world, at this time of the year.As the temperature drops to the season's lowest, I sit down and close my eyes. I see a photo slide of the various foods that I'd love to gorge on this winter (as any other). Aloo chaat, shakarkandi, jalebis from Chandni Chowk, mom-made halwa, kaanji (the blood red spicy drink made from bleeding carrots), and what not flash before my eyes.I happened to visit the Ham House (known to people as Hamilton House), aloo chaat wala twice in the past two weeks and thought of talking (read writing) about him here. As the name suggests, the chaat wala sits (in a corner) outside the Hamilton House, Inner Circle, Connaught PlaceI've been having the alu chaat made by him ever since I've been visiting Connaught Place. A visit to Connaught Place is rather incomplete without a nibble at this spicy snack, priced slightly high at Rs.20 for a plate.Vijay is the man who carries forward the legacy of his father and elder brother of selling the famed chaat.

And it has been 35 years since Delhiites have had the pleasure of gorging on it. Vijay also does a fruit chaat for you, if you want. During winters he also does the sweet potato or shakarkandi to please your tatse buds. But nothing beats the humble potato: diced, fried, spiced up (mild spicy to fiery hot) and served hot. Ahaaa! Yummm! And yeah he faced the axe from the Supreme Court when the street food vendors and stalls were asked to be removed. Later, everything fell in place (only for old players like these) and now he sells chaat to you legally. :)

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Palika Bazaar

Palika Bazaar is an underground market located between the inner and outer circle of Connaught Place, Delhi, India. Palika Bazaar hosts 390 numbered shops selling a diverse range of items; however, the market is dominated by electronic items and clothing. Palika Bazaar was set up in the late 1970s, but since the 1980s it has seen a decline in customers, in part due to the opening of several new, modern shopping malls all over Delhi.Palika Bazaar is estimated to have some 15.000 people within its confines at any given time and also attracts many foreign tourists. It is known as a place with a very low level of prices. It does, however, also have a reputation for a wide availability of illegal products such as pornography, stolen goods, fake designer products and pirated CDs, software and movies. Police conducts regular raids to recover stolen or pirated merchandise, but this has failed to put an end to the illegal activity in the market.

Palika Bazaar is full of smaller shops but would not recommend it as the quality is not that great and bargaining here is quite common. Many stores here have signs saying ‘FIXED PRICE’ yet accept bargains. Infact most stores expect the customers to bargain and quote their prices higher in the beginning. However when in the Cannaught place area you can checkout Palika bazaar if you have the time. The majority of the price conscious local people shop at Karol Bagh instead of Palika bazaar. Karol Bagh market is only about a 15 minute taxi ride from Cannaught Place

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Delhi Haat -My Fav

At delhi haat you will find handicrafts of high quality. No one disturb you here and is a really nice place with the sky as ceiling.Entrance 15 Rs & is open every day. Its one of my favorite places for shopping in Delhi, I went there 6 times and if I had been more days I would have gone more days ... everything is so good and of good prices, not as cheap as other markets but is just because the quality is higher. I bought paper figures, scarves, miniatures draws ... everything beautiful The money you take the money you will spend, specially if you are woman, you will find here textiles of wonderful work.
There is no debating the fact that Shopping is fun in any part of the world. However, most shoppers would agree that shopping in Delhi is incomplete without a trip to Dilli Haat - rightly known as a "Shoppers' Paradise".
Situated in the heart of South Delhi, on what was earlier considered as wasteland, Dilli Haat (Hastshilpi) is a perfect blend of culture, handicrafts and cuisines from different parts of India. All this coupled with green, open surroundings make a perfect ambience for shopping to your heart's content. Visitors are allowed entry on purchasing an Entry Ticket available in two categories - Adult and Child. On stepping inside, you feel like you have entered a haat (mela) with hut like structures made of brick. Each hut gives you a feel of a state of India. There is so much available that it is recommended to take plenty of time off, before you decide to visit Dilli Haat! Price bargaining doesn't really work here but when has that stopped us from trying!

What's Available in Dilli Haat (Delhi Haat)?
Anything and everything that you can think of! Handicraft items from various states of India like Wooden figurines, terracotta wall hangings, masks, colorful mirror work door & wall hangings, Rajasthani cloth toys, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, clay pots, tie & dye work, ceramic utensils, paper mashe items etc.

Home Furnishings like embroidered Bed Sheets, Bed covers, beautiful Carpets, Wooden and Cane furniture (rocking chair), lamps and lamp shades etc. Clothes & Jewelry Cotton Kurtas, long skirts, Zardozi work, silk saris and scarfs, Paschmina Shawls from Kashmir, Mysore silk sarees, South cotton, beaded & silver earrings, bracelets, belts, junk jewellery etc.

Other items include Incense sticks (agarbattis), bags, brass decorative items, bangles and more. If you feel you can't shop anymore and need a breather, relax - there's lots more for you - look around and you will find numerous food stalls from various states of India. This is a Food Court of sorts - there is a lot of choice here too! Authentic delicacies from Kerala, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Goa, West Bengal, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan, and of course Delhi. From Fish fries to Chole Bhature, Dosas, Chowmein, Momos and the very popular Fruit Beer! Very close to the entrance is a Souvenir Shop from where you can pick out some amazing gift items like rajasthani wall hangings, greeting cards etc. As night falls, Dilli Haat is lit up with numerous lights and has a life of its own!

If you happen to visit Delhi, make sure to check out Dilli Haat!

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Select City Skywalk Mall in Saket

Select Citywalk is a premier shopping mall located in the Saket District Centre, in Saket, New Delhi. The 1,300,000 sq ft (121,000 m2). retail development is spread over six acres and includes a multiplex, serviced apartments, offices and public spaces. The mall was developed by Select Infrastructure, a joint venture between the Select group and the Aarone group. It is currently the most expensive mall in Delhi, with rentals rates between Rs 650-Rs 750 per sq ft per month.[1] It opened to the public in October 2007South Delhi had access to some of the earliest malls in Delhi. You had the good (but now slightly old-fashioned and hot in summer) Ansal Plaza on Khel Gaon Marg, and the malls in Gurgaon that were not so far away. However, there is now no need to go to these places; you have the brightest and best new mall opened up in Saket, called Select Citywalk Mall (link). The 1,300,000 sq ft (121,000 m²). retail development is spread over six acres and includes a multiplex, serviced apartments, offices and public spaces. Situated on the Press Enclave Road, it is within 15-20 minutes of driving time from prime residential colonies such as Panchsheel park, Geetanjali Enclave, Greater Kailash, Anand Lok, Gulmohur Park, Hauz Khas, Safdarjung Enclave & Sainik Farms.The mall has plenty of good brand name stores, it has a multiplex (PVR), and has good eating options. What more do you want ? Shops: Fabindia, Pantaloons, Food Bazaar, Mac (cosmetics), Lush (soaps / cosmetics), Shoe Tree (shoes), Benetton (clothes), Clinique (cosmetics), Esprit (clothes), Guess (clothes), Barista Creme, Mothercare, Hidesign, Mango, Pratap, Kimaya, Wills Lifestyle, Shoppers Stoppe, Good Earth Veranada, L’affaire, Allen Solly, Arcelia, Home Stop, Crossword, H2O, Van Heusen, Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Charles and Keith, Inc5, Nine West, Shoe Tree, Lancome, Loccitane En Provence, Forest Essentials, Tissot, Swatch, Ethos, William Penn, Guardian Lifecare Pvt. Ltd, Valaya.FNP, Kalpana, Cheemo, maspar, MynahFood: Food Court called Food Talk (many types - Chinese, South Indian, North Indian, Mexican, Italian, Sizzlers), KFC, Gelato, Barista, Caffe Coffee Day, all-vegetarian Sattvik, Cocoa by Belgique, PatchiTaking the mall’s entertainment quotient much higher is a public space called Saanskriti, having an open air amphitheatre, specialized lighting, water bodies and trees, specially planned for conducting cultural programs such as fairs, festivals and art performances.

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Metro Walk

The Unitech Metro Walk Mall in Rohini has a total area of 200,000 sq. ft. It has shops for clothing and accessories, footwear, many different eateries, and best of all, a full fledged amusement park called Adventure Island that has 30-40 rides (many of which are well liked by visitors). In addition, the Mall also has the backdrop of a lake spread over 3.5 acres. The Mall is gaining in popularity and becoming a must-visit for people of all age groups. It also is different from the many similar types of malls that have sprouted all over the country.

The Mall is easily accessible from the Rithala Metro station and has a parking of around 1800 vehicles. Tickets to the Amusement park cost Rs. 220 & 170 (Adult & Children respectively) on weekdays and Rs. 350 and 270 on weekends.Some of the various brands that are available in this mall (please leave a comment if you don't see a particular shop in here):John Players, Ezone (electronics), Liberty (shoes and accessories), Pantaloon, Reebok, Nike, Biba, Titan, Benetton, Liliput, Adidas, Levis, Koutons, Pepe Jeans, Incense, Zapp, Numero Uno, Spykar Jeans, Raymonds, Titan, Lee Cooper, Jini and Johnny, Blackberry, Indian Terrain, Reid & Taylor, Priknit, Richlook, Swiss Junction, Carlton London, Provogue Studio

This was my first time at Pind Balluchi. The ambience was great. I really wanted to try their butter chicken. I haven’t really found good enough places that serve good butter chicken here in Delhi. I was really hoping these guys would please me with something authentic. Their version of the butter chicken was not really that great but better than what I have had so far in Delhi. The service was quick enough although the staff seemed a bit lazy while taking orders. On the whole, I would rate it 6/10. Try this out if you’re craving for something close to a real butter chicken.

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Shopping at Janpath - Delhi

Window-shoppers overtake actual buyers: More than 60 per cent queries made by buyers at Ratan's counter translated into sales last year. This year, things changed. "I remember missing lunch several times to cater to the rush and the store used to stay abuzz the entire day. Sometimes, I desperately awaited a break. I miss the feeling this year," said Ratan, who works at a popular cloth store in Aminabad. His colleague Hanif added that even the queries have decreased by at least 30 per cent. "It is all because of the price rise," he lamented.

Few buyers, fewer offers: The lull has made shop-keepers miser, believes Pooja Singh, a housewife who was shopping for her children at a city mall on Wednesday. "There are very few offers and the stuff displayed in the sales isn't appealing," she said. A walk down Janpath basement proved her point. In the twelve odd shops, just 50 per cent offered some discount. Interestingly, the shopkeepers aren't inviting customers enthusiastically. "This is what we have," is the common answer, probably indicating that shopkeepers have not invested heavily.

The very onset of festive season filled us with energy as both sales and work increased manifolds," said KC Bhambwani, president Hazratganj Trader's Association.

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Winter shopping can’t get any better

Dilli Haat Dilli Haat, situated in the center of Delhi, is a kind of a weekly market, organized on a much grander scale. It is a permanent haat that offers an amalgamation of handicrafts, food and cultural activities. Dilli haat of Delhi, India is spread over an area of approximately 6 acres and has a typical traditional Indian village look to boast of.
INA Market The INA Market of Delhi, India has its full name as the Indian National Army market. Situated in the posh South Delhi area, it is a famous food bazaar of the capital city. From fresh seafood to meat to spices to vegetables and fruits, you will get each and everything related groceries here.

Sarojini Nagar Delhi Sarojini Nagar Market is for those who want fashionable clothes at reasonable prices. Even before the latest couture designs hit the boutiques, their cheaper version appears here. One of the major attractions of the Sarojni Nagar Market of Delhi, India is that it provides even branded goods at cheap prices.
Lajpat Nagar Delhi Lajpat Nagar Market is located near the Ashram Chowk in South Delhi. The market is a mixture of roadside stalls as well as glitzy showrooms. Here, you can shop for anything, ranging from clothes to footwear to accessories to bags. You can find ethnic Indian wear on one hand and the latest in the western style clothing, on the other.
Karol Bagh The Karol Bagh market is one of the oldest and the most famous and flourishing shopping centers in Delhi. The market offers variety, not only in the type of goods you buy, but also in the types of shops you visit. From the big air-conditioned showrooms to the small and dainty shops in alleys, you will find everything here.
Janpath Market Janpath Market is situated opposite the famous Connaught Place, in New Delhi. It is the perfect for buying the latest fashion goods at cheap prices. The budget travelers as well as those wanting to flaunt the latest in-things, Janpath of Delhi, India is the place to be.
Palika Bazaar Palika bazaar, near Connaught Place, is the only air-conditioned underground market of Delhi. It is the ideal place to go for shopping, if you are coming to the city in summers. There is no limit as to what you can get at the Palika Bazaar market of Delhi, India.
Greater Kailash Greater Kailash Market, situated in the south of Delhi, stands divided into two zones, GK-I and GK-II. One of the most happening shopping centers of Delhi, GK boasts of some of the most luxurious show rooms and retail outlets rooms in the city. Especially if you are looking for designer wears, then, Greater Kailash of Delhi, India is the place to be.
South Ex Delhi South Extension market, situated on the Ring Road in South Delhi, is one of the up-market shopping areas of the city. It stands divided into two parts - South Extension I and South Extension II. From quality clothing to the best footwear, you will find almost anything and everything here.

Chandni Chowk Market Jahanara, the favorite daughter of Shah Jahan, founded the famous Chandni Chowk of Delhi, India. The largest trading center of North India, it is also known by the name of moonlit square. There are a number of by-lanes in Chandni Chowk Market, each specializing in a particular field.

Connaught Place Connaught Place Market of Delhi, India has been officially named as the New Delhi Rajiv Chowk. However, even today almost every Delhiite calls it by the short form of CP. One of the oldest and most impressive markets of Delhi, CP is also its central business district.

Khan Market Delhi Khan Market, situated in the South Delhi area, is one of the most chic and classy shopping markets of the capital city. Surrounded by the greenery of Lodi Gardens, it is quite an expensive market. The diplomatic community living in the nearby areas continue to patronize shopping in Khan Market of Delhi.

Winter shopping can’t get any better. The Delhi Shopping Utsav, jointly sponsored by Delhi Times and American Express, is turning out to be a bonanza for all those who want to catch up with hot trends at earthly prices. Be it jewellery, apparel, gifts or footwear, shopping has never before been such fun. The 22-day festival, which began on November 17 to celebrate the onset of winter, is offering great shopping discounts and an opportunity to win a Hyundai Santro car everyday. About 70 big showrooms and brand stores in Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Model Town, Rajouri Garden, South Extension, Vasant Vihar and Sunder Nagar are offering great deals as part of the Utsav. Besides a Santro car which is up for grabs daily, a lucky shopper might even win an all expenses paid trip for two to watch the Cricket World Cup in South Africa. A special prize of first class return tickets to London for a couple will also be given out in the lucky draw. To qualify for participating in the draw, shoppers need to buy products worth Rs 1,000 from any one of the participating stores. The shopping festival will be managed by Confluence, a retail management company promoting retail businesses in India. According to the organisers, this company had also managed the last three winter festivals in CP.

There are hundreds of shops in Delhi that sell outfits and accessories. For girls, who are confused (most of the time), it becomes very difficult to decide on the right shop. Bling-picking or not, if you are out on a shopping spree, step into this one shop and trust us you will not come out empty hand. Bling, as the name suggests has lots of accessories and the variety is awesome. Earrings, bracelets, bangles, belts…name it and you get it.

Chunk jewellery is very ‘in’ this season, says Hirdesh Sawhney, owner of the shop. Big gold beads, flowers, carved pendants, big rings…the word is glitter. You can wear anything that catches the eye. Subtlety is certainly an old trend. “Belts with big floral buckles will certainly adorn many a pretty waists this summer. These belts are moving fast out of the shelves”, said Hirdesh. Big flashy earrings will have people ogling at you. The golden chandelier ones at the store are a must buy if you are out to party this

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