delhi - the chandni chowk morning walk

one morning we walked through chandni chowk, past the newly built metro station with all those men waiting for the day to begin, near the gurudwara and then to the jain temple with the bird hospital. floors of cages with the smell of bird shit and feathers. the streets were still waking up and we were told stories about lovers, sacrifice and death. the jain precinct had these exquisite doors leading into courtyards. further down the road more of the narrow lanes and tiny homes one of which was mirza ghalib's house which now is a pretty ordinary little museum. down the street past the new buildings on the main road is the Fatehpuri Masjid at the end of the street. a large red courtyard with a water fountain. the spice market is behind- an incredible world. a courtyard building completely transformed into a city.

the garden around the metro station

jain temple with birds hospital

parathe wali gali

the spice market and the mosque