Lanes of Purani Dilli

Old Delhi aka purani dilli is like a different city within the boundaries of Delhi. As the names suggests, old Delhi is one of the oldest part of Delhi state.

Old Delhi is known so from the times of British rule in India, when Lutyen’s Delhi was developed in South West of old Delhi and named the walled city of Delhi, which was earlier the Mughal Capital as “Old Delhi”.

Few famous Delhi monuments, including Red Fort and Jama Masjid are part of Old Delhi. India’s famous meena bazar, one of the world’s biggest wholesale market Chandani Chowk, very famous Chor Bazar, market at Chawari Bazar are no less than a mystery to many.

Each of this market has its specialty. The whole area is congested, divided into hundreds of small lanes where walking can be the best option. The lanes and the markets are named after the product they specialize in. Names like Khao gali (food), meena bazar (market for ruby), gota patti (market selling laces) kinari bazar (market selling borders of dresses and silver), gali paranthe wali (street selling parantha), etc.

More often than not, you just need to find out the real meaning of the name and you would know what to expect there.

However, if you are a wanderer like me, you would break your explorations into two or three halves.

One visit could contain the most famous parts and monuments like Red Fort and Jama Masjid.

Second visit would include walking in the lanes of Chandani Chowk and Chawari Bazar. It is said that you can find anything and everything required for an Indian household and festivals in these markets.

Third visit would include Daryagunj. Since, I am a book lover, a Sunday visit to Daryagunj second hand book market is a must.

Most important of all, wherever you go, Old Delhi has variety of food to offer. (You can read some names above). You can eat the true Delhi delicacies here.

A piece of advice, wherever you go, be prepared to see an over-crowded space with the crowd never dispersing. Travel light and be safe, Old Delhi is yet to be explored.

Ps. These are my first few attempts to write about travel around Delhi, please leave your feedback on how it can be made more useful, interesting or generally imrpoved.