Do you know how Kinari Bazaar got its name? You would think this Bazaar gets its name from the “kinara” or edge of some landmark, but you couldn’t be farther from the truth! It is said this busy marketplace for wedding finery actually derives its name from all the ‘zari’ and ‘gota’ (laces) sold here, the…
Search Results for: Old Delhi
In the Name of Antiquity… | Turkman Gate and Dargah, Old Delhi
Amidst several little-known historical treasure troves that the beautiful city of Shahjahanabad has to offer, is the quiet shrine a 13th century Sufi saint, the Dargah of Hazrat Shah. The shrine is regarded as the oldest shrine in the whole of Old Delhi, and is centuries older than Shahjahanabad. Located to the east of Turkman…
An Old Church and Many Memories… | St. James Church, Delhi
Since it’s Good Friday, I thought of sharing with you pictures of one of the oldest churches in Delhi- St. James Church, or Skinner’s Church, built by Col James Skinner in 1836, near the Kashmiri Gate. Enjoy and have a good Good Friday 🙂
A Tawaif’s Palace| At Chandni Chowk, Delhi
Most of you out there must have heard about the tragic tale of Devdas, brought to life on the silver screen multiple times, played across time right from Dilip Kumar to Shah Rukh Khan. In the last version, too, the ‘tawaif’ Chandramukhi was immortalized by the lovely Madhuri Dixit, mesmerising us all with her graceful…
The Road to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti | Ajmeri Gate, Delhi
Of course you’ve been to the New Delhi railway station and witnessed all the chaos there. Would you believe me if I told you that nearby lies a place far removed from the hustle and bustle of this busy city? Yes, friends, for all those who simply want to while away their time in case…
The “Delhie” Book and a Picnic atop the Qutb
I am excited as I’ve stumbled upon the “Delhie Book” of Thomas Metcalfe. Does not ring a bell? Well, Metcalfe was an officer of the British East India Company, and the Governor-General’s  Resident at the Imperial court of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar in early 19th century Delhi. He ran the ‘Delhi territory’ from 1835 to…
An old painting of the Red Fort along the Yamuna
Thomas Metcalfe, as Governor-General’s Agent at the Imperial court of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar in early 19th century Delhi, ordered a series of images of the monuments & ruins of this city, to be created by Delhi artist Mazhar Ali Khan. Here’s one such masterpiece…a painting of the Red Fort as viewed from Metcalfe’s…
Pic-A-Day Project: The Story of Delhi
On the last day of the Pic-A-Day project, here’s bringing to you the story of Delhi itself, projected in brilliant colors on the walls of the Old Fort. If you want an introduction to the story of this magnificent city, there’s nothing better than this Sound and Light show, replete with colors, projections, music and…
Pic-A-Day Project: The Old and the New
An airplane flies into the sunset, while the Iron Pillar stands stoically in the Qutb Complex, having experienced many ups and downs in Delhi’s history ever since it was planted here in the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya of the Gupta dynasty (4th century AD). The Jain temples of the area fell apart, Afghans came, established…
Resting Ground | The Delhi War Cemetery
There is something about a cemetery that makes me feel at peace with the world. When Death, the great equalizer, is all around me, it suddenly ceases to be frightening any more. Peace envelops me as I look around, too conscious of the impermanence and the fragile beauty of life. My friend Moony and I are visiting the…
A Date With Delhi 