Street Food at Majnu ka Tilla (officially known as New Aruna Colony)
The Tibetan Refugee Camp near the Delhi University North campus is a paradise for every food enthusiast and adventurer. Situated on the Outer Ring Road, the entrance to the Camp is overbearing on no accounts and yet it opens up to you a small world so splendid and exquisite that you just don’t want to leave. The veritable ‘Mini Tibet’ is indeed what it claims to be: a small sample of Tibet. It showcases a convincing replica of authentic Tibetan food, culture and tradition.
Besides the plethora of small cafes and cosy restaurants, one comes across many vendors in nooks and crannies of the Camps elling a Tibetan street food called Lhafin. A visit to Mini Tibet is incomplete without this dish which is sold at a very reasonable price of twenty five rupees. Majnu ka Tilla is probably the only place in Delhi where you will find this unique Tibetan dish. It comprises of thin cornflour rolls cut into thin slices resembling noodles, submerged in a delicious soup. The soup is a commensurate amalgamation of ginger water, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and a few spices and appeals most to those with a titillating tongue. It’s a rather entertaining experience to observe as the vendor takes out the cornflour roll from a big container, slices it up with fascinating dexterity, pours in various amounts of different spices and sauces and finally serves you the dish in a bowl with chopsticks or forks as per your choice.
So come on out, experience Tibet in this bowlful of delectable flavours amidst an ambience of Buddhist chants and an omnipresent decoration of “Free Tibet” posters and wall graffiti.
Shailaja Das,Foodie Correspondent
13th August,2013
