City Landmark – Anil Book Corner, Connaught Place Hangouts Landmarks by The Delhi Walla - November 21, 20230 The friend around the corner. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Volga river is in Russia. Connaught Place (CP) too had its Volga, the restaurant. A denim showroom exists on the site. Also a part of CP’s history: Gaylord restaurant, Galgotia & Sons bookstore, Madras Hotel… these and many other landmarks in CP have been replaced by new landmarks, which in turn have been replaced by newer landmarks. The churning-manthan is keeping the colonial-era arcade invigorated and youthful. Some long-standing CP landmarks however are still standing, like the Kwality restaurant, the Amrit Book Company, the Wenger’s cake shop, the Ram Chander & Sons toy shop… these places have entrenched themselves into CP’s soul. Each looks stately and venerable. Except for one. Attached
City Monument – Madrasa Aminia, Kashmere Gate Monuments by The Delhi Walla - November 21, 20230 A lesser-known beauty. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] First, the eyes are drawn to the arched pool. Then, to the greenish water in it; to the sky in the water; to the reflected crows flying in the reflected sky. And then, in the same crowded water, you see minars and arches. This whole world is still, but suddenly it trembles. A breeze is passing over the pool, causing a minor waterquake. Nestled amid the frenzied Bara Bazar in Kashmete Gate, Madrasa Aminia lies in seclusion. The gate on the cramped street opens into an airy courtyard with the pool as its centrepiece. The reflected minars in the pool are of the Masjid Panipatiyan that stands beyond—so named because the mosque was