If you were to ask a Delhiwallah about the things that make their city iconic, the Delhi Metro would feature somewhere high on the list. The magnificent public transport project has brought far-flung parts of the city closer together like never before. Two new lines of the Delhi Metro – the Magenta Line and the Pink Line – have been flagged off this year. The following is a guide to the city through the new network, indicating the experiences that the subway system brings with some of its new stations.
Magenta Line
The Magenta Line runs through the outer ring road, connecting parts of south Delhi to Janakpuri in the west and Botanical Garden in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, which falls under NCR. It is being heralded as the ‘knowledge corridor’ as it connects three educational institutions – Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Institute of Technology and Jamia Millia Islamia University. Here are highlights of the Magenta Line:
Sadar Bazaar Cantonment: Hitherto cut off from the rest of the city, the Delhi Cantonment area now has a metro station of its own. While the Delhi Cantt Sadar Bazaar may not be as promising as its namesake in old Delhi (the largest wholesale market in Asia), it’s a great place to stop for army boots and stylish leather jackets. The cantonment area, in general, is also nice to walk around in but you may need permissions to enter certain parts.
Vasant Vihar: This metro station is just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Basant Lok complex which hosted many of India’s firsts, including the first McDonald’s in 1996, the original Turquoise Cottage in 1997 and also the first TGI Fridays. The market also has PVR Priya (currently under renovation), which is one of the few surviving single-screen theatres in the city. Both Jawaharlal Nehru University and the three malls (DLF Emporio, Promenade and Ambience Mall) are a 5-minute auto ride from the station, so you can enjoy the diverse experiences of air-conditioned malls and eat at one of JNU’s many dhabas.
IIT Delhi: As the name suggests, the station has been built primarily for those who wish to visit the Indian Institute of Technology campus. The campus is a city within a city, with lush green trees protected from the traffic outside the campus gates. You can spot an occasional peacock, while monkeys are frequent guests here. If you know friends or residents on the campus, it’s a good way to spend a day in the city. The Rose Garden behind the station is also a great spot for a winter picnic.
Hauz Khas: The Hauz Khas station is where the Magenta Line meets the existing Yellow Line (which connects Gurgaon to old Delhi and beyond). Hauz Khas is a vibrant area of the city, good for both, cultural experiences and a refreshing drink in a pub. The Hauz Khas main market is good for many household provisions, some stationery shops, and Navdanya, an NGO-run store where you can buy a variety of organic products. Most people, however, head to Hauz Khas village which is good for art galleries, restaurants, and a buzzing nightlife. If you want to get away from the pace of the city, however, the Deer Park Lake is a good place to find a quiet spot.
Chirag Delhi: Few would know that the unnavigable streets of the Chirag Dilli village actually lead to a quiet 14th-century dargah where Sufi saint Hazrat Naseeruddin Mahmud Roshan was laid to rest. The dargah is not easy to find and you will have to walk through concrete piling upon concrete to finally chance upon it. But if you’re interested in seeing how a historical city coexists with the contemporary capital, the Chirag Dilli village reflects clear margins of then and now.
Kalkaji Mandir: Another junction that connects the Magenta Line to the Violet Line, the station is, of course, a convenient way to visit the Kalkaji Mandir – a small temple on a hill dedicated to Goddess Kali. A little way away from the station is also the Lotus Temple, a quiet haven away from the madness of the city. You can spend a whole afternoon meditating here completely free of cost.
Jamia Millia Islamia: The Jamia Millia Islamia University is spread out over a large area and several different departments hold talks and events frequently. The campus of the pre-independence university also has some landmarks, like a decommissioned Indian Air Force fighter jet and the Bhopal Ground which has hosted some Ranjhi cricket matches. The neighbourhood surrounding the university is also a gastronomical treasure trove. Stop at one of the many food stalls the area is peppered with for some delectable biryani and kebabs.
Okhla Bird Sanctuary: Quiet and hardly ever visited (perhaps not even by its caretakers), the Okhla Bird Sanctuary is a 4-kilometre stretch next to the dying Yamuna River. The sanctuary is not much to talk home about through the year but some migratory birds can be spotted here between November to February. Grab a pair of binoculars and make an early morning stop to the sanctuary if you’re keen.
Pink Line
The Pink Line outranks the existing Blue Line as the longest metro line in the city. The corridor is only partly operational, from Mukundpur Depot in northeast Delhi till Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi. It connects four big shopping destinations in the city – Sarojini Nagar, INA, South Extension and Lajpat Nagar. Once fully operational, the line is expected to cover a large chunk of the city in a U-shaped pattern. Here are the highlights of this line:
Azadpur: If there is one thing Azadpur is known for, it’s the formidable wholesale market where most of the city gets its fruits and vegetables from. Once known as Asia’s largest fruit and vegetable market, the Azadpur Mandi is a short five-minute drive from the metro station. If for nothing else but to see where the food on your plate is coming from, make a stop at the market and experience its bustling charms and ways of conducting business.
Netaji Subhash Place: Netaji Subhash Place has been a shopper and foodie paradise for a few years and now there is a perfectly situated metro station to make this chaotic web of shops accessible. Get off here for an enriching street food experience, some bizarre food experiments (think Szechuan Maggi, Keema Samosa, and the likes) and several malls and enclosed spaces for affordable shopping.
Rajouri Garden: If Chandni Chowk or Karol Bagh seems too crowded for your wedding shopping escapades, the Rajouri Garden market is the perfect alternative and perhaps could even be the first choice. There are several large showrooms for lehengas and suits, like Bombay Selection and Shakuntalam. But it’s really the smaller shops where you may strike gold.
Moti Bagh: A posh residential area in south Delhi, Moti Bagh is home to several senior civil servants and other government officials. The area has wide, manicured roads with plenty of greenery. The avenues can be pleasant to take a stroll in on winter afternoons. Not far from the new station is the historic Gurudwara Moti Bagh Sahib. Built in the 18th century, the gurudwara sees lesser footfall than the iconic Bangla Sahib in central Delhi but the langar is just as delicious.
Sarojini Nagar: Delhi’s most fashionable flea market is now easily accessible through the metro. There’s little that your wardrobe won’t thank you for at Sarojini Nagar. From fashionable shoes, slippers, and boots to the most ‘in vogue’ clothes, Sarojini Nagar is the one-stop shop when you’re dealing with an existential fashion crisis.
INA: The INA station on the Pink Line connects with the already existing Yellow Line. The stations on both lines open out to the INA market on one side and Dilli Haat on the other. INA market is the premier destination to buy exotic fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and spices. Dilli Haat, across the road, is an iconic tourist attraction in the city and rightly so. The perennial haat has food stalls, handicrafts, and jewellery from states across the country. Go with a big heart and big wallet because the urge to spend in both these places is overwhelming.
South Extension: When there were no malls in Delhi, the South Extension market was the place in the city where all the big brands and restaurants arrived. The massive market is still a favourite haunt to shop for special occasions and events. There are jewellery stores and boutiques, sports brands and even Tekson’s Bookshop, for all the bibliophiles. There’s something for everyone here if you manage to navigate the traffic and find parking. But thanks to the metro, both those concerns are now taken care of.
Lajpat Nagar: Lajpat Nagar is another Delhi market that offers a plethora of options to whoever comes looking. The Pink Line joins the Violet Line at this station, connecting it to almost every existing metro line in the city. The market sells household items, kitchenware, fabric, shoes, and clothes (to name just a few items). Other than that, it boasts of lively street food stalls that serve delectable snacks which make the notorious Delhi Belly worth it too.
If there is one thing that unifies the city, it is the Delhi Metro. In the decade since its operation, the system has allowed people to travel from the outskirts into the heart of the city, and vice-versa, in comfort. In a city stratified by class, caste, and communities, the Delhi Metro acts as an equaliser, in many ways. The debates around the fare hike and special women’s compartment aside, the metro is changing the characteristics of this urban jungle every day, mostly for the better.
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