A campus favourite

When it comes to finding the hot and happening crowd of DU, two places top the list — North Campus and South Campus. Just like its big brother in the North, the South Campus — marked by the popular Satya Niketan market — is no less.

The market, a stretch opposite DU’s Sri Venkateswara College (better known as Venky), offers everything from knick-knack shops to small restaurants and roadside eating joints to lounges with great music and sheesha to pool and snooker parlours, and also beauty parlours — perhaps the reason why the young lot swears by the market and doesn’t get tired spending most of its time here.
Those who’ve been there would have experienced the charm of this market. For those who haven’t, we take you through the market so that when you go there, you know exactly what to do.

Hungry kya?
This stretch begins with Cafe Coffee Day and goes up to the famous Maggi Point, a shop that boasts of the many styles of Maggi noodles that it serves — Indian, Chinese and European — all for Rs 25 or less. In the same line are other popular food chains and cafes such as Barista, Frankie, Subway, Chowringhee, Keventer's and Chacha’s kebabs, to name a few. The market offers a huge variety for hungry souls. There’s something for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and loadsa coffee and juice to slurp on.

And, the stuff’s available at student-friendly prices. The two outlets that take the cake when it comes to the pocket are QDs and The Brick House Diner. While the former is known for its tandoori momos, the latter, a relatively new joint, offers an affordable American menu. Go for the pancakes, priced at R60. Mashrabiya Express, which serves Arabic cuisine, offers a 50% discount for students during lunch.

The market is high on street food, too. From chatpata chaat and bhelpuri to spicy rolls and hot steamy momos to even roadside chuski and masala papad, there’s a lot you can indulge in. And to beat the heat, you could pamper your tastebuds with yummy milkshakes and ice-creams, be it from ice cream carts or a sit-down ice-cream parlour like Giani’s.

Get stylish
Amid the many eateries in the area, there are options for beauty and wellness, too. You can pamper yourself with facials, haircuts, manicure and pedicure to make heads turn. Apart from the regular beauty parlours, this market boasts of Hair Xpreso, a unisex salon by Jawed Habib offering haircuts for Rs 99. Pretty cheap to flaunt a stylish hairdo in the campus!

Chill out
Next comes entertainment. The market ensures you get a lot of it, as it is full of small outlets and lounges with great music that you could shake a leg to. If you aren’t the dance-floor types, you could just relax and sip on some cola or try out the many flavours of hookah and sheesha that are available here. Of the many sheesha joints, one of the first to open here was Talab. As some of these places have projector screens as well, you can catch the IPL matches. The fun doesn’t end here. The market also has jazzy pool parlours. So if you’re more of a player, this is where you should be.

Shopping opportunities are however, missing here. The market is also home to a gym, internet cafes, gift shops, book depots and numerous coaching centres. While this long stretch opposite Venky can keep you busy for hours, a great hangout in the vicinity is the South Campus canteen, famous for its food and great crowd.

Tips to survive in Satya Niketan
To beat the heat, carry a water bottle with you.
Always remember, it’s a campus area so dress bright and young, or you might feel out of place
Don’t expect fancy stuff here, as it’s mostly students (that get pocket money) who come here
Nearest metro station: Dhaula Kuan on the Orange line (Airport line)