Dil ki basti Dilli

Who doesn’t like exploring their heritage and seeing monuments, and what better way to do this, but by foot - as coined by my dear friend Rajat, "Chalte Bano" ( gotakeawalk ).  Especially if you are in a city like Delhi which has a lot to offer, like great history, empires, religion, timeless monuments, and sacrifices. Combine Old Delhi and New Delhi, and the list becomes endless - a perfect retreat for any retrophile. My first experience with Heritage walks, dates back to June 2017, when I was coaxed into joining a walk organized by Delhi Karavan , titled " Ramzaan Ki Bahaar: Jumma Iftaar Walk". I still remember alighting from the metro and finding our way in those crowded lanes soaked with festivity. It was one such evening when Delhi Karavan organized a grand iftaar for its musafirs at Jama Masjid followed by dinner at Al-Jawahar. This once in a year walk exposed me to the bylanes of Purani Dilli and the many stories that the city had to offer. Thus began t

So this weekend I was busy dusting off the bike after a month-long break. The last ride was on the 5th of November after which the weather in Delhi deteriorated with AQI level of 500+ which was considered hazardous. It was unimaginable to cycle in those toxic conditions. So 2 weeks passed by and then I have a short weekend getaway during the Thanksgiving Break (Nov 23rd), more of which I shall share on a different page. This gave me an idea of not just sharing my cycling stories but also my extensive Heritage Walk stories. Finally the much awaited Saturday when you clean up your bike for the Sunday ride. So after a 4-week rest, we thought of testing ourselves and set to break our trip distance record. After a lot of thinking, we narrowed down to Asola Bhatti Sanctuary which was a one way 38km trip from our starting point, Galleria Market. For a change the, prep took much longer, thanks to the weather. The morning temperature is usually 10 degree this time of the year and t

his Sunday (Nov 5) a 24km ride from home takes us to a place far from the madding crowd amidst picturesque woods teeming with peacocks and winding hill trails which leads to a beautiful forest temple – destination Bhondsi (mind the spelling) and all this just a stone throw (rather few stones) away from the heart of Gurgaon.  How to get there by Cycle: The Google Map link has the exact route we took to cover the destination. Took Golf Course Road from Global Foyer Mall to Golf Course Extension road (roughly 6km) and took the right to Rajesh Pilot Road (Golf Course Extn. Road) for another 6.5km and took the left exit from Hansaram Chowk. We continued for roughly 4km till we reached the BSF camp on the right side of the road. The mud road adjacent to the camp (1km) takes you to the entrance of the park.  However, we decided to first explore the Devi Maa temple which we could see at a distance atop a small hillock with no roads to reach the same. However, after a few tria

One of the most enjoyable ways to see Delhi is to wake up early and set out with Delhi by cycle. A 24km one way ride and we were ready for a 2km walk at Lodhi Garden followed by the amazing murals in Lodhi Art District - 26 walls which have been given a dazzling makeover by St+Art. The Tomb of Muhammad Shah, Lodhi Garden We stick to the usual route from Galleria to Mehrauli Gurgaon road via Sunset Boulevard and Aravali Bio Diversity park , crossing Ghitorni and joining Aurobindo Marg after crossing Qutub Minar. This was our first ride destination by the way if you click on the link. We continue on the same road which takes us via Sarvodaya Enclave Market -> Hauz Khas -> Green Park -> Bada Gurudwara (Green Park). We continue further on Sri Aurobindo Marg crossing AIIMS -> INA Market (Dilli Haat) before reaching Safdarjung Tomb.  We had crossed this landmark multiple times but never stopped over. So decided to stop over for a few minutes at Safdarjung Tomb before t

Another Sunday and time for another ride. But before I get into this weeks ride let me touch upon the biggest challenge I have been facing ever since I got hooked on cycling - deciding on which place to RIDE.  So going by the rules (How to find new roads to cycle) we narrowed down on Sultanpur National Park for this Sunday morning ride. A paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers Sultanpur National Park is also a perfect retreat for anyone who wants to spend some peaceful time away from the hustle bustle of Gurgaon city life. Going by Google Maps it is a 25km one way ride and has multiple routes by car (wish google maps had a cycling route option as well for Indian roads). We started early morning and rode through Sector 29 via Leisure Valley and took NH 48 till we reached Hero Honda road (roughly 10kms from the starting point). All well till this point, but then the landscape changed as soon as we took the right turn to Basai village. The roads very congested even in

We meet early in the morning at Galleria Market, DLF Phase 4, Gurgaon to begin our long 28km ride to India Gate. We stick to the usual route from Galleria to Mehrauli Gurgaon road via Sunset Boulevard and Aravali Bio Diversity park, crossing Ghitorni and stopping over at Aurobindo Marg after crossing Qutub Minar for our first hydration break. This was our first ride destination by the way if you click on the link. We continue on the same road which takes us via Sarvodaya Enclave Market -> Hauz Khas -> Green Park. Our next stop being Bada Gurudwara (Green Park). A short break here and we continue further on Sri Aurobindo Marg crossing AIIMS -> INA Market (Dilli Haat) -> Safdarjung Tomb.  We were in two minds to stop over at Safdarjung's Tomb for a while but then decided against it in the interest of time. We continue the ride, which has been linear all the while for almost 20km without a single turn, so not much work for Google Maps here. Just after Safdarjung

So whats common about Delhi and Rocky Balboa - It is about getting bloodied, knocked out, getting back up, dusting off and ready for the next fight/battle. The history of the city is as old as the epic Mahabharata. The town was known as Indraprastha, where Pandavas used to live. In due course eight more cities came alive adjacent to Indraprastha: Lal Kot, Siri, Dinpanah, Quila Rai Pithora, Ferozabad, Jahanpanah, Tughlakabad and Shahjahanabad. Later the country and the city came under the British rule. In 1911, British shifted their capital from Calcutta to Delhi. It again became the center of all the governing activities. But, the city has the reputation of over throwing the occupants of its throne. It included the British and the current political parties that have had the honour of leading free India. Something I have realized during my initial few cycling rides in Delhi is that the best way to feel its more than two millennia of history and heritage is through a trip on a

After clocking 36km on our  First Ride  we were ready to take a bigger challenge this time. So the logical next step was to research cycling trails in Delhi NCR region. One destination than repeatedly came up was Mangar hills and lake in Faridabad. We had no idea about Mangar and checked the location on Google which showed a 24km one way  ride. So it was just perfect as we were targeting 45km and above for our second ride.  We started at 6am on a Sunday which is our designated cycling day and started following google maps which took us through Sunset Blvd crossing Shiv Nadar School till we reached the Gurgaon - Faridabad road which is one of the best cycling tracks in Delhi NCR except for the painful elevation at certain stretches which are likely to test your cycling skills and endurance levels.  Being a Sunday, this route was buzzing with joggers, cyclists and super bikers - never a dull moment on this route. After a continuous ride 15km on right hand side there is a board

Before my first ride in the Capital did my bit to ensure a safe and happy ride experience. Like all Indian roads the same rule applies here: the size of your vehicle and the strength of your horn matters. But, if you’re reading this, you’re probably already aware of the dangers and want to know how to lessen the risks and enjoy a new destination every time you SADDLE up. So here goes my first experience - Gurgaon (DLF Phase 4) to Qutub Minar and back.  This was a 36 km ride from Galleria Market, DLF Phase 4, Gurgaon to Qutub Minar and back with a little detour to grab a roadside breakfast. The ride has a total ascent of 190m mostly along the Sunset Blvd stretch before you hit MG road.  A beginner’s ride should be around 30 kilometers and should take not more than three hours to complete. All said we decided to stick to the rule book and clocked 36 km for our first ride in 2hr 45mins with a chai break at a roadside tea stall near Arobindo Marg.  A rather eas