The other day I drove into New Delhi after several months of not doing so. I found myself getting almost emotional and confided to my significant other, how much I actually love this chaotic but beautiful city. I passed the Ferozshah Kotla ruins and was reminded about many such historical treasures of Delhi that I have still to explore properly. When will I be able to do this unhindered by anxiety and social distancing rules I found myself wondering? Turns out many are ‘missing Delhi’ just like me, as this Twitter thread about legendary Delhi attractions – Mentally, I’m here – nostalgically recalls.
This is a global mood – people want to be at stadiums watching games, at food courts, malls, etc.... you know, the ones that currently wear have a desolate, deserted look.
As we continue to socially and physically distance ourselves we wonder when it will be possible to attend concerts, visit theme parks and tourist attractions.
After months of the metro rail being shut, regular users are getting positively nostalgic about travelling by those climate-controlled metal tubes that travel along subterranean tunnels.
One of my fave Delhi outings is spending the day hunting for bargains in the crisscrossing lanes of Sarojini Nagar; returning home arms laden, exhausted but happy – clearly I am not alone.
People miss the crowds, the congested lanes and even the chaos of old Delhi – simply because they have not been able to experience the sights and sounds for so long.
Whether one is a visitor into Delhi or a resident, the attractions of Connaught Place and Janpath never pall. The street food, the pavement vendors, the fancy stores, the trinket shopping…
So relatable! We all go there looking for bargains and are routinely accosted by various shady characters selling cheap knockoffs and other even shadier services.
Browsing around an exhibition, attending a concert at the Steinman Auditorium or a play at the amphitheatre or enjoying a leisurely brunch at the American Diner (or above-mentioned tart from Eatopia)… This, for me, is the quintessential Delhi outing! I miss it more than I can say!
How one misses the many exhibitions at Pragati Maidan – rubbing shoulders with likeminded people! The book exhibitions where one can literally spend days!
The handicraft and other exhibitions and expos where one feels compelled to buy those ‘novelty items’!
Big Chill may be expensive but it is still one of my – and Delhi's favourite restaurants.
This stunning historical complex littered with monuments surrounded by beautiful gardens is where Delhi goes for their winter picnics. Will we see those groups and families this year, with their picnic baskets and Frisbees?
If you’ve not argued with the auto-walla and his mysteriously malfunctioning metre, you’ve not really been to Delhi!
Delhi, the city of extremes – extreme heat & cold, extreme power and helplessness, extreme wealth and poverty, extreme privilege and wretchedness… it is a city that infuriates but also inspires love and loyalty.
So yes, we do all miss Delhi right now – Delhi in all its hues, contradictions, beauty, mess, chaos and serenity.
Just aimlessly wandering around in CP seems like a lifetime ago – I think this echoes what a lot of us feel. As for the nostalgia, that has nothing to do with COVID and everything to do with saddi Dilli!
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