Traveling through old Delhi a must experience, I enjoyed this so much even through the heavy polluted air. The air so thick it seemed as if we were traveling at night through thick fog. Due to the time of year not only is Delhi’s air quality one of the worst in the world but on top of this was smoke from the burning of the rice fields in the Punjab area, which made it so much worse.
This did not stop us two ladies from getting out of our hotel The Connaught Place. We jumped into a uber and then into a rickshaw. Our rickshaw cyclist was amazing the service was top notch. As we held on for dear life onto our purses, masked up we made onto oncoming traffic. The sound of car horns was our music.
We stop in at a Shiva Hindu temple, take off our shoes and in we go seeing many devotees and so many beautiful flowers in particular marigold.
We then approached an area that did not allow any cars one of Asia’s largest spice market Khari Baoli. The driver stops parks his rickshaw not only the driver but our very informative guide. He walks us through very narrow streets and up into open air Gadodia Market building, wires everywhere, people everywhere and well spices galore. From bright red chillies, turmeric, cinnamon sticks, cardamom – you name it they have it. Chaotic yet so vibrant, the smell hits me right at the back of my throat at some instances sneezing and catching my breath due to all the spices.
Chandni Chowk cuts through the centre of Old Delhi, from the Red Fort at one end and Jama Masjid at the other end. Our eyes were peeled everywhere, sights and sounds as our rickshaw driver and guide cycled us through. Everything seems so immense nothing like I have ever experienced, it seems to all flow. A sort of organized chaos. Chandni Chowk has existed since 1653, the street is built up of many layers of history.
Amongst this tapestry of layers and layers of alleyways, shops galore, markets, spices, jewelry and fabric we arrive at a beautiful Jain Temple. Tucked away in what seems like a maze to get too – we enter one main door then ushered into another door, staircases to get to this beautiful, enshrined fresco large room of worship.
We end our few hours jaunt at Jama Masjid Mosque as we entered the courtyard area many Muslims and tourists, captivating.
Written: January 14, 2025 ~ Mareika Muller
