Discover culture in Delhi's oldest market - Chandini Chowk

Delhi has an incredible history that goes nearly 5000 years back. With a fair share of repeated construction and destruction, like a phoenix, the city seems to rise from its ashes each and every time. Join us on an inspiring tour walking through one of the largest and oldest markets of the Indian capital city – Chandini Chowk.

Built in the 16^th century by Shahjahan, on the request of his favourite daughter Jahanara, Chandini Chowk was meant as a one-stop market where the womenfolk could shop for all their needs. Over the centuries, the shops and streets may seem like they have had makeovers over the centuries, but most of the original Mughal architecture can still be seen in the façade of most of the buildings around. Apart from the typical intricate lattice work, you’ll also find relatively newer buildings with Victorian columns or corbel arches from the colonial era. Our tour begins with a splendid view of the magnificent Red Fort – the icon of the walled city of Shahjahanabad, as the area was known.

As we walk along the recently pedestrianised road from Red Fort to Jama Masjid, you will see a Hindu temple, a Digambara Jain temple, a Baptist Church and a Sikh Gurudwara all on the same road – signs of harmonious co-existence of various religions. Yet, the market of Chandini Chowk is experienced in its true sense in many of its meandering bylanes. As you go into the labyrinth of narrow lanes, you’ll see a riot of shops selling gold & silver, sarees, dress materials, bridal wear, colourful bangles and jewellery, stationery and the works! Pass by the famous ‘Jalebi Wala’ selling piping hot snacks like samosas and jalebis, or through the ‘Parathe wali gully’ as our host gives you a peek into some of Delhi’s popular street foods. You’ll be mistaken if you thought this was a completely commercial area – you’ll occasionally find many residences right in the middle of this hustle-bustle. As the tour ends, the grand Jama Masjid appears in our view.

Teams will definitely enjoy a glimpse into the diverse culture that is India’s identity, as we stroll through the bustling alleys of this shopper’s paradise and soak in the sights that it has to offer.

 Once you book this experience, we will send you a confirmation email with a link to join the session. All you need to do is click on the link on the said date and time. Please note that you do not have to download Zoom to access the session, and only need to follow the link on the date and time confirmed. You can access the session from your mobile, laptop or desktop.

You will need a stable internet connection and a mobile device (ideally a desktop or laptop) to stream the session.

You can cancel and obtain a full refund for this session until 5 days before the date of the first session.