Chāndni Chauk

Setting off from Bingham train station to Heathrow, we began our nearly 4000-mile journey. Arriving in Delhi at 8 am local time in our heads still 2.30 am UK time. We had little sleep on the flight as it was busy and noisy. There was an argumentative young man across from us who was loud and a little aggressive to the family in front of him. 

Arriving at our hotel, happily we could check in and splashed our faces before setting off on a Food tour of Old Delhi.

Manju our guide grew up in Delhi and was passionate about her home City. She showed us many beautiful places in Old Delhi that we would not have discovered on our own. We tried tasty street food and walked through many tiny lanes, which, although extremely narrow, had 2 way motorcycles passing us at speed.

The businesses in the area were grouped together, so we saw a whole area of wedding shops. There were whole shops selling wedding stationery this was very ornate. Weddings are clearly expensive events here. We also walked through hardwear areas, as well as ornate metal housewares.

We also explored the spice market where the aroma and spices in the air meant that we were soon inhaling, cinnamon, clove and chilli to name a few.

Even in these narrow lanes life was frenetic. At one place we stopped for sweet black tea with spices. We were invited into the shop next door to chat  with the proprieter with orange hair. Dyed with henna a natural dye to show he was Musslim

To end the tour we were taken to Manju's family Haveli ( home) to taste their cooking. This was delicious. We felt a bit like we had been kidnapped as we hadn't expected this. They took lots of photos of us in their home , this felt rather strange. It was a very traditional, wealthy house in one of the narrow lanes, which had been in the family for eight generations.

Despite the slightly crazy, noisy, crowded, hustle and bustle, we were completely exhilarated by the sights sounds and smells of Old Delhi. We had survived our first day in India and although we stuck out like a pair of sore thumbs, we had felt at ease most of the day.

The five and a half hour time difference and very little sleep on the flight had caught up with us. I slept so well, but James was kept awake by the street dogs, and traffic.Read more