A Glimpse of New India

Filed in archive Cities on November 9, 2007

It's hard to see India's modernization when there is so much of Delhi's past to distract you. Delhi is, after all, known as one of the earth's oldest functioning city. One almost feels like they are in a dreamlike state trekking around the Lahore Gate (below). This is the India of storybooks. Though Kipling is seen as a somewhat controversial figure, he deserves credit for being able to plant India in the imaginations of generation upon generation of western children.



What of the New India? Try the nearby town of Gurgaon. Once little more than a nondescript suburb, the city is booming. Why? It is simply an issue of space and location:

Carlson Wagonlit Travel branch manager, Mr Sandeep Ray, said: "A conscious decision on the part of real estate developers to build world-class buildings with proximity to residences has made Gurgaon a preferred choice. As New Delhi reaches saturation, Gurgaon with vast space available has gradually mushroomed into what it is today.

Multinational companies and hotels vie for development space, as do shopping malls. There are more shopping centers (photo below) per capita in Gurgaon than anywhere else in India.



The result is one of India's most modern cities. Aside from the shopping, there are few genuinely "touristic" activities. Still, the glimpse into India's new wealth and new status as the developing world's front-runner is cause enough to visit Gurgaon.