Especially for the Girls traveling to Delhi!

TOP 5 FASHION TAKE BACKS FROM THE CITY.

If you’re in town, you gotta dress like the Delhi girls; with a huge appetite for fashion, they go all out as far as color, designs & accessories go. Here are 5 fashion take backs from the city.

      1. Get a traditional outfit. The most obvious one. The outfits can range from a salwar kameez (loose pants & a long flowy top), saree and a lehenga choli (long skirt with a blouse). Ready-mades are available in almost every market, in numerous textures, colours & styles. The drawback is that the choices run into millions (which is not always a good thing!). 

TDW Tip. If you’re getting a saree get a ‘pre-stitched’ one so that it’s easy to drape. And if you want to go all out give it a Bollywood touch by adding some bling to it.

2.     2. Mehendi. Better known to non-Indians as ‘temporary henna tattoo on the hands’. Pick a design & see the patterns magically form on your palm.

TDW Tip. As Indian customs go, the girl gets her husband’s name written somewhere within the pattern & he needs to look for it to prove to her that he has sharp eyes & an active brain!! It’s an old ritual, so go along with it & try this on your partner.

3.     3. Accessorize. Delhi girls are all about the accessories – the bindi’s that go right in the middle of the 2 eyebrows, vibrant glass bangles that adorn the hands, the toe rings for (obviously) the toes… the list is too long.

TDW Tip. Get a clip-on nose ring just for fun & definitely silver anklets for the ankles.

4.     4. Juttis. Our favorite! Inspired from the Mughal era, the royals wore highly embellished footwear called the 'juttis'.  They are flat in nature with an M shaped front, adorned with colorful embroidered thread work.

TDW Tip. Must buy, goes with any outfit – western or Indian!

5.     5. Visit a local parlor. This is for pure leisure & relaxation. Go to a local parlor in the market of a residential colony. They are small & homely. Plenty of options available from getting a head massage to a mani- pedi to waxing, threading the list is endless. And extremely reasonable.

TDW Tip. Get an oil based head massage – it’s bliss!

Contributions to the list are most welcome.

A little about us: At The Delhi Way we offer TOURS within the city of Delhi & Agra for individuals & small groups. Our tours are a combination of sightseeing, shopping, food & great conversation. These trips can be anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days. Website: www.thedelhiway.com or email us: info@thedelhiway.com

The Delhi Way Tours: Qutub Complex

A young bunch of Bangaloreans explore Delhi.

It was a beautiful sunny day to walk through the Qutub complex. While the Minar is the most popular structure here, the complex has a host of other treasures - one of the 1st mosques that was infact made from material of hindu & jain temples, the Smith's folly that was once atop the Qutub Minar, the mysterious iron pillar that doesn't rust, the dome-less but exquisite tomb of Illtutmish, a half constructed minar close by - the Alai Minar & so much more... 

The few hours spent at the beautiful complex completely transported us to a different era. We strolled as if spellbound, took loads of photographs, were greeted by parrots perched on the old ruins, we wondered aloud how such a tall structure was constructed in the 12th century without cranes & todays hi-tech machinery, how a 6000kg iron pillar was erected here...

We ended this memorable day with a drink at one of the restaurants overlooking this wonder.

With Mohit, Kinnary & Rohit

 

 

Delhi’s Rapid Development – The Rapid Transit System – Metro

I am in my car with an American friend who is vising Delhi from the USA. While he is excitedly devouring the sites of Dilli in the moving car, the discussion went on to how Delhi maintains the magnificent balance between a progressive developed city and an enriched historical core. One such example that he alluded was that of the omnipresent Metro line that ran along the length of our journey.

Yes, the Delhi Metro. A cornerstone of development symbolized by the brilliantly elevated and underground rail lines, vigorously zigzagging through the landscape of Delhi, somewhere touching the blue hues of the sky and somewhere, deep inside the earth, infusing life from 6 am to 11 pm every day. It’s been a historical journey since 2002 to make this milestone leap towards modernization of the transportation system of Delhi which has put us on the International map as having one of the most technologically advanced Mass Rapid Transit System’s in the world.

It’s cheap, it’s convenient and it’s safe! An average Delhite who fought traffic hurdles with limited and over-crowded public transport buses, and sometimes waited for hours to get a transport ride back home or to his work place, today, pays anything between Rs. 8 to Rs 30, to reach his destination in the shortest possible time. The trains travel at an average of 80km/hour with each train’s average frequency being three minutes! There is special ladies compartment which is unheard of anywhere in the world!! There are ‘pink’ signs on the platform to indicte the ladies compartment which is either at the start of the finish of the platform. The ladies compartment saves  you from the hustle bustle of the other compartments.

In terms of area coverage, it is forecasted that the Delhi Metro will be bigger than the London Underground by 2021, the year of completion of the last phase of the project. In terms of ridership, it’s growing every day. While Tokyo subway system has the maximum passenger rides of 3.1 billion in a year, followed by Moscow Metro, NYC subway system and London Underground, the Delhi metro is close to their heels with 459 million passenger rides in year 2010-11.

We as citizens of this modern metropolis, today, have a choice to use the most advanced and reliable form of public transport thanks to the Delhi Metro. You may be enjoying a morning stroll in Hauz Khas market, pouring over the artefacts, or Connaught place eating at your favourite restaurant or in Chandi Chowk market, buying spices; one thing is for sure, you will not be thinking of how you will get home/hotel, reliving the fear of over-priced taxis and over-crowded buses. You will walk down to the nearest Metro station, and be greeted by smiling attendants.

Delhi’s advancement in public transport has arrived and it will soon overtake the world. A Case study we will be proud to tell and re-tell for years to come!!

Some useful links, if you are planning to travel by the metro in the future:

For Info (coverage/fares/passenger): http://www.delhimetrorail.com/commuters_guide.aspx

For Delhi Metro timing: http://www.delhimetrorail.com/metro_timing.aspx

For Delhi Metro Stations: http://www.delhimetrorail.com/station-info.aspx

Insights into the Delhi Metro by Sukhmani - http://sukhmanipantal.blogspot.in/