Fine Dining Indian Food Magazine April Issue 2 | Page 12

" Delhi is not just a national capital , it is one of the political ultimates , one of the prime movers . It was born to power , war and glory . It rose to greatness not because holy men saw visions there but because it commanded the strategic routes from the northwest , where the conquerors came from , into the rich flatlands of the Ganges delta . Delhi is a soldiers ' town , a politicians ' town , journalists ', diplomats ' town . It is Asia ' s Washington , though not so picturesque , and lives by ambition , rivalry and opportunism .”
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INDIA GATE - DELHI
Chandni Chowk resembles a fair everyday . The streets are lined with halwais ( sweet-sellers ), namkeenwallahs ( sellers of savouries ) and paranthewallahs ( sellers of rich , flaky breads soaked in ghee ).
A good idea would be to start with the Paranthewali Gali . It became a famous gourmet locality when the parantha shops moved here in the 1870s . This lane has been the haunt of many celebrities of India .
" Delhi is not just a national capital , it is one of the political ultimates , one of the prime movers . It was born to power , war and glory . It rose to greatness not because holy men saw visions there but because it commanded the strategic routes from the northwest , where the conquerors came from , into the rich flatlands of the Ganges delta . Delhi is a soldiers ' town , a politicians ' town , journalists ', diplomats ' town . It is Asia ' s Washington , though not so picturesque , and lives by ambition , rivalry and opportunism .”
Modern Delhi has some popular temples of Modern India that are known not only for their religious significance but also for their experimental designs that challenge conventional architectural standards .
The Lakshmi Narayan Temple ( Birla Temple ), built by the Birlas , is dedicated to the worship of Lord Lakshmi Narayan ( Vishnu ).
Another temple worth a visit on your tour of Modern Delhi is the Lotus Temple built by followers of the Bahai faith . Built in the shape of a blooming lotus , the temple draws thousands of tourists each day . jan morris