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Location: Near the Delhi Gate of Shahjahanbad
Time to Visit: Open on all days
Preferred Timings: 10.00 am-9.00 pm
Admission Fee: Free and open to all
Photography charges: nil
How to Reach: Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this locality or they can hire auto-rickshaws, taxis or take the metro rail.
Nearest Railway Station: Old Delhi Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station: Chawri Bazaar
Functional Metro Station: Chawri Bazaar
Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Time required for sightseeing: About 50 minutes
(All data as of July 2005)
The busy locality of Daryaganj, near the Delhi Gate of Shahjahanbad, is known for its unique feature, a very distinct style of architecture prevalent at the turn of the century. The influence of modern European architecture is quite prominent in the buildings of the area. They have mouldings on the façade, circular pilasters (columns), semi-circular arches and were designed in such a manner as to encounter the 'riot of light' (heat) as well as the chilly winter of Delhi. Fireplaces can be found in most houses and they are large and spacious with lots of space to breathe. However, prior to the British, the area served as a small open market place for the citizens of Shahjahanbad. It came to be known as Daryaganj (Darya-river, ganj-market) because the River Yamuna used to flow near it.
Today, after so many centuries, Daryaganj is still a market but now an overpopulated busy and congested one. Today it has the offices of some of the most well known distributors, publication houses and organizations of the country apart from good Indian restaurants and shops selling different kinds of items. Golcha, one of the oldest cinema halls of the capital, Delhi Book Store, said to be the Asia's largest medical bookshop, Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) Restaurant widely acknowledged for its Mughlai dishes and Lahore Music House (reputed for dealing in musical instruments) are few of the popular destinations, which can be explored on the streets of Daryaganj.
Special Attraction
Daryaganj Old Book Market
Apart from these living artefacts, Daryaganj at present is extremely popular for its thriving old book bazaar where book lovers and students come from various parts of the country to purchase books at throw away prices every Sunday. Stretching over a kilometer on the pavements of Daryaganj and a source of income for about 200 pavement booksellers, this interesting book bazaar is a special feature of the area for the past three decades. A patient buyer never returns disappointed from here as he will definitely spot some interesting book among the piles of secondhand books, periodicals and magazines.
Nearby Tourist Attractions:
Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Salimgarh Fort, Kashmeri Gate, St James Church, Dara Shikoh Library, Lothian Cemetery, and Rajghat
Nearby Places to Eat
Peshawari restaurant, Moti Mahal, Nandlal Ka Dhaba, Mithas fast food joint, Karim Hotel near Jama Masjid, Ghantewala sweet shop, Paranthewali gali, Natraj hotel, Chor Bizarre at Broadway Hotel and many delicious roadside food stalls.
Nearby Shopping Venues
Daryaganj book market (on Sunday), Chandni Chowk (curios, souvenirs, silver and glass bead jewelry) Nai Sarak (books), Chor bazaar (electronic goods), and Chatta Chowk in Red Fort (traditional and contemporary jewelry and handicrafts)
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