Cannot tell you how much I love the first paragraph.
The rest is so good too. I spent twenty years in Delhi, so there is a very strong umbilical cord I share with the city. But it's been a while since I visited most of these places. This essay felt like finding old pictures inside the cellophane leaves of a Kodak photo album. Love it.
Thank you Sarthak! Happy to hear you could relate. '.... finding old pictures inside the cellophane leaves of a Kodak photo album' brings back so many memories, haha!
Loved the post but the beginning especially because I've just started reading Calvino's Invisible Cities! Your quotes have added to my excitement about the book.
I'm also learning to see Bangalore the way you view Delhi, through walks and the eyes of others. You realise each city can contain more layers than we can acquaint ourselves with in a lifetime.
Will definitely read this post again before my next Delhi visit
Thanks Ayush! I read Invisible Cities eons ago and have been meaning to re-read it soon. I love the excerpts I used in the post. And it's so true, cities have so many layers to them, just like people. You can never really know it enough!
I spent a couple of months in Delhi during a summer internship while in college (a workation, I suppose!) and loved the sense of history it possesses. Being able to amble in a millenia old Fort while catching up with friends is quite surreal. Loved it!
I recently returned from Turkey, my second trip in 6 months, to savour food, culture & above all history. While there, yet again, I thought of the many reasons I have not been able to do the same in Delhi.
Your experiences sounds like a breeze! I’m going to look up the links you’ve mentioned.
Thank you Sharmila! I've been eating Çilbir all week on my current travels and dream of visiting Turkey some day! Whenever I'm abroad, I wish I explored India more before looking outward, so I hear you.
This is a fantastic read. I've been in Delhi for the past 3 years and realize there is much more to explore. Could totally relate to the perspective on the city being "a microcosm of diverse cultures, identities and spaces". So true!
'Just the act of enjoying a heritage monument not as an artifact but as a place in the present brought it alive for me.' Oh so beautiful. This post has all the ingredients of yearning, for a non- resident Dilliwali to miss home more.
What can one say about Delhi that hasn't already been said? You gave the perfect answer, Ila!
eee thanks Aditi! I kept thinking that anything I write will be inadequate in capturing how I feel and what the city is, but I’m glad to hear the post ended up being relatable!
We have spoken about this so much already that it is a lost cause to restate all that. Still, exploring where one grew up is so underrated. It is painful for those who had to leave their birthplace because of lower middle class reasons and it is even more painful when others ask you -‘How close is Taj Mahal from your place you said?? And why you didn’t go?’ Or (insert my hometown that you know about) and being unable to explore even one heritage or non heritage thing. I could never like delhi and every visit was just terrible (5 visits in total that too for less than 1.5 days every time).
Mughal and Persian architecture makes my heart ache with love so it will be my bad luck that I will miss Delhi in my life.
Ila I really hope there is a youtube channel idea you are working on. I know for a fact I will never* (corrected the spelling) go to Delhi (for reasons that are best left to me), but I would love to see delhi and find out if it is as beautiful as your writing says it is. I would love to know more about Delhi from you and from no-one else.
Travel defines people it is said, but hardly a traveller can describe things the way you do. Keep movin’ Yo!
Thank you for the kind words as always ❤️ Life is long and I hope you’ll find the time and opportunity to revisit some of the places you wish you had seen more of, even though time changes places. No YouTube channel brewing unfortunately - but I keep posting videos of places I visit on Instagram for now. It’s easier to be behind the camera there than it would be in a YT video! Thank you again for reading, hope all’s well your end 🌻
(Calling back the police station to ask them not to send enforcements your way. Called them and they said they are a general store and not a police station)
This description of the city and emotions it evokes-on point, and how! Ila, the piece reads like a poem and truly feels like an aaina of my life past. Loved it all! Maybe one day I get to go on these walks with you. Cannot wait to (re) visit the desh with/in your journal. x
Cannot tell you how much I love the first paragraph.
The rest is so good too. I spent twenty years in Delhi, so there is a very strong umbilical cord I share with the city. But it's been a while since I visited most of these places. This essay felt like finding old pictures inside the cellophane leaves of a Kodak photo album. Love it.
Thank you Sarthak! Happy to hear you could relate. '.... finding old pictures inside the cellophane leaves of a Kodak photo album' brings back so many memories, haha!
Loved the post!
I have been fortunate to explore Delhi with you. You writing makes these places and the experience alive.
Thank you! Here's to many more walks.
I cannot imagine how beautiful a walk in delhi must feel with Mr. Sethi’s voice in the background. Tragic beauty at its devastating best.
Absolutely! When I started writing this post I thought I’ll end it with Khabar-e-tahayyur because so many stories about Delhi are about love.
Loved the post but the beginning especially because I've just started reading Calvino's Invisible Cities! Your quotes have added to my excitement about the book.
I'm also learning to see Bangalore the way you view Delhi, through walks and the eyes of others. You realise each city can contain more layers than we can acquaint ourselves with in a lifetime.
Will definitely read this post again before my next Delhi visit
Thanks Ayush! I read Invisible Cities eons ago and have been meaning to re-read it soon. I love the excerpts I used in the post. And it's so true, cities have so many layers to them, just like people. You can never really know it enough!
Should not have read this on an empty stomach. 🙈
I spent a couple of months in Delhi during a summer internship while in college (a workation, I suppose!) and loved the sense of history it possesses. Being able to amble in a millenia old Fort while catching up with friends is quite surreal. Loved it!
Haha! I was adding the photos to the post on an empty stomach and was cursing my poor judgement 😂 Thanks for reading the post!
So lovely to read. Thank you Ila! Delhi contains so many multitudes of multitudes - it's crazy!
Thanks Pritam, and indeed! 😊
[moonwalks in and moonwalks out holding a sign] - Nice substack you got there, Pritam.
Enjoyed reading this Ila!
I recently returned from Turkey, my second trip in 6 months, to savour food, culture & above all history. While there, yet again, I thought of the many reasons I have not been able to do the same in Delhi.
Your experiences sounds like a breeze! I’m going to look up the links you’ve mentioned.
Thanks!
Thank you Sharmila! I've been eating Çilbir all week on my current travels and dream of visiting Turkey some day! Whenever I'm abroad, I wish I explored India more before looking outward, so I hear you.
This is a fantastic read. I've been in Delhi for the past 3 years and realize there is much more to explore. Could totally relate to the perspective on the city being "a microcosm of diverse cultures, identities and spaces". So true!
Thank you, Arindam!
'Just the act of enjoying a heritage monument not as an artifact but as a place in the present brought it alive for me.' Oh so beautiful. This post has all the ingredients of yearning, for a non- resident Dilliwali to miss home more.
What can one say about Delhi that hasn't already been said? You gave the perfect answer, Ila!
eee thanks Aditi! I kept thinking that anything I write will be inadequate in capturing how I feel and what the city is, but I’m glad to hear the post ended up being relatable!
You always write well.
Thanks!
Ila lovely write up! Delhi is home for me too. But so much of it remains unexplored. Hope to remedy that soon. Thanks for the links to various walks!
Thank you, Kaushiki! Hope you get to explore more of Delhi this year 😊
We have spoken about this so much already that it is a lost cause to restate all that. Still, exploring where one grew up is so underrated. It is painful for those who had to leave their birthplace because of lower middle class reasons and it is even more painful when others ask you -‘How close is Taj Mahal from your place you said?? And why you didn’t go?’ Or (insert my hometown that you know about) and being unable to explore even one heritage or non heritage thing. I could never like delhi and every visit was just terrible (5 visits in total that too for less than 1.5 days every time).
Mughal and Persian architecture makes my heart ache with love so it will be my bad luck that I will miss Delhi in my life.
Ila I really hope there is a youtube channel idea you are working on. I know for a fact I will never* (corrected the spelling) go to Delhi (for reasons that are best left to me), but I would love to see delhi and find out if it is as beautiful as your writing says it is. I would love to know more about Delhi from you and from no-one else.
Travel defines people it is said, but hardly a traveller can describe things the way you do. Keep movin’ Yo!
Thank you for the kind words as always ❤️ Life is long and I hope you’ll find the time and opportunity to revisit some of the places you wish you had seen more of, even though time changes places. No YouTube channel brewing unfortunately - but I keep posting videos of places I visit on Instagram for now. It’s easier to be behind the camera there than it would be in a YT video! Thank you again for reading, hope all’s well your end 🌻
Aaj kal log ek achchi post likhne ke baad aise gayab hote hain I tell you. Anyway, next post when miss?
Sir आपका हुकुम सर आँखों पर 🙏🏼 Shall try to get it out tonight!
(Calling back the police station to ask them not to send enforcements your way. Called them and they said they are a general store and not a police station)
This description of the city and emotions it evokes-on point, and how! Ila, the piece reads like a poem and truly feels like an aaina of my life past. Loved it all! Maybe one day I get to go on these walks with you. Cannot wait to (re) visit the desh with/in your journal. x
Thank you so much Prerna! I would love to go on a walk with you when you're in Delhi next :)