Old Delhi: Food Tasting Tour On Rickshaws With Audio Headsets

We could not find few places on Google map and therefore could not include them in the list of attractions here, as they are Hidden :)! Red Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site. It was built by Mughal Emperor ShahJahan in 1648. It’s a beautiful grand palace cum fort. Today it is the largest non-functional fort in the world. During the War of Independence of 1857, the British army demolished more than 75 percent of the fort. However the remaining structures still reflect the technical excellence of the craftsmen of Mughal times. The Red Fort is still a beautiful link between the past and the present. Every year on Independence Day (Aug 15) the prime minister of India address the nation and hosts the national flag from here. We do not go inside the fort as it takes almost half a day to see its different palaces and gardens. We will be showing it to you from outside along with some rare old and new pictures

There were 4 religions which were born in India – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism & Sikhism. Buddhism and Jainism are quite similar. Both these religions were originated around 599 BC. Both these religions follow the path of non violence towards all living beings. Jains are very environment friendly people and they don’t want to disturb the plants. This is the oldest temple of the Jain religion in the capital. It has ornate interiors of gold & silver. The main idol in the temple is that of Lord Parshvanath. The place is very peaceful and the ambience is really soothing. There is a bird hospital in the Jain temple premises founded in 1956 on the Jain principle of aversion to killing. Inside the birds hospital there is a research center, intensive care units, general wards and a place where they teach the birds to fly. At any point – 3000-5000 birds are in the hospital and around 60 birds are admitted per day.

Chandni chowk street is a heart of old Delhi. Chandni means moonlight and chowk means square, hence it is called the moonlight square. The street is the most secular street of India. Whenever we talk about secular harmony, this street is the topmost example. So many temples of different religions coexist together peacefully. It had a canal running down the center and pools at major intersections reflecting the moonlight. Today, in spite having witnessed some of the most brutal historical events, we can see some beautiful facades. During the trip, one still see the facades of the old buildings and can imagine how beautiful this place must have been during those days.

This is a Sikh place of worship. Gurudwara means the gate which leads you to spiritual enlightenment. Sikhism was established and developed by ten Gurus during the period 1469 to 1708. When Mughals came to India they started forcefully converting the Indian Religions to Islam. Sikhs being the warrior community fought the mughals against conversion. In that process, many Sikhs were killed here. The ninth Guru (spiritual teacher), Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in 1675, for refusing to convert to Islam. This Gurudwara was made in his memory. The main structure is a spacious open hall with a bronze canopy in the middle where Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book is placed. There is also a huge kitchen inside the temple where food is prepared by the local volunteers and lovingly distributed to approximately 20,000 people daily.

There is an entrance charge of Rs.300 per person. This is the largest mosque of India and one of the top ten largest mosques of the world. Jama Masjid is considered a pilgrimage by the muslims. Mosque is a Muslim place of worship and Muslims follow Islam. Islam is the second largest and one of the fastest growing religions in the world. The foundation of Jama Masjid was laid by Mughal emperor Shahjahan in 1650. At a time around 25,000 people can pray together under the main prayer hall. Around 68,000 people can pray together including the vicinity, staircase and corridors. On the west side there is a prayer hall which has 260 pillars. It has two minarets which is 40 meter high.

During Shah Jahan's reign that the Khari Baoli, (the stepped well) was constructed along with a fortified gateway on its western end popularly known as Lahori Gate,. The gateway was so named because a road through it led to the city of Lahore now in Pakistan. However, today there is no trace of either the Baoli or the gateway here. Today Khari Baoli is popularly known as the Spice Market and it is Asia’s biggest spice market. It is a congested and busy market with shops selling exotic spices, nuts and herbs. The overall appearance seems to be very chaotic but in reality it is very well managed if kept in consideration the fact that such a large amount of trading of small items are carried out daily. This area is filled with strong aromos of spices like red chilli, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves etc. In the morning time this place is a flower market and when the spice shops open it converts into a spice market. Both flowers and spices are a refreshing treat for the smelling senses.

Food in Old Delhi is unique because of the special preparation methods, exotic spices used, fresh ingredients and the love with which it is prepared and served. The eateries in old Delhi are not big and fancy like the ones in New Delhi but most of them are famous and are being run by the fourth or fifth/sixth generation. We will try to make you sample most of the popular food like – * Jalebis: These are Golden-coloured rings of deep-fried maida batter, soaked in sugar syrup. * Samosa: It is a triangular fried patty stuffed with a savory filling of potatoes, onions, peas, coriander, and lentils. * Chaat/Bhalla/Tikki: Mix of boiled vegetables, raw fruits, soaked lentils, yogurt and loaded with spices * Parantha: Type of plain or stuffed Indian bread, fried in home-made clarified butter and served with vegetables and pickles. * Poori/Kachori * Kulfi * Masala Chai etc. In case you want to sample some non vegetarian food, our last stop will be Karims in the Jama Masjid area.

Bazaars are narrow streets with colorful markets. Old Delhi is very popular for these bazaars. Bazaars were designed by emperor Shahjahan’s lovely daughter Jahanara, as she used to love shopping. Each street specializes in a particular product and its name symbolizes the same. There is a special bazaar for food, books, shoes, bangles, jewellery, outfits and so on. Kinari means glittering borders used on fancy clothes. This is a one-stop halt for traditional grand Indian Weddings. You name it and the 70+ shops within, have it: colorful turbans for the groom, Brocade Suits, tinsel accessories, ornamental lace, garlands put together with currency notes and glittery strings, elaborate wedding card scrolls, velvet pouches, crystal bangles and more. This place is any brides dream come true as it has everything a bride would need to put together for her marital wardrobe. We also visit other bazaars like - Dariba kalan (jewellery), ballimaran (shoes & bangles), Malliwara, Jogiwara etc.