Old Delhi

It was founded as a walled city and officially named Shahjahanabad in 1648, when Shah Jahan decided to shift the Mughal capital from Agra.

[1] The construction of the city was completed in 1648, and it remained the capital of Mughal India until its fall in 1857,[1][2][3] when the British Empire took over as paramount power in the Indian subcontinent.

It serves as the symbolic heart of metropolitan Delhi and is known for its bazaars, street food, shopping locations and its Islamic architecture; Jama Masjid being the most notable example, standing tall in the midst of the old city.

Its southern part overlaps some of the area that was settled by the Tughlaqs in the 14th century when it was the seat of Delhi Sultanate.

Most importantly, Shah Jahan ordered his famous chief architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori to build the walled city between 1638 and 1649, containing the Lal Qila and the Chandni Chowk.

The Phool Mandi (Flower Market) of Daryaganj was established in 1869, and even today, despite serving a small geographical area, it is of great importance due to dense population.

Between the Khúní Darwázah and the present Kotwálí, or the Head Police Station of the city, the street has the name of Phúl ká Mandí or the flower market.

To the north and south of the square there were two gate-ways, the former leading to the Sarái of Jahánárá Begam, and the latter to one of the most thickly populated quarters of the city.

This grand street was laid out by Jahánárá Begam, daughter of Sháh Jahán, in the year 1600 A. D., and several ears later she built a garden and sarái on it.

The Khooni Darwaza, south of Delhi Gate and just outside the walled city, was originally constructed by Sher Shah Suri.

The main street, now termed Chandni Chowk, runs from the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid.

The Din Dunia magazine and various other Urdu publications are the reason for this language staying alive.

Old Delhi as the seat of the Mughal Empire for over two centuries has come to the modern hub of Mughlai cuisine.

These include: Pandit Gaya Prasad shifted from Agra to Delhi in 1876,[20] in search of a better life.

In 1911, Haji Karimuddin moved back to Delhi with inspiration to open a Dhaba to cater to people coming to witness the coronation from all across the country.

Karim's exists here today to cater to the wants of people from all over the country and the world, being a major tourist attraction.

[21] Nihari is a traditional meat stew that is slowly cooked to preserve its taste and the tenderness of its ingredients.

[24] Having started from a small shop in Khari Baoli, Old Delhi, it has now become a global brand that goes by the name Harnarains International.

Engineer Hiram Codd patented the design of the bottle in 1872 in London to effectively seal fizzy drinks.

The sellers of one product often form an association to serve their interests and negotiate with the local government and other official bodies.

Old Delhi, Yamuna river bank
Two boys seated whilst embroidering on either side of an embroidery frame, Delhi, 1870
Arrival of an imperial procession of the emperor Farrukh Siyar - at Delhi's "world-revealing" mosque of congregation on a Friday, to hear the sermon (khutba) recited in his name
Police in Delhi under Bahadur Shah II, 1842.
"Shahjahanabad or Modern Delhi", in 1911 map
The City of Delhi Before the Siege - The Illustrated London News Jan 16, 1858
Historic map of Delhi ( Shahjahanabad ), 1863
Jama Masjid view
A glimpse of Jama Masjid can be seen while passing through Chawri Bazar.
Map of Delhi and New Delhi after the First World War. The descriptions are in Czech .
Historic Karim's at Old Delhi.