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Delhi has
long been the most important trading
centre in Northern India. Many of its
localities, like Sheikh Sarai and Yusuf
Sarai, derive their names from medieval
market towns which serviced the bygone,
shifted capital cities of Delhi. Today,
all of these have become a part of the
rapidly expanding metropolis. Instead of
market towns, there are specific whole
sale markets or "mandi's" scattered
throughout the vast city, and their's is
another story.
For visitors to Delhi, shopping is high
on the list of "things to do". Tourists
find a wide choice of items- such as
carpets, silks, jewellery, leather and
silver ware, handicrafts and handprinted
cotton - that are synonymus with India.
Each item is available in a range of
prices, depending on the quality and the
outlet.
Another interesting is that each market
has its own, distinctive ambience and
adds its own flavour to the experience
of shopping. Haus Khas Village,
Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk are
worlds apart from one another, yet each
of them reflects an aspect of this many
- faceted city. In fact one of the
fascinating ways of understanding a city
is by wandering through its market
places for it is here that contemporary
culture is most visible to the outsider.
The exploration of Delhi's markets could
be begin at Chandni Chowk. Despite the
pressures of traffic and population, its
historic land marks servive to tell the
story of the last three centuries. Many
of the shops here are more than 100
years, old and the mesh of lanes and
bylanes is full of superises. Leading
off Chandni Chowk are Dariba, the silver
market, Khari Baoli, the spice market
and Kinari Bazar for trimmings and
tinsel. In some of these bazaars the
item for sale are manufactured at site,
which lands a special charm to the
shopping experience well integrated into
the culture of the old city, these
bazaars offer the visitor a glimpse of
life in Old Delhi.
There are some antique stores behind
Jama Masjid, and more lining the
entrance to the Red Fort, where the
Meena Bazar once was. These offer items
arranging from jewellery to painting and
furniture, and cater almost entirely to
tourists. Connaught Place, New Delhi's
original shopping arcade was planned as
part of the Imperial capital in 1911. On
Baba Kharak Singh Marg, are the numerous
government State Emporia. Which afford a
glimpse of the handicrafts of each
state. So does the recently- inaugurated
new Central Cottage Industries Emporium
on Janpath. Across the road from
"Cottage" as it is popularly known, are
the inviting stalls along Janpath.
The Tibetans sell jewellery and ritual
objects, while closer to Connaught Place
are available embroideries from Gujarat
and Rajasthan, readymade garments and
bric- a - brac. When the wheather is
good it is pleasant to amble down
Janpath, where bargaining is the order
of the day. Sundernagar Market is a fine
place to shop for antiques and silver
jewellery. The well - appointed stores
keep a choice selection, especially of
silver jewellery from Ladakh, semi-
precious stones, some textiles and
brass, copper and silver object d'art.
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Where To Eat
Delhi
Cuisine comes from the Moghul Emperors.
The influence of the Mughal rulers who
ruled India is perhaps most felt in
their food. A major contribution towards
this is the tandoor which is an earthen
oven, used to make rotis and kababs,
which are pieces of meat marinated in
spices and skewered over a coal tandoor.
Some of the famous Mughlai dishes
include tandoori chicken, seekh and boti
kebab and even tandoori fish. Mughlai
food is very rich in taste. Its sauces
consist of curd, cream and crushed nuts
like cashew.
If one wants to enjoy the original taste
of Mughlai Food, theres still no place
like the Mughal emperor Shah Jahans
city, now called the Old Delhi. At
places like the now almost legendary
Karims and Babu Khans near Jama Masjid,
Kallus Halim near Gali Chitli Qabar and
Nalli Nahari in Beradari, beyond
Ballimaran, the art of making Mughlai
food is just like it was in the good old
days of the emperors. The reason for
this is that most of the families who
own these restaurants in Old Delhi are
descendants of the royal cooks who used
to serve in the kitchens of the Mughal
emperors. They take fierce pride in
having successfully preserved the
culture of the Mughlai cuisine in face
of the Tandoori onslaught. |
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Tel: 91-11-44112200
Fax: 91-11-23721731
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