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VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1 | DECEMBER 2012
Gurgaon the new golfing hub Kashmir the stairway to bliss
DLF WISHES RESIDENTS OF DLF 5 A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY 2013
Dear Residents, Once again, it is that time of the year when festivity and cheer is in the air; a time for family and friends to meet and rejoice, a time for spreading warmth and joy with those you love. In keeping with this festive spirit, we, at DLF, present to you the very first issue of High 5, an exclusive magazine for you, the residents of DLF 5. Our aim has been to make DLF 5 the most exclusive and luxurious community in the country. And you, dear residents, have always been special for us. Through
Aakash Ohri Director - Business Development DLF Limited
this unique effort, we aim to reach out to all DLF 5 residents and wish to inculcate a sense of belonging within the community. We want High 5 to be a platform where like-minded people interact through their ideas and opinions and, build a bond among them. High 5 will not only serve as a medium to keep you updated with the latest initiatives and happenings in the neighbourhood but will offer an interesting array of subjects to read. The launch issue has something for everyone. As most of us are aware that golfing in India has come a long way, through our ‘Lead Story’, we talk about Gurgaon emerging as the most special destination for the sport, witnessing a number of national and international tournaments throughout the year. In our ‘Chat‘ section, we indulge in a tete-a-tete with Gurgaon police commissioner KK Sindhu to know about the measures being taken to curb crime in the city. If you feel stressed out and plan to spend the upcoming weekend away from blaring horns and traffic snarls, you can explore our featured destination, Pratapgarh Farms in Jhajjar, 45 km from DLF 5 in the ‘Getaway’ section. In ‘Resident Corner’, DLF 5 resident Uday Walia shares his experience of the Kashmir Valley where he spent quality time with his law firm colleagues. Then there are a number of sections like ‘Foodie’, ‘Shopaholic’ and ‘Kid Zone’ wherein we offer interesting information on what’s happening around your DLF 5 community. We want you to be a part of this unique endeavour by contributing original content created by you, be it your travel experiences, original stories, photography, or simply your feedback on this initiative. Please mail us your contributions and / or feedback at joshi-shubhangi@dlf.in. We hope you enjoy this initiative and look forward to your valuable inputs that will help make this a big success. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a great year ahead!
www.dlf.in December 2012
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DLF Marketing team Prashant Dhar General Manager - Marketing dhar-prashant@dlf.in Shubhangi Joshi Assistant Manager - Marketing joshi-shubhangi@dlf.in
Publisher & COO Vikas Johari CEO & Managing Director Prakash Johari CFO Kuldip Singh Executive Editor Saurabh Tankha Maxposure Media Group India Pvt Ltd Unit No. F2B, Second Floor, MIRA Corporate Suites, Plot No. 1&2, Ishwar Nagar, Mathura Road, New Delhi - 110065 Tel: +91.11.43011111 Fax: +91.11.43011199 Information: info@maxposure.in
High 5, a quarterly magazine for DLF 5 by DLF Limited, is printed and published by Vikas Johari on behalf of MaXposure Media Group India Pvt. Ltd. (MMGIPL) for DLF Limited and published at MMGIPL, Unit No. F2B, Second Floor, MIRA Corporate Suites, Plot No. 1&2, Ishwar Nagar, Mathura Road, New Delhi - 110065, India. High 5 magazine is published four times a year. All rights reserved. The writing, artwork and/or photography contained herein may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of MMGIPL. MMGIPL does not assume responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited products, manuscripts, photographs, artwork, transparencies or other materials. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or DLF Limited. All efforts have been made while compiling the content of this magazine, but we assume no responsibility for the effects arising there from. FOR INQUIRIES | MMGIPL Tel: +91.11.43011111. Fax: +91.11.43011199 www.maxposure.in
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CONTENT 12
04 |
Happenings
06 |
Lead Story
Volume I Issue I December 2012
News You Can Use: Latest from the world of DLF 5
Gurgaon emerges as a special destination for golf
Chat | 12 Gurgaon Police Commissioner aims to make the city safe
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16 |
Resident Corner
21 |
Foodie
Uday Walia shares his experiences in Kashmir
Gorge on Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean cuisine at Bahi
Getaway | 24 At Pratapgarh Farms, you get the taste of real India
27 |
Shopaholic
30 |
Kidzone
Rivaayat revives traditional artforms through its collection
Interesting options for your kids
24 www.dlf.in December 2012
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HAPPENINGS
NEWS YOU CAN
USE Free shuttle service for DLF 5 residents For a safer tomorrow
For the convenience of the residents of DLF 5’s condominium complexes, DLF introduced a free air-conditioned shuttle bus service, DLF Shuttle Ride. The services became operational in April 2012. The idea is to save residents the hassles of driving as well as finding a parking space for their vehicles. The shuttle service, inaugurated by DCP (Traffic) Bharti Arora at DLF City Club 5, connects all residential complexes in DLF 5 with shopping and recreation areas ie South Point Mall and DLF City Club. The two buses will run from morning till late evening and follow a fixed time schedule. The bus stops are located conveniently near the entry/ exit gates of the complexes and the maximum waiting time at a stop will be 20-25 minutes. These buses are accessible to all residents with a valid access cards issued by the DLF authorities.
CCTVs keep criminals at bay Equipped with the latest fire-fighting technology including hydraulic platforms and two 90 m high fire tenders, realty major DLF inaugurated its second privately owned fire station in DLF 5 in September. With 30 firefighting personnel, the fire station has fire dousers with a water capacity of 18 kilolitres per vehicle besides a pump discharge of 6,000 litres/minute. The first fire station at DLF 5 was launched in June.
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To make DLF 5 crime-free, the 950-acre township was put under surveillance cameras six months ago. This his resulted in a heavy reduction in the incidents of eve teasing, chain snatching and bike lifting. The coloniser also deployed quick response teams (QRTs) to keep a check on encroachments and streamline traffic. The teams, comprising armed security guards, have been successful in preventing accidents. Nine pan-tilt-zoom and eight fixed CCTV cameras were installed at prime locations in DLF 5. On the role of CCTV cameras, Flt Lt DS Malik, security head, DLF 5, said, “Thanks to these cameras, not only have we been able to avert loss of life due to accidents by reaching the site in no time with QRTs, we have checked incidents of fire before loss of lives and property by passing on the information to the fire brigade, police and ambulance in no time. In fact, these cameras have also helped us keep a check on the internal incidents of pilferage/ theft by external contractors at construction sites. Overall, the presence of these cameras has deterred anti-social elements. We have even installed live monitors connected to the surveillance cameras in the office of DCP Gurgaon (East) to help reduce reaction time in case of a crime or mishap.”
DLF creates history in tree transplantation
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, DLF created history this Earth Day by conducting possibly the largest “tree transplantation” exercise in SouthEast Asia at the DLF Golf and Country Club. Over 250 mature trees were painstakingly prepared and transplanted to another location using the latest technology and equipment. The equipment required for such an undertaking required several large cranes, Hydras and JCB’s, excavators and transport trucks. A stateof-the-art misting irrigation system was installed to create a favourable environment during the tree healing process. To ensure the survival of the green cover and to conserve groundwater reserves, DLF has set up a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant and an ultra-filtration plant.
Sweeping them clean To keep the city clean, DLF recently procured a hi-tech road-sweeping machine equipped with powerful brushes and suction mechanism. The new machine, introduced in May 2012, cleans the 4.2 km stretch of the main Golf Course Road daily by doing four-five rounds of the 60m wide roads besides cleaning over 4 km of road length starting from Pinnacle Building till the DLF Exclusive Floors. It also cleans the internal road inside DLF Golf and Country Club. The waste is collected at designated areas and disposed off at MCG approved dumping sites. Procured at around ` 30 lakh, this initiative has been enthusiastically welcomed by DLF 5 residents. Routes: 1. Golf Course Road from The Magnolias entrance to The Summit turning and the sector road from Belaire to Westend Heights. Length: 4.2 km Time: Five hours 2. Starting from American Express, going in front of Pinnacle, Icon up to Exclusive Floors entrance and from Summit Turning to Park Place. Length: 4.2 km Time: Five hours 3. Internal roads inside DLF Golf and Country Club, Length: 5 km, Time: Six hours
Safety first
With the aim to equip women residents in DLF 5 as also to enhance their personal safety, DLF conducted a session on selfdefence techniques at DLF City Club V. The workshop, an initiative in collaboration with Max Security led by Israeli personnel, focussed on security awareness, prevention and reaction using situational awareness (detecting and defining the danger) and quick reaction for prevention or escape. “The safety and security of DLF 5 residents is most important to us and this step will go a long way in our effort to upgrade the security setup of DLF 5 to world class levels. As earlier, we will actively work with the police and other government authorities to make this a reality,” shared Aakash Ohri, director, business development, DLF.
Better connect
Keeping the growing traffic levels of Gurgaon in mind, a 16-lane dedicated corridor has been planned. The 8.3-km-long road will be built as a joint venture initiative of DLF and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and the two are expected to spend ` 400-600 crore on the project that will include eight underpasses and a long flyover to enable commuters reach the Golf Course Road from Gurgaon toll plaza in less than 10 minutes. At present, the stretch takes around half-an-hour. The project will be fully integrated with the alignment of the Rapid Metro. It will also develop six-lane carriage carriageways on both sides of NH-8 from the toll plaza to the DLF Square building to streamline traffic and feed into the 16-lane road.
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LEAD STORY
THE CLUB
CLASS Gurgaon has emerged as a special destination for golf which has resulted in a number of national and international tournaments being held here
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DLF GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB No. of Holes
18
Par
71
Designer
Arnold Palmer
Address
DLF 5 Gurgaon
Phone
0124-4525274
contact-golf@dlfgroup.in
Website
dlfgolfresort.com
Coming up Nine hole Gary Player Golf Course MANESAR CLUB No. of Holes
18
Par
72
Designer
Richard Hawtree with Ranjit Nanda
Address
Village Sakatpur Gurgaon
Phone
0124-2394101
marketing@ goldengreensindia.com
Website
goldengreens.in
CLASSIC RESORT No. of Holes
27
Par
72
Designer
Jack Nicklaus
Address
11 km drive towards Manesar from Rajiv Chowk
Phone
0124-2378841
lbase@landbase.in
Website
cgronline.com
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LEAD STORY
W
hat does it take for a city to be dubbed as a golf destination? Acres of lush green course dotting the city? Citizens passionate about the game? Recurring PGA championships, or 24x7 facilities for swinging the club? Gurgaon boasts of it all; and what’s more, the Millennium City is emerging as the hub of golf tourism in the country. Gurgaon attracted close to 30,000 golf tourists last year, and the number is increasing by close to 10 per cent annually. This number includes all the walkins and tournament participants who are not members of the clubs. Over the last few years, golf in India has come a long way. From being a game restricted to a handful, golf has grown exponentially in the last decade. Multiple reasons can be attributed to this growth, and one of them is enhanced subscription to the sport, supplemented by an equally
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encouraging interest shown by media. A fresh lease of life was awarded to the game by the entry of youngsters, and by golf becoming a corporate sport. In fact, the entry of the youth brigade acted like an umbilical connection that would define the future of the game, which now looks promising. “The lethal combination of golf is the charm granted by three important ingredients – money, youth and media. The perception of the sport as being only for the older generations has been broken. A lot of people are taking up the sport because of the way the game tests the individual’s capabilities to the hilt. On the outside, the sport might look passive, but once the player is on the course, he/ she concentrates on one goal ie. to hit the hole in the best possible manner. It helps in building character as it teaches you to be patient and compete with yourself to better your performance.
Aakash Ohri, Director - Business Development , DLF Limited
Golf is picking up at a rapid pace and experts are constantly devising ways to evolve the game to reach newer heights
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LEAD STORY
At the DLF Golf Academy, we use the best of techniques, and employ the best of coaches to ensure that we groom budding talent into world-class golfers of tomorrow
DLF Golf and Country Club is No. 1 in teaching golf to kids. At any point of time, there are around 400 youngsters taking lessons to enhance their skills to swing the club 8
“Apart from being good for the mind and body, the sport also brings a premium tag to the neighbourhood. In whichever part of the world where golf courses are set up, the value of realty in the neighbourhood also gets enhanced. At DLF Golf and Country Club, we provide a green environment to society. It is for this reason we have planted around 15,000-20,000 plants inside the golf course and use recycled water,” says Aakash Ohri, Director, DLF Golf Resorts Ltd. A number of schools are promoting the game too. “In fact, we find a large number of parents making children take up the game as it teaches important values to their growing minds. The Golf Academy at The DLF Golf and Country Club is one of the most premier golf institutions in the country, imparting invaluable golfing skills to budding players of tomorrow. At any point of time, there are around 400 youngsters taking lessons at the club. Here, at the DLF Golf Academy, we use the best of techniques, and employ the best of coaches
to ensure that we groom budding talent into world-class golfers of tomorrow”. In fact, training at our golf course is at par with the coaching that players get in Europe or the USA. Abhinav Lohan and Vani Kapoor are great examples of how capable this academy is in churning out world class pros” adds Ohri. Today, we are in an era where golf is considered as an aspirational sport. People have started coming up with novel ideas to make the game popular and attractive to the masses. Recently, Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie said that concepts such as a shorter version of the game could become more commonplace and golf may need to develop its own version of T20 cricket. “This shows golf is picking up and experts are constantly devising ways to evolve the game to reach newer heights. The present format of golf is popular but then we can’t rule out changes as they’re inevitable,” expresses Ohri.
Then there have been players who have motivated thousands to take up the game. Indian pro golfer Jeev Milkha Singh has performed consistently over the years, and got India international recognition. Another player who has motivated a lot of youngsters to the game is Tiger Woods. He is a living example of how an individual can motivate people around the world. The list of exemplary golfers will be incomplete if we will not talk about the South African professional golfer, Gary Player. At 76, his passion towards the game is unparalleled. He is among the few who like to give back to the game that gave them recognition. In fact we, at The DLF Golf and Country Club, are soon coming up with a Gary Player Design Golf Course,” puts in Ohri. In the end, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that golf has all the attractions to make it big – international tournaments, corporate support, financials, glitter and glamour. All in all, the future of the game is surely bright. n
www.dlf.in December 2012
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CHAT
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WE AIM TO MAKE THE LIVES OF GURGAON RESIDENTS
KK Sindhu took over as the police commissioner of Gurgaon last November. The 50-year-old IPS officer studied civil engineering and worked as a resource officer with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources before joining the police force in 1986. Ever since, Sindhu has been focussing on enhancing electronic surveillance, controlling traffic and floating population of the ever-shaping city
SAFE WORDS AM IR A L I HASHM I
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CHAT
It has been a year in office for you. How has been the experience till now? To cope up with the growing pressure on the city which is constantly growing, we are introducing new concepts almost every other day. In fact, the crackdown on most cases has been satisfactory over the last one year. A lot of effort has gone into improving basic infrastructure in police. For example, we are building a traffic tower in DLF area. Spread over 100,000 sq ft, the traffic will be monitored from here with two DCPs in charge of the operations. We hope it will become operational within two years. Then we are building our new headquarters that will be spread over 200,000 sq ft. We are working out on heinous crimes and have recently organised the crime branch for this. We are stipulating different units for different crimes and employing modern interrogation techniques like computerisation of records, recording AV‌ How do you propose to handle the everincreasing traffic situation in Gurgaon? We are working in tandem with the
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concerned authorities such as NHAI, HUDA etc as we aim to smoothen the flow of traffic. We are taking long term measures in construction of road overbridges, underpasses etc. Within the DLF area, we are in talks with HUDA administration for the improvement of footpaths as it has been noticed that pedestrians use roads due to absence of footpaths or them being overtaken by encroachers. We are devising a plan for Gurgaon wherein we want to have a sufficient number of foot overbridges and footpaths so that pedestrians do not face any problems. We are also insisting on developing the service lane first on any main road before it is dug up for any civic work. As a civil engineer, I have studied road designs and this experience helps me see the problems closely and reach out at solutions faster, especially when it comes to traffic control. There are physical limits to road design, hence one needs to come up with ways to tackle traffic. It becomes important to work with the authorities to ensure people do not face problems when they commute by road.
Within the DLF area, we are in talks with HUDA administration for the improvement of footpaths as it has been noticed that pedestrians use roads due to absence of footpaths
We are working in tandem with the concerned authorities such as NHAI, HUDA etc as we aim to smoothen the flow of traffic. We are taking long term measures in construction of road overbridges, underpasses
What made you introduce social media to solve the problem of traffic and does it really help? People have become increasingly Internetsavvy and are more at ease when it comes to concerning their woes online as they do not have to physically go to a police station. Moreover, residents of Gurgaon are educated and use this medium with ease. We have created a facebook page for Gurgaon traffic police so that we can be in contact with one and all. We have also deployed people who look after the complaints received online and take actions accordingly. Tell us something about your plan regarding hi-tech electronic surveillance system? The project is in pipeline and tender has been out. It was due to start from February 2012 but due to unavoidable circumstances, it got delayed. We are now eagerly awaiting
for it to take-off. I assure all the residents of Gurgaon that it will be one of the best systems around as all entry and exit points in the city will be monitored as will be all important crossings and markets. For example, if a motorist jumps the traffic signal, the vehicle number will be recorded automatically. We are trying to create awareness among residents to be more careful and request them to install GPS systems in their vehicles as parking space is a problem and at times, vehicles are parked in areas with no surveillance. Recently, we inaugurated CCTV surveillance in DLF 5 and initiatives such as these will help keep a constant eye on the surroundings and take informed actions to make the life of people easier. The challenges you face in maintaining law and order in Gurgaon. The main concern is that half of the city is under construction and there’s a lot
of pressure from the migrant or floating population. These people are not registered and hence it creates problem. Working out crimes committed by such people is a difficult task and is like working out a case on a moving train. On personal front, what do you do in your spare time? I am fond of reading mostly non-fiction. I read a wide variety of subjects and at present, I am interested in geo politics. I prefer expanding my reading portfolio. Whenever I could find time out, I go trekking. Photography is another one of my passions. One thing you like about Gurgaon. The best part about the city is that it is developing and shaping up. The city provides everything a person looks for: world class housing, shopping experiences, offices, hotels… you name it and it’s here. n
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RESIDENT CORNER
STAIRWAY TO
BLISS Lawyer Uday Walia returns from the Kashmir Valley, completely in awe of the paradise on earth
T
his was a trip which I and partners of our law firm were contemplating on for a few months, but somehow it was getting relegated to the backburner due to some or the other reason. No matter how hard we tried, we just couldn’t get to the paradise on earth- Kashmir. At times, it got postponed either due to one of us being unavailable due to our official commitment, or due to a stray incident of violence in the Valley. All of us had finalized Kashmir as our destination of choice not only to spend some quality time relaxing in its serene and blissful surroundings, but also to
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discuss serious official works of our law firm. Moreover, it was just half-an-hour away by air from the National Capital. One day, it finally happened. All of us were sitting in our office, discussing some legal issues and then the topic of our visit came up again. As it was delayed beyond our patience levels, we decided to do a quick five day and four night trip to Kashmir starting the next weekend. Though a couple of my friends were still sceptical about travelling to Kashmir due to safety reasons, we convinced them by saying that equally dangerous incidents could take place in Delhi, Gurgaon or Noida.
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RESIDENT CORNER
We landed at The Srinagar airport early Friday morning and checked in at the Taj Hotel, opposite the famous Dal Lake. It surely added another dimension to our maiden experience in Kashmir, which has been a dream destination for hundreds and thousands of travellers around the world. The Dal, the second largest in the state, is often called the Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir, and it is only when you spend time on its shoreline that you feel what had been amiss in your life. Sadly, from an area of 22 sq km, the lake has now shrunk to 18 sq km. “All this has been due to sediment deposition due to catchment area degradation. Efforts are now being taken to revive it to the original shape,” shared Imran Husain who
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operates a houseboat in the scenic lake. In fact, most locals we met during this trip were very friendly. This was perhaps due to the fact that the state’s economy, to a large extent depends on tourism which had been facing loads of problems due to militancy. However, Dal Lake reminded us, major Bollywood freaks, of Shammi Kapoor wooing Sharmila Tagore in its pristine waters in Kashmir Ki Kali, and many of the actor’s other movies. In fact, the ashes of Shammiji were immersed here in the Dal Lake. After a quick tour in the shikara that was immortalised by the yahoo star in the 50s and 60s, we got to Shalimar Garden, Nishat Bagh, Chashma Shahi and Pari Mahal. Words cannot describe
the feeling these places evoked in us and the tranquil environs that filled us up with a sense of reverence for this beautiful valley. The sight of fountains flowing through terraces in the garden made it look nothing less than Heaven on earth. These manmade repositories of all things naturally beautiful are a must visit, if one wants to savour the stunning views of the Valley. As we were around Dal, it was but obvious to visit Hazratbal Mosque, situated on the western shore of the lake opposite Nishat Bagh. The significance of the mosque and its name is derived from the fact that it houses a hair of Prophet Muhammad. It is the only domed mosque in Srinagar, the other having
Left to right: A visitor in one of the markets, Chashma Shahi and The Hazrat Bal Mosque (above)
distinct pagoda like roofs. On the eastern end of Dal Lake stood another beauty, waiting to be explored. Nishat Bagh or Garden of Joy, with the Zabarwan Mountains in the backdrop provided a blissful time. The terraced garden commands a magnificent view of the lake beneath the snowcapped Pir Panjal ranges that stand faraway to the west of the Valley. Broad cascades lined with chinar and cyprus trees, which start from the lakeshore and reach up to an artificial facade at the hill end, make you feel as if you are living in the Mughal era that exemplified grandeur. The site of water flowing from one terrace to the next and the sparkle added by the sun rays can make you forget the humdrum of busy life we live in metros. The only thing we did at the gardens was to sit on the benches and enjoy its beauty. We also had the opportunity to visit the largest garden in Kashmir, Shalimar Bagh. Linked through a channel to the northeast of Dal Lake, this garden is an absolute must visit. The axial canal, shallow terraces, carved stone bases, a fine platform surrounded by fountains and arched niches (chini khanas) behind garden waterfalls have no parallel in architecture and beauty. A stroll through these Mughal era gardens made us fully appreciate the fine detailing that had gone through in creating these places. A visit to Kashmir stays incomplete if one doesn’t get time to play a game or two of golf at one of the most beautiful golf courses
The significance of the Hazrat Bal Mosque and its name is derived from the fact that it houses a hair of Prophet Muhammad. It is the only domed mosque in Srinagar
www.dlf.in December 2012
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RESIDENT CORNER
The picturesque Nishat Bagh
The terraced garden at Nishat Bagh commands a magnificent view of the lake beneath the snowcapped Pir Panjal ranges that stand faraway to the west of the Valley
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in the country, Royal Springs Golf Course. Built in the foothills overlooking the Dal Lake, and overlooking the picturesque Mughal era Chashm-e-Shahi Garden, playing at this golf course is an exceptional experience, as it fulfills the needs of a nature lover as well as a golf lover. A professional 18 hole course, the ideal time to visit this place is between May and September, when the climate is perfect for a good game. For travellers who love the medieval charm, the old city presents just the right atmosphere. Its busy roads, bustling bazaars, traditionally dressed people, old brick buildings along the river bank, city’s mosques and shrines are all a photographer’s delight. These are the memories that linger on long after one leaves Kashmir. There is a profusion of copperware shops in the area, as Kashmiris use copper for tableware and even hukkahs. One can shop endlessly here for exotic carved, engraved piece of works that make attractive accessories for the house. Occasionally, one can see a wise old man bearing a carpet with its lustrous colours glowing in the soft sunlight. It reminds us of how dearly the Kashmiris hold their traditions and culture.
And how can one forget to mention the amazing Kashmiri food, especially the mouthwatering wazwan. We too had the opportunity to enjoy this multi-course meal, the preparation of which is considered an art and is a matter of pride in Kashmiri culture and identity. And I must admit on behalf of all my friends on the trip that it was the best meal we’ve had all our lives, especially the non-vegetarian spread comprising rista, tabak maaz, aab gosht, gushtaba and also some of the vegetarian delights like yakhni, dum aloo, hakh and phirni, the dessert. It was surely an out-of-theworld experience for all of us. And believe me, at no point of time did we feel unsafe or threatened by anyone so if you are wanting to visit the paradise on earth, do so now. On return, we all decided to soon return, this time with our families. n
The author, Uday Walia, is a lawyer by profession and a resident of DLF 5.
FOODIE
MUSIC ON MY
PLATE Bahi at South Point Mall serves authentic Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean cuisines WO R D S AM IR A LI H A S H M I
I
magine eating out in a restaurant that not only offers a healthy spread of delicacies but combines them with great music to make it an out-of-the-world experience. Once here, you traverse on a journey to a different world. That’s Bahi at South Point Mall in DLF 5 for you.
The name, shares Bahi general manager Randhir Tiwari, has been taken from a musical instrument in the northeastern states of India. And the name suits perfect as the place provides a soothing environment that is complimented by well-informed people serving you. Till recently, Bahi was just a
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FOODIE
While we were enjoying the main course, the music turned retro and took us back in time with some of the most famous and melodious Hollywood and Bollywood compositions 20
pub but then was recently transformed into a kitchen, lounge and bar. It serves multicuisine delicacies - Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean. This means that even as you gorge on the beautifully presented and delicious kebab platter, an in-house DJ plays some really great music to help you relax and forget the hectic day you have had. Every night at 10, DJ Manish takes care of the music and ensures every customer enjoys his melodious compositions. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, there are live band performances to give an enthralling experience to the guests. For enthusiasts who prefer their meal while listening to live sufi music, Wednesday is the day. However, what makes Bahi different from others is it playing all genres of music while others stick to just one. Like while we were enjoying the main course, the music turned retro and took us back in time with some of the most famous and melodious Hollywood and Bollywood compositions. But it is the food that takes away all the credit. The menu card has been designed rather intelligently with a section devoted to
Bahi Address 3rd Floor, DLF South Point Mall, Golf Course Road, DLF 5, Gurgaon Cuisines North Indian, Continental, Pub Timings 1 pm to 12 midnight Cost Approx `1,300 for two (with alcohol), VAT and service charges extra Happy Hours 1 pm - 10 pm (Mon-Sun) Credit Cards Accepted Facilities • Air Conditioned • Live Performances • Smoking Area • No Wifi Internet • No Outdoor Seating Reservations 9971091022 Stag Entry Allowed
the first main course to leave a lingering sense of satisfaction. So you can order a veg or nonveg lasagna, exotic mix veg, ravioli, spaghetti or opt for the traditional dum aloo, dal tadka, dal makhni or veg jalfarezi. The second main course offers the traditional murg lababdar, kadai murg, bhuna gosht, mutton rogan josh, paneer butter masala or the unconventional grilled pork ribs, chicken cacciatore, potato gnocchi, seared sea bass with caper butter sauce… The choice is all yours. If you have a sweet tooth, you can either order pannacotta (a creamy Italian dessert), crepe suzette (French thin pancakes served with tangerine and Grand Marnier Sauce) or
opt for tiramisu, trifle pudding or tarts. With Christmas and New Year round the corner, the restaurant, with a seating capacity of 90, is planning to offer best of times to its guests. “On December 25, we have planned special celebrations with our DJ and the live band playing choicest of numbers for our guests. We will take off at around six in the evening and will wind it up by midnight,” shared Tiwari, adding the New Year bash will have fire jugglers, three in-house DJs, 12 starters and special dishes. With renowned musicians like Jim Morrison and Bob Marley giving you company in the form of posters over a sumptuous spread, this restaurant is a must visit. n
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GETAWAY
A TASTE OF
REAL INDIA THE
Want a break from the hustle-bustle of city life? Then head to Pratapgarh Farms in Jhajjar to enjoy your weekend in its serene and cool rural environs
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ot only does it offer you the opportunity to break free from the mundane and urban lifestyle, it gives you a chance to experience the real India that resides in its villages. In fact, it is one of the best places to surrender to the region’s natural beauty and to rediscover your roots. Far from the maddening rush of city life yet an hour’s drive from DLF 5, it’s an ideal place to get away from your busy everyday life. Pratapgarh Farms, spread over 12 acres of lush greens, is where you get to experience village life at its colourful best. What’s more, you can be a farmer by participating in agricultural, gardening and dairy activities or plough a field with camels, bulls or tractors. Or you can sit with the village potter to create beautiful terracotta bowls and lamps, else weave a thread on the charkha with local womenfolk, paint matkas (earthen pots) or paint frescoes on mud-plastered walls. You have a host of rural activities to choose from, like cooking, pounding grain, grinding atta (flour), making ghee and buttermilk or simply balancing water pail on your head like true Haryanvi womenfolk.
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GETAWAY
Far from the maddening rush of city life, Pratapgarh Farms is an ideal place to get away from your busy everyday life 24
You can indulge in ethnic games like dart shooting, archery, tug-of-war, hop-skotch or wrestling in the soft soil arena. If you feel tired at any point, get a head massage from the village masseur or take a true mud bath. And when the mud has dried on you, bathe under the gushing waters of the tube-well. If you are in groups , you can indulge in games like tambola (equipment is made available for you to play within your group), musical chairs and three-legged races. FOOD Enjoy delectable vegetarian and nonvegetarian cuisines from Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab throughout the day. Feast on fresh food, pure desi ghee, farm fresh vegetables and milk served hot from traditional mud ovens called chulhas.
LOCATION 50 km from Rajiv Chowk, Gurgaon (via Sultanpur Lake and Farrukhnagar). Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary is situated 15 km away. PLAN YOUR DAY Timings: Between 9 am and 5.30 pm `690 per person above 10 years `375 per child between five and 10 years Children below five years will be complimentary (all inclusive price including taxes, food and all activities) CONTACT Near Railway Station Gwalison Road, Jhajjar. 09999964266, 09813576904 E-mail: pratapgarhfarms@gmail.com picnic@pratapgarhfarms.com Website: www.pratapgarhfarms.com n
SHOPAHOLIC
TRADITIONALLY
YOURS
Rivaayat, the fashion house at South Point Mall, aims to revive traditional artforms through its saris, lehengas and motifs
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select and exclusive ensemble of Indian attires, accessories and jewellery pieces is what you get to see when you visit Rivaayat, the fashion house at South Point Mall. Rivaayat means tradition and the fashion house justifies the same by keeping the age-old clothing traditions alive. Established by designer duo
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SHOPAHOLIC
One can sense the ethnic sensibilities of this brand simply by stepping into the store which is beautifully decorated with traditional Indian design elements Meera and Rohit, the store ensures each customer gets what he/ she is looking for. One can sense the ethnic sensibilities of this brand simply by stepping into the store, which is beautifully decorated with traditional Indian design elements installed in every nook and corner of the store. Each and every outfit at Rivaayat, be it a sari, a lehenga or a potli, is rich in craftsmanship and reminds one of the days when women from royalty wore heavily embroidered clothes and well-crafted jewellery pieces. The colour palette and motifs, you find out from the owners, have been crafted keeping in mind the traditions of olden times.
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With a colour palette comprising royal reds, blacks, golds and other festive colours, the garments shine through fabrics like silks and nets amid other woven materials, and are perfect for the woman who wishes to express her sophistication and femininity. “We don’t have anything in synthetic or mixed fibres. Each garment is pure and inspired from traditions across India, and we get the best of craftsmen to make these fabrics come alive,� shares Rohit. Then there are woven embroidery pieces from different regions of the country, while the jewellery section has an eclectic range of silver-based jewels wrapped in pure gold
foil. Each of these classical pieces at Rivaayat is handmade and handcrafted. So here at Rivaayat, you get an option to choose from zari, bagh phulkari, gota, zardozi, mirror work and lots of traditional jewellery pieces. “Bagh, or traditional phulkari is almost extinct as there are very few craftsmen left with this invaluable knowledge. We source this craft from across the border. In all our works, we use subtle colours keeping in mind the tastes of our niche clientele. The potlis, or traditional pouches supplement the look along with the sari or a traditional lehenga,” says Rohit. Celebrities, too, are finding the traditional dresses by the designer duo appealing.
Huma Qureshi wore a traditional dress from Rivaayat during the Gangs of Wasseypur iftaar party. The designer duo also showcased their creations at the Lakme Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2012 and received the “look of the day” award for one of their creations from their collection with the theme ‘Mehrun-Nisa’, another name of The Mughal empress Noorjehan. The creations were an amalgamation of revived artforms from across the country, with contemporary and eternal creativity by Meera and Rohit. If you happen to own a Rivaayat creation, be rest assured that there is a unique and handcrafted work of art in your wardrobe. n
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KIDZONE
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LEARN ’N’
PLAY
Here are a few options within the DLF 5 community to make the day interesting for your child
Do you run interesting classes for children and want your information featured in High 5? Please send in the details of your classes and photographs to joshi-shubhangi@dlf.in www.dlf.in December 2012
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KIDZONE
Impressions Add power to your handwriting skills by using scientific techniques and exclusive course material, as good handwriting is a mark of success, confidence and personality. You can enroll in any of the following batches: 1. Handwriting Improvement (6-17 years, one hour a day) 2. Speed Writing (6-17 years, one hour a day) 3. Calligraphy (8-17 years, one hour a day) Contact Babita Garodia, Impressions, Trinity Towers, DLF 5 @ 8802066356/ 9811392007
World of Kidz
At World Of Kidz Activity Centre, you can also learn aerobics, zumba, fitness dance, hip hop, fusion, freestyle, jazz, Bharatnatyam or enroll in French tuitions classes else opt for one-day classes in cooking, quilling, photography, chocolate-making and more. Contact Nupur Garg @ 9871049045
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Hobby Club
Join Hobby Club and learn the art of flower making, permanent glass painting, sketching, foil art, tatting, sticker making, pot painting, pot decoration, newspaper craft, Madhubani painting, origami, quill art and much more at a pocketfriendly fee. Contact Jasbir Kaur Gulati, W2C-42, Wellington Estate, DLF 5 @ 9873245662
SmartQ
Today’s Art
Nurture your creative side by Joining classes at Today’s Art, as it offers a host of hobby options – from teaching you how to make candles, chocolates, liquor chocolates, planters, photo frames or helping you in mastering the art of freehand sketching, oil colouring, mirror painting, knife painting, tile painting, still life painting and perspective drawing. You can enroll for the advance oil painting ie. spatula, texture, cone and 3D techniques yourself or train your kids in sketching and oil painting. Contact Today’s Art, Pinkee Katyal, C4A-151, Carlton Estate, DLF 5 @ 0124-4041248/ 9811516216
Are your children ready for the real world? Enroll with SmartQ to equip them with all the skills they will need! Not only will your child’s curiosity be tickled through general knowledge trivia, their communication skills will also be enhanced via vocabulary games. Then there are puzzles to crack which will instill competitive spirit within them, even as they learn to solve intelligent quotient problems through logical thinking. The programme features small group sizes for kids between 5-12 years and held for two hours once a week. Contact Suruchi, World of Kidz, D-2/4, Exclusive Floors, DLF 5 @ 9312500360
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