We'll be conducting a heritage walk on 24th February. The walk at Turkman Gate, one of the 14 gates of the walled city of Shahjahanabad. This is one of the oldest parts of Delhi where people dwelled. From there we proceed to the shrine of a 13th century Sufi saint named Hazrat Turkman Shah Bayabani, after whom the Turkman gate is named. As we delve deeper into the alleys of Bulbul-i-khan, we come across the mausoleum of Razia Sultana, the first woman ruler of Delhi. Midway between these two graves, lies the Kalan Masjid, which is also popularly known as Kali masjid, because the walls of the mosque had turned black owing to the moss rotting over it since centuries. The mosque has now been restored but in the process it has almost lost its original charm. This mosque can also be viewed as a classic case of urban encroachment due to the population explosion in the area.
From here, we move on to witness a newer era as we reach Haksar Haveli, where Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's wedding party resided when he had married Kamla Nehru. This is surrounded by the ruins of residential quarters which were earlier occupied by Kashmiri Pandits who had settled in Delhi at the request of Emperor Shahjahan. We move ahead to explore the bangle market of Shahjahanabad, Chooriwalan, which exists till date. We end our walk at a beautiful Mughal period mosque which has been lost in the busy lanes of Chawri Bazar.
During the walk, we will envision how this area evolved from a jungle in the 13th century to the exquisite city of Shahjahanabad. We will revisit how this beautiful city was looted and destroyed due to the negligence of the later Mughal rulers and how it evolved into the mini city of Old Delhi that we see today. The part of Delhi which proudly adorns its wounds from the past as ornaments in the present.
We will also stop at various junctions to give you a taste of Mughal era cuisine whose authentic recipes have been passed on since generations in the families of the chefs who served at the Mughal kitchens. We will also throw some light on the contemporary food that gained entry in this area after the colonization took place.
We will finish our session with valuable insights on where this hereditary civilization is headed in the current age of technology.
Places to be covered:
1. Turkman gate
2. Shrine of Hazrat Turkman Shah Bayabani
3. Kalan Masjid
4. Tomb of Razia Sultana
5. Haksar Haveli
6. Chooriwalan
7. Mosque of Rukn-ud-Daula
Meeting point: Delhi Gate (Exit Gate No. 3)
The area near Delhi gate is famous for the Sunday Book Market. For those who would like to visit it, please drop us a mail mentioning the same. If there are enough entries, we can start a little earlier to accommodate the same for those interested. The rest of the walk will proceed as per above mentioned guidelines.
Note: Please wear appropriate clothing since we will be visiting some dargahs and mosques and keep something handy to cover your head. Wear comfortable footwear and carry a bottle of water to stay hydrated.
Charges :- Pay as you wish
Time :- 24th Feb, 9:30 am
In case of any assistance, call or text @ +918287230052
2022
