Our city, their city

Literally, Delhi doesn’t mean anything. And the same holds true for Zurich. We have the Yamuna flowing through — or rather clogging — the city, while Limmat charts its course through Zurich. But despite a few similarities between the two capital cities, there are things that make you feel “if only we had that”. Yet there are times when one misses saadi Dilli even amidst the spic and span atmosphere of the plush European city. Come Commonwealth Games and Delhi would look its best. Here’s what we can take from Zurich.

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Waterways: Yamuna is the worst example of how a natural lifeline should be treated. A den of illegal activities and chemical dumping, this river could have been the pride of the Capital. Well, people still take a dip in it.

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Waterways: The banks of Limmat are among the most popular strolling zones for the young and old. Spotting two lovers cosying up is a usual sight. Swans on the clean, calm water makes for a beautiful sight as it flows through the ‘old city’.

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Food: Well, if you truly want to savour Delhi, you should opt for the street food. From gobhi parantha in the wee hours at ITO to kakori kebabs in Nizamuddin, we love — and live in — the streets. Though plush restaurants serving global cuisine are found in bulk, the state bhawans impart Delhi its distinct food flavour.

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Food: No Swiss city comes cheap, and its Capital is no exception. But yes, one must admire the quality and quantity they adhere by and you just can go on hogging. Street food throws up limited options as the city’s freezing. But besides great restaurants, Hiltl, the only all-veggy restaurant, serves everything from dal makhni to shahi paneer. Treat for us Indians!

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Airport: With the recent makeover, the IGI airport has come of age. A separate smoking area, internet access, food court — it has that phoren feel to it now. The Metro connection is just the thing we need to up its status further as getting an autorickshaw there can be a pain.

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Airport: The Flugafen — ‘airport’ in German — is one of the best in Europe. Its lounge bar is the longest in Europe and the place throws loads of options
for travellers to shop and unwind over, thus making transits and delays hassle-free. It even has a prayer room!

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Monuments: You are driving on the flyover, through chic offices and malls... and suddenly you come across an old fort wall peeping through the trees — that’s Delhi for you.

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Monuments: Zurich is a beautiful blend of the old and the new. The old charm’s preserved even while plush streets and banks have come up. The churches take you back to the class 6 history lessons.

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Public life: Ours could be India’s best city, if only we love it. Littered roads, abuses filling the air, rash driving, uncivi-lised Metro commuters — and we have just six months before the world comes here.

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Public life: Clean roads, public transport running on time, phone booths — you love life here. Trams are the lifeline as cabs come expensive. If only there were a few public toilets!