Browse at art mall

Surrounded by industries and modest residential colonies, Art Mall, a three-storey, 15,000-sq ft, Rs 50-crore adventure in west Delhi's Shivaji Marg (near Moti Nagar) is an unlikely art destination in the capital. The idea germinated three years back when Naren Bhiku Ram Jain went galleryhunting for his daughter but had a harrowing experience.

A passion for the past

Steam engine rides, vintage car trips, minar maintenance — Friends of Heritage (FoH) reintroduces Delhiites to their city. FoH, a not-for-profit organisation, works to preserve and popularise the capital's many heritage sites. "The idea was to show people that history can be fun," says entrepreneur Sanjeev Batra. And what can be better than taking a two-hour trip through Delhi in coaches dating back to 1960!

The city centre

A revamped Central Park in the heart of Delhi helps recreate the lost charm of Connaught Place. The park, an intrinsic part of CP, had slipped into dereliction and neglect, but has now sprung back to life and action. Taken over by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in 2001 as the construction of the Metro began, the remodelling and reconstruction of Central Park was a part of DMRC's mission. And just like those trains, the park is a sight to behold.

Novel nooks for bookworms

Book stores flourish in many nooks and corners of Delhi. But it is the exhaustive collection of specialty literature stores that have hooked enthusiasts. Like precious keepings, these shops are known only to a select group of specialists and enthusiasts. Despite the curent trend of vanishing readerhip, these stores, with their exhaustive collections on specialised topics, continue to thrive.