In spite of living in NCR since 2002 I never hauled myself up to the Surajkund Mela. But that changed today. I went to Surajkund Mela 2015 because the theme state was Chhattisgarh. I visited Chhattisgarh (not at the mela but the actual state) in January and I came back quite impressed. I decided to go alone and not take Chhavi as I was not sure what to expect on a weekend.
I am glad I didn’t go with my daughter, this is a partial view of the crowd that went to the Surajkund Mela today. It is great move of Haryana Tourism Department to let people purchase the Surajkund Mela Ticket online. I would have walked back if I had to stand in the queue to get the ticket. Do carry an identity proof if you do the ticket online as they ask for it at the entry.
This was the beautiful Chhattisgarh Gate at the mela grounds. I have to say that I had panicked right at the entry, but I convinced myself to spend sometime now that I had come so far. I have to say that even though it was really crowded, people on a whole were quite well behaved. I never had to tick off anyone at the mela ground.
There were a series of red elephants right posted along the entrance. They were a popular stop for people to take a photograph. I managed to get one minus the people after a while.
There were a lot of jewellery stalls and apart from an odd boyfriend, women thronged it. I liked them a lot as well but for a slightly different reason.
I was hanging around these stalls for they make for a very pretty picture. Unfortunately neither my sister nor I wear necklaces so I didn’t buy any. But how beautiful they look!
If you are not fazed by crowd you might actually enjoy clicking pictures and walking around. I am like a stricken chicken when it comes visiting crowded places. However, I did spend close to an hour at the venue.
Surajkund reminded me a bit of Dilli Haat. But of course it was grand daddy of Dilli Haat in sheer size, variety and people visiting the place.
I have often read that sometimes we shoot take pictures with just one lens. I carried only the 50mm prime with me. All the pictures are clicked with the 50mm lens and the Lumia 1020.
Even though I am very fond of buying earrings, this time I was content by clicking pictures. I didn’t even ask for the price once. I now wish I did, for the one in the top left hand corner.
I can now say that I have been to the Surajkund Mela. If you don’t mind the crowd you will enjoy it a lot. If you are like me, I am not so sure.
Do remember that you can buy the tickets online, just check out the official website of the Haryana Tourism.
There are mela buses plying from the Badarpur Metro Station on the violet line. The mela bus stand is at walking distance from the mela gate. You can get down at Tughlakabad Metro Station as well and take a cycle rickshaw or an auto.
I liked those colourful necklaces 🙂 🙂
But for the crowds, I loved it all Preethi.
i love the earrings…beautiful
I too found them very beautiful Anita.
Lovely! Am sure you had a great time, Mridula!
Never visited this Mela 🙂 Would love to!
Anita if it was less crowded I might have enjoyed it more.
I usually go there every year, but for the huge crowd and not to mention the traffic jams, I think it makes more sense for people who are planning to visit the mela go on Tuesdays and Wednusdays…..usually the least crowded days for you to enjoy the fair with your family or friends.
Weekends are absolutely NO as the crowd and rush get crazy!
True Paritosh but for working people who like to travel taking leave on a weekday for a local event doesn’t make sense. 🙁
Have been to many times. Difficult to enjoy with kids on weekends.
True Mahesh and difficult to take leave on other days!
I have my own uncle ( mama) staying at Charmwood Village which is very nearby and always kept on planning for the visit . Might be next year I will plan a visit with my camera
Go on a weekday and you might enjoy it more! But then taking leave becomes an issue!
Nice post. Loved it.. Nominated you for The Versatile Award. Check it out at http://www.fashionablefoods.net/the-versatile-award-recipients/ 🙂
Hey, nice pictures. I am planning to visit too. Could you tell me the route via metro and approximately how much time will it take to reach the mela if I live in Noida.
Hi Ruby see the bottom of the post, I have talked about the nearest metro station. It is Badarpur on the Violet line.
It is being a significant event in recent years and The huge crowd is witnessed it.
Yes Yogi but very difficult to enjoy.
Hope there will be something like this here in Bangalore.
I hope so Indrani and that it will be launched soon.
Weren’t there performances by various countries this time?
I didn’t stay long enough Ankita to figure it out.
Pretty pictures as usual!
Thank you Rajeev.
Lovely pics! My memories of Surajkund are also dominated by how crowded it was, and how pretty the crafts on sale were. Grand daddy of Dilli Haat just about sums it up aptly. 🙂 I suppose the best way to enjoy the mela is to be prepared for the atrocious number of people all around you, and then let yourself loose in the crowds 😀
True Ami, it can be enjoyed only if one learns to live with the crowd at Surajkund.
Finally you went, Gaurav and I went the other day to meet Santosh ji , he was really happy seeing and we were so well treated with great places for the tribal dances in front row escorted by the police too :)I fell special.. Missed you guys :)….I fell in love with this mela as when it was so beautifully done 🙂
Aah great to know that!
Beautiful photos from ” Surajkund Mela “
Thank you so much Rupam.
Thank you for the glowing visit report! your photos capture some moments of the Mela beautifully. We work very hard to make the Mela beautiful and unique each year. THis year numerous initiatives have been taken to make it an even more hassle free and visitor friendly experience. Please do check out the Surajkund Mela page on Facebook. You can get all the info you need include e ticketing on our mobile app as well which is a free download on both apple & android phones- just search Surajkund Mela!
we would like to share your trip report on our website and blog. please let us know if that is ok on mdtourismhry@gmail.com
Thank you for discovering my blog and your kind words 😀
I loved reading your article. I am one of the people who doesn’t like crowded places especially with a toddler when prices of all things r jacked up. First carrying the toddler is a pain and secondly when prices dont match what you normally get in markets.
I had just been to one surajkund mela and thats it….dust,crowd and costly items were such a turnoff.
I loved the earings though…
Nidhi I am also not sure if I will visit the next year! But I may.
Wow! What a grand mela to visit! The pictures themselves are therapeutic! Thanks for this virtual window shopping, Mridula 🙂 Loved it!
Thank you so much Sindhu.
Surajkund Mela is one I hate to miss. This year I had to. 🙁 Beautiful pics! Especially those necklaces. 🙂
This post is from last year Rekha. Let us see if I go this year or not.