Meet-up Highlights Click here for insta clip of Meet-up
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The meet-up was attended by 7 Local Guides, out of which 4 were from Delhi.
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Due to the early arrival of outstation Local Guides, the meet-up unofficially began an hour early, at 10:00 AM.
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The official meet-up started 20 minutes late. The actual timing was from 11:20 AM to 2:40 PM.
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Unofficially, the meet-up continued until 5:30 PM, with 5 Local Guides actively engaged in discussions until the end.
Pre Meet-up with Chole Bhature
@MadhurG came all the way from Aligarh to join this meet-up with his friend. He arrived early. Although the official meet-up time was from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, I started a pre-meet-up conversation with these two local guides while enjoying some delicious Chole Bhature. This casual discussion lasted from 10:00 to 10:45 AM. Then, we proceeded to the official meet-up point, which was just
5 Minutes walk away.
We found that @Hemendu ji had already arrived and was waiting patiently for 11:00 AM. We started chatting informally with him, and soon @Nomad_Enkay ji also arrived, followed by @SonamW ji and @ Dewla. By 11:20 AM, everyone had gathered, and we officially began the meet-up.
Meet-up Activity
I began by narrating the story of why Delhi is called the “City of Cities.” I briefly explained that Delhi has seen the rise of seven historic cities, built during different periods, with the seventh being Shahjahanabad—built by Emperor Shah Jahan. This walled city had the Red Fort as its first structure(construction started in 1638, completed in 1648), and a Jain trader was invited to set up trade in front of it.
After a brief introduction to the Red Fort, we moved to the nearby Jain Temple (built in 1656). I shared that although the temple has existed since Shah Jahan’s time, the current structure is modern, as heritage elements weren’t preserved during renovation.
I also narrated an interesting story: During his reign, Aurangzeb had locked a Jain temple. However, one day, he heard the sound of an aarti (a devotional ritual) coming from the locked temple and became furious. To verify, he personally went to inspect the temple. Seeing it still locked, he ordered it to be opened. Surprisingly, no one was inside, yet the aarti continued and bells were ringing. After witnessing this mysterious event, he never tried to harm the temple again for the rest of his life.
After visiting the Jain Temple, we proceeded to the ancient Shiva Temple (built in 1761). It is believed that this temple was built by a Maratha soldier. The story goes that the soldier was a devout follower of Lord Shiva and during the Battle of Panipat, he was seriously injured, with no chance of survival. At that critical moment, he remembered Lord Shiva—and miraculously, he was saved. After returning safely, he had this Shiva temple constructed here as an act of devotion.
The present structure of the Shiva Temple was built by the rulers of Jaipuria. Only the original Shiva Linga remains from ancient times. Everyone in the group spent a good amount of time offering prayers at the temple.
After that, we went to Manohar Dhaba, where we enjoyed the unique Japanese samosas. Then we visited the famous Jalebiwala shop and relished the delicious jalebis.
Following this, we reached Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara and the martyrdom site nearby. While narrating the stories of these places, we moved toward Town Hall. During the walk, I shared insights about the history of India’s freedom struggle, and explained that the architecture of Chandni Chowk was originally designed by Shahjahan’s daughter, Jahanara. A canal was drawn from the Yamuna River, which flowed behind the Red Fort, and it passed through what is now the main road of Chandni Chowk, eventually meeting a pond near the present-day Town Hall. The moonlight reflecting on the pond used to create a shimmering effect, which is why the area came to be known as Chandni Chowk (Moonlit Square).
The area where the Town Hall stands today was once Jahanara’s garden. After this, we reached Katra Neel, where we discussed the events of the 1942 Quit India Movement.
Finally, we saw the exterior of Chunnamal Haveli.
Then we reached the 150-year-old shop of Pandit Ved Prakash Lemon Wale, where the seventh generation of the family is currently running the business. Everyone had a glass of lemon juice there. From there, we passed by the Dadi Rani Sati Temple and reached Ghalib ki Haveli. Once again, while sharing stories and anecdotes, the official conclusion of the meet-up was announced at 2:40 PM.
Maps Activity During Meet-up
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When Sonam ji uploaded a photo at Rani Sati Temple and noticed she earned 5 points, I explained how she could get 15 points by also adding a caption. She immediately uploaded another photo with a caption and earned 15 points.
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Tripathi ji also uploaded some recently taken photos and earned points.
Post Meet-up Activity
The meet-up officially concluded at 2:40 PM after visiting Ghalib ki Haveli. However, all the local guides decided to rest for a while, as we had been walking continuously since 11:20 AM. We headed to the food court in Omaxe Mall and took our seats. The conversation continued until 5:30 PM, when we finally said our goodbyes.
During this relaxed discussion, everyone shared insights about their profession or area of expertise. Here are some highlights:
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I talked about the concept of “transfer of learning”—how the skills I’ve developed as a teacher can be applied to the Connect platform, and vice versa.
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Tripathi ji shared some photography tips, including the “Rule of Thirds” and “Rule of Symmetry.”
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Hemendu ji spoke about some lesser-known but historically rich places in Delhi.
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Dewla ji shared insights on design, drawing from her background at the National Institute of Design. She emphasized the role of empathy in good design.
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Sonam ji talked about aviation. She trains cabin crew and highlighted that serving food is not their primary duty, which is a common misconception.
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Thank you @SonamW ji, @Hemendu ji, @Nomad_Enkay ji, @MadhurG, @Dewla, and ….. (@MadhurG, kindly tag your friend) for making this meet-up a success!
. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished recap.
