Majnu ka Tila

If the fast paced Delhi life gets the better of you, spare some time to escape into the winding alleys of the mellow, warm-hearted corner of the city known as Majnu ka Teela or Delhi’s Little Tibet. Once you enter, you are transported to a completely different world. Its narrow lanes hide many Tibetan marvels that will tickle those taste buds as well as the creative juices. Replete with a whole variety of eating and drinking options, you can choose from street food to sea food depending upon your liking. Do not forget to try the Tibetan or the Bhutanese thali at Ama Cafe, a robust buff and cheese stew (there’s a chicken version too) at Wongdhen House and beautifully flavoured meat momos bursting with liquidy goodness at Rigos. The non-alcoholic house beer, home-brewed with fresh pineapple juice is yet another delicacy offered by most of the food joints. The Dolma Café and Waho Tenzin Restaurant are other popular joints offering a host of Tibetan delicacies.

The area, Majnu ka Teela, is fabled to have gotten its name from a ferryman who rowed people across the Yamuna as a service to God. He became so engrossed in spiritual musings that people started addressing him as Majnu after the legendary lover who was almost driven to insanity. Today, the Majnu ka Teela is synonymous with the Tibetan refugee colony. A small monastery and a Buddhist Temple reside at the heart of the place. An array of stalls sell junk jewellery, Tibetan and Buddhist souvenirs, artifacts and handicrafts in addition to clothes (T-Shirts with slogans such as Free Tibet), books and shoe stores.