Delhi’s day out

Braving the cold wave, Delhiites have grabbed their favourite picnic spots in the national Capital that is replete with magnificent monuments and big parks.

With the arrival of winter, the sun tends to become kind to the city. However, residents are largely deprived of the warmth of the winter sun as visibility drops to a low and fog covers the sky. So, whenever the sun peeps out, Delhiites are out frolicking.

It is also the time of the year when school students are taken for an outing by their institutes and for many that is the only annual recreational activity.

“I look forward to winter because usually the only place I go to is my school. Parents don’t take us to too many places and neither are we allowed to go anywhere on our own. So, it is the yearly picnic that we don’t ever miss,” says Sumedha, a class 8 student of Government Girls Senior Secondary School.

Sumedha and her classmates were at the Millenium Park for a school picnic. They were accompanied by their teachers.

The venue is usually full even on weekdays due to its aesthetics. While it is the Shanti Stupa there that attractssome of them, for the rest it is park’s greenery and giant leisure space that draws them.

The Millenium Park, also known as the Indraprastha Park, also has a canteen space for quick snacks and beverages — an arrangement that is picnic-friendly.

Few kilometres away, a Sultanate era monument is dear to Delhiites. The crowd at the Lodhi Gardens defies seasons. It is the place where residents of the Capital gather all through the year with a host of activities. A stroll in the park, and one can witness people doing parkour, rehearsing for a dance, working out, playing a sport, jogging or simply reading a book in a quiet corner.

The winter sun makes these activities all the more pleasant.

As a harsh cold wave swept Delhi, residents flocked to Lodhi Gardens with food, games and other picnic paraphernalia to spend the last few winter days with the Lodhi era fort in view.

A place that needs no further introduction is Sunder Nagar Nursery, which has become the go-to spot for Delhiites. With majestic lawns, the Sundar Nursery is a sight for the sore eyes.

“Last week it was hardly sunny, but thankfully Sunday onwards we are seeing clear blue skies and the sun is also out. It is perfect for a day outing. Therefore, I took a day off from work and came here along with my family. These are things that you cherish the most. During the day, we will play and eat our food and plan to take a nap in the afternoon when the sunshine is perfect for it. Then in the evening before it’s dark, we will pack things up and move towards the stage where there will be a programme. So, it is a full day plan for us,” says Sanjeev, who was at the Sunder Nursery.

While there are countless places to spend the day in Delhi’s winter, they are best frequented when the sun is out, unless the city’s horrific pollution plays spoilsport. As January is in its last few days, Delhiites are in no mood to waste the remaining precious winter days.