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Delhi gymkhana – one of the oldest clubs in the country

ashish — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:23:48 +0000

The Delhi gymkhana is one of the oldest clubs in the country and a hallowed institution where there the waiting period for an admission is usually 30 years. This was started in 1913, as Delhi Imperial Gymkhana, and Spencer Harcourt Butler was its first president. After independence the word imperial was dropped and it has been called Delhi Gymkhana henceforth. Usha Nath was the first Indian president.
This club is primarily a sporting club and boasts of 26 grass courts and 7 synthetic and clay courts all of which are flood lit. The grass courts are compared to the best in the world and are the best kept. An overwhelming preference for synthetic courts recently has also increased the number of the same. May tournaments of national and international repute has been played on these courts. Apart from tennis, the club has great facilities for billiards, squash and swimming. It has 3 squash courts and a large indoor swimming pool with heating facilities.
The gymkhana is situated in the heart of the city, in Safdurjung road which is the heart of a posh residential colony. It was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens as per his vision for New Delhi. In-fact the whole Gymkhana is built over a land filled with stones and was supposedly a battle field. Its colonial architecture and facade lend the old world charm to its hallowed precincts.
Delhi Gymkhana has the great food to offer to suit you palette. The dining rooms are spacious and the decor is reminds that of an army mess anteroom. Apart from the members dining room there are family dining rooms and a Kashmir Lawn restaurant. Dining is a pleasant experience in the Gymkhana club.
The library is one of the largest in the country with over 30,000 titles. The reading rooms are pleasant and the Gymkhana has a special reading room for children. The library also conducts special workshops for children during the summer months.
For those members on the move, the Gymkhana also provides accommodation. The stay is pleasant and guests can be entertained at a minimal cost. The party scene is the best in Delhi with Thursdays being the appointed day. Various events are organized for members and if one can wrangle an invite from the attendees you can have a rocking Thursday night of your life.
The health club has the state of the art equipment and trainers who help you get the work out you would cherish. Apart from all the activities the Gymkhana organizes enlightening talks on the current political and social issues. It also drives socially relevant activities like a blood donation camps for the members.
The membership is for the who’s who of the country. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and the Delhi chief Ministers are members of the club. The young turks like Rahul Gandhi has been admitted in to precincts recently. The membership fees range from 30000 rupees for a government official to 60000 rupees for a non government personnel. The waiting list is long and the club can be deemed the creme-DE-la-creme of the society.

The contact details are as follows
Phone :011- 23015531 – 35, 011-23012773
Address: Delhi Gymkhana Club
2, Safdarjung Road,
New Delhi – 110011

Fax : 23010584
URL: www.delhigymkhana.org
Email : delhigymkhana@hotmail.com

Location on Google Maps:

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If you believe in the epithet “work hard and party harder and play golf always” then Delhi Gymkhana is the right fit for you.

Delhi Golf Club – the most famous golfing place in Delhi

ashish — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:35:34 +0000

The Delhi golf club was laid out in 1921 by the British and was known as the Lodhi club. It is one of the oldest golf courses in Asia and frequently hosts the Indian Open golf tournament. This Golf course is one of the most important landmarks of Delhi and is marked by the picturesque setting. It has a perfect blend of natural beauty with architectural splendor. As you aim for that birdie, it is easy to get distracted by the wondrous Mughal monuments around you with the Humayun Tomb and the majestic Barah Khamba. The natural sylvan surroundings integrates itself with the Mughal architecture of the period.
This 223 acre course is a hot spot for the cities elite and one of the great attractions of Delhi. The course is lush green and beautiful with peacocks appreciating all your moves. The fairway rewards attacking players and meanders down the way to Nizzamudin. You may find birds and ladies with multi-hued sarees giving it an old world charm.
The golf club houses a pub, main bar, card room, changing rooms, party rooms and a dining room. These are open only to members and their registered guests. There is a strict dress code for the golf club. All members need to wear collared golfing t-shirts or shirts with trousers. Denims, sneakers, shorts, track suits are not allowed. Golfing shoes with proper spikes are only to be worn. Smoking and drinking is prohibited except in the bar.
Ample car parking is available and chauffeur driven cars are allowed to park in specific assigned areas. Valet parking is not available. The prices are good – green fees, club hire, range, caddy, ball boy all for £50 including generous tip. The toilets are well maintained with all the toiletries and cleanliness maintained. Ample help is dispensed by assistants stationed at all corners. The membership fees range from 200 to 3000 rupees with the guest fees totaling up to a 1000 rupees.
The food is amazing with a great buffet and a well stocked bar. Children below 12 are not allowed at certain areas other than the dining hall. Liquor is served only for members and not for anybody below 25 years. The Delhi golf club brings out its own in house magazine called the “Green Scene” which provides the insight in to the various activities happening around the club. Apart from the club round up it gives the informationof various golfing tournaments in and around the country and also a layout of the activities laid out for the month. Through the green scene, one can understand the culture and the members of this hallowed institution.

You can connect to Delhi Golf club through
Phone :011-24362235, 011-24360002
Address: Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg, Lodhi Colony , Delhi -3
URL: www.delhigolfclub.org
Email: general@delhigolfclub.org

If you need to unwind with your best buddies teeing off in sylvan peaceful surroundings then Delhi golf club is the one for you. The lush greenery, the perfect ambiance of the British raj, ancient monuments and the impeccable service will transport you to the ultimate bliss even if all the tees end up under the water.

Location of Delhi Golf Club on Google Maps:

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Karim Restaurant in Indirapuram – get some great non-veg food

ashish — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:04:15 +0000

Karims is a very famous restaurant, with the one near the Jama Masjid being the most famous. It rates very high for its non-vegetarian food, and people travel long distances to get there. However, Karim has not opened so many branches as you would expect such a famous restaurant to do, with only a few branches having been opened.
A couple of years back, a new branch of the restaurant was opened in a slightly shady location, inbetween Indirapuram and the Ghazipur chowk (closed to Indirapuram), just next to NH24. It is actually located in Khoda Colony so most people I know get food from there on order rather than going there to eat.
The food is good, serving a mixture of Vegetarian, Non-vegetarian, Chinese cuisines. Good range of Indian, South Indian, Chinese and Mughlai. The insides of the restaurant are similar to what you would expect, although the outside would leave a lot to be desired. Average meal for 2 would cost something like Rs. 700-800. Some of the delicacies are: Tandoori Bakra (need to place an order previously), butter chicken, rogan josh, Brain Curry, and many other great non-vegetarian dishes. Accompanies by some great parathas, keema naan, butter naan

Address: Makanpur Check Post, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, 201012., Near Wine Shop
Phones – (0120) – 6490716, 6490717, 6490718

Vasari – the shop for well dressed men

ashish — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:59:41 +0000

You need to go looking for some classy male stuff (and now also some classy female stuff) in terms of clothes. There is a function that you need to attend, and for which you need to look your best, or more importantly, your marriage has been scheduled, the cards have been printed, and you need to finally decide on your dress. Your fiancee will not hear of you wearing a western suit (does not match her colorful and elegant lehenga), and so you are deputed to get a sherwani or an Indo-western suit, along with the pagri, the jutis (shoes) and the safa. Where you do you ?
Well, you head to Vasari, a shop where you can get all these, along with Indo Western suits, some excellent kurta pyjamas, and so on. You go there, select what you want, get your sizes taken, and then get the finished clothes a couple of weeks later (in busy marriage season, you should estimate it will take 20-25 days).
Location and address:
Vasari
1. Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi
Phone: 011-46502812/13
2. Ajmal Khan Road, Karol Bagh,
Phone: 011-45033029
3. Rajouri Garden
011-41447378
4. Kamla Nagar
011-47042471

Location of Karol Bagh and Rajouri Garden stores on Google Maps

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Tamanna – a clothing boutique

ashish — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:31:02 +0000

Sometimes, the quest for getting some fancy suits and dresses strikes a lady. Typically known as party wear type of suits, these are fancy salwar-kameez, or they may kameez with a churidar / pants. The embroidery is far more fancy than normal day to day, and they can look quite beautiful. One place where you can get such ones is called Tamanna De Boutique, and is located in 6 different parts of Delhi.

Shop No-72, 1st Floor, Ch. Kishna Chand Complex,
Jwala Heri Market,
New Delhi, Delhi
Phone: 011 25250320

46-Ub Jawahar Nagar,
Kamla Nagar, New Delhi,
Delhi
Phone: 011 41530901

B 1/3, Lal Quarter,
Krishna Nagar, New Delhi, 110051

72-75, First Floor, Paschim Vihar,
Delhi – 110006
Phone: 011 25250320

F-20, 1st Floor,
Crossriver Mall,
Near Karkardooma Court,
Delhi
Tel: 011 22306080

J-67, Shop No. 1,
Rajouri Garden,
New Delhi – 110027
Phone: 011 25161392

F Bar and Lounge in Hotel Ashok – next to Nehru Park

ashish — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:03:30 +0000

Actually, the Ashok Hotel is a landmark by itself, located next to the Prime Minister’s house at Race Course Road, next to Santusthi, and next to Nehru Park. Here is a link to a funny map from the F Bar site (link) that shows the map of Ashok Hotel with the roads next to it, as well as a map showing how to get to the F Bar inside the Ashok Hotel (link). Astoundingly for a place in Delhi, the site also has 360 degrees virtual tours that allow you to get a view inside the F Bar even if you have never stepped inside (link).
The F bar is fairly big (8000 sq. feet), being spread over many different levels, with some more exclusive zones such as the Fashion Lounge and the super, super exclusive Diamond Lounge for those who consider themselves the elite.
The F Bar is a franchise of FTV, and is a place where you can bump into famous personalities such as movie stars, fashion people, models, etc. You can also spot many industrialists over here. The place is very well decorated, with neon lights that are not tacky, instead giving a psychedelic environment, the one in which your feet start tingling and moving (and the Interiors have a steel black and white finish). The place plays different types of music, including many times bollywood remixes (you know, many people like remixes of Bollywood movies even though they would never admit to it).
Drinks are good, although as you move past midnight, the bar gets more crowded and it could take time to get a drink, and as you are already in an expensive place, you should assume that the drinks will also be pricey.
Address and contact details:
Price Range: INR 1200 upwards (entry costs are: Cover charges of Rs. 2000 for a couple and Rs. 500 for single women)
Address: The Ashok | 50-B Chanakayapuri, New Delhi, India
Phone: (91-11) 26110101

Some videos from there:

Clubbin at F Bar @ Ashok !!

FTV – F-Bar New Delhi

Location of F Bar in Ashok Hotel, Delhi, on Google Maps

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Munish Khanna Photography Courses

ashish — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:51:14 +0000

Munish Khanna is a famous photographer, who has setup a photography training academy called ‘Munish Khanna Academy’ (link). For people interested in learning more about Photography, whether as a hobby, or to make this as a profession, the Academy is a good place to learn more about the art.
From the site:
Munish has developed a ” Unique Content based Basic and Advance training package” especially designed as an exhaustive, step by step study in the art and science of photography. The training is designed to cover every practical and theoretical aspect to tutor a beginner and advance an amateur not only during the course period but for a lifetime. The aim of the program is to gradually orient a student towards a complete photographic mind-set and develop his/her confidence in handling the camera for an independent indoor or outdoor shoot. The training covers all areas of practical photography including the professional guidelines on Digital Photography. The number of students in one group is restricted to 5-6 only, enabling individual attention. It is possible to undergo the training individually also at your own pace and time.

Contact Details:
munishkhanna@hotmail.com
55 uday park (august kranti road) new delhi-49 India
011-26518089,46039255,9871020341

Learn Photography in Delhi: Apex Academy near Priya Cinema

ashish — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:42:12 +0000

A lot of people now have digital cameras, some of them having high end cameras such Digital SLR’s. Many people enjoy the photography they do, whether it be of social functions such as birthdays / marriages / other functions, or want to impress other people with their skills. And then there are people who are genuinely interested in photography as a hobby and want to improve their skills.
Well, there are many training institutes in Delhi, one of them being a place located just next to the Priya Cinema complex, an initiative of the Jindal Photo group, called Apex Academy for Photographic Excellence.
From the site (link): A synergy of class-room teaching, practical dark-room experience, live projects, downloads from photographers of repute in the form of tailored modules and workshops make it a holistic learning experience.
They run courses at various intervals, and are also available if corporates want to invite them to run training courses for their employees (minimum of 10 students, I believe). They teach the fundamentals of photography including history, techniques, the science, film, and also conduct trips where students can go and do practise shoots.

Contact Details:
Academy for photographic excellence
60, Basant Lok Community Centre,
Vasant Vihar, New delhi – 110 057
Tel.: 011- 41669520; 011- 46015225
fax. 011 4166 9520
E-mail:apex@apexindia.net

Float – a day and night pub in Park Royal Hotel

ashish — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:36:50 +0000

Delhi’s trendy people are always looking for a good place to jive, enjoy their drinks, shake a leg and have a good time. Float, located in the Park Royal Intercontinental Hotel in Delhi’s Nehru Place area is a good place to do that. The pub is a day and night pub that operates as a dance floor, as a restaurant, as a cigar enjoying joint (in a special glass enclosure), and as a pub. With all this, and with a great ambiance, including an open kitchen, you can be sure that this pub is popular, and it sure is.
The restaurant here has cuisines from all over the world, starting with some great starters in the form of Nachos, starters from Indonesia, Italian Bruchetta, Lebanese starters such as hummus, falafel with pita bread, Chicken Nuggets, and many others. And of course, vegetarians have a great variety available in the form of Chili Mushrooms, many Chinese starters, Paneer starters, etc. And if you are there for lunch, you get some great food in the form of some great Italian Pasta (where you can select from the different types of sauces, herbs, and other ingredients and get the pasta made exactly as you want). Then there are other Italian stuff such as pizza, lasagna; and of course, you can get some great wine.
And as for the desert, enjoy some great desert, with cheesecake (made in a unique way and very delicious).

Asia Kitchen restaurant in Noida

ashish — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:06:23 +0000

Asia Kitchen is a relatively new restaurant located in Sector 63 in Noida. The location details are:
H-1A/33, Sector 63, Noida
Tel +91 (0120) 4218555/ 4218666
If you are coming from the Shipra Mall Side, you need to take the road that leads to Fortis; it is on the left side before Fortis (you will need to take the service lane).
The place has 2 floors, a ground floor and a basement. Together, the restaurant has ample seating space, with a mix of chairs and sofas for more comfortable seating.
The restaurant does not yet have a liquor license, so it cannot serve any cocktails or drinks. However, it does have a variety of mocktails and the standard lemon water, etc. The food is varied – there is Chinese, Thai, and North Indian (although this mixture does seem a bit strange – I saw on the same table, a group from an office eating a mixture of dal along with chopsuey and hot and sour vegetables; something this was not a pleasant sight.
The servings are large, and the menu choices are small (for example, the North Indian vegetable list was 2 paneer dishes, 1 kofta, 1 dal, and 1 other dish), so we ended up with a small number of dishes whose quantity proved more than sufficient. I felt the taste was great, and people eating the non-veg liked what they ate, but there were others who did not like the taste all that much.
Overall, for around 16 people, we ended up with a bill of around Rs. 350 per head, seemed a trifle high (but with drinks, starters and food, it may be fine).