In the heart of Delhi lies Old Delhi, the walled city founded as ‘Shahjahanabad’ by the Mughal emperor Shahajahan. Today, Old Delhi is a bustling place, a symbolic heart of metropolitan Delhi and very much a separate world and a vibrant living history.
Old Delhi is also home to some of the most famous landmarks in Delhi – Chandni chowk(the oldest commercial market running since 17th century),Sisganj Gurdwara, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Chawri Bazar and many more
I have been to some of these places many times and simply loved the vibe of these areas, not to mention the yummilicious street food available here!!
But since a long time, I wanted to tour the inside of Old Delhi, beyond the markets and into the bylanes, into the small gullies and see Delhi as it was many years back, see the growth of Delhi(indeed as many great institutions were born here)….but never got around to it, coz it’s impossible not to get lost without someone who truly knows the insides of this incredible place….
My wish was fulfilled some time back when I joined a food walk through Old Delhi…and the experience was wonderful. I share here some wonderful moments and experiences of our walk in Old Delhi.
Our walk started at Chawri Bazar and passed through Jama Masjid, Dariba Kalan, Kinari Bazar and ended in Chandni Chowk.
Chawri Bazar, today is a specialized wholesale market of brass, copper and paper products. Back in the 19th centruy, it was popularly known for its dancing girls and courtesans frequented by nobility and rich alike.
Being a traders market, it also has all the typical delhi street food stalls, which sell totally heavenly stuff!!
After having some of the yummy street food(we had chaat, gol gappe, daulat ki chaat, fruit sandwich and kulle di chaat…quite a lot actually!!), we headed to the Jama Masjid.
Jama Masjid is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and completed in the year 1658 AD, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India. It lies at the origin of a very busy central street of Old Delhi on the Chawri Bazar Road.
We reached here just in time for sunset, and it was a lovely experience…wind blowing gently, the crowds, the birds..I was glad that I was finally here!!
We then proceeded to walk into the residential area of Dariba Kalan, into Kinari Bazar. This portion of the walk was filled with lovely discoveries, the small gullies, the old houses and some surprises…
One of discoveries we made was the origin of the legendary Delhi college St. Stephen’s , which started here in Sheesh Mahal, a haveli in Dariba Kalan.
Our final stop was Chandni chowk, which is one place I have been to often….it is one place every delhi bride-to-be(or groom-to-be) visits for trousseau shopping. This place also has some historical monuments such as Sisganj Gurdwara, Digambar Jain Temple and Red Fort.
Since this was a food walk, it ended with some yummy street food again!!
And talking about food, boy did we all hog!!…and here’s how!!
Ofcourse, I would be going to Old Delhi again and again for the food and the shopping!! It happens to be one of my favorite places in Delhi after all!!
There are a number of individuals/tour groups conducting walks through old delhi. I took the walk with Rahul Nainwal of Viawalks, found his walk to be the perfect mix of food, history and fun!!
Nice blog and very informative. Fun to read too.
Check my blog
http://www.omgdelhi.blogspot.in
Pupp$
Nice blog. Very informative and fun to read.
check my blog too
http://www.omgdelhi.blogspot.in
Pupp$
Fantastic picture of the mosque! And Food is a good enough reason for me to go visit the place!
Eagerly waiting to get that chance to get to Dilli!
Cheers
Venky
Like the pics! the food pics are great!
wonderful post with great pictures!
Old delhi is my fav.place and i go der often to get taste of real delhi which is vanishing.
All pics are captured beautifully.
Joining ur blog ๐
you make us fall in love with Delhi again and again.. beautiful clicks.. ๐
Great post, you covered all my favorite hot spots and food joints in Old Delhi, and that Jama masjid pic at twilight hours is stunning!
Oh yum! Thanks for sharing these great pics – it's so great to see Delhi from a local's perspective! FRUIT SANDWICHES!!! Sarah xxx
Aww! Nice! Great Pictures!
Love
http://www.meghasarin.blogspot.com
I agree with Purba: its a mouthwatering post!
Looks like I really missed something!
Btw, you have been tagged. Please take it:
http://www.anucreations.blogspot.in/2012/03/tag-thon.html
Rahul's pictures really capture the vibe of the old city and it must have been such a cool experience! I'll have to remember to go to Chandi Chowk next time!
xoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living
This is really interestingโฆ
bangalorewithlove.com
I felt like I was there through your lovely photos. Must be exciting, browsing through a busy bazaar and seeing the old buildings. So much history there!
Love your blog and I am your new follower ๐
http://makeupandbeautytips-home.blogspot.com/
Mouth watering post ๐
Sigh! it's been so long since I went there. All planning and no action.
And for someone born and brought up in Delhi, I've yet to visit Chawri Bazaar. *Epic shame*
Wow all these pictures are so beautiful! I haven't been to India since I was child I want to go back so bad, and see places like Old Delhi which I haven't seen yet!
Wonderful shots from the city. Never seen them before.
yum is right…makes me hungry in every sense
Beautiful picture and narration, wow! I miss Delhi so much! And all the food? Wooww!!! I can't wait to make a fruit sandwich!
Beautiful photography! And awesome writing to complement it!
The daulat ki chaat etc. must have been awesome; isn't it? Delhi fiid (especially in stalls) is to die for.
You've found the newest fan of your blog ๐
lovely pictures….you really have a very interesting blog !:)
http://bongsbelleza.blogspot.com/
Love,
I LOVED this- although now I am completely in love, with the accompanying visuals.
Can I say how much I loved the photographs?
I remember taking a few myself, but after a while, I put it away *gasp* and just let myself get aborbed into the place.
Best thing I ever did. ๐
deviousDiv
Nice tour of Old Delhi laced with wonderful pics. Loved the delicious eats on display – all meetha & chat patha and mouth watering !
Great shots! Will definitely chk out these places if I visit Delhi. Thanks for dropping my blog ๐
Some great scenery and yummy looking food!!
Thanks for visiting my blog!
I Love Street Food
Lovely post, you bought back a host of old memories ๐
nice post on delhi
beautiful photos
thanks for sharing
Great photo journey to Old Delhi.
brought bck soo many memories!! karims ,natraj ke bhslle and my fav kachori !!
I want to visit Delhi, just to taste the street food. I don't know when that will be.
The areas selected for a walk are one of the best which has all old time charms. Whenever I go to Delhi, I enter from Chandni Chowk relishing everything. Yes its is a shoppers paradise. Your lucid way of telling about it was also relished.
nice to see all of them especially the food ๐
Some of these pics are absolutely awesome…esp the Jama Masjid ones and the food ๐ I need to go there and hog on food ๐ and soon!
Good photo journey of Old Delhi
LOve it! I've done Old Delhi myself a few times but I think I want to join a walking tour next time. Sounds like fun, and the food makes me hungry. Always ready for street food. Must ask Mr PAB to do a walk soon. Thank you for this beautiful post. I โฅ heritage walks!!
thank you for the wonderful virtual walk!! loved it!!
You outdo yourself with this presentation. Very nice.
A Food Walk would turn my head; a great idea. More fulfilling I expect than a Poker Run.
Wow! They sure are mouth watery walking tour! The pictures are so inviting! I will look forward for this tour the next time I go to Delhi!
Looks like a happy medium of new and old here. Great photos taken. I usually regard cities like Mumhai and Calcutta as lovely cities in India, but Delhi looks lovely as well.
johnbmarine.blogspot.com
Very nice impression….i like these pictures very much…..specially the mosque picture.
greetings, Joop
Those old old houses you've unearthed are beautiful.
And the shot of the mosque by dusk.
fruit sandwich? First time I've seen that.
Great photos! I love your blog ๐
Last collage is just awesome and mouth watering ………
Wow! Looks like you had a blast! ๐ I love the moaque picture the most! And the rest is also so awesome!!! ๐
Thanks for taking us on this journey too……I'd love to explore these gullies & their hidden treasures… ๐
And all that awesome street food looks so yummy!!
I want this now!! Seems like the perfect way to spend a perfect day in a city full of history. I reallly must do this the next time I am in the capital. You look like a happy puppy eating the chaat :))))
Hey beautiful pics …specially the sunset and the mosque one is the winner of all ๐
Yummy food huh?
will go to these places when im in delhi next …soon ๐
Nice photography..do check my blog..http://cutepinknpurple.blogspot.co.uk/