This was my first visit to majnu ka tilla. This is not a place that is extraordinarily popular as some markets of Delhi. My experience of this place was surreal if i can say so without exaggerating.
The entrance is a through a gateway which leads to a thin lane which further divides in lanes.
The monestry is like the centre of the area and is one big courtyard which you will find with people selling tea and
La phing; this is a dish made of starch, the vendors take one sheet of this puts salt, oil, garlic chutney which is a huge part of tibetian food as can be found in all the restaurants here, soybean granules a bowl of this just for 30 rupees . After having one bite of it you realize that this must be an absolute soul food in Tibet.
Then we headed to the monastery and which was a calming and my not so often encounter with religious place. the monastery has a huge prayer wheel around 10 feet tall.
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| lamps at the entrance of monastery |
Then we headed further with our expedition and with every step in the lanes I felt more and more like a tourist in my own city.
There are so many charismatic places in Delhi one of the most diverse city of India currently the 9th civilization of its own. With every street having its own story and offering different experiences I had never felt like a tourist before in my own city.
I roamed about the streets ike a curious child with something new a every turn.The lanes are filled with shops selling incense sticks, teas, traditional clothes along with imported shoes, knock offs of various brands, shops selling gems and stones, silver jewelry, more shops selling la phing, momos stall, shops selling mantra streamers, true Tibetan ingredients.
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| Shop selling tibetan ingredient. |
We sat down at Tee Dee which was suggested to us by the la phing lady. the place is a small eatery with tibetan and chinese food. The chair seats were covered with handloom fabrics giving it a rustic look. We ordered shablays that is a deep fried stuffed patty like samosa but filled with vegetables which is wonderfully flavoured with ginger.
The next thing we ordered was Devil's Momos these were steamed momos sauteed in chili garlic sauce the heat does justice to the name.
Tingmo is a steamed bread which has a texture as if a kulcha and bun had a baby. According to wikipedia stuffed tingmo is called momo so it's mother of momo??? (brain fart moment)
Chinar apple beer as easily found, this is a kashmiri frizzy apple juice totally refreshing and soothing along with the spice.
Tee Dee has an amazing over all vibe when you look down the window you see the tiny lanes and the place has soft music playing.The ambience is normal and the rates absolutely nominal. The service staff is friendly and they leave you alone with the menu and a notepad to write down your order. My friend bought it in my notice that it seems like a perfect date location with good food,good soft music over which making a conversation is not like yelling which happens in most of the place playing edm.
Majnu ka tilla will make you feel alienated from the hustle and bustle of Delhi despite being in the very centre. If the weather is pleasant or it just rained the place can be considered a hill station, apparently tibet is a hilly place and it's not just the tradition, culture or food that has tibetness in it but the entire area is so that is gives a different type of euphoria.
This is definitely a mini getaway place for me!
