Just like your favorite newspaper HT City continues to bring you the hottest news from the past 25 years, here are 7 very Delhi things that have remained unchanged since 1999! Doubt us? Read and check for yourself:
Car drivers don’t know how to drive and don’t pay by the meter!
Public transportation is easily accessible, making commuting in the capital a breeze. While there are considerable facilities on the subway and buses, the most traditional way to get around is by hailing a car. But no matter the year or decade, persuading car drivers to stick to the meter is a difficult task, and one that few accomplish. Even today, fares on a mobile app may convince car drivers to show up, but it still doesn’t force them not to refuse a ride. Oh, do you know a car driver who drives on the meter? That must be a once-in-25-year event.
Chache and Joe Hall!
Food trends come and go, but Chache Di Hatti’s Chhole Bhature remains as mouth-watering as it was a few years ago. Any Delhiite will vouch for the fluffy batulas at Kamla Nagar Market as they have an unparalleled tangy balance in the rich gravy that is rarely found in newer shops. Back in 1999, several students of Kirori Mal College (KMC) would even jump over the college wall to grab plates during breaks. Now, while the walls of the university may no longer be a barrier, the young and even the old can still be seen huddled over plates to share piping hot batura and the nostalgic taste.
Calm down @K-Nags
After a long and tiring day of classes and extra-curricular activities, students of Delhi University always gather around Kamla Nagar aka K-Nags, a nickname that has been part of the campus lingo for 25 years! Whether trying the latest eatery popping up in the side lanes or relying on the trusty old kulche chhole, students’ food pictures are always sorted in scrolls and scrapbooks. The Polaroid format and filters in photos of Gen Z students may give them an air of a bygone era, but browse through the scrapbooks of parents of DU alumni and you’ll still see them saying, “Nothing has changed here at K” – Old horse.
Bargaining at Sarokini
“Bhaiyya, theek-theek laga lo” is the cry of all the shopaholics as they know that the deals they get at Sarojini Nagar market are simply unbeatable! Want a designer leather jacket or sequined shirt? You name it, the sellers here have it, but not just the price you end up paying them. Generations of eager beavers have been splurging in the side lanes of Sarojini Nagar Market, where the best fashions can be found at throwaway prices. Plastic bags may have been replaced by jute or cotton bags but the emotion of getting the harvest of sarogini remains the same.
Colonnade of CP
If columns could talk, the white colonnades of Connaught Place would tell the stories of the countless people who stroll through the city centre. Whether you’re recording, window shopping, passing the time, or just catching up with friends and family, the Georgian architecture of Connaught Place’s inner and outer circles offer a perfect mix of high-end shops and budget flea markets. Some of Delhi’s oldest restaurants, companies and commercial centers make a walk around the neighborhood unforgettable. more importantly? One of the tallest Indian flags in Central Park! Is there any reason not to take a selfie in this historic part of the city?
i scream ice cream at india gate
The weather does not dictate the tradition of having ice cream at the India Gate. Summer or winter, young or old, this phenomenon in Delhi has been the norm for generations. Craving something sweet late at night? Head to this place for repairs. Kartavya Path was recently renovated and the ice cream vendors now have a designated spot to serve tourists and Delhiites as the constant flow of ice cream lovers here never diminishes.
Sahitya Ka Ped at Mandi House
The tree on Safdar Hashmi Marg at Mandi House is quite iconic, especially for those interested in Hindi literature and theater circles. So far, many actors from the National School of Drama (NSD) and artists from nearby art colleges have been spotted indulging in chai pe charcha in Tapuri. Their favorite activity was exchanging ideologies and sketching out scenarios on notepads. Haven’t had a #LitTalk event here yet?