Skip to main content

Posts

The Non-Dilli Wala

The idea to start sharing my experiences came to my mind a few months after I moved to Gurgaon - sometime back in October 2017. I was in Gurgaon way back in 2004 and when I moved out of the city in 2006, I had made a promise to myself - never to come back here for another job, no matter how lucrative it would be. But then you can't change what destiny has in store for you and here I was back in the city one hot summer day in May 2017. The first 6 months went by, settling in the new city,  getting comfortable with my new job, looking for a school for Kashvi, finding a gym in the neighborhood and getting back to the life I was used to. Thanks to Gurgaon, its infrastructure and my flexible work schedule, I had some time to think what I wanted out of life. From there on it was a trial and error process engaging with multiple people and activities and at the end narrowed down on - a) heritage walks, b) cycling and c) yoga and fitness. These 3 (along with my family) have become an i...

Cycling your way to History in Delhi

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 t...

Cycling to Mangar, Faridabad

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 rig...

Cycling to Qutab Minar

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.  ...