Hauz Khas Village,New Delhi

NewDelhi's most faboulous green patches surrounds Hauz Khas Village,a nice walkway around the lake,some impressive monuments dot the region.A different world thrives in the small area surrounding the lake and called Hauz Khas village,an artists village.The artists village is not too much designer type,but still very stylish and bohemian.Its got some decent cloth stores,decent food joints,jewellery designs,cafes,leather,art,fashion agencies,travel agencies etc.The area is quite and laidback.Its quite stylish and has got some real wacky names unlike a standard market in Delhi.

Back in the village,wander through the narrow lanes to experience a medley of old and new structures-expensive shops and art galleries in a medieval warren.Find your way to the gardens near the ruin of a madrassa at the back of the village.In the 1980's Hauz Khas was designated an upscale tourist destination,but the process of redevelopment was never completed,so some of the village's character persists.After exploring,stop for a ameal at one of the viallges restaurants,particulaly,(Park Balluchi) in the Deer park,Naivedyam or the Village Bistro...

We entered the small bylanes of HAuzkhas and this is what we saw and you all enjoy

Park your cars here,private cars are not allowed inside the village

you pass the Mulk Raj Anand centre here,you can register yourself for tabla classes here,watch out for exhibitions here..

advertisements adorn the walls

kunzum cafe,what a name for a cafe? Very nice place.

a litter free board..quite artistic

we had our lunch at Naivedyam..and set out for the walk.

indian arts store where you get ravi varma prints,lithographs and maps and movie posters..

you walk down the stairs and select the best,prices are fixed..

interesting advertisements for shops

interesting posters..

a temple in the bylanes

we have been to gunpowder umpteen times,only problem is it is in the fourth floor,climb all the way up,book your seats in advance..

it was diwali time and marigolds where seen everywhere hanging in front of shops,an artistic way to hang

country collection,you can window shop or enter and see the rare old furniture housed here..

drawings on the walls...

shom or ishom?

purple jungle,where you get things kitschy..

the front of an art gallery,lovely seating designs

what a name for a clothing store

Hope all of you enjoyed the joy ride in the bylanes of Hauz Khas...

Image courtesy; Lakshmi Arvind.please do not steal nor copy images..

Succulent Gardens

Some things make me think for a long time.Why not take a little break from Indian Decor and why not talk a little about Gardening..hmmm Garden decor or Garden Art?

On my mind for a long time and many of my friends and readers have been continuously requesting over time to share my knowledge with them.So today on lets us do a little gardening combined with my knowledge and enthusiasm for art.

Lets make our hands dirty ,dig deep ,plant ,pull weeds and cultivate your innerself. I am available for all enquiries and I am happy to share my knowledge.Today let me share with you the love for succulents.

Succulents have been a huge trend in florals this year, finding their way into eco-friendly and fabulous wedding designs, even bouquets! In one context, they say modern. In another, organic. The shapes and patterns of these plants are like no other.

When it comes to low maintenance plants,succulents are the best.Being mainly from desert conditions,they can thrive without water for extended periods of time.They prefer lots of sunlight in outdoor conditons,if it is indoors they require awell lit spot near the window.There are some of them which are adpated to relatively shaded conditions making these plants indoor house plants.Sansevierias(Mother in laws tongue),Aloe,Haworthias and Gasterias are typically more tolerant to lower levels of light,but they will also produce even with bright light.They are not heavy feeders,a spoon of general purpose fertilizer in spring would do great.

A well drained potting mixture,coarse sand and gravel make the ideal potting mixture.watering should be done when the top 2 inch layer of soil is dry.

Ideal succulents for the Indian conditions are Agave,Aloe,Crassula(the jade plant:small shiny green plant with shiny leaves and red margins),Echivierias(rosette forming plant and sometimes silvery margins) and sedums(stony plant or weeping plant with silvery grey leaves ideal for hanging baskets)kalanchoes,aoeniums(rossettes of black,purple leaves)Haworthias(star shaped,green in colour).There are endless species and hybrids in each sections and the list goes on endlessly..Insect pests are rarely a problem.

Succulents are nowadays widely used in home decoration.you cant get enough wit these small and vibrant plants.They make dramatic statements wherever kept and also make excellent centre pieces.

Image courtesy:Everday minerals,everyday naturals,Debra Lee Baldwin,Simply 4,C and B daily,Angus stewart,Cookie plus Kate,Papernstitch the blog,belle maison.