Delhi Parks: Ajmal Khan Park

If you have ever been in the Karol Bagh area, you would only stare at the traffic congestion, at the number of houses crowding the entire area; how could there be some greenery among all this. But actually there are some green belts, and the Ajmal Khan Park is one of them. The people of Karol Bagh and surroundings areas really value this park for the green lung.
The park is spread over an area of 5 acres, and boasts of a musical fountain run by Delhi Tourism. The musical fountain provides scintillating lights synchronised with music, and the cascading water turn this complex into a quiet heaven, particularly during the heat of summer. The musical fountain is in operation for two hours every day after sunset except on Tuesday.


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Delhi Green: Jahanpanah forest in South Delhi

This was news to me recently. I had never thought that inside the crowded location of South-East Delhi, there would be a green area, big enough to be called a forest. But apparently, there is. It's called Jahanpanah forest, one of the biggest green belts in Delhi. The origin of the forest is apparently during the Sultanate period, when Mohammad Bin Tughlaq enclosed a large area within a wall, creating within it the Jahanpanah forest. The place is 800 acres big, has a nice green cover including a fair amount of trees. It is located between Tughlaqabad and Chiragh Delhi and passes through Alaknanda and Greater Kailash Part II. It is frequented by neighboring residents for morning and evening walks, for jogging and for picnics. It was supposed to be unsafe sometime back, but is now supposed to be much safer.


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Roshnara Bagh (Garden), Club and Tomb

Seems strange to mention a garden, a club, and a tomb in the same place, but this is exactly what Roshanara Bagh, located in North Delhi is. Easily reachable, near the North University, it is reachable by going to Kamla market, from there to the Clock Tower and then the Roshnara Road.
So what is the Roshanara Garden all about? Well, it is a very old garden, constructed by the younger daughter of Shah Jahan, Roshanara in 1650. She helped her brother, Aurangzeb in the fight for the Mughal throne with Dara Shikoh, and was his favourite sister for a long time. However, things change and she was poisoned in 1671 on Aurangzeb's orders, and buried in the garden.
Her grave is right in the middle of the garden, called the Baradari. Right now, it is not in a well maintained condition, but it used to be a simple roofless grave surrounded by carved marble screens, and a big hall with lots of beautiful paintings. The British really liked the garden due its location amongst the greenery of the Ridge, and made some alterations in 1875 to substantially make the place more open. In 1923, the Roshanara Club was opened, which is a fairly exclusive club, and not open by default to everybody; only to members and their guests.


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Central Park in Connaught Place

Connaught Place in Delhi is a layered structure, with 3 circular roads around a central point, always called the Central Park. This Central Park has been covered for the last 3 years due to the construction of the Metro station right below that, and before that time, it was not in a very good condition, with inadequate lighting and generally unsafe at night.
The Delhi Metro Corporation has turned this park into something that citizens can enjoy, a place where they can go with family in complete safety. And this is something that I have seen just a couple of days back. While driving around the Central Park, it was a magical pace, with soft lights all around, water flowing and in fountains and people with families roaming around. Such a sight is very peaceful, and it is hard to imagine that there is a crowded Metro Station right below.
There has been a lot of work that has gone into the making of this park. Some of the things that are there now are: A 350 seat amphitheatre, lights all over (CFL's) that make sure that every section of the park has light, 4 water bodies and lots of fountains, a water cascade, lush green grass all over , lots of different trees and shrubs from all over; overall a nice place to rest after some hectic shopping in Connaught Place.


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Indraprastha Park located next to Sarai Kale Khan

If you are traveling on Ring Road between Ashram and ITO on Ring Road, then it is difficult to miss this park. A green lung for citizens of East Delhi, Central Delhi, and South Delhi, the park is more than 3 kilometers long. To access it, you need to go from Ashram to ITO via Ring Road, and just after the commotion of the Sarai Kale Khan ISBT and Nizamuddin Railway Station, starts this green park. It can also be reached from East Delhi by crossing the Nizamuddin Bridge, and is located just at the intersection of NH24 with Ring Road.
It was created by DDA on a site where a landfill existed previously, and you will not find indications that this was a landfill. It now has a variety of swings, amphitheatres and food outlets and is getting more popular with people looking for a green place. The Indraprastha Park was earlier known as the Millenium Park, but was then re-named.


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