Organised Chaos of Chandni Chowk

 

If you ever want to know what organized chaos looks like, take the metro towards Chandni Chowk. The waves of shoppers, hawkers, and tourists milling about the narrow alleyways crammed with shops, the confused lines of telephone and electricity wires overhead, and the no-nonsense air the busy marketplaces exude – Chandni Chowk is a study in chaos. Perhaps that is why tourists make it a part of their India pilgrimage; there’s really nothing quite like it. From celebrated street food corners to the whispers of history from every other bend, Chandni Chowk – the oldest neighborhood of Delhi – is a refreshing foil to the concrete jungles of Gurgaon and the well-manicured landscapes of the city center. It’s a neighborhood that defies the strictures of orderliness, and in doing so, conjures a liveliness that is tinged with melancholy.

If Delhi is the kingdom of street food in India, Chandni Chowk is undoubtedly its crown jewel. Whether it’s the kebabs at Karim’s, the chaat and dahi bhalle at Natraj Sweets, the daulat ki chaat at Khemchand Adesh Kumar’s, or the twirly delights at Old Famous Jalebi Wala – the very best of street food, honed to perfection over centuries, awaits you here. It’s impossible to try everything that’s famous here in a single day. If you’re going to try the wide range of paranthas at Paranthe Wali Gali, forget about sampling anything else. Our advice: try a little bit of everything and keep reminding yourself that there’s loads more to taste.

Apart from the Jama Masjid and many historical shops that can trace their roots back to Mughal times, Chandni Chowk has several religious buildings and havelis that wear a grim, haunted look and beg to be explored. Try starting with the Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir or the Sikh gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib. Next, you could be a little more adventurous and sneak about the havelis of Begum Samru, Mirza Ghalib, and Zeenat Mahal. Definitely try visiting the Khajanchi Haveli, where most of the accountants of Shah Jahan resided. The haveli connects with the Red Fort through a long underground tunnel, supposedly built to so that the emperor’s accountants could transfer money safely to his palace.

There is simply too much to do, too much to explore of Chandni Chowk to make it all happen in a day. But for starters, these activities should suffice. So take the next metro to Chandni Chowk and tell us how you spent your day there.