Day 01
Old Delhi Heritage, Food, and Rickshaw Tour
- Meet your tour guide at Lal Quila Metro Station, Gate No. 1, and begin the tour.
- Visit the Red Fort in Delhi, one of the most famous buildings in the nation both politically and historically. Widely known for its outer walls, which stretch for almost 2 kilometres, the fort gets its name from the red sandstone used in its construction, which gives the building its distinctive red tint. Built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan, it became the centre of Mughal administration after he moved his capital from Agra to Delhi. Combining Mughal and Persian architectural styles, the complex includes a number of museums, a majestic palace, and a beautiful garden, along with many other features. It has several gates, with the Lahore Gate being the most prominent, as it is where the national flag is raised by the Prime Minister during each Independence Day celebration before the speech. (Famous for: history, architecture, and photography; Entry fee: 600 INR for foreigners; Opening timings: Tuesday to Sunday, from sunrise to sunset; Duration: 1 hour) (Note: It remains closed on Mondays and for 15 days before India's Independence Day.)
- Head to the Jain temple. Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest and best-known Jain temple in Delhi, India. It stands directly opposite the Red Fort in the historic Chandni Chowk area. The temple is also known for its avian veterinary hospital, called the Jain Birds Hospital, located in a second building behind the main temple. (Note: It remains closed during the afternoon.)
- Stop to taste different varieties of food, such as samosa, jalebi, and lassi, and learn about their history and ingredients at the famous Jalebiwala.
- Go to Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, one of the nine historical gurdwaras in Delhi. It was first constructed in 1783 as a small shrine by Baghel Singh to commemorate the martyrdom site of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and was probably expanded after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or after the Partition of India. Before its construction, the Mughal Kotwali (police station and jail) stood here. After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Mughal Kotwali was demolished by the British, and the land was given to the Sikhs because the Sikh Maharaja of Patiala and other Sikh soldiers had helped the British defeat the Mughal forces by providing large numbers of soldiers and ammunition. The current building was made by Rai Bahadur Narain Singh, a contractor who built most of the roads in Lutyens' New Delhi under British rule. Located in Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, it marks the site where the ninth Sikh Guru was beheaded on the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb on 11 November 1675. Since 1979, the Sikh regiment of the Indian army has saluted Sis Ganj Gurudwara after saluting the President of India, making it the only instance of a regiment saluting twice in the Republic Day parade. A community-operated free kitchen is housed within the Gurudwara - a historic Sikh house of worship in Old Delhi - and runs 24/7, 365 days a year, feeding over 35,000 people every day.
- Proceed to Food Street, or Paranthe Wali Gali, one of the most famous streets in Chandni Chowk, running parallel to Dariba Kalan, the bazaar known for its silverware. This lane is a food lover's paradise and, as the name suggests, means "The Parantha Street," where one can find some of the best varieties of paranthas, or Indian flatbread. However, paranthas are not the only food items that make Paranthe Wali Gali so popular.
- Offer your prayers at Fatehpuri Mosque, the second-largest mosque in India.
- Explore the spice market of Khari Baoli. Khari Baoli is Asia's largest spice market, and its rise to fame has been long and interesting. It dates back to the 17th century and the Mughal era. Baoli literally means a stepwell, and "Khari" or "Khara" translates to salty, giving Khari Baoli the meaning of a salty water stepwell. However, its present condition is completely different from what it once was. You will not find any trace of water in the area today, as it has transformed into a treasure trove of spices. You will also visit a 300-year-old mansion in the market with five floors and enjoy a rooftop view of Old Delhi, one of the best photo points in the area.
- Enjoy the chaotic Old Delhi rickshaw ride from the spice market to the Red Fort Metro Station.
