5 Things To Love About Delhi

Here’s a secret revealed – I have bidden adieu to Delhi and moved to a new city! Now the question is, which city have I moved to? Well, I will keep that under wraps for some time, until I come up with some extraordinarily beautiful pictures of the new city. Okay, coming back to Delhi, I would say that it’s a special city for many reasons. (Brush aside the recent unpleasant incidents that have saddened the nation and the world.) Delhi has class, heritage and history that nothing can ever take away!

I am a bit nostalgic at the moment, because I have lived in the city for over 10 years. And I can confidently say that I have discovered many interesting things about it, which I thought I must share with my readers. So here’s a list of 5 things about Delhi that makes it a unique city in India –

1/ Great architecture  

This is a sure bet, that if you appreciate great architecture, Delhi is the place for you. Although sites like Qutub Minar, LotusTemple, Humayun’s Tomb, and Red Fort have been talked and written about a lot, they still haven't lost their sheen. You simply can’t get tired of marvelling at such wondrous legacies of Delhi.

Qutub Minar

2/ Connaught Place

Connaught Place, also known as CP, is my favourite place to hang out. Seriously, there’s no place like it! I remember my early days, when I was still finding my feet in the city, I would loiter through CP with my brother or friends. Window shopping was the most obvious thing to do if nothing else.

Wenger bakery was my favourite spot to grab a quick bite of Peach Danish! If I have come to CP, I have to visit Wenger, and have to buy Peach Danish.

3/ Photography Exhibitions

Going for photography exhibitions was my favourite pastime. ModernArt Gallery in Delhi hosts some of the most brilliant exhibitions. One of the photo exhibitions that I would like to mention was Homai Vyarawala’s photographs. She was India’s first photo journalist. Looking at the photographs clicked by her, I had a chance to peep into the classic era of Delhi, which is of course, not there anymore. But it was a sheer delight to travel back in time through her great photographs. 

I would also like to mention that Delhi gave me a chance to showcase my talent as a photographer with Picture Perfect Contest organised by the Delhi Government in 2012. I bagged a consolation prize and was listed amongst the top 300 photographers picked from 25,000 entries received. 

4/ Literary Hub    

I don’t know if Delhi can be or should be called a literary hub, but I found it to be an amazing beehive for book lovers. Although I am not an avid reader, I do love to explore different writers and books. I would say Delhi kindled a reader in me. I have visited British Library quite a few times. There are some really nice book stores in CP and Khan Market. If you love to read, you must check them out.

5/ Old Delhi

At Daryaganj

Well, I would not say that I have explored a lot of Old Delhi, but whatever little I have, it has intrigued me. If you are in Delhi, I strongly recommend that you smell the 'Old Delhi' to coax out the real essence of the city. Places like Daryaganj and Chandini Chowk will bring out the much worn-out, yet charming treasures of the city – traditional food, clothes and people. Simply come and experience!

So that was my ode to Delhi – my city for the last decade. 

Circular Quay – Pulse of Sydney

This article was published on JourneyMart

Circular Quay, located on the northern edge of Sydney central business district, is the reverberating heartbeat of Sydney! Yes, it is one lively place that simply doesn’t take a break. If we go into a bit of history, it was introduced primarily for shipping, which later became a major transport hub and also a hang-out place with malls, parks, restaurants and walkways. The quay is an electrifying place with ferries leaving every few minutes to various parts of the harbour like Watsons Bay, Manly, Mosman and Taronga Park Zoo. It is a major Sydney transport hub, with a huge ferry, rail and bus junction.

If I try to rewind and remember my first thought about the place, I would say it was coated with pre-conceived notions about a foreign country. I had seen glimpses of Circular Quay in many movies, thus, I had a vague idea about the kind of place it would turn out to be. When I actually experienced being there, I had my own viewpoint. Yes, of course, I was delighted to be there. My impression and the reality were quite similar.

7 Reasons You Can’t Miss It –

1/ Sydney Opera House – The Opera House is undoubtedly the most obvious reason to visit it. What else do we expect to see in Sydney other than Sydney Opera House? Again, my impression about the Opera House and the reality were similar. It is, indeed, a grand building adding to the beauty of Circular Quay. Locals, tourists, photographers, newly-weds – all kinds of people are seen there. It was interesting to be part of such a festive, yet very easygoing atmosphere.

2/Sydney Harbour Bridge – Circular Quay is situated between Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. So you can imagine the kind of place it would be! Looking at the bridge, you can promise yourself a memorable bridge walk or maybe a bridge climb or a helicopter ride over it. We opted for the simplest of the three - a bridge walk, but definitely rewarding. When you get on the bridge, you can have a panoramic view of the Circular Quay, which is one of the most amazing experiences in Sydney!

3/Art and heritage - Circular Quay is a great place for art lovers, too. There is Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art and the City of Sydney Library in the heritage-listed Customs House. Although I did not check them out, I am sure they are a treat for those who seek tasteful heritage and have curious eyes for historical insights.

4/ Walkways – Sauntering, savouring and enjoying are the easiest and the most special things to do. We all seek a carefree and relaxed atmosphere - Circular Quay offers you exactly that without reservations. There is bustle of people, noise of boarding ferries’ signals, romance, and sun setting while you simply sit and watch the day go by.

5/Restaurants and cafes – There is something unique about the restaurants and cafes at Circular Quay. Although they are expensive, they take your taste-buds on a culinary tour. You will get to dig in to all kinds of cuisines from all across the world. So noshing up with a view like Harbour Bridge, sounds like a dream, right?

6/The Royal Botanic Gardens – The garden is a quick walk around the water's edge from the Sydney Opera House. It is one of the places to chill out and steal a few moments away from the rush of the city. Those who love peace and quietude can head to the beautiful garden.

7/Ferry rides – Taking a ferry ride is an ideal way to culminate your Circular Quay experience. Wind blowing in your hair, sparkling sunshine and lively people – everything is just right. It is even better when the sun is all set to bid adieu, you can embrace its last few hues of beauty and soak in the scintillating evening ambiance. A ferry ride gives you a whole new perspective of the entire place. Sydney Opera House looks even more spectacular! You just don’t want to take your eyes off, it is so stunning!   

Besides all of that, Circular Quay is a central point for community and Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations. My Sojourn at Sydney was one of the best, and Circular Quay was a great day out!

5 Things I Discovered About Myself While Traveling

To travel is to discover. When you travel, you come across many things – places, people, food, culture, tradition and so on. Traveling is about discovery. It is about knowing about things that are very simple, yet very significant. It is about the traveler – his or her notion and approach towards life, people and values. When I travel I know I am in a different world – I am away from my usual life – my home, family, job and other things. That’s when I discover ‘myself’.

Each travel experience unfolds something about me, which remains hidden otherwise. And that is one of the most interesting aspects of traveling. I have listed down some of the things that I have discovered about myself while traveling.

I am fearless – Being fearless is something I wouldn’t have discovered about myself if I hadn’t traveled alone. Of late, too much of buzz has been created about women traveling solo, but I don’t find anything odd or stupid about doing so. Seriously, if I wouldn’t have traveled on my own, I would not have known that I can manage so many things so well!

The most memorable ‘solo moment’ of my trips has been my camel safari in Jaisalmer (I am going to write an exclusive post about it soon). I was all alone with two strangers in a desert! I did feel ‘fear’ for a while, but fearlessness took over quickly because of the incredible experience that I had.

I value people – That’s one thing closest to my heart. I never knew that I respected and cared for people unless I started serious traveling. (Well, I don’t mean to say that I didn’t care for people in my life earlier.) When you meet all kinds of people on a journey, who are complete strangers yet they add something to your life, they help you out directly or indirectly, that’s what I value the most. 

I have met many people on my trips, and all of them have influenced me deeply. I consider myself to be a very self-focused and selfish person, but when I am on a trip, my attitude changes swiftly. I am another person altogether. Although I don’t mingle too much with anybody, I feel connected to people.

I am keen to learn – No two ways about it, that you learn the most when you travel - And I mean travel in the true sense of the word. I don’t mean visiting a destination like a tourist, when your sole aim is to cover most of the hot-spots.

When I am traveling, my sole ambition is to know a destination deeply. I am a curious person. I want to know, learn and gather. You can learn only when you don’t follow the defined set of rules. I mean, if you want to visit a certain place and skip visiting another, it’s totally your call and it should have a purpose behind it.

I appreciate little things – Although I always appreciated little valued things, traveling has accentuated that quality in me. I am so impressed with people’s politeness, courtesy and smile. Whenever I am respected and honored because I am a guest at a place, it humbles me. I am so moved by the hard work put in by different people – waiters, doorkeepers, guides or a random local of a city.

I understand life – Those who travel passionately experience life closely. Yes, it’s true. If you don’t travel, you barely understand life in its true sense. There are many people who undergo a lot of things in their lives, which enriches them. However, travel unravels some of the unusual aspects of life.

When I am in the midst of mountains, I feel as if nothing else matters – pain, crevices, relationships or anything else. I can actually feel the power of nature embracing me! Well, not just nature, but all the aspects of traveling introduces me to the ‘real’ life, which most of us are not able to discover in our everyday lives. Traveling makes me understand that life is beyond the demands, expectations and pressures of the world. Life is far more beautiful when we travel.

I have discovered so much about myself! It feels great! 

What have you discovered about yourself while traveling? Share with me in the comments section!

Darling Harbour in Sydney – A Dreamlike Experience

My first day in Sydney was full of anticipation – of how the city would turn out, whether it would be like my impression about a foreign country or not. I would like to mention that Sydney was my first international destination ever (courtesy my sister who lived there for some time). So, when my sister and I set out for an excursion, I was full of excitement (almost childlike). Darling Harbour was the first place I visited, and the moment I reached there, I was full of awe and wonder. I simply didn’t know where to gaze. I mean, I was clueless about how to absorb so much of visual treat in such a short time!  

I am not going to load you with any Wikipedia information; you can check that out here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darling_Harbour

We just wandered our way through the harbour – marvelling at everything that we came across. It was just like Cinderella on a break from her pining life. I remember sitting on a bench with my sister and having doughnuts. That was one moment very endearing and special to me because of the journey I had with my sister since our childhood. We reminisced some of our childhood silliness for a moment, while a couple of birds flew by to bring us back to where we were – a gorgeous place!

I was more amazed to see most of the things, while my sister was pretty much aware of everything. It was almost like a quick dekko of this fantasy world. It was like before I could even pause for a moment to soak in something, another attraction would pop up!

I really want to go back and spend some more time at Darling Harbour. I don’t know when it will be possible; or will it ever be possible at all? Anyway, it was just too good to be true and I am leaving you with some delicious pictures!

How To Be A Responsible Traveller?

Tourism kills the joy of travelling. I know that sounds weird, because the term ‘tourism’ emerged from the very notion of ‘a person visiting a destination’. But now, tourism and travelling are two different terms with two different meanings. Now the former is about commercialization, while the latter is about exploring a destination.

Well, my focus is on how to be a responsible traveller? A traveller respects a destination, its uniqueness, beauty, heritage and people. There are certain attributes of a responsible traveller that help preserve a destination. Take a look –

Let the place remain clean –

Never ever throw litter anywhere but in the dustbin. This is the foremost thing that a traveller practices. It irks me like hell when I am taking a shot at a beautiful river and I see packets of chips in my frame. Why? Most of the time, the garbage thrown carelessly by tourists becomes unwanted guest in the photographs. Although it can be edited later with Photoshop, it is still annoying while you are actually there at a beautiful place.

It is pretty simple to keep your surroundings clean. It is not something that you have to spend your money, time or energy on. You just need to be conscious, disciplined and caring. What would you prefer – a dirty place or a neat and tidy one?  

Avoid thronging a place –

A traveller is selective about what he or she wishes to do. Someone who’s responsible would keep things simple. He or she would not visit a place just because it’s famous. When you are not running a race and taking it easy, it helps in enjoying a destination in a better way. Pick and choose what you would like to do – skip visiting a museum if it’s not something that you really like.

Set aside a few exclusive things to do. For instance, if you like adventure and sports, spend more time indulging in it instead of loitering at a busy market without a purpose. The idea is that if you are doing selective things, you are making it easy for yourself and for others as well.

Plan your itinerary wisely –

My heart bleeds when I see dark gray pollution in the air and I have to cover my face again and again. That’s the last thing you want to do on a vacation. A holiday is about abandonment  It’s about enjoying the atmosphere without a hindrance. Manali and Ooty have immense natural beauty but they can’t be enjoyed freely because of the vehicles and the pollution caused by them. On the contrary, Shimla lets you enjoy carefree sauntering because there are no vehicles allowed on the Mall road.

What you can do as a traveller is that you can plan your trip in such a way that you don’t need to use any vehicle. You can choose to stay at a reclusive guest house on a hill, which will enable you to enjoy the untouched natural surroundings without going anywhere. It would also discourage the use of vehicles that pollute the atmosphere.

Preserve the heritage sites –

There are tourists who write their names on the walls of historical sites. It is quite weird to do so because you are taking the photographs home, which is a good way to boast about the visit. Respect the legacy, so that the next generation may also get a chance to appreciate it. Even if you want to leave a mark that you visited the site, you may do so decently and not do it in a manner that it hampers the enjoyment of others. I mean, make sure that the authenticity of a place is preserved.

Let’s not kill the joy of travelling by being careless tourists. Let’s be true travellers – let’s care and enjoy.

Did you face anything on your trips that you thought ruined the fun of traveling? Please share with me!

You Might Also Like

Dehradun - Is Green Turning Into Gray?

Dehradun – Is Green Turning Into Gray?

Dehradun is a dream city – at least I think so. But will it remain so after 10 years? Well, I have no intention of promoting the city. My idea behind writing this piece is to share my views about preserving it as a green city. 

To begin with, it’s surrounded beautifully by mountains, valleys and forests. Although it’s not exactly a tourist place, it has several nice places to visit, good eating joints and short distances. Over the years, the city has seen many developments also. But can we ignore the repercussions? Is it still the same Doon valley that it used to be?   

I have a special fondness for the city because I have spent my childhood here. I still have impressions of my carefree days at Rajpur Road, my school, clock tower and Clement Town. The city seemed to have the best of both the worlds – simple hill town charm with sophisticated and educated people. Then we had Mussoorie for our weekends at just an hour’s drive.

It was all so pleasant and easy on eyes – a city so green, clean and refreshing with so much of walking space, so much to look around and feel good about. Well, it is still not ruined, but is heading towards being a crowded and a polluted city. When I visited it after a long time, I was taken aback and heartbroken to see it layered with pollution and vehicles knocking into each other crazily.

Botanical garden at Forest Research Institute

Although I was happy to see so many new shops on Rajpur Road, I missed the element of simplicity and peace. I am not saying that it has lost its beauty completely. It is still a charming city with its own ambiance. However, isn't it sad that a green city, which could have smugly reigned in its uniqueness, is following the footsteps of metropolitan cities and losing its own identity? Isn't over-commercialization taking away the essence of such places? Why kill the joy of strolling on the road without a care? Why everybody has to join the race?

Some of the residential areas, still, are quite green; Vasant Vihar is one such place with many trees and tea gardens around. Forest Research Institute is like a haven for rejuvenation. Rajpur is an area, a little away from the city, which is so marvelously beautiful. I hope that remains so.

All I am trying to say is that there is no dearth of green spaces in the city. Greenery is the quintessential trademark of Dehradun. It's a renowned legacy, which should not be overshadowed by commercialization.  

Tea Garden

Do you know about a beautiful city, which is being spoiled by pollution and commercialization? Do share your views in the comments section.

Ajit Bhawan Palace In Jodhpur – India’s First Heritage Hotel

Built by Maharaja Ajit Singhji of Jodhpur, Ajit Bhawan Palace is the first heritage hotel in India.

The Resort exudes royalty from its each nook and corner.

Rooms have been given an old rustic outlook with modern amenities. A guest can feel the essence of the regal era.

Check out the website

Ajit Bhawan Palace