Introduction
Once you step out of your school and enter into a college, you realize how big and different college life is. Reality hits you, a loner in school or the popular one in school, everyone feels the same void, the void of having a community connection. In school, it is a lot easier to make friends, but in colleges it might be a task to make good friends and healthy connections. In school, you have a limited number of fellows to choose from, but college is a pool of many unknown individuals, and you can’t really trust anyone blindly.
Delhi University is very popular and known for being the host of a vibrant crowd of students, because students not only from different nooks and corners of India but also from different other countries study here. It is a great place to make community connections.
There is no such thing as an island man (or woman). More than ever, the entire world recognizes the value of human connection, and people are actively connecting with the people they know (and want to know) in new and innovative ways.
People from across the globe have interacted with each other in a manner as if they are sitting next to each other. What we do and what we think has the potential to have a profound impact on the world around us.
One question that we need to ask ourselves today and in the future is, “What is the ideal community we want to be a part of?” You have to be clear by sorting out “Why do you want to be a part of it?” if we can formulate a vision of what talks to us. What will you benefit by giving that community your time and attention, and how much are you willing to give in return?
Communities that you build up during college which allow a free and smooth flow of ideas and thoughts help you understand the world, it teaches you how this world functions.
What is meant by community connections ?
We have heard so much regarding connected communities and the optimistic consequences that result from them. But what precisely do we imply by the term?
Being a part of a connected community entails knowing who lives next door, saying hello, smiling, waving, and occasionally stopping for a chat. If you are a college student , being a part of community connection for you means knowing who your seniors are , interacting with them, taking their help and guidance, listening to their career planning, projections and trajectory.
Community connections made during college help a lot to grow as an individual, they help you right from getting your first internships to getting the dream placement in the desired company. They are not only useful during college days, but they also help throughout life.
Why is it important to make community connections?
Before college, almost everyone was staying at home with parents and childhood friends in their respective comfortable environments. But the moment an individual leaves home for college and enters a new city and the comfort bubble bursts, so many things happening at the same moment, it becomes difficult to handle all at once with ease and calmness. Very few masters this art, but there’s nothing to worry about because this happens with the majority. In addition to this, the last few years were more miserable due to covid pandemic.
Everyone is acutely feeling the effects of the pandemic, quarantines, and social isolation. Everyone is missing their friends, their network, and their community. Surely, they’ve maintained connections with those closest to them, but their more remote ties are diminishing, vanishing, or slumping.
Community is essential to our overall well-being, and the decline in our connectedness coincides with the rise in mental health issues. In a Queen’s University study, 27% of people reported feeling lonely, and research from Washington State University discovered that people of all ages suffer from social anxiety and FOMO (fear of missing out), which are associated with low self-esteem and self-compassion.
Furthermore, a recently published study by the University of Houston found that the pandemic’s mental health effects will be long-lasting and potentially devastating.
We are social animals, and our natural tendency is to seek strength in numbers. We appreciate a small circle of people, but we also require larger circles. Our connections are inextricably linked to our health and happiness. We feel kinship, camaraderie, and connectedness when we are a part of a thriving community connections.
Each person has a place and a role, and group members believe they can bring their entire selves to their work and team. People have a high level of trust and psychological safety because they know others have their backs and will give them not only the benefit of the doubt, but also the space to apply their talents and develop new ones. People feel valued in a strong community, and all work has dignity. Furthermore, the needs of each member as well as the needs of the entire organisation are fully met. Communities look after their members and vice versa because they are invested in the group’s overall success.
Community Connections at Delhi University
Delhi University is such a big university with more than 90 colleges. It is divided into three parts:-
- North Campus
- South Campus
- Off-Campus
Basic basis of this division is the location of various colleges, located throughout Delhi in different regions of the capital city.
Each campus has its own story, style, structure, culture, colleges, students and vibe. Colleges of North and South campus are situated in close vicinity to each campus, which allows students to interact with students of other colleges as well. There’s no restriction in interacting and communicating with students of different colleges.
Making community connections at DU is easier in comparison to other universities, firstly because various colleges are closely situated and secondly college fest, inter-college competitions and tournaments provide ample opportunities to students to interact with each other.
Being in tier 1 colleges of DU gives you an edge over other college students but If you graduate from Delhi University, you get your certificates and only the name of Delhi University is mentioned, name of college you studied at, won’t be mentioned. Divided by colleges but united by the University.
Inside the college you can only interact and form community connections with students of the same colleges and usually of the same course and departments because timings are not the same for every department. So the best time and place where these community connections are built are outside the colleges after the colleges are over.
Initially students enjoy college’s canteen food, and they love hanging out in the canteen, but soon they get bored with that place because they get to spend so much time in canteen daily and everybody loves to hang out at those specific after-hours spots about which they have heard from seniors, internet, or they might have invented on their own. These after hours spots are the best places to connect and become a part of the community connections because people from every college of the campus do come to these places and hang out with their respective groups. This provides the opportunity to connect with students of different colleges, different departments, different courses and different hometown.
This article’s aim is to help you explore and get to know these famous and popular after-hour spots in Delhi University, listed below are few after-hour spots where DU students love to hang out.
For North Campus
Hudson Lane
If you’re looking for a place to relax or skip those exceptionally boring classes, Hudson Lane is the place to be. This lane is occupied with new trendy and inexpensive cafes that swear to take you on an assassin foodgasm! Among many others, we love Woodbox Cafe, Rico’s, Big Yellow Door, Echoes, and Cafeteria And Co. So come here for a good time and explore each quaint cafe to the fullest!
Kamla Nagar Market
You cannot call yourself a DU student if, after a full day of classes, you haven’t gone to the Kamala Nagar Market to let off some steam. You’ll be in the middle of a culinary and shopping utopia with a limitless amount of really cheap restaurants and retail establishments for the perpetually broke students, as well as some upmarket places. In the mood for some scrumptious chole bhature and aloo tikki? If yes, then immediately move towards Chache Di Hatti and Bittoo Tikki Wala. Want to indulge in some Chinese or Italian cuisine? Big Yellow Door and Berco’s come to your aid! A solution for all your needs, head on over soon!
Majnu ka Tila
Majnu Ka Tilla is a Tibetan colony that is very close to the North Campus and has recently grown incredibly popular with the students at DU. Every corner of this colony has a momo or laphing stall, as well as affordable shops where you can buy shoes, bags, and other small trinkets. Visit AMA Café for Instagram-worthy food photos, Tee Dee’s Restaurant for really reasonable, mouthwatering Tibetan food, and Coffee House for a cup of soul-satisfying coffee and a slice of dry cake.
Tom Uncle’s Maggi Point
Since opening in 1978, Tom Uncle’s Maggi Point has become somewhat of a celebrity among the nearby street food vendors. Tom Uncle, a place famous for offering pasta, drinks, and more than 50 different flavours of Maggi, is the ideal option for all those hungry but penniless people trying to fill their bellies. You must try the wonderful Desi Logic, All-In-One Maggi, and Tandoori Pasta. Therefore, if you haven’t already stopped by this stall, do so right away to enjoy a delicious meal.
Sudama Tea Stall
Since the beginning, CHAI PE CHARCHA has been a crucial component of daily life in DU. The most popular places anywhere are the tea shops on campus. And SUDAMA TEA STALL continues to reign supreme among them all. It is named after the chai shop’s proprietor, “SUDAMA,” who serves this homemade, satiating chai with his special blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. Once you’ve visited, you’ll want to come back again and again. Indisputable evidence of the existence of the DU north campus may be found in the renowned Sudama Tea Stall, which is located in the centre of the campus. Because Sudama has been in operation for a while, it has seen a lot of newer batches enter and leave the college. They provide a selection of biscuits, toasts, mathi, rusk, and cream rolls in addition to chai, which costs between Rs 15 and Rs 20 if you prefer it in a kulhad.
GTB Nagar
GTB Nagar, or Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, is one of the most famous localities in the northwestern part of Delhi. It is renowned for having a vibrant urban environment supported by coaching facilities, workplaces, and eateries. Despite not being on your Dilli-Darshan list, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar is undoubtedly one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Due to the proximity of colleges like Miranda House and SRCC on DU’s North Campus, students are constantly searching for places to eat that won’t break the bank. As a result, the area is teeming with restaurants, pubs, and cafes that serve some of the best food at some of the best prices. Some best places to eat at in GTB nagar are –
- Mr. Crust Bakers
- Big Yellow Door
- QD’s
- The Vintage Avenue
- 736 A.D.
For South Campus
Hauz Khas
A location with a wide variety of things to explore. For all the South Campus students who have adopted it as their second home, it is undoubtedly the ideal location. with a variety of options, including eateries and coffee shops including World Pizza Journey, Moonshine, OTB, and Elma’s. If you enjoy eating and want to satisfy a hunger, there are a variety of cuisines to choose from, from Thai and North Eastern food to Spanish and Italian. The day wouldn’t finish even if you sat here all night. You may relax while admiring the sunset and taking lovely pictures near The Hauz Khas Fort, Deer Park, and lake.
Sarojini Nagar
If you enjoy shopping, this location has everything you need, including fashionable clothing, handbags, and jewellery. That certainly adds up to everything. The area is quite congested and offers a huge selection of items at the lowest prices conceivable. Several options are available around the market, including Haldirams, Subway, Domino’s, and Mc Donald’s. Here, you can eat to your heart’s content.
Select City Walk and DLF
The trendiest malls in Delhi include Select City Walk and DLF Palace. Several high-end brands, such as Guess and Burberry, as well as other fashion brands, including Forever 21, Zara, and Mac, are available here. You can pass the time by watching movies, visiting the Select City Walk’s Wednesday flea market, enjoying ice cream from Haagen Dazs, or even stopping by Krispy Kreme for their world-famous, delectable donuts.
South Extension
One of the popular hangouts for people from south campus is going to the south extension market in the evening for some fast food and light shopping. Even though it has glamorous showrooms and pricey events, you may find all the national or worldwide brands here for any occasion
Greater Kailash Market
Another market where you can haggle and purchase the things you love. Greater Kailash Market can be characterized as a fusion of upmarket shopping areas and typical street vendors. Moreover, Starbucks, Café Coffee Day, and a few bars are located nearby. That will live up to your expectations in the market. Shopaholics, this is a destination you must go to soon!
For Off Campus
Colleges located off-campus are dispersed and separated from one another, unlike the north and south campuses of DU. As a result, there are no specific hangouts to mention off-campus as a whole. But, on a personal level, off-campus institutions have some of the most bizarre locations to explore and have fun. Students attending off-campus universities have the benefit of being dispersed, which gives them access to locations that students attending on-campus colleges in the north and south do not. We regret that we are unable to discuss every college that is off-campus in this part in order to save writing an additional 100 or 200 pages. Yet, we can guarantee that while you’re visiting these universities, you’ll love college life.
Here’s is a list of few hangout spots :-
- DDUC – Banta Point, Moment Mall
- MAC– Atta market, Mayur vihar phase 1, DLF Mall of India, Great India Place Mall
- SAC- CP, Khan Market
- SBSC CVS – Malls in Saket like Select city walk, MGF & DLF
- Shivaji College– Rajouri Garden, Rajiv Chowk
Conclusion
No matter what college you get admission into in Delhi University, there are plenty of affordable and beautiful places to hang out with your friends after a tiring day and may be a boring day at college. Delhi University’s colleges are surrounded by many good cafés, malls, markets and street food stalls. Exploring such places and markets makes college life exciting by taking away your stress of the entire day, and these are the places to make college life memorable.
