It is often said that India in not a country - but a continent. It is an enormous country, the cities are overcrowded, and in many places it is filthy - and yet it is juxtaposed with some of the most magnificent palaces and luxurious hotels on the continent.
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New Delhi has a sense of order that Old Delhi lacks. It is the name given to the imperial capital created by the British and is often referred to as Luyten's Delhi, the architect who - together with Herbert Baker - were responsible for many of the imperial buildings that were built around New Delhi. Rashtrapati Bhawan, now the palatial residence of the President of India, as well as the parliament buildings, have a strong resemblance to our well-known Sir Herbert Baker Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Extreme heat is what most people associate with India, and it was no different on my recent visit to that country. When I stepped from the cab into the high temperature of 39 degrees Celsuis I more than welcomed the air-conditioned foyer of The Claridges - a small boutique hotel, situated on Aurangzeb Road in a chic and upmarket area of New Delhi, and where the diplomatic residences are to be found. This boutique hotel has a warm and intimate atmosphere and very suitable to host women travelling on their own.
The hotel has four restaurants and a bar. Pickwicks, the multi-cuisine restaurant captures old English charm. The fabulous Dhaba restaurant has an enormous truck mural on the wall with an open kitchen, which resembles a truck-driver's wayside café, and emulates a typical north-Indian highway experience. The waiters are in customary Bhangra garb, and the food served has traditional north-Indian ingredients. Corbett's, the outdoor restaurant draws inspiration from Jim Corbett National Park and serves delectable Indian barbeques and the restaurant Jade offers Chinese cuisine within its contemporary Zen inspired ambience. Aura - the Vodka Bar serves over 40 varieties of exotic and rare Vodka brands.
The Imperial Hotel, which dates back to 1931, is another stunning hotel situated on one of New Delhi's most famous boulevards called Janpath, a stone throw away from the main shopping district of Connaught Place. This five star establishment, a unique blend of Victorian, old colonial and a playful dosage of informal art deco, is well positioned in beautifully manicured gardens. Their Spice Route Restaurant, proclaimed to be the only one of its kind, takes you on a culinary armchair journey of spices from the Malabar Coast in Kerala through Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia to Thailand and Vietnam.
All meals taken at the Imperial are special occasions, as no area of the hotel has been left deprived of the magical influence of Art, which forms and imparts an integral museum feel to this establishment. The hotel boasts one of the finest art collections, and probably has the best collection of colonial and postcolonial art, photography and artifacts depicting the 200 years of India under British rule. The hotel offers organized Art Tours of their impressive collections.
Shah Jahan, the Moghul emperor built Old Delhi, which was the capital of Muslim India between mid-17th and the late 19th centuries. It is a maze of crowded streets, temples and mosques, and of particular interest is the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. The monuments and the Red Fort, which relate to the city's rich Moghul history, are also to be found in this part of Delhi.
Walking through the colourful main street and shopping bazaar of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi with my most informative guide Ashok, I was fascinated by the daily activities on the crowded streets, in particular, how efficiently the street vendors churned out food on a non stop basis for the local people. There were a variety of items that ranged from as little as 6 rupees (less than R1), which means that most people can at least afford to buy something to eat during the course of a working day.
On a sightseeing visit to Humayun's Tomb and the Qutab Minar in the suburb of Mehrauli, there is the modern and very up-market restaurant Olive Bar & Kitchen in the One Mile Style Complex, situated in the same area. It has the perfect setting to enjoy lunch or dinner, under the enormous shaded tree in their large courtyard.
Getting yourself around Delhi is relatively easy, and one option is by 'autorickshaw' - a noisy three-wheel device with a driver in front and seats for two passengers behind. Because of their size they are often faster than taxis for short trips, but you need to possess nerves of steel to remain calm while they dodge in-and-out of the traffic. Metered taxis are probably the best option, since they are air-conditioned and are readily available from your hotel.
I always make special time for shopping on my trips to India, especially to buy their excellent cotton. For boutique-style shopping, Santushti is an excellent place to visit, however, the best value for money is definitely from the Fabindia store in the GK 1 Bazaar!
To book at this establishment, click here.
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