Copyright: Aske Munck
"Lodi Garden is my favourite place in all of Delhi", the little girl in jeans cries happily, before she runs down to the pond to feed the quacking ducks.
The girl and her parents are not the only ones who find this place worth visiting. This Sunday the huge park is full of families picnicking on their multicoloured blankets that look like giant pieces of puzzle on the green grass.
A picnic is definitely not something to be taken lightly in a food-lover's country like India, and the impressively elaborate food-baskets are filled to the brim with everything from roast chicken, koftas and vegetables to gulab jamons (Indian doughnuts) and loads of chapatti-bread everything of course accompanied with loads of hot masala chai. People are talking, laughing and relaxing in the mild winter sun.
Copyright: Aske Munck
Lodi Garden is situated on the main Lodi Road a crowded traffic spot fifteen minutes from Connaught Place, the thumping heart of Delhi.
The park is a pleasant mixture of beautiful large trees, clutches of huge bamboos, artificial streams, and old monuments that rise proudly above fountains and small ponds.
In the middle of the park lies Bara Gumbad, a beautiful mosque that was built in 1494 during the reign of Sikandar Lodi, surrounded by tombs. However, the atmosphere is all but gloomy or graveyard-like, and women in colourful saris sit on the temple roof tops and chat, while their children eat hot chestnuts or run after the salesmen who pass them blue, green, yellow, purple and red air-balloons in exchange for their small creased rupie notes.
Copyright: Aske Munck
We stroll slowly past a birthday party where a large group of small children are engulfed in a break neck sack race. And a bit further down the lawn a father is trying to teach his son how to hit a cricket ball, but his tiny arms can hardly lift the bat, and he misses the bowler's every pitch.
Copyright: Aske Munck
We sit down in the grass and watch a small group of squirrels that scurry about in a big tree, peering with great anticipation at a young couple who seem more interested in each others' eyes than in their sumptuous picnic basket.
Copyright: Aske Munck
Something grumbles, but it is not a storm brewing, but our stomachs that remind us that we too should start to think about lunch. We head for Lodi restaurant, which lies at gate nr. 1. hidden behind a big and well trimmed hedge. European and American expats hiding Saturday's hangovers behind big sunglasses and well to do-locals sit at stylish wooden tables or lounge idly in lavish white bed like booths in the restaurant garden.
Tastefully arranged between two lounge-areas and decorated with flowers sits an impressive brunch buffet with everything from fresh fruit and juices to continental dishes and more traditional Indian cuisine not to forget huge platters of cheese and an even bigger mountain of diet defying cakes.
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