Travel to India for Four Dollars
By Lavina Melwani • Jun 19th, 2009 • Category: TravelWant to travel to India? Hop on to the subway and for the price of a $ 4 metrocard, you’ll get a sampling in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Like a teeming, magical souk from the Arabian nights tales, it has everything from precious stones to rich silks to aromatic spices. If you’re craving for a paan or a kesar kulfi – and you’re a continent away from India, this is the place you’ll find it. If you’re looking for an ornate bridal lengha or a traditional gold wedding necklace in the heart of New York, well, have no fear – Jackson Heights is near!
Fondly nicknamed Jaikishan Heights, this gritty Little India has been the salvation of new immigrants for decades, bringing them a sweet piece of their lost homeland. It is here that they find the remembered tastes and sounds that make them feel whole again.
Photos © Lavina Melwani
See related article: Jairam, It’s Jaikishan Heights!
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- 74th Street has been renamed Kalpana Chawla Way.
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- The famous 74th Street in Jackson Heights
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- A manager at Apna Bazar supervises over the food universe.
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- Buying fresh veggies in Jackson Heights.
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- Almonds are very popular with people from the sub-continent
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- A little bit of India – Bollywood posters on the walls of 74th Street
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- Mannequins show off the latest styles
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- A golden afternoon spent window-shopping
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- Checking out the ready-to-eat delicacies.
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- A place to meet friends and catch up on news
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- Gods, prayer books and incense.
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- Sundays are the day to shop for the coming week.
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- Buying watermelons at a grocery store
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- Sona Chandi is one of the many jewelry stores in Jackson Heights
Lavina Melwani is a New York based journalist who writes for several international publications. Connect on Twitter at lassiwithlavina or on Facebook & LinkedIn with Lavina Melwani
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