The crowds at Chandni Chowk are an amazing sight, even on a Sunday morning when the market is officially closed. From Digambar Jain Lal Mandir (of the well known bird hospital) till Gurudwara Sisganj there were cars lined all along the road-of devotees to the Jain Mandir, Gauri Shankar temple, Central Baptist Church and Sisganj Gurdwara. Friends who visit the area are often surprised to find places of worship of all faiths so close to each other. But perhaps it is not such an unusual thing in the closely knit urban population as in our Purani Dilli. The heritage walk covered the main street of Chandni Chowk. The food stalls all along our heritage trail only whetted our appetite! The permanent shops like Dariba’s jalebiwala, Haldiram’s and paratha shops in Parathewali gali and Chaina Ram’s had started the day’s preparations. Small hawkers selling treats like Daulat ki chaat, kulchas and chholas and freshly prepared kachoris. Some people managed a dona (a cupful) of daulat ki chaat on the way to Fatehpuri. A small detour took us to Naughara (a group of havelis in Kinari Bazaar) and later to Katra Neel and we immediately felt transported to a different world. It was extremely quite compared to the main street. So was the case with Fatehpuri Masjid. This is one of the best places to visit in old Delhi. The masque & its inhabitants welcome you like no other place here. The walk ended at Gadodia Market in Khari Baoli, the famous spice market. It is one of the most breathtaking views of the old city from the rooftop. One can see the entire length of Chandni Chowk right up till the Red Fort. The domes & minarets of Jama Masjid are visible at a distance, so is the old Delhi railway station, behind the Town Hall.

(posted by Kanika Singh & Pushpa, team members, Delhi Heritage Walks)