“A Crush on Delhi”



The title for this post comes not from my head. Coined by Kshitij Sharma (classmate, friend, fellow passionate-photographer), I do however share the feelings that simple line brings out. The city I grew up in, it's been my home for the last twenty years. I've seen this city breathe, live, and grow. One of the earliest memories I have about the city is the existence of the Double Decker buses of DTC. They were quickly replaced by the boring buses, and the longing to ride one of them remained but a longing. The city kept on growing though, and so did I.

It had been a long time since I had captured a moment of time within a little box… more than a year to be precise. Thus, when the opportunity presented itself, I did not hesitate (not even to bunk the Marketing Strategy class!) to get out of Greater Noida to come back to Delhi, the home housing my home. The one lesson I learnt that day was that City is full of surprises, some brand new while others ancient…

As always, when coming anywhere near Delhi, it was Connaught Place that beckoned us. Almost naturally, we drove down the roads that led us to the beating Heart of the city. However, the first surprise came in the form of a little detour near CP, that led us to a place called Bawli (correct that if I'm wrong there please) a water tank that was used during the Mughal era. Another interesting claim that I heard that day about that place was that it was a tunnel that led all the way to Agra. I don't know whether to believe that claim or not, but still it was quite an intriguing claim.

The most fascinating aspect of this monument was the sheer depth of the tank. Since there was no water there, we could see how far down the steps went, and from where we stood it was quite clear that the tank had been filled up. Another claim I heard there was that it was an 11 storey deep tank. This could be true, but the first question that jumped up in my head was the obvious… how did they build that tank? It goes without saying that a tank of that size would certainly not have been built first and filled up later, but the intricacies of the architecture certainly posed a difficult-to-answer question: how did they build the tank? Even the guard from the ASI did not have an answer to the question, but then again, that's quite okay. A few unsolved mysteries in life certainly spice up life itself.

I could have spent at least another few hours out there, but the main purpose of our visit to the beloved city was to go to Chandni Chowk. It was one place that has drawn me towards itself, like a moth to a flame, ever since the beginning of last year. I really cannot count the number of hours I've spent roaming around in the narrow pathways of Chandni Chowk, always finding myself at a new place, always presented by a new surprise in a different ancient looking shop. Interestingly, there was a door in Chandni Chowk that I had been looking for last year, but somehow I never managed to find it. Of course, last year I visited that place on my own, so almost every time I ended up getting mysteriously lost in the narrow winding lanes of the ever crowded market. This time however, by some sheer luck, I found that door. Nothing too elaborate, it was a plain old door… it was the memories attached to that door that I was chasing, and being presented suddenly and quite unprepared-ly by the one thing I was hunting for so long last year, it was a bit of a bittersweet moment for me. Just thought I'd mention that here, no real purpose of saying it as such…

The view down the lane towards Red Fort was as mesmerizing as always. The main road of Chandni Chowk, the hubbub of traffic all around us, the shopkeepers screaming their "dishcount rates", the constant flow of people, a crowd that has a life of its own, the food stalls on the footpath meant for people walking, the wafting smell of the delicious tikkis being fried on one of the largest frying pans, the old paanwaala who made the paans while I took a zillion photos of him… even that old man with the most magnificent white beard, who wouldn't let us photograph him… it all reminded me of a time that I miss a lot right now, a time when I wouldn't care about where my feet were taking me, as long as there was a camera in my hand, and the Life of Delhi to capture in its frame…

13 comments :: “A Crush on Delhi”

  1. OMG !!! I just realised how I love my city. :) And i still can't believe that you DIDN'T eat paranthas while there !!! And next time you better take me along. :P

  2. @ bondgal... Delhi is one city that just keeps growing on you. The more you spend time here, the more you fall in love with it. And as far as the parathas are concerned, there's something much more desirable for me just around the corner when I'm in Chandni Chowk, a little place that goes by the name of Kareem's!! Prefer that to the Parathas anyday... hehe... and yes, the next time I go there, you and the camera are sure to accompany me... that'd be sometime after the exams... cheers...

  3. nicely written......never gone to chadni chowak so u have another person to take

  4. @ Ratul... sure thing, but then you can't really have the fun of Chandni Chowk while you're sitting in Dublin now can you? We'll go in May, our whole clan. Gotta visit the Kareems out there desparately too man...

  5. arrey....one more thing...simple and i think this the first time i see u not using stupidly big words

  6. @ Ratul... thanks man, I'm learning that art too. Seems like certain people left a bit too deep an impact on me, if you know who I mean ;)

  7. hhhhhmmmmmmmm......u ppl hd left ma ven u hd gn 2 chndni chowk.....buit d memories are stll afresh in ma mind....d day v all had gn 2 eat paranthas.....and u were busy searching camera........but stll gd....if v hv a chance will go again n do d photography again......

    DuDe u RoCk.......

  8. @ anant... thanks a lot dude! and yes, that day was a lot of fun, but then again it would have been a lot more fun had I been completely in my senses. The next visit's due to happen right after our exams man, so there you go, wish granted!!

  9. i am so proud to be a thaat(born n brought up :D) delhi-iite...n hey, next time, i'll tag along too.n i have never been to lodhi garden..:( plz grant my wish too ;). let ratul come back, v'll have a blast...deal?
    n btw, that was really a nice post. made me feel more proud of my city.n i m really fascinated with that old tank....wanna explore it once for sure.some how your post reminded me of the days when we as lil kindergarten kids were taken to places like jamali kamali n all for picnic from school.........:)thanx

  10. Hey! Pleasant surprise to find u still blogging. I've started blogging again, after more than 8 months. Hope it lasts....

    Anyway, don't get me started on Delhi! I know exactly what it means when u say you've got a crush on Delhi. I feel the same way! God i love this place. :-)

    And yes karims!!!! let's go there one of these days. plus jama masjid. I've been there so often, but i've never gone up the tower, from where apparently u can see the whole of delhi.

  11. @ Anupriya

    You're not the only one who's waiting for the chance to tag along... the more the merrier I always say! But yes, let Ratul be here and it'll be even more awesome... jst a few more months, that's all

    @ Me Myself...

    The resurrection of the blog was due, no I thought no point in delaying it any further. Thus, the posts... and it's nice to see that you're back here too... keep at it, and I'll try to do that as well. Karim's, that's one place I gotta visit as well, cannot get enough of that place ever! Never heard of that tower though, will have to ask about it next time I'm there...

  12. hey ...i ws not born n delhi...bt i dnt knw why i am deeply attached with this place..whenever it used to cum' ghumne jana hai' my frst preference ws delhi...i still cant find d answer why..bt wish to explore more of delhi..

  13. @ shreya... Delhi is a place that grows on you, makes you fall in love with it more you spend time here. All in all, it's a wonderful place to stay... my favourite city after all! :)