Random Expressions

Situated at the posh Sadar Bazar, Jaiwal Bar is a small but great place, one of the few modern bars of Agra. The place has an additional soft corner for me as this was the first bar that I had immediately loved when I shifted to Agra; since then, I am a regular here, with even the waiters recognizing me.

Ambience - Handsome! The bar has a trendy decor, with a glazed glass entrance, plastered walls and elegant wooden chairs. On one corner are comfortable sofas for those who wish to relax a little more. They play good music, and there is a television set as well for the ones who want to catch cricket along with their beers.

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Chokho Jeeman is a Marwari/Jain Restaurant, on the road leading to Agra’s significant Raja-Ki-Mandi Railway Station, at Delhi Gate, next to Moon TV Network’s office.

Even though I had heard of it earlier, but I visited the place very late, only last Sunday when a friend and colleague took me there for dinner. The restaurant impressed me enough to visit it again this Saturday, and also to write this review.

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There is a common English saying - “There are no free lunches in this world!” But I realized that there could be some free dinners sometimes!

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When I had taken up this house here, the landlady had forewarned, ‘Don’t be late in the nights.’ I was a bit apprehensive but didn’t want to let go off a good house in an upmarket locality for this small reason. Later, I realised she needn’t have warned. Kathmandu follows a different day-cycle to Delhi.

It believes in ‘Early to bed, early to rise’ dictum. By nine the roads are nearly empty, and by ten the dogs are howling. In addition, I didn’t really make any off-line friends here. So I never did break her rule except on a few occasions when I have colleagues from India visiting.


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Shaking off lethargy, and peeling off a silly internal superstition, I decided to let my hair loose today. Consequently, I found myself at my favorite bar-cum-restaurant at Thamel. The internal demons were silent, and I knew a great evening was spread ahead. I could barely conceal my excitement when I poured the refreshing chilled glass of beer.

That done, I started to look around. Now, I have a curious habit of observing people - be it at an airport or at a bar. So, wiping the foam whiskers off after an exceedingly satisfying and gratifying ‘ gulp, I eyed the motely bunch of small crowd in that mildly lit Mexican restaurant. Here is a quick snapshot - exclusive for you, honeykins:

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After another satisfying trip to Banchha Ghar my colleague and I decided it was a bit too early to call it a night. The casinos were an option, but having tried out most of them, I was not keen. Fleetingly, I mentioned a restaurant that had been in my eyes for long; however, I had been wary of going there alone. It had some of the most corny music playing always, and I had an inclination from the dimly lit sign-board what to expect. Catching at the slightest nod from the colleague, G, I pulled him towards the Belly Dance Bar and Restaurant, on the main Darbar Marg.

Even before we could enter the slim entrance, shady and dirty, with the walls and staircase with myriad graffiti, G remarked, “Man, this seems sleazy!”

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For those visiting Kathmandu, a trip to the restaurant Banchcha Ghar is a must. Housed in a building that is nearly 100 years old off the main Darbar Marg, Banchcha Ghar preserves the traditional Newari food in its authenticity. Newaris were the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley.

The must haves there are Sukuti (spicy, dried deer meat) and the wild boar dish(slices, served with an array of masalas/salt/mirchi), the preparation of which was one of the best that I ever had.

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