Weekend In Delhi: Eat, Shop and Soak In History

There is much splendor and simplicity in Delhi, the capital city of India. If you are ready to have a blast during the weekend and experience the good life that the city has to offer, there are more than 10 options for everything without having to compromise on the fun quotient.

Food is paranthas in various forms: Forget your usual diet routine for a while to enjoy a generous dab of butter on your paranthas at Paranthe Wali Galli in Chandni Chowk. Enjoy the range of accompaniments like spiced curds, potato masala or even meat curries. Or head to Moolchand paranthe wale in Lajpat Nagar.

Want some kebabs? Go to the renowned Karim's to enjoy royal food from Mughal era. Yet another old restaurants which speaks volumes of Delhi foodie culture is Moti Mahal in Daryaganj. You can also taste the culture in the form of butter chicken, brain masala and burra kebab, as it claims to be the inventor of these recipes. But, here's a piece of warning: The road-side Punjabi food joints that have cropped up in every corner might leave you disappointed.

Wardrobe makeover: Do you know why Delhi girls are the best dressed in the country? It is shopping at Janpath and Sarojini Nagar where every piece of clothing looks like a designer dress. And what's more, you will just love engage in bargaining with the shopkeeper to buy them. So, if you are not someone who travels very often, stock up on a year's wardrobe by spending 25% of your budget. Buy extra bags to go along with it! Clothes never complete dressing especially if you are in Delhi. Match it with accessories from Hanuman Mandir choodi (bangle) bazaar at Connaught Place. You will find designs and choices that you never knew existed.

Not keen on shopping? Go to the Daryaganj Sunday book market. Set on narrow footpaths, this is a treasure trove of rare books and second-hand versions of popular titles and even course material across disciplines.

Shopping in Delhi will also let you check out city's best places in Connaught Place (CP), Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and many more which are also heritage walks. You won't be walking around empty-handed for sure!  

Mughals, British and Punjabis: Delhi offers many time capsules of history in the form of Qutub Minar, India Gate, Mughal Gardens, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Lodhi Gardens and Humayun's Tomb. Are you worried that you might not cover them all in a weekend? Well, there are not many traffic snarls in Delhi, especially if your trip is well-planned. If you are keen on covering all the sites, take a city tour and make sure it also includes Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Swaminarayan Akshardham and Bahai Lotus Temple.

Drink and Dance: Spent all day eating and walking around? It is a crime to go to bed early in Delhi. You must take away any traces of fatigue with some Indian-style jhatkas and matkas. Not only will the music make your foot tap, but the charged crowd will get you in the mood. The new nightlife spots are gradually shifting out of the city to NCR areas like Noida, Greater Noida and Gurgaon. There are DLF Place Mall and the Crescent Mall with a choice of pubs with dance floors. There is also Urban Knights in Greater Kailash if you are looking for a European style place. If the purpose is to unwind, you can also head to Aura or 1911 Bar in Connaught Place.

(The writer has been working as a business journalist for the last nine years, and has covered beats across banking, pharma, healthcare, telecom, technology, power, infrastructure, shipping and commodities)