Ignore the obvious tourist attractions

Having been to Delhi more times than I remember, I usually approach India's capital city the same way that Londoners approach London. In other words, ignore all the obvious tourist attractions, they're part of the scenery and only actual tourists visit them. The only break from this norm was two years ago when I visited Delhi with my husband and Mini Me 1 and Mini Me 2 for the first time.

Acting like a local

My Chachaji (uncle) wanted to show my husband all the tourist spots of Delhi and we went to Red Fort, India Gate, Qutab Minar and Himayoun's Tomb. They all have a rich history and are well worth visiting, however on our recent trip to Delhi I was 'acting like a local' again. And I guess when I go to Delhi I am a local because it’s home to me when I am in India. It’s where my family house is and where my family live. This also means I get to find about and visit little hidden gems. I’m going to share them with you:

Hauz Khas Village

Hauz Khas Village is residential and commercial area in South Delhi. It’s a hub for designers, artist and fashion enthusiasts. The narrow lanes remind me of the back streets in central Venice. My youngest sister works in one of the galleries, Art Konsult, where there was some amazing artwork on display. Mini Me 1 has a great time photographing all the exhibits! My sister introduced us to her favourite local hang out, Gypsy Café. It’s a small but stylish place and has a totally chilled out and creative vibe.

Deer Park

Deer Park is right next to Hauz Khas Village. The park is a beautiful oasis of calm in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Delhi. The further you walk into the park the more the traffic and noise of Delhi’s roads become a distant memory. The park is quite big, so much so that we didn’t actually make it to the Deer enclosure! There are historical tombs from the Mughal era, old monuments and Hauz Khas lake. When we visited there two weeks ago, there were some singers rehearsing in one of the monuments. This is typical of the creative vibe in Hauz Khas village and I love it!

Lajpat Nagar

I find it weird that many of my friends who have visited Delhi several times don’t know about Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi. It’s one of my favourite places to shop when I visit Delhi. In my opinion the swanky new malls don’t compare to this colourful maze of stalls and shops. You can get pretty much everything sold in the malls but at a much lower price. You can also get your mendhi (henna) done at the side of the road for a very reasonable price! It’s great for Indian wear and jewelry. This time I picked up some gorgeous lengha’s for my daughters and myself, and two pairs of Punjabi jutis (shoes). The clothing shops have amazing service and if you’re buying a ready made outfit that doesn’t quite fit or hang well, they can adjust it for you at no extra cost. Lajpat Nagar has a very conveniently located Metro station which is great too.

Dilli Haat

This is one the hidden gems that I wish I had had time to visit. It was on the agenda, but we ran out of time. Dilli Haat is an open air craft bazaar where the stalls operate on a rotational basis so that crafts men from different regions of India get a chance to display and sell their products. My mum is a regular visitor to Dilli Haat and is always showing me her purchases and photos of the market and handicrafts. There are lots of good eating places there too. Next time I visit Delhi I’m making a beeline for this place!

Tibetan Market

Another interesting place that I wish I had visited was the Tibetan Market in the Civil Lines area of Delhi. My husband and cousin went there and ate lunch at a Korean restaurant. My husband told me he felt like he’d stepped into another country. The whole area is inhabited by refugees from Tibet and the market is known for its collection of winter clothing and Tibetan handicrafts.

I love the fact that Delhi is so random and crazy. One minute you can feel like you’re in Tibet and the next minute it’s like you’re walking through the backstreets of Venice! There is so much so see and do. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

MummyImperfect x