Near North Campus is this Tibetan market called Majnu Ka Tila. It is a small yet vibrant community of Tibetan people, most of whom are refugees. They've carved out a space for themselves here and run their own businesses, bringing to our city a new cuisine and a whole new and unique aesthetic. We recommend exploring the area at least once, and we’re showing you how to do it within a day.
Follow the Tibetan prayer flags to the entrance of the community. A narrow lane will lead you to an open courtyard with a temple. Along the fringes of this space sit a few vendors, all of whom sell a popular Tibetan street food called La-phing. It’s a type of flat noodle made from flour (usually mung bean). The vendors offer two varieties – one dry and one with soup, with the spice content of your choice (go for very spicy, if you dare).
Moving on, you'll spot cafes like Kham Coffee House, the popular AMA Cafe (it's almost three floors large now!) or Coffee House, all of which are great options for when you want to catch up with your friends or bae over endless cups of coffee.
For a full-fledged meal, head to Dolma House, where you can sample Gyuma, a homemade sausage made from a variety of meats. We personally prefer heading to the AMA restaurants, though (yes, there are two). They're not as crowded as Dolma, and their food is equally good (or maybe even better). We definitely recommend that you try the Devil Momos here.
Further along the way, take a break from all eating and indulge your inner shopaholic with some retail therapy at Mapcha, KOJA, or these accessory stores. You'll find all sorts of casual clothing, dresses, tees, shoes, and even stationery here starting at INR 100. Do check out Akama — The Tibetan Shop, a one-stop shop for handicrafts, tapestries, books and shawls.
Timings: Most shops and cafes open by 11 AM and close by 9 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Vidhan Sabha Metro Station on the Yellow Line. Take an e-rickshaw from here, which will cost you somewhere around INR 40.
Pro-tip: Finding a good parking spot can be an issue. We recommend opting for public transport. Also, the place gets surprisingly packed on weekends.
