The Chandni Chowk heritage walk was unusual this weekend…due to Independence day security measures the previous week, we held the walk in the following weekend, an in evening. We were always apprehensive of the notorious crowds and chaos of the bazaar!!!!!!!…still went ahead taking it as a challenge and also, to savour old Delhi in it’s true colors.

The city of Shahjahanabad was built in mid 17th century with Red fort as the king’s palace and Chandni Chowk laid specially for Shah Jahan’s daughter, Jahanara, who was very fond of jewellery! There were also gardens laid in her name in the centre of baazar where currently the Town Hall and Old Delhi Railway Station stand…It’s the month of Ramzan, and we were close to the time of iftaar as we passed by several food shops filled with people… Parathewali gali, pakoras all along the way, sweets of shapes and sizes, dates…

A few of the prominent landmarks covered by us included the Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, Gauri Shankar temple, the Sisganj gurudwara, Fatehpuri Masjid and Central Baptist Church.

Passing by food shops and hundreds of shoppers engaged in haggling over a range of products…from jewellery to sari, we made our way to the famous spice market of Khari Baoli.  The best part of the heritage walk was the gorgeous view from atop Gadodia Market…one gets a view of the entire Chandni Chowk , decorated for Ramzan and Janmasthami, the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and old city of Delhi. We all unanimously agreed that it was worth climbing the four storeys leaving all the street chaos behind!

(posted by Chhavi Sharma, pics by Kanika Singh, team members, Delhi Heritage Walks)

Chandni Chowk Heritage Walk