Photo Essay - The Peacock's Monsoon Plot, Mausam Bhawan

Photo Essay – The Peacock’s Monsoon Plot, Mausam Bhawan

Entry without the I-card. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The intruder entered without making any sound. One evening The Delhi Walla witnessed a daring act of trespassing. The intruder sneaked into the highly secured Mausam Bhawan in Central…

City Faith - Hazrat Hare Bhare Shah's Death Anniversary Celebration, Outside Jama Masjid

City Faith – Hazrat Hare Bhare Shah’s Death Anniversary Celebration, Outside Jama Masjid

The Urs of a mystic. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The story of his life has long been forgotten, but his shrine in the Walled City continues to inspire devotion. Hazrat Hare Bhare Shah’s dargah lies just outside…

City Walk - From ITO to Red Fort, Central Delhi

City Walk – From ITO to Red Fort, Central Delhi

The path less traveled. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Trips to Jama Masjid will soon become easier. The trial run of the eagerly awaited and much postponed Heritage Line of the Delhi Metro will begin in August 2016,…

Delhi’s Bandaged Heart – Poet Manika Dhama, Delhi & Outside Delhi

Delhi’s Bandaged Heart – Poet Manika Dhama, Delhi & Outside Delhi

Poetry in the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is a privilege to stalk an artist over a long period of time (see all the photos below). The Delhi Walla has been following Manika Dhama’s journey as…

City Food - The Archaeology of the Pavement Golgappa Stall, Connaught Place

City Food – The Archaeology of the Pavement Golgappa Stall, Connaught Place

Street food beyond food. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] You raise it up with your naked hand, insert it into your mouth and the rest is indescribable. Great shivers run down your entire being. It is mysterious that…

Mission Delhi – Muhammed Mirajuddin, Outside Turkman Gate Police Chowki

Mission Delhi – Muhammed Mirajuddin, Outside Turkman Gate Police Chowki

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] His bicycle is not looking like a bicycle. It is decked with lamps, water bottles, flags, locks, chains, switchboards, red and black power cables, a…

Atget’s Corner – 931-935, Delhi Photos

Atget’s Corner – 931-935, Delhi Photos

The visible city. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] Delhi is a voyeur’s paradise and The Delhi Walla also makes pictures. I take photos of people, streets, flowers, eateries, drawing rooms, tombs, landscapes, buses, colleges, Sufi shrines, trees, animals, autos, libraries, birds,…

City Monument - Aga Khan's Grand Heritage, Hazrat Nizamuddin

City Monument – Aga Khan’s Grand Heritage, Hazrat Nizamuddin

The great restoration project. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This could be the closest thing to paradise. Here, the world is all grass and birds, air and sky. Sunflowers sway gently in the afternoon breeze. Tiny manicured gardens…

Netherfield Ball – Publisher Chiki Sarkar's Secret Remained a Secret at Journalist Madhu Jain's Anniversray Bash

Netherfield Ball – Publisher Chiki Sarkar’s Secret Remained a Secret at Journalist Madhu Jain’s Anniversray Bash

The party secrets. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] A few of them looked adequately solemn to be practitioners of long-form journalism (see photo 8 below). One evening The Delhi Walla attended journalist Madhu Jain’s get-together at India Habitat…

City Food - Rabri, Chandni Chowk

City Food – Rabri, Chandni Chowk

Condensed sweetness. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is sweet snow. This creamy dessert is an exception to the rule that street food is always inexpensive. In Old Delhi bylanes (think chaotic Chandni Chowk), the humble-looking pavement stalls…