Walking through Old Delhi

Wow, big white guy, Old Delhi, India

I spent last summer working on a project for Drukpa Publications photographing their Tibetan monastic tradition in India, Ladakh, Bhutan and Nepal.  I found myself  in Delhi more often than I liked. It’s the Delhi curse, second only to Delhi belly, and it always pulls you back whenever you want to fly somewhere else in India or Asia. After recovering from jet-lag, with time on my hands, tired of Indian TV and having no need to go shopping, a trip to Old Delhi can make things real again and definitely put your feet back on the ground. Old Delhi is built upon old cities and many traditions and is the only area of Delhi that really feels like ancient India. It was once the capital of Muslim India. Old Delhi is also a great place to find cheap food and guesthouses if you are on a tight budget.

I have gone to Old Delhi by rickshaw, taxi and metro. The metro is by far the fastest way to get anywhere in Delhi if you and your destination are near a stop. If you end up taking the metro get off at Chandni Chowk Metro Station (Old Delhi Station entrance). Chandni Chowk is the busiest market area in Delhi. It dates back to 1638. Walking through the narrow alleys you find silversmiths, repair shops, tailors, spicy street food vendors, sweetmeat shops, part shops, and just about anything else you need to put your world together. Outside the alleyways you will also find India’s largest Mosque, Jama Masjid. The crowded streets can be overwhelming if you are not feeling open and confident when you go, but if you are, Old Delhi is an oasis of exotic images, sounds and smells.