Rajasthani Cuisine Flourishes at India Gate: An Excellent Initiative by RTDC

In the heart of the nation's capital, India Gate in New Delhi, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) has made an admirable effort by introducing a delightful array of Rajasthani dishes, receiving widespread acclaim. On Friday, RTDC Managing Director Sushma Arora inaugurated a Rajasthani food shop that will offer authentic dishes from Rajasthan.

While Delhi boasts a diverse range of cuisines from around the world, and five-star hotels charge premium prices, locals often struggle to find authentic dishes from other states. Rajasthani cuisine, in particular, has a strong demand in Delhi. People frequently search for delicacies such as crispy kachoris, dal baati churma, besan gatte, makka roti, and ker sangri. This is evident from the consistent popularity of Rajasthani food at food courts during international trade fairs. While many shops in Delhi are named after famous Rajasthani brands, customers often find themselves dissatisfied due to a lack of authentic Rajasthani flavors. Some even hesitate to travel all the way to Jaipur just to indulge in Rajasthani cuisine, especially during festivals.

The RTDC has made various efforts to bring authentic Rajasthani food to the capital. The famous Rajasthan food at Delhi Haat had long been a favorite, but its closure left a void. This isn't the first initiative by the Rajasthan government; previously, Bikaner House had attracted customers with Rajasthani dairy products, including lassi, buttermilk, and more. Rajasthan Roadways also served as a hub for tourists heading to Jaipur, but these facilities were eventually closed, leading to disappointment among food lovers.

Now, with Sushma Arora taking charge at RTDC, there’s renewed hope for Delhi residents. The initiative to bring Rajasthani cuisine to Central Vista, an ambitious project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is commendable. The food court near Children’s Park at India Gate was inaugurated with vibrant Rajasthani folk performances, infusing the area with the aroma of Rajasthani delicacies.

During the inauguration, Sushma Arora stated, “Through this food court, we aim to introduce the true taste of Rajasthan to the world. This initiative will effectively bring the hospitality and culture of Rajasthan closer to the public.” She emphasized that the quality of food and service would be a top priority.

Executive Director Rajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted RTDC’s ongoing social welfare innovations, including the concept of midway restaurants and the luxury train, Palace on Wheels, which serves both Indian and international cuisines. Such efforts will further expand the vision of “Rising Rajasthan” put forth by the Rajasthan government and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

Dault Singh, in charge of RTDC's Delhi office, announced that the Rajasthani food shop would be open daily from 10 AM to 10 PM, offering a variety of dishes such as Jodhpur’s mirchi vada, onion kachori, Kota hing dal kachori, Jaipur samosa, and sweets like ghevar and motichoor laddoo at reasonable prices. 

India Gate, being the most prominent attraction in New Delhi, sees thousands of visitors daily, making this food court an excellent opportunity to popularize Rajasthani cuisine further. The Rajasthan government’s initiative not only aims to give the state's culinary heritage a new identity but also to encourage those in the food industry, potentially increasing the state's revenue.

It will be interesting to see how successful this initiative will be in establishing Rajasthani cuisine as a prominent feature at India Gate.