A trip to Lutyen's Delhi

New Delhi - The capital which the British painstakingly built in 1911, only to leave it behind in 1947. Some say it was doomed from the start - after all, a city which has six other capitals in the past would never have capital city last for more than a few centuries. Lutyens designed New Delhi and made the Viceroy's residence overlook the majestic Red Fort by building atop Raisina Hill - a small mound of earth which technically helped the Rashtrapati Bhavan overlook the Mughal masterpiece.

To each its due - the Victorian domes, the Rajasthani chhatris, and the red sandstone do standout - I doubt whether independent India could have built such majestic monuments of political governance without its share of scams, leaking roofs etc.

Homage is payed to the Sikh contractors who built this citadel. Sobha Singh, Khushwant Singh's father is mentioned in a plaque - everywhere you go - the enterprising Sikh businessman is there!!!

To the right and left stand North Block and South Block (to whose North and South, you might ask...well, I have not figured it as of now...!). A part of Arun Jaitley ostensibly decides on the security of the nation as the Defence Minister in the South Block.

 

Whereas, the remaining part of the honorable minister as Finance Minister, lords over the rates of beedis and alcohol in the Finance Ministry in the North Block. Again, this is something which only India could have come up with - despite having so many Ministers and their underlings nothing gets done in this democracy, and yet we have this bizarre spectacle of one Minster for two departments.

 

 

Standing at the cusp of Raisina Hill, one can see the silhouette of the President's Palace; and when one turns around, can see India Gate - through the smog - silently watching over the fallen soldier. It is only India which could have imagined having a traffic beat structure in the line of sight - a testament to the CBSE and Stephens educated babus, who, in all their collective wisdom put this eye sore in the center of the road.

Coming to the meat of the matter (or kachori of the matter really!) - Connaught Place - built to ensure the Gora Memsaabs have some shopping destination - is the haute couture capital of Delhi. On Baba Kharag Singh Marg is the majestic and historic Gurudwra Bangla Sahib; and of course, our destination: the sprawling Hanuman Mandir. After paying obeisance to the deity and the palmists outside the complex, do make sure to have hot and steaming aloo-kachori, and paneer bread pakora. The kachori ki subzi will take us to the gates of heaven - ginger, jeera, and hing all conspire to make you lick your fingers.

Now, to the pièce de résistance! Netaji chai-wala—the most famous chaiwala after a certain ND Modi... This chaiwala serves chai in earthen kulhads wearing a Gandhi topi. The chai is something to die for - a frothy concotion of elaichi, milk, ginger and chai masala all at a princely sum of ₹ 12/- will make you swoon.

 

 

 

Yes  Lutyen's Delhi will survive, and thrive - after all its soul is composed of us, ordinary Delhiites 😍