Ahmedabads graveyard eatery, a popular joint for hundreds

Sipping a cup of tea, or chatting with friends is common, but to do it in a graveyard in Ahmedabad, seems unique.

Ahmedabad, June 21 : Sipping a cup of tea, or chatting with friends is common, but to do it in a graveyard in Ahmedabad, seems unique.

Welcome to "Lucky Hotel", which is nestled in the middle of 22 tombs.Visitors are served by waiters, who jump over tombs to serve food at this ancient Muslim burial ground.

"I have been coming here for the past three to four years to have tea. The grave is there, but I am not scared. I feel nice here," said Zakir Bhai, a visitor.

Lal Mukund Das, another visitor, said there is no difference between Hindus and Muslims at this restaurant-cum-graveyard.

A visit to the hotel is on the itinerary of many tourists and artists.

Several graveyards have been reclaimed for development over the years, and the owners of "Lucky Hotel" also decided not to demolish the tombs -- some of which belongs to Sufi poets and saints of the Mughal era. The restaurant opened about 40 years ago.

Its walls have paintings crafted by well-known painter Maqbool Fida Husain, a frequent tea drinker at this bustling restaurant.

Every morning, the owner of hotel, Krishna Kutty, a Hindu, wipes the graves with a damp cloth and decorates them with roses. He said: "People basically come here for the quality of food we serve. And, this eatery, is just famous for the tea and it has been lucky for me."

The restaurant offers about 90 vegetarian food items, and is most popular for its tea and white butter-buns.

ANI