Walk with me | Ep. 5 - Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, India | Excelsior Hall, Zeenat Mahal, Durga Gali

Old Delhi, Delhi, India | 2022: We begin this walk at the Lal Kuan neighborhood of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi within the Indian Capital city of Delhi. We start right alongside a now closed down single screen theater called Excelsior Cinema Hall which closed a few years ago. We explore the ruins of this place that once attracted hundreds of movie goers each day but is now desolate and in disrepair.

After exploring the areas around the movie hall we continue further and deeper into the Lal Kuan neighborhood of Chandni Chowk. We walk narrow lanes, dark walkways, and look at the Sunday morning life of this area of Old Delhi, exploring the residential as well as the more commercial market areas of this part of Old Delhi. Old Delhi is also known as Shahjahanabad as all this was built under the orders of the Mughal king Shahjahan.

When we realize we are not able to venture any further and deeper into the Lal Kuan neighborhood of Chandni Chowk, we take a u-turn and decide and walk back onto the main street of the area. We walk casually and relaxedly along this main road, taking in the visuals and experiences that include interesting buildings as well as interesting humans.

We next reach another place of importance in the area, at least a place that was once of importance - immense importance. This place is the Zeenat Mahal Palace or Zeenat Mahal ki Haveli in the Lal Kuan neighborhood. This was once the place of residence of the most favorite wife of the Mughal king Bahadur Shah Zafar. But it fell into neglect over the last hundred years or so and as of today it is almost unrecognizable. Zeenat Mahal ki Haveli was also where even the last Mughal king stayed for a few days when the British had taken over Delhi.

After exploring the Zeenat Mahal Haveli we move onto another significant lane in this area which is built as much as a temple as it is a lane or walkway. This lane starts with multiple idols of Hindu gods and goddesses on both sides and eventually open up into a residential colony here in Lal Kuan.
This lane is where our walk ends for the day.