Chronicles of Shahjahanabad

A guided tour of Shahjahanabad, the walled city, which was built by Shah Jahan during the 17th century and is considered today as an epitome of Indo-Islamic architecture. Savor the sights, smells and sounds of the fabled streets. The tour is full of legends and unfolds tales of Old Delhi, which go back thousands of years. Drive past the majestic Red Fort - a magical monument in red sandstone built at the pinnacle of the Mughal Empire and arrive at Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Continue into the heart of Chandni Chowk for a flavorful and fragrant culinary journey through the labyrinthine lanes. Savor the aroma of the spices that waft through these alleys and try some of the delicious street snacks. Stalls, lean-to's and carts serve freshly fried chicken and fish, served directly onto a plate and handed over to the customer, piping hot and spicy. Fresh tikkas (snacks) and rotis (breads) are cooked right on the spot in tandoors (coal fired clay ovens), sending tantalizing aromas all around, almost like a conspiracy designed to make it impossible for one to walk away without having tried the fare on offer! Each place claims to have its own special "formula" for the food it serves, which is said to have been handed down for generations over several hundred years. Paranthe-wali Gali is a street named after the Parantha, fried Indian bread, and each stall is busy trying to outdo the other, with their servings of Paranthas stuffed with a huge variety of offerings: peas, radish, cauliflower, - the list goes on and on, each served with large dollops of butter and curd.