Apparate to a different time through a joy ride inside Rail Museum

Museums are the best source to get hold of the era long gone by. It gives you a feeling of nostalgia when you step inside one. Being an avid lover of history and pushing myself to know the facts about the old times, I decided to spend my Sunday inside the National Rail Museum in Chanakyapuri in Delhi. It is one such unique museum which takes one to the time when steam engines were the source of transportation in India. This museum boasts of housing over 100 rails of Indian Railways.

When I started to pave my way inside the National Rail Museum, my eyes gauged on the magnificently built rails that dated back to more than 100 years before. One such kind of rail that asked for my time to be spent on was the Prince of Wales Saloon which was built in 1875. It is said that this was built to accommodate the visit of Prince of Wales for his visit to India. More such trains were built which were specific to Rajas-Maharajas of princely India, some are the Saloon of Maharaja of Indore and the Saloon of Maharaja of Mysore. Such saloon trains should be seen personally to get first hand information on the craftsmanship that went into the making of it. I was stuck to the old photographs displayed inside the museum panel showcasing different rails. 

Before planning my trip to the National Rail Museum in Delhi, I did some research on what attraction should not be missed here. So, one thing that topped my list was the 1885 built Fairy Queen. This is touted as one of the oldest and the best preserved piece of engines, and it is true!! Also, when I ended my voyage with a joy ride in one of the rails which apparated me to the times and lives of people of princely India.
I came back with cherishing memories of my time spent well at the museum. Since I had rest of my day in hand, I decided to rail my way to another museum in Delhi – modern museum - Metro Museum. It was interesting to know that this museum is the first modern Metro Museum in South Asia. At Patel Chowk metro station on the blue line, this museum is located.

This modern museum took me to the current era of technological innovations that went into the making of Delhi Metro. I was stunned to find so much information about Delhi Metro like the genesis of Delhi Metro, rough blue prints and sketches, technology selections, construction front of metro, how it marveled its way to success in Delhi and many more. Though I had limited time as the museum shuts down at 4 pm. I had to skip and rush my way inside the museum. Before leaving the museum, I promised myself to come back and spend a day in knowing the history, present and future of my Delhi Metro which has become an inseparable part of my commutation.

My Sunday was well spent in the Museums in Delhi focused on Rail transportation. My journey from steam engine-rid rails to electric locomotives – Metro was memorable.

Delhi and its Shopping Culture turn a regular person into a ‘Shopaholic’

Delhi is a paradise for shopaholics. Shoppers especially girls go mad upon seeing the various markets for street shopping in Delhi. Delhi also provides the modern touch to its shopping area by having numerous shopping malls in Delhi, which satisfies the needs of brand-conscious people. 

I visit Delhi frequently to crack the best deal and buy value for money stuff, which can be apparels, accessories, footwear and even handbags. My wardrobe is mostly filled with stuffs bought from the street markets in Delhi. After completing school, my next step was to get into a prestigious college of Delhi University, which I eventually got. My knowledge on street shopping in Delhi was limited to the famous markets here, like Chandini Chowk, Janpath and Sarojini Nagar. Later, I started exploring more of the shopping side in Delhi. I with one of my friends, who lives in Delhi, helped me to expanse my facts for shopping in Delhi. She took me such places which I never even knew existed or even stepped my foot. My first such trip was to Lajpat Nagar. The place is powerhouse of trending fashion in the west. One can find anything from everything here, wedding shopping, party wears, college wears, everything you name it and they have it. And mind it, I returned with my hands full of shopping bags.

Next, my friend took me to Paharganj; I was astonished to find that stuff available here are priced half rate of what they sell at popular markets like Janpath and Sarojini Nagar. The place is good to buy bags full of books and novels. The first and foremost basics of street shopping according to me is to have the knack of bargaining, the sole of street shopping.

Though my friend isn’t too keen on going for street shopping, she took me to the mother of all malls in Delhi – Select CityWalk in Saket area of Delhi. This mall boasts proudly of showing high end labels and brands. Even I was surprise to see this sophisticated side of Delhi. This mall is like a fairy land for most of the girls, who are very particular about how they carry themselves. Products ranging from cosmetics to apparels to modern household items and also foreign food supplements, all varieties are available easily here. I was so mesmerized by the range of products this mall has that I had to empty all my cash in the Debit card. There’s one more mall which beats Select Citywalk that is Ambience Mall in Gurgaon. This mall is easily accessible since it lies in NCR region of Delhi and has Delhi Metro connectivity too. Any designer label you can think of, this mall will have a store of it. Labels like Armani, Dior, Burberry and many more are there where, high class Delhites love to shop.

Variety in shopping is never a problem in Delhi and its people, I have plenty of options to shop on different occasions from literally anywhere in Delhi.

Weddings in Gujarat customized with its Grand Culture takes one to a different Era

In India, weddings are nowadays celebrated as a grand event; Gujarat is no exception to this fact. Their high culture quotient comes alive when two persons are wedded into a matrimonial bliss.

Though I have visited this colorful state two times, I still find myself getting attracted towards it. With my earlier two visits, I got a firsthand experience in satisfying my quench to get in-depth understanding about the culture of Gujarat, its various art forms, variety in dance and music also. Whenever a travel tour is planned in a city apart from your home place, then the main concerns that pops in one’s mind is ‘food’. Gujarati food or cuisine is not limited to dhoklas, khandvas or sweet dal, rather there’s variety to it. Gujarati people can offer you the spiciest of their delicacies. On my last visit, I didn’t miss my chance to savor one of the lavish Gujarati thali (vegetarian) that fulfilled my taste buds to eternity.

This was my third to the state of utmost festivity and enthusiasm. I went to attend one my best friend’s wedding. Since, I thought a Gujarati wedding was the only aspect which I haven’t seen, I immediately jumped to the idea of attending a Gujarati wedding. Whenever I recollect my memories of the wedding, my urge to go back to Gujarat increases, the non-stop dancing to the tunes of dhol, doing Garba with my girl-friends, having lip smacking food and snacks, even though being deprived of knowing their names, witnessing all the rituals that goes into bringing together two entirely different families by getting their children married, was all an experience which I will cherish for life.

A lot goes into making the wedding a grand fair, though the customs and traditions are followed since their forefather’s time, a twist of modernity is added to some of the functions. Gujarati people take immense pride and pleasure in celebrating their ceremonies with utmost dedication and devotion. Gujarati wedding is a 3-day festivity consisting of an engagement ceremony, mehendi night and the sangeet gala, where each and everyone rejoiced every minute of the grand ceremony. I should also add that my friend, the bride, looked like a beautiful fairy in her traditional red and white saree, all decked up with jewelry, henna and a red and gold veil.

Hope I get another reason to visit again during any of the festivals of Gujarat like Navratras, Uttarayan, and many more.