Gali Paranthe Wali

[
parathas, Dec 2006.]

Gali Paranthe Wali [ [http://www.dvat.gov.in/dvatonline/docs/zone_ward/zone2.htm Official name] ] or Paranthe wali Gali (गली पराँठेवाली) [ [http://www.mapsofindia.com/delhi/delhi-food.html Delhi Food] ] , (literally "the bylane of fried bread") is the name of a narrow street in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi, India, noted for its series of shops selling paratha, a fried Indian bread, and now a popular culinary desination [http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles/ACulinaryCruise.asp Paranthe Wali Gali] ] [ [http://www.delhilive.com/paranthe_wali_gali_0 Parathe Wali gali] ] [ [http://www.lifestyle.headlinesindia.com/restaurant/street-food.html India Street Food] ] .

History

Chandni Chowk was established in 1650 and was built along with the Red Fort under the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan.

Earlier this lane was known only for its silverware shops, before the Parantha shops moved in, first in the 1870s [ [http://in.ygoy.com/2008/05/14/magical-flavors-of-chandni-chowk/ Magical Flavors of Chandni Chowk] ] , though many sari and jewelery shops are still in this lane.

Paranthe Wali Gali ("lane of parantha-makers") in Old Delhi is a famous gourmet localities of the world. The famous Mela restaurant in the UK has imitating the famous gullee and in Bombay the Only Parathas restaurant group is trying to copy the ambience of the Delhi lane [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021110/spectrum/eat.htm Frozen paranthas posing a challenge to Paranthewali Gali fare] .

From the 20 parantha shops in the late 1960s, three remain. Pt Kanhaiyalal Durgaprasad (estd 1875), Pt Dayanand Shivcharan (estd 1882). Pt Baburam Devidayal Paranthewale (estd 1886). By 1911 this area, known as Chota Dariba or Dariba Kalan, got the name as Paranthewali Gali.

In the years just after independence, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit came to take their parantha meals in this gali. The "Pandit Dayanand Shivcharan" shop proudly displays the photograph of the Nehru family eating in their shop. Late Jayaprakash Narayan and Atal Behari Vajpayee were regular visitors.

In late 1980s many of them closed shop and moved out, though today this place is experiencing a revival; and some shops are being run by the sixth generation of the same family [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/11/19/stories/2007111950350200.htm Paranthewali Gali] The Hindu, November 19, 2007.] .

The food is old fashioned, strictly vegetarian, and cooked dishes do not include onion or garlic, since the owners are brahmins, and traditionally their clientale has included Jains in the neighborhood. Varieties include exotic fillings like Kaju, Badam, Matar, Mix Paranthas, rabri parantha etc [http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles/ACulinaryCruise.asp. A culinary cruise down Chandni Chowk]

Celebrations at Chandni Chowk

Chandni chowk isn't just a trading hub but has been a timeless witness to events both major and small in India. Right from ancient princesses skirting around the narrow lanes, royal processions of the great Mughal Emperors to the wedding festivities. Not much has changed ever since history because the narrow lanes continue to buzz with life, gleaming lights, ethnic jewelry, antique goods, etc. Most importantly,some events are celebrated with great fervor around the Chandni Chowk like – the Republic Day Parade (held every year on 26th Januray) and festivals like Diwali, Dussehra, id-u-fitr which relive the pride of the ancient past.

External links

* [http://www.hotels-new-delhi.com/travel-tips/cusines.html Cuisines of Delhi]
* [http://delhitravelogue.com/2008/04/paranthe-wali-gali.html paranthe-wali-gali]

References