Our Visit to the Lotus Temple

As we exit Nehru Place under the Nehru Place Metro Station towards the Lotus temple, the roads begin to slightly deteriorate. This road definitely needs layering. As we bank left into the road that leads to the Lotus temple, the temple perimeter becomes visible with a lovely fencing that is both aesthetic and useful. The morning sun reflected the temple in all its splendour.

I was taking my cousin, who had come from Kerala, to see a wonderful architectural wonder in modern Delhi - the Lotus Temlpe, the worship abode of the Baha'i community in Delhi. Created in the shape of a flowering lotus, it is an architectural wonder and was opened to public in 1986. It is situated east of Nehru Place, south of East of Kailash and north of Kalkaji. While technically, the place where it stands is called Baharpur, everybody calls it Lotus Temple!! The regular flow of visitors, including a vociferous group of schoolchildren, was picking up as we made our way into the premises. The entry is designed in such a way as to let the visitors view the exterior for an extended period of time before they can enter the sanctorum. Verdant gardens envelop the surroundings and this autumn morning, they were in a colourful riot. 

  

A flight of tastefully crafted steps lead up to the entrance. The structure itself is surrounded by pools of clear water. We came to know that these help keep the sanctorum cool. Footwear is not allowed inside the sanctorum. However, we were provided bags to keep the footwear.

There are nine gates that open into the sanctorum and we entered through one into the coolness of the great hall. Silent and majestic, it was a beautiful experience. We sat in one of the many benches that are provided inside the hall. After a few moments of meditation we explored a bit and then made our way out. The bags were returned and after the many customary photo sessions, we made our way back to our car.

Some facts about the Lotus Temple to help you make your visits more enjoyable

1. Visit towards the evening. The light show is a must-see!
2. More than 20% of the total electricity requirement of 500KW is generated through solar panels.
3. There is an elaborate arrangement for water conservation throughout the premises.
4. The pools cool the sanctorum even in the most fiercest of summers.
5. Photography inside the sanctorum is disallowed.
5. Entrance is free.

Know more about the Baha'i Temple           |               Wiki Entry on Baha'i Temple

Baha'i Temple on Google Maps

For other tourist attractions in Delhi, visit my blogs on  Humayun's Tomb, Safdarjung's Tomb, Lodhi Gardens,  Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Lotus Temple,  Zafar Mahal,  Qutub Minar, Alai Minar, Sanderson's Sundial

The Royal Jama Masjid of Delhi

Jama Masjid is the biggest mosque in Delhi.  It is important as a heritage property as it was built by Shah Jahan and the coronation ceremony of later Mughal emperors were performed by the imams of this mosque.  It is walking distance from Red Fort and consequently catered to the needs of the royalty of those times.

The mosque is situated in the middle of the most crowded and congested streets of old Delhi and therefore, getting to the place itself is a bit of adventure.

We took the Delhi metro and got down at the Chawri Bazaar Metro Station and walked the entire length of Chawri Bazaar to reach the West side of Jama Masjid. Crossing Gate No. 5 from where we could see the three domes from behind the structure. we walked around the border to reach Gate No. 3.   The entrance gate to the mosque was on top of a flight of stairs.  The wide structure looked majestic on top from where we were standing.

  

There is a wide worship area inside – it is supposed to be able to accommodate 25000 people to worship at the same time.   There are 3 entrance gates to the inner porch and entire courtyard is lined with arched verandahs leading to the towers at the four corners.

 

 From the verandah on the opposite side of the mosque, one could see parts of Red Fort.   If you come out of the gate on the east side, you will step into the old and famous colourful Meena Bazaar of Delhi.

For other tourist attractions in Delhi, visit my blogs on  Humayun's Tomb, Safdarjung's Tomb, Lodhi Gardens,  Chandni Chowk, Lotus Temple,  Zafar Mahal,  Qutub Minar, Alai Minar, Sanderson's Sundial

The simple Cheela

Cheela is a quick and simple north Indian breakfast. 

The usual breakfast in a north Indian household is Roti and Sabzi (Indian bread and a vegetable).   It is time consuming but quite filling and nutritious.  However, when the housewife feels that the children need a change and also there is a time crunch on her hands, she would try these quick recipes.

Chopped onion, ginger and green chillies are added to the besan flour (chickpea flour) and a batter like consistency is prepared with adding water and salt.   Then this preparation is fried on a pan both sides.  This can be served with a little sauce or chutney.

Chickpea is very nutritious.   These days housewives have started experimenting.  They mix half of besan and half of wheat flour to make it more tasty and many more vegetables or chopped coriander could be added to create a little extra zing and nutrition.

It is a quick bite and light on stomach.  Children can carry these in their lunch boxes.

The Punjabi Chhole Bhature

One of my favourite north Indian dish is chhole bhature.   

Chole is basically Kabuli Chana (chickpea) curry with a spicy,  thick and dark gravy and bhature is an elongated puri made from wheat flour.

I go back to my childhood days when I think about this dish.  This dish is usually sold by the street vendors and hawkers.  I used to have this with my friends when we were coming back from school or tuitions.  It used to be so yummy and melt in the mouth.  It is very difficult to get that same variety or quality anywhere these days.  The chana masala used to be a mixture of spices that hit the taste buds and create a magic.  And to top it, there was achaar ( pickle)  to go with it.  That vendor also used to give some finely chopped onions to spread on the masala and the tanginess along with the spice is still resting on my memory that my mouth has started watering.


These days the best chhole bhature can be had in any of the Haldiram outlets.  It is not as melt in the mouth as I spoke about, but the chhole masala is very tasty.

The famous breakfast of Kerala - Puttu and Pazaham

One of the most popular breakfast of keralites is the combination of having Puttu with Pazham (Banana).  Kerala is blessed with paddy fields and coconut trees and this dish rightfully claims to represent the Kerala culture and tradition and the agricultural background!  

For people who don't relish a sweet breakfast, kadala (chickpea) curry is the substitute for banana.    

It is a very easy breakfast item to prepare.  It is considered a healthy breakfast too because it is a steamed preparation and no oil is used for cooking.  It is made with rice flour and coconut.  Some people would add a little sugar to this combination if the banana is not very sweet.   Once you mix the banana into the puttu and mash it, it almost becomes a sticky and gooey kind of product.  Then you can make small balls of these and pop it into your mouth where it melts and gives a very good taste of the banana and coconut and cooked rice.

Method of Preparation

For anyone who is interested in preparing this at home, I am giving below a simple recipe.

The rice flour is fried and then cooled.   Then a little water is poured and get a powdery format by slightly wetting the powder with your hands.  There is a specially made cylindrical vessel in which this powder is transferred interspersed with grated coconut.   Place it on a pressure cooker and steam it.  Once the steam starts coming from the top, the puttu is transferred to a plate and serves hot with banana and sugar (optional).  Else with a lentil curry called kadala (chana in Hindi) curry. 

This is a staple breakfast for all malayalis in Kerala.   A very traditional and popular breakfast dish amongst keralites, it doesn’t go very well with north Indian taste unlike the famous Dosa or Idli that they gobble up so relishingly.   It is a little dry, powdery and bland in taste that can make them wonder what in heaven is so tasty about this dish that keralites love so much..  but I guess only a Keralite will understand the true value of this dish.  For me, my mouth starts watering the moment the name is mentioned J

p.s. :  Do write back to me in case you need the exact measures.  Else, you could search on the net to find the exact recipe to follow.

Chandni Chowk of Delhi, India

Going through chandni chowk and it's various little gulley's is a favourite pastime for me and my husband.  We would hop on a Delhi metro and shoot off, the moment we find we have a day to ourselves  and are not needed to do some errand for the family or go the kids school or run to some other event.


We prefer taking the Delhi metro to this place because one we cannot dream of getting our car into the unmanageable little roads and get stuck in traffic for endless hours.  It also gives a breather to my husband who is the only one in our family who can drive right now.

So, on a nice  sunny winter day, we set off to be part of the busy streets, hawkers,  vendors, chai wallahs, the street food guys.   It is an interesting mix of people and buildings, old and new, all intermingled with each other that they still maintain an individuality yet look so distinct. 

A person probably visiting for the first time might not find this place interesting at all.  I used to be like that.  I hated going there amongst the dirt and the chaos, amidst people jostling with each other to get ahead, people screaming at the top of their voices, a mayhem of cycle rikshaws, auto-rickshaws, car, scooter and hoards of people all getting into each others way and nerves.


I only had to make 2 or 3 visits with my husband to really understand the depth of these places.  Once you get into a gulley or a lane, the varieties of a single aspect displayed was simply mind boggling.  Now, I sometimes simply go there to open up my horizon, of my understanding of what all things are available there. 

 

There is a lane dedicated to only gems and stones.  Another lane would be selling only buttons and embellishments.  On one lane, you will simply find laces, rows of shops selling different coloured, different styles of laces.  There is a lane for bicycle parts, one lane for clothes, one for sarees, one for dry fruits and nuts, spices.....  The list just goes on..  Everytime we go, we choose a different lane to explore.

 

This old Delhi used to be the only Delhi people knew some 30 to 40 years back.  By now though the boundaries of Delhi has expanded to beyond Gurgaon on the south and Noida on the west, Rohini on the north, etc.  But when you visit old Delhi, you would not imagine that Delhi has expanded so much.  Life goes on as it used to couple of decades before.  It is as if time stood still somewhere in those periods for Chandni Chowk while the others moved on!

For other tourist attractions in Delhi, visit my blogs on  Humayun's Tomb, Safdarjung's Tomb, Lodhi Gardens,  Jama Masjid,  Lotus Temple,  Zafar Mahal,  Qutub Minar, Alai Minar, Sanderson's Sundial

Bekal Fort in Kerala, India

Bekal Fort is one of the lesser known forts located in the northern part of Kerala.  It is one of the oldest and largest forts of Kerala.  It is part of the Kasargod district of Kerala.

We made a day trip to Bekal Fort from our home in Pathanamthitta District by taking an overnight train that left us at the Bekal Fort Station early morning.  The station was right beside the Beach.  It was very convenient for us to get to the beach and to the fort walking down from the station.  However, since we were on an overnight train, we did not have anything to eat in the morning and therefore went out in search of Breakfast.   This, being a very small town did not have too many options.   There were roadside restaurants that served all Kerala dishes but it was off season.  We went during the monsoon season and therefore the place was less crowded.  We were told that this place is usually flocked till May end when the school kids in Kerala are on vacation!

  

 

Bekal fort is a protected monument.   It is a key like structure.  The fort was the citadel of the Kolathiri Raja's of Kerala which finally fell into the hands of Vijayanagiri empire.  It was then taken over by Tipu Sultan and the security features around the fort gives us the impression that it was built to keep an eye on the enemies coming in from the sea side as well as land.  

After our Breakfast in the town, we took an auto to the main entrance of the fort.  Inside the fort, there was an observation tower in the center of the fort with a ramp going up and down.   The walls  that surround the fort went on and on across the length and breadth of the fort.  

  

The walls were approx 12 ft in height and were very strong built.  We could see the holes that would have been used to keep guns and ammunition by the fort guards.   There was a wider opening that was used to keep tanks.  As we peeked in through these holes and the gaps, we could see the entire stretch of the sea around.  

  

  

The fort is surrounded by sea on the west side.  There was a lane that would take you down to the sea and beaches.  The beach on the fort side was rocky. The waves lashed on them with so much fury that it was exhilaratig to look at the lather foaming up as they hit the big rocks. 

  

The beach near the fort was beautiful and crescent shaped.   It could be accessed by just walking down the fort.  The view of the beach from the fort was also very nice.  We had the whole beach to ourselves and we enjoyed the afternoon sun in the waters.  There were coconut trees lined and a garden adjacent to the beach which also had interesting things for kids.

Bekal Fort on Google Maps