This part of Delhi was the original Delhi...However with urbanisation and modern living the new avtar(New Delhi) has become more popular and this place is slowly and gradually being forgotten...However Purani Dilli(as it is called in hindi) offers an experience...hard to forget and easy to experience provided you have no hang ups...You could eat away to glory in 100 bucks...enjoy things you will not find anywhere in the world and experience nostalgia without spending a rupee....Here is what you can do...
Eating Out
This place is a foodies delight(the non fussy kinds)...For non vegetarians there is the much talked about and written KARIMS...You can get lovely breakfast out here and it is situated just opposite Jama Maszid...This is the best Karim out of entire lot which has opened recently...Apart from Karims there are a number of joints which come up in the evening which give you superb Kebabs and Tikkas(just walk down the road and you will find them.
For vegetarians there is the famous ’’Paranthe wali gali’’...It used to be good once upon a time but is not really what it used to be...So go there only if you want to go...There are other places...Jalebi wala on the turning of Dariba Kala...This joint has been in existence since ages and has lovely jalebis and samosas...Than there is the chaat wala in Chandni Chowk...all sorts of chaats but the one I personally like is the alu chaat...deep fried golden brown potatoes spiced to give you that magical taste..
In Nai Sarak there is this sardarjis shop which gives you Alu Poori...By far the best...Apart from these joints there are joints giving you ’’kulche chole’’...the kinds which you get only in Purani Dilli...Than at the far end of Chandni Chowk there is the famous ’’kulfi Falooda’’
In the evening have milk from numerous outlets serving hot milk in earthern pots(Kullhars)
Trip Down Memory Lane
In Chandni Chowk you can get yourself photographed in an old box style camera and they will give you photos there and then(The camera is an old world war relic)...It is good fun...Just move around in the narrow bylanes...some so narrow that only one person...yes one person only can pass at a time...You can walk down these gallis in Nai Sarak, Churiwalan, Sitaram Bazaar
Stop at a ’’paan shop’’ and listen to people talk...It is amazing how people discuss politics, international affairs etc
In Nai Sarak you can still buy sarees and clothes sitting down on the floor...You can also buy old books from a shop(the shop is actually a staircase)...Get yourself a ride in the rickshaws...It is amazing
So what are you waiting for...Run