NOIDA Unplugged

NOIDA or New Okhla Industrial Development Authority for the geeks and nerds. Well i would prefer to call it NOIDA itself. My memories of this city go back to 1998 when i had visited this place for a family wedding. People say "Your first impression is the last impression". My first visit here really mesmerised me. I had been to other metros like Delhi and Kolkata but there was something special here. The long and wide roads here seemed to welcomed me with its open arms. Though did'nt got much chance to explore NOIDA in my first visit i didn't knew destiny had something else for me in future.

End of year 2006 and i got a job in HCL Technologies before completing my Masters in Computer Application from Kolkata. One fine evening i got a mail from the company and i was required to join HCL for the training in NOIDA. Switch to year 2007, 18th of January a cold n foggy winter welcomed us when we entered into New Delhi railway station. 2 more hours and i was standing in the verandah of the Kalibari in Sector 26. I must confess that most of my exploration of this city has been done while we were undergoing training in HCL. Hardly there was any nook or corner left in and around the atta market that we had'nt explored.

Atta or to be more precise NOIDA Sector-18 Market, the heart of this evergrowing city. Buzzing with activity whole day and totaly crowded on weekends by youngsters and working professionals who live upto the motto "Work Hard, Party Harder". And indeed there are many options to choose from. Whether it is the Sab Mall (its going to be extinct soon like the dino's...) or the CetreStage Mall or the pride of NOIDA...the GIP or the GREAT INDIA PLACE Mall. It is one of the largest mall in india in terms of area, spread over 4 floors having a food court at 4th fl0or and a multiplex screen, Big Cinemas. Also there is the Spice and Shopprix mall and the most beautiful of them all the Shipra mall. Then there is the World Of Wonder adventure theme park for the thrill seekers.

With the entry of Delhi Metro life has been quite easy for NOIDA'ites. Gone are the days of long wait and rush for buses to delhi. We are now part of a growing NCR and we checked out the new noida metro on the second day of its opening itself.

Now, its been more than 3 years that I am living in noida. This city never ends to fascinate me. With winter temperatures dipping to 2 degrees (we still gorgue on ice-creams on winter nites... ) and summer a blazing 48 degrees hot. Life has taught quite a few lessons in noida. Don't know for how longer I will be in this city but the memories will be with me for a life time. Really miss all the fun that I had with some of my closest buddies - Abhijt, Arijit, Bikash, Romit, Ayan and Avik...Hoping to write a book on the time spent with them some day :)