Driving through Delhi: Sun-dried Memories of a Winter Morning

It was a sunny day in February.
The winter chill was felt no longer and the sweltering Delhi summer was still a long way off. There was a pleasant nip in the air.
We woke up and found the day perfect for a long drive.
We often set out on such road trips, he and i, where the destination remains unknown. The joy of uncertainty is immense when, having nowhere to go in particular, you soak in all the beauty you find around yourself.

So, we crawled along the Ring Road, braving Delhi traffic, and hit Noida; took the DND and hooshed through Greater Noida. We stopped at Jewar and drove through Faridabad back to Delhi.

On Yamuna Expressway

The beauty of the sun-bathed highway was serene. The smooth road stretched to the horizon, and on its two sides were nothing but vast acres of mustard fields. The air was tinged with the slightly pungent smell of mustard flowers. 

The arid north India, they say, lack the richness of green one spots in Bengal or Kerala, God's own country. That green nourishes the sight, soothes the senses. It's the coolness of a shady haunt, the relief of finally reaching an oasis, that one experiences looking at the beauty of nature in these states.

North India, with its scorching heat and dust, does not offer such glimpse of lushness. But the breathtaking sight of those mustard fields, colouring the entire landscape with a deep hue of basanti, was magnificent in its own way.

Palwal, Haryana

This is the reason perhaps why India never ceases to fascinate me. You turn to the least known of its corners and there you are, face to face with the magical craftsmanship of nature, varied and ever new.

That day we came back richer. It was a simple road trip. But with this view all the way and Bob Dylan gently crooning 'Hey Mr Tambourine Man' in the background, life felt a little more worth living.

Route to take for this trip:

 If you're planning to make a similar trip, take the Yamuna Expressway

Tips for fellow travellers: 

1. Start as early as possible. The exit ways from Delhi get jam-packed very quickly and can ruin your mood for road trip.

2. Carry enough drinking water. No need to carry a lot of food though. The highway is dotted with many dhabas, where you can have authentic North Indian parathas, packed with the most delicious stuffings under the sun. Wash it down with a cuppa of hot masala chai.

3. If you find yourself too particular about hygiene, stop at the toll plaza at Jewar. It houses a host of food joints, like Subway, Slice of Italy and many others. You can eat to your heart's content and refresh yourself here.