Be it a quick meeting for North Campus students, or a late evening date at a quaint cafe, Majnu Ka Tilla, famously abbreviated as MKT is the go-to hangout place for Delhi’s youth. While places like AMA Cafe and Yamuna Cafe have gained quite a reputation, many visit the colony for shopping or to simply spend some quiet time by the river.

The name ‘Majnu Ka Tilla’ pays tribute to the local Iranian Sufi mystic named Abdullah, often referred to by the nickname Majnu. Legend says that he ferried people across the river without any charges as a service of God. The term ‘Tilla’ refers to an elevated mound of land, where the colony is established. Officially known as New Aruna Nagar Colony, the locality chiefly houses Tibetan families that took refuge and eventually settled in India after the 1959 Tibetan uprising and the Sino-Indian war in 1962. Today, MKT is also referred to as ‘Little Tibet’.

The entrance of the community is flanked by colourful Tibetan prayer flags. The bylanes host a market of clothes, accessories and beauty products, as well as books and stationery, all the more reason for students from nearby Delhi University and Ambedkar University to frequent the locality. Its economy is also majorly based on restaurants like AMA café, Dolma house and Kham Coffee House mostly serving Tibetan, Bhutanese and Korean cuisines. You will also find many street vendors selling hot piping Laphing, a Tibetan delicacy with a large fan following. The organic and herbal cosmetic items, especially oils, are unique selling point for both domestic and foreign tourists.

The locality houses a Buddhist temple as well as a Gurudwara. One should especially visit on the occasions of Losar, Saka Dewa and the birthday of Dalai Lama.

This “Little Tibet” is at a walkable distance from ISBT Kashmere Gate and is approachable from Kashmere Gate and Vidhan Sabha Metro stations.