Lodi Garden, Chanakya Puri, Indian Gate, Red Fort – a 1 day trip in Delhi

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A company training finally brought me back to India. There is not much to tell, since all I did was to contact a family friend and he arranged the trip for me. I used to stay in India for 5 years- about 20 years ago. It is interesting to see how India has changed, and I would say the change is mind blowing.

My training was held in Gurgaon, which is an area unheard of for me. This is where all the business district is located. You can see buildings with those Fortune 100 companies names on it (IBM, Microsoft, Sun, etc etc etc). It shows how India has progressed over the past few years. Impressive !

So, I only have 1 day to try to explore Delhi and I chose to go to places where I grew up. This might not be a good reference for a backpacking trip since some of the places I visited is not what people will expect to visit whenever they are in Delhi.

Lodi Garden

Lodi Garden is located at the heart of Delhi. I used to walk here with my mom when I was little. It houses several tombs of the Moguls that is still well preserved. I didn’t count how many it was, but there are several. Most tombs are looked alike with a very fine details at the ceilings. Many people come here to exercise in the morning , play cricket or do some club activities . It contains a lake as well and is a very shady area, great for summer. No entrance fee.

Chanakya Puri Area

This area is where i spend most of childhood. I studied and played here. The Indonesian embassy is located at the Chanakya Puri area, you can’t really miss it with its beautiful Balinese gate and all. Met some of the old fellows here as well.

Defence Colony

We used to live in this area and my mom and I had a habit of visiting the Defence bakery after she picked me up from school. The bread used to be very very homemade in taste. Seeing how it grows into a prosperous bakery now is such a delight. I tasted their buttered croissant and it reminded me so much of my childhood memories. Delicious ! We also ate at one of the few restaurants back then ( the Colonel’s Kebab). Their tandoori is still to die for and what a tasty buttered nan they served! A must try !

Indian Gate

A visit to Delhi is NEVER complete without a visit to Indian gate and its surroundings parliament house. It was built for the memories of all the Indian heroes who has fought bravely against the British. The security has been tighten during the past few years since it is the main target for terrorist attack. I remember when I was a kid I can see the monument up close and read the names of those heroes-- now they have set up some boundaries to prevent us to get closer.

The Red Fort

I didn’t get inside the Red Fort due to the time limit, but I guess this is a must see place as well if you are in Delhi. It separates the Old Delhi from the New Delhi and the building must be quite spectacular from the inside.

There goes my 1 day trip in Delhi. Not so much to tell, I know. But it is still something I would love to share and cherish. I hope there will be a chance to visit India again soon. Namaste !

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