Hauz Khas in South Delhi – just a stone’s throw from the imposing Qutab Minar – is now mainly a residential colony. Like most of Delhi, it is a fine blend of the really old and the new! Among the many Sultanate monuments here, prominent are a Madrasa dating back to 1552 and Feroz Shah Tughlaq’s tomb. What lends a strange piquancy to the place today is the ‘village’ deep in the recesses of Hauz Khas. Bordered by Deer Park, it was actually a village, with cowsheds, buffaloes, and cramped residences, and narrow winding lanes running through it. About 30 years ago, a slew of fashionable boutiques began operating from here and were soon joined by eateries specialising in Indian and international cuisine. Today, for sheer contrasting nature, the village is on the must-visit list of all visitors to the capital.
