Lodi Gardens, New Delhi (Photographs)

An oasis of peace and tranquillity in the heart of New Delhi, Lodi Gardens have long been the perfect destination for people from all facets of life to take a break and enjoy a little bit of nature. The most wonderful aspect about Lodi Gardens is that they cater to everyone. You can be a history buff or an amateur photographer; maybe an admirer of nature or just someone who wants to spend quality time with your family or loved one; Lodi Gardens has something for everyone. 

A day spent with friends; talking, eating, and relaxing...

Delhi 101: 101 Surprising Ways to Discover Delhi (Book Review)

I have to admit that when I asked Ajay Jain, the author of Delhi 101: 101 Surprising ways to discover Delhi, to send me the book for review, I wasn't being completely honest with him. While I was interested in reviewing the book, it was primarily a challenge that I had set upon myself. You see, I have grown up in Delhi. I went to one of the most prestigious schools of South Delhi. I learnt driving around places like Green Park, Hauz Khas, South Extension, and Greater Kailash. My first English movie in a theater was at Chanakya Cinema Hall, although, due to its proximity to my school I frequented the Priya Cinema complex much more. Even though I moved into the suburbs, or what everyone calls the NCR region, about a decade ago, I've seen Delhi change over the years into a more metropolitan yet less innocent city than it once was.

Kunzum Delhi 101 was a challenge to test my knowledge about Delhi. Having spent two-thirds of my life in the city I wanted to check what I knew and if I had discovered it to the fullest. If I had the right to call Delhi my birth place and the city I still call home?

So, what was the outcome? I am happy to say that I passed, barely.

While reading and reviewing Ajay Jain's Postcards from Ladakh, I realized that he has a knack for history. Just as he did in that book with Ladakh, Ajay tells an abbreviated and interesting history of Delhi using the numerous tombs, mosques, minars, and other historical sites that are spread throughout the city. There aren't any chapters, but the book somewhat follows an order taking one aspect of the city at a time. While this is great if you are simply reading the book, but can prove to be problematic if you want to use it as a guide book. The lack of any index adds a little to the frustration if you need to find something that you read earlier and want to refer back to again.

Ajay's writing style is very simplistic and understandable. He barely uses 'big' words that require a dictionary; that being the one thing I have always appreciated about his books. He also has a rather unique sense of humor, so make sure you look out for his trademark one-liners throughout the book. What also comes across in the book is the passion that Ajay holds towards traveling and exploring in general. It is this very passion that makes him discovery every nook and corner of Delhi and brings forth the different cultures and people that make Delhi one of the most vibrant cities of the world.

Delhi 101 gives you wholesome entertainment and information. It covers all aspects of life that make-up a metropolitan city, especially one as interesting as Delhi. For a traveler, there is a huge amount of knowledge to be found in these pages about the different markets, gardens, foods, and sites, going as far as even giving tips on how to "crash a Punjabi wedding". The book is a great companion to have even if you have lived in Delhi all your life. It not only covers most of the prominent places in Delhi, but also informs about ways to get to those places and the best time to visit them. Obviously, it goes without saying that Delhi 101 makes for an excellent gift if you have travelers wanting to experience this multi-cultural mishmash of a city.

The book does fall out on a few points. As mentioned above the lack of an index seems to be a major flaw. Even if the author doesn't want to promote the book as a "guide book", the fact remains that it is one, and a pretty good one at that. Furthermore, while I am always for a little bit of self-promotion, Ajay seems to have gone a tad overboard with the promotions of his various interests in this book. About 6-7 front and back pages, including Tip# 101, are saved for advertisements that the author is linked to. Personally, that takes away from the beauty of the book on the whole. Lastly, there is so much information throughout the book that at times it comes across as rushed. I do like the flow of the book, but a bit more order would have done wonders to the overall look of the book.

Delhi 101 might be an 'incomplete guide' to the ever-changing Delhi but it sure is a wonderful companion to have when you want to explore this wonderful city with the knowledge that only an insider could have.  

Literary Fever Hits Delhi!

It's that time of the year again, for people of all ages to descend towards an event like no other in the capital of the nation. Penguin India's Spring Fever 2013 is taking place as I write this post. The cozy and comfortable (there a cushions this year) amphitheater of India Habitat Center, which just happens to be the epicenter (see what I did there? Well, do a bit of research and you'll understand what I am talking about) of Delhi's cultural movement, is once again playing host to the event that has the town, along with a number of visiting authors, talking.   

Penguin India through its yearly festival Spring Fever brings together a variety of prominent literary 'celebrities' in events ranging from book talks to discussions to readings, at times combining all three in one sitting. Having attended the event last year, the biggest change I have seen is in the number of people who are aware of the festival and moreover attending it. While sitting at a talk yesterday that featured the humorous Ruskin Bond and the humble Sudha Murthy, it was a joy to see the audience being comprised of almost all age groups, including the very young and the very elderly.

Attending the festival for the second year straight, Spring Fever has definitely become one of the sort-after and most anticipated book festivals to be held in Delhi. So, if you are traveling and are nearby Delhi, do make it a point to drop in at the Indian Habitat Center at around 7:00 pm to immerse yourself in some literary goodness.

A Few Pointers:

1.    The events are open to all and are free of cost. Although, Penguin India requests everyone to register beforehand, just so that they are aware of the number of people who will be attending.

2.    It's a good idea to follow Penguin India on their social media platforms or else visit their website from time to time, to stay updated with the events.

3.    While all the events start at 7:00 pm, if you want good seats, rather if you want to sit at all, make sure you are at the venue by 6:30.

4.    Spring Fever is also becoming a place for some celebrity spotting. No film stars yet (okay we had Anupam Kher last year promoting his book), but during the Ruskin Bond - Sudha Murthy event I spotted Mr. Suhel Seth quietly sitting and enjoying the readings along with the rest of the audience.

5.    Penguin India also sets up a 'library' during the event that opens up at 11:00 am. You can visit it during the day and just sit around and read, or also buy books if you like.

6.    Most book talks end with author signings. So, to save some time, if you plan of getting a book signed, make sure you get there early and buy the book before the event. That way you can skip at least the long line at the cashier and head straight for the signing once the talk ends.

7.    Photography is allowed, so take your camera. I personally make small videos (see below) when the author recites a poem or reads an excerpt. It makes for a nice little memory.            

And now for some photographs, sound-bites, and comments from the talk held on 18th March 2013 with Mr. Ruskin Bond and Mrs. Sudha Murthy.

"I sometimes use the dictionary when I am writing" - Ruskin Bond being his humorous best when a little girl asked him if children should stop and find the meaning of a word while reading.    

Although, both Mr. Bond and Mrs. Murthy suggested that the common practice should not be to stop a child to look up a word they do not understand as it breaks the flow and might discourage the child from reading in general. So, in short, don't read with a dictionary next to you.

Sudha Murthy said that the novels she writes are first written in Kannada, her mother tongue. She then usually leaves them aside for a year or two and keeps going back to them to make changes, and then slowly translates them to English. Whereas, articles and short stories are written directly in English.

Ruskin Bond stated that he believes to be in the humorous stage of his life, even writing wise, since as one gets older, life seems funny.

"As I'm getting older, my stories are getting shorter" - Ruskin Bond on writing Short Stories.

"I don't believe in ghosts, but I see them everyday" - Ruskin Bond on being asked if he believed in the supernatural.

Ruskin Bond reads Hip-Hop Nature Boy

Ruskin Bond reads If Mice Could Roar

Reading of Sudha Murthy's The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk

Indian Grill Room

Discovering new places to eat, even if they have been in the city for some time, is always interesting. It took my brother-in-law visiting us for the first time with his new (and only and first, just to be clear) wife for us to search for a new place to eat in the cosmopolitan city of Gurgaon, which has become somewhat of a destination for hardcore foodies in the North of India.

The Indian Grill Room or IGR is situated on Golf Course Road in one of the many malls/office complexes that have sprung up at every nook and corner of this city of high-rises. Don't let the professional office like exterior of the building fool you though, for the restaurant is beautifully decorated, spacious, and comes with its very own terrace which is perfect for enjoying food during those warm wintery afternoons and cool evenings. The music being played was at just the right volume and well selected; something that a number of restaurants usually get wrong. The ambience of the entire restaurant, outside and inside, adds to a wonderful eating experience.

IGR follows the same concept made popular by The Great Kabab Factory. It's basically an all you can eat menu of freshly made kababs served at your table followed by a buffet for the main course. The only difference between the two restaurants would be that the main course is also served on the table in The Great Kabab Factory whereas in the case of IGR it is laid out, something that I very much preferred.

Jumping right in, the kababs were delicious. The vegetarian options were a tad limited, but the non-vegetarian options were plentiful. The other good thing about IGR is that both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian options cost the same, so if you are a non-vegetarian you can always try the vegetarian options since the hosts are not at all picky about that. IGR also has a fixed menu, and I am yet to try that, but in all honesty I was quite happy with the buffet.

The main course buffet had enough variety to satisfy most stomachs. It is obviously not as extensive as buffets in other restaurants, but that is expected since Kababs are the main draw of IGR. I especially liked their concept of make-your-own Raita. Various breads were freshly made on order and served hot and crispy. Overall, the food gets full marks. The dessert gets a special mention though. The Phirni and the Paan Ice Cream were simply divine, and I still get cravings for them a good two weeks after my visit. Both these desserts should be tried and cherished wholeheartedly.

Now, the only negative aspect of our visit had to be the service which was atrocious. On arrival it was assumed we were returning guests, even though it was our first time there. No one cared to explain to us the concept, what was included (especially in the case of drinks), and how much the Sunday lunch buffet cost. Yes, I am aware we could have asked, but then what’s the point of reviewing a restaurant? All we were able to make out was that Fresh Lime with Soda was chargeable whereas the same with water was not. We were seated, asked whether we wanted veg or non-veg options and if we wanted bottled water, and within five minutes the kababs started arriving. Had we have not known and read about the place before it would have been even more annoying. Furthermore, there were constant interruptions by the waiters. It was fine till the kababs were being served since repeat orders were being made, but unfortunately the interruptions continued afterwards as well. They also seemed in somewhat of a hurry to remove our plates, even though the place was almost empty and it was nowhere close to closing time. In fact, when I finally said it was okay to take my plate, the waiter went on to pick up the plate of another person who was still eating.

The Sunday Brunch at the Indian Grill Room cost roughly Rs. 1000,- per person and it's certainly not a bad deal. The food is without a doubt brilliant. In addition, a special thanks to the hosts for not charging for my 5-year-old daughter who hardly ate, even though they initially said that 50% of the buffet cost will be charged. That was a good gesture on their part. For such a lovely place with good food, a little bit of polishing is required in the servicing department. While everyone was very courteous certain modalities were ignored. Other than the service, The Indian Grill Room gets TWO THUMBS UP!

Suggestion - After my visit to the IGR I finally managed to devise a plan for the next time and below are some suggestions I would recommend to everyone;

1.    Whether you are going for Lunch or Dinner, make sure you go on an empty stomach. The entire purpose of visiting IGR is to enjoy their juicy kababs and you need all the space possible in your stomach for them.

2.    If you eat non-vegetarian food, preferably opt for that. Firstly, you will end up with more choice and the kababs really were that great (Yes! I am aware I have praised them a number of times in the review).

3.    Keep your drinking limited so you can enjoy your food.

4.    Order the Roomali Roti while eating the kababs. It goes well with them.

5.    Skip the main course, or maybe try it, but fill up on the kababs. The main course is great, nothing bad about it, but I just felt that the kababs should be cherished more.

6.    No matter what you do or what you eat, keep some space for the dessert.

7.    After you are done be prepared to burp!