Delhi - A Gastronomic Journey

India Gate at Night

The National Capital Region of India is home to one of the most culturally diverse cities in the nation, if not the entire world, Delhi. The Union Territory was adopted as the capital in the year 1911 and has been at an influx of cultural influences throughout its timeline. Delhi is a place where a Punjabi can enjoy Mysore Masala Dosa, a Bengali can try their hand at Mutton Biryani and Korma, Gujaratis can devour a plate of Butter Chicken and Lacha Parantha whilst South Indians can finish their meals with a heavy dose of Sandesh and Mishti Doi. However, throughout its vast history, the city has had multiple hubs of cultural attraction. These hubs have a distinct aura of their own and each is completely exhaustive and exclusive of the other. It's hard to pin down only a few restaurants or cafes or eateries that one should try because this city has a huge history and something about someplace is special in every way. But here are the areas of interest in Delhi where you will definitely get good food.

1. Old Delhi: This is the historical, Mughal inspired region in Delhi from where the Delhi Sultanate originated from. Mughal emperors left a mark on the cuisine of the area as you get classic street food in the lanes of Chandni Chowk. And if you are a hardcore meat lover, do visit Jama Masjid. The biggest Mosque in the city. You get authentic Mughlai cuisine that includes Chicken Tandoori, Butter Chicken, Seekh Kebabs, Biryani, Galouti Kababs, Nihari and Khamiri Roti.

Amritsari Kulche, Chandni Chowk

Jama Masjid

Old Delhi as a location is pretty vast in itself, covering iconic areas like Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazaar and Daryaganj. These places are just a metro ride away and once at Old Delhi, they can be reached by foot as well, which is an experience in itself.

2. Connaught Place: When the Britishers came to India, they left behind a legacy in the form of the heart of the city, Connaught Place (CP). CP is home to the largest flagpole of the country and is an early architectural wonder. It has 3 regions: Inner Circle, Middle Circle and Outer Circle. Each with their own eateries. Many modern day classics of the city originated in CP and you can still find age old Government run restaurants in this colonial marvel.

Chaat at Connaught Place

Outer Circle, Connaught Place

The sights and sounds of CP are poles apart during the day and during the night. In the day, the white of the buildings gives out a peaceful cheer. The clear blue sky calls out to any nature lover as the flag sways with the wind and the open roads give an aura of grandeur. At night, the lights take over as the pubs and lounges come alive. The halogen lamps, drop lights and LEDs dance along with the music and rave up the heart of the city. Again, the place is just a metro ride away as the famous Rajiv Chowk station is right under Connaught Place.


3. Hauz Khas Village: The Modern Era is no less than the beautiful past of the city. If you are coming with friends, get them to Hauz Khas Village. In Urdu, 'Hauz' means water body and 'Khas' means royal, since the place is built around a historic water reservoir built by Allauddin Khilji. The place is very scenic with beautiful fort overlooking the lake right in the middle. The sky turns orange as the sun sinks deep into the lake and casts the most beautiful reflection on the water body. And you can look over all this from the hip cafés, bars and lounges at Hauz Khas Village. The most fashionable and electric place, lit with graffiti is one to spend your evening at. The place invites a lot of foreign attraction and is well versed with tourists and travellers. With the nearby IIT, students love the places as well. And because of this varied audience that graces Hauz Khas Village, it has options for everyone, the rich globe-trotters and the on-a-budget bookworms!

Architectural Artefacts at Hauz Khas Village

A restaurant in Hauz Khas Village

4. The Campuses: Delhi has always adapted and evolved with time, and gone are the days where finding a restaurant was difficult because the good ones were too far away and there was very limited choice. Now, with the University of Delhi calling in the crowd from every part of the city as well as the entire country, new niches have opened up for every restaurant to cater to the students. In the past few years, Satyaniketan (South Campus) and Hudson Lane (North Campus) have become the hub of students. Every week a few new restaurants open and a few more close down, the competition there is fierce. Hence, students rejoice the choice and the different varieties on offer by these competitors as they try to out do each other with innovations. Their target audience also results in developing a cheaper menu for the same.

Beer battered fish and chips, a British classic served at Satyaniketan

Delhi is the epitome of culture. Here, every strata of society has something to be offered and every nook and cranny of the place is riddled with food. You can dine-in, take away or simply eat on the streets. This cultural influence makes our capital a very accepting place, a neighbourhood where everyone stands an equal chance at success. Delhi is our city, Delhi is our gastronomic destination. Keep Eating!