A walk through streets 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, Chandni Chowk is a study in chaos. Perhaps that is why tourists make it a part of their India pilgrimage; there’s  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. 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. My advice: try a little bit of everything, and keep reminding yourself that there’s loads more to taste.

If you’re willing to brave the crowds that throng this market, you’ll discover that there’s more to Chandni Chowk than just the sinful food. Tiny shops and stalls, tinier than your college dorm, stand here selling everything from fabrics and carpets, to electronics, mementos and artifacts, homeware, handicrafts, and much else. 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.