Gurgaon's Got a Weird Vibe (and I'm Here for It)
okay, so. gurgaon. i didn't really know what to expect, honestly. i’m elara, by the way, and i’m a freelance photographer - mostly weddings, which is… a lot. needed a break. a serious one. and my friend, bless her chaotic soul, suggested india. specifically, gurgaon.
I just checked and it's… a sort of humid stillness right now. Like the air is holding its breath. The temperature’s hovering around nineteen point three seven, feels like a bit cooler, thankfully. Pressure’s at a hundred and nine, and the humidity is a cheeky thirty-eight percent. Not exactly beach weather, but… manageable. I’m not complaining. I’ve shot weddings in worse conditions.
I’m staying in this little guesthouse near *Cyber Hub. It’s… an experience. The walls are thin, and I can hear the guy next door practicing sitar at, like, 3 AM. But the chai is amazing. Seriously, the best chai I’ve ever had. I found it on TripAdvisor - apparently, everyone raves about it. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g304243-Gurgaon_Haryana.html
I spent yesterday wandering around, just trying to soak it all in. The sheer energy of the place is… intense. Scooters zipping everywhere, vendors shouting, the constant hum of construction. It’s overwhelming, but in a strangely exhilarating way. I’m trying to capture it all, you know? The grit, the chaos, the unexpected moments of beauty.
“Apparently, if you wander too far into Sector 17, you’ll get chased by monkeys. Drunk advice, probably, but I’m taking it seriously.”
I stumbled upon this incredible street art scene in DLF Phase 1. Seriously, some of the most talented artists I’ve ever seen. I spent hours just photographing the murals. It’s a real hidden gem. I’m thinking of doing a whole series on it. I found a local art collective on Instagram - they’re pretty active. https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/gurgaonstreetart/
Someone told me that the traffic around MG Road is absolutely insane, especially during rush hour. Apparently, it can take you an hour to go a few kilometers. I’m avoiding that area like the plague for now. I’m sticking to auto-rickshaws - they’re chaotic, but at least they’re fun.
I’m trying to eat my way through the city, too. The street food is incredible. I had this amazing aloo tikki from a vendor near IFFCO Chowk - seriously, life-changing. I’m using Yelp to find the best spots. https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=indian+food&find_loc=Gurgaon%2C+Haryana
“A local warned me about the water. Said to only drink bottled. Smart. Very smart.”
If you get bored, Delhi and Noida* are just a short drive away. I might take a day trip to Delhi tomorrow. Need to see some historical stuff, you know? Shake things up a bit. I’m also looking into some photography workshops - there’s a few listed on a local events board. https://www.eventshigh.com/gurgaon/photography
Honestly, gurgaon is… weird. But in a good way. It’s not what I expected, but I’m kind of obsessed. It’s a sensory overload, a cultural collision, a constant source of inspiration. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay, but for now, I’m just going to keep wandering, keep shooting, and keep soaking it all in. And maybe avoid Sector 17.
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