Shristi Gupta
I was sitting in my drawing room, sipping green tea and watching some random channel on the television, browsing through the social media. Suddenly I came across a post on Facebook, talking about Champa Gali. I laughed. What kind of a name is Champa Gali? But the pictures intrigued me to read more about it. The next thing I know is was stuffing my bag with a diary, pen, water bottle, power bank and Pepper Spray. (I carry it no matter where I go). I had come to Noida for the Diwali vacations. My mom stays with my masi here.
I took the metro from Noida City Centre to Saket. I was gawked by an auto driver when I asked him to drop me at Champa Gali. My anticipation grew as I walked in search of this place. I walked past through old unreconstructed buildings, silent roads, and no to few street walkers. That was the moment when I realised why is it called Capital’s best kept secret.
I ended up at a place that had shops whose shutters were down but the adjacent walls had graffiti designs. I knew I am at the right place. Next thing that my eyes witnessed was just surreal! A long patch of street of about 100 mts, with many small shops, plants hanging on the walls, a green cloth canopy tied as the shelter, wooden benches and people sipping coffee at different corners. Was I transported to some other world? Does this place exist for real? I was lost in this Parisian passageway. It was such a dreamy fairy tale place. Rustic, quaint, unexplored.
I walked inside a shop that displayed antique handicraft pieces.. I wish my pocket allowed me to pick up as many vintage decor as possible. Nevermind! Beside this shop was ‘JUGMUG THELA’. The name instantly reminded me of a story from my childhood days. It’s a coffee house. Bang opposite to it is a beautiful library loaded with all kinds of classic novels. Paradise for people who are into reading. I did not pick any book to read because I had something else in mind. I ordered the Kerala Black filter coffee as it’s their speciality. I waited while my coffee was brewing as I looked around to find different people here and there. A couple engrossed in conversation, two middle aged men sipping tea and a group of foreigners chatting and clicking pictures. I took my coffee and sat at a bench in the corner , under the neem tree, as I opened my diary to write. Yes writing was on my mind. I had been stuck on the fourth chapter of a story that I was writing since long now. And trust me I couldn’t find a better place in the city to think, write and and indulge in some quality ‘me time’. It felt like I was sitting in the quietude of a mountain village.
The street then led me to Blue Tokai Cafe, a cafe with an on-site roastery. There are two worlds hidden in this cafe. As you enter, you can see long passage with white walls, paintings on the wall, coffee on display, long ceilings, lamps hanging, just like English cafes (Images 7,11, 14, 15 & 19). But as you step out in the backyard, it is a different place altogether. It’s lit with yellow lights, wrapped around bamboo sticks, classroom type benches, cool breeze and lush greenery all around (Images 10,17). I was hungry by now so I tried their chicken sandwich which was different as they had minced the chicken into fine paste and then baked it on the bread. Delicious! There was a group of young entrepreneurs sitting right beside me as they discussed some business ideas. I was happy. And lost.
The place is called Champa Gali as the Blue Tokai owner brought in a lot of champa plants.
This establishment is a hub for impromptu poetry evening, chai pe charcha, book launches, music gigs, putting the place on the map of Delhi. The undiscovered gem Champa Gali is in south Delhi’s Saidulajab village near Saket that offers a perfect blend of coffee, art and culture.
After spending some three hours at this place, I left behind a part of me right there on that wooden bench under that neem tree. I also know those novels in the library has my heart caged and whenever I am in Delhi again, I will visit Champa Gali to engulf myself in the vibe of this rustic charm!
missinksg 