Old Delhi Heritage Walk
Tour Description
We start our tour from this point and our tour is around 4hrs long. In this tour we will visit some religious places, markets and Haveli.
We will do our tour by Rickshaw and some walk.
Firstly I want to tell you about Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk. Old Delhi built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639. Old Delhi also known by the name of walled city because it was sarounded by the walls which is not existing now and it has 7 gates. Which is going on 7 different directions.
Chandni Chowk was design by Jahan Ara the daughter of Shah Jahan. From Lahori gate of the Red fort to Fatehpuri masjid. This Chandni Chowk street divided by the camals, which is not existing now. In the middle of the street there was a pool in square shape in which moon light reflect. That's way it is also known by the name of Moon light Square. Which was replaced by clock tower.
First we will go to Jama Masjid. There is 300 rupees camera ticket for everyone who want to take photographs in side the mosque.
Jama Masjid was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 to 56 with the help of 5000 workers at cost of 1 million rupees, under the supervision of Saadullah Khan the prime minister of Mughal court. Ustad Ahmad Lahori was the arquetecte of Mosque.
Mosque was inaugurated by Imam Bukhari from Bukhara, Uzbekistan on 23 July 1656 on the invitation of shah jahan. He was the 1st Imam of mosque. This mosque was built on Bhojal Hill the part of Aravali Mountain Range because the Mughal Emperor believes that the place of God always above the residencel area and after visiting Jama Masjid we take Rickshaw's or we can go by Walk in front of Red Fort.
Red fort was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan when he shift his capital from Agra to Delhi.
Then we will visit Digamber jain mandir. This temple was built in 1656 during the time of Shah Jahan by Agarwal Jain community. He invite Agarwal jain community to city and gave them Pease of land to built there houses, havelis and temples.
It contains the bird hospital, which was started in 1930 and the building built in 1957 under the instructions of Acharya Desh Bhushan Maharaj. It treats 15000 birds in a year.
Next is Gori Shankar Temple. Gori Shankar temple is a Hindu Temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a 800 year old Shiva Lingam. Lingam is symbol of Lord Shiva. There is many idols of God and Goddess but main idols is Gauri & Shankar
Next we will visit Gurudwara Sish Ganj. This Gurudwara dedicate to 9th Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur built by Guru Baghel Shigh Sikh army leader in 18th cen. because Guru Tegh Bahadur was decapitated here on the order of Aurangzeb in 17th cen. for refusing to convert to Islam.
This is the Bhai Mati Das Chowk. Which was built in the memory of 3 disciples of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Who was killed by Aurangzeb in front of Guru ji because they also refuse to convert to Islam. This is the Bhai Mati Das Museum. It contains more than 100 paintings describing the growth of Sikhism. Some coins from the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, some manuscripts and chaupai Sahib on rice grains and one small dispensary for visitors.
Next is the khari baoli or the Asias biggest spice market. Khari baoli means salty water stapwell built by Salin Shah the son of Sher Shah Suri in 1551. It is not exist now but now we have Asias biggest spice market here which was started in 17th cen. by fatehpuri begam.
Here is we have some shops which still known by there first name from starting.
Now we are going on the top of one 3 stored Haveli which was built in 1930 but now work as wearhouse of spices. On first and second floor you can see the shops but third floor using as a residencel purpose for the people who works in this market.
Then we will go to Maliwara. Here is also we have Shari market. Where people are coming for buy Shari from the city and other states.
This is the Second part of Maliwara. Here is you can see the jewellery Shopa. They are selling the gold, silver and diamond jewellery.
On the left we have parathe wali gali and from here kinari Bazaar or Wedding market starts.
Now we are in Navgharah means 9 houses. It was built by a Jain merchant for his 9 sons. There is you can see the features t the Haveli or palaces. Which you can see in all haveli like crafted wooden door, stone brackets, jharokhas and chajas.
There is 2 storyes about the name of this market. One is Kinari word come from the cornar of Shari because in this market you can find the decorative items of Shari and Second is earlier there was kinars live in this Area.
In this market you can find the items for weddings like groom turban, money garlands etc. and gift packing items.
Now we are in Dariba kalan. Dariba means Pearl. This market was built by Shah Jahan for his daughter Jahan Ara. This street connect Chandni Chowk Road to Jama Masjid Area. This street witnessed of when hundreds of innocent people and soldiers were killed and shops was looted by the order of Parsion invader Nadir Shah in 18th cen. so this jewellary market is here from the time of Mughal. Today most of the shops trade in silver, gold and diamond jewellery. There is one indian Itr or perfume shop. Which is more than 100 years old Itr shop on the left.
Now we are in trophy market as you can see. They make and sell the trophy's, like for sports, dance, cherty and as a government medals etc.