Paranthe Wali gali...

 

If you are a foodie and you love paranthas , then this IS the place. The Paranthe Wali galli  (literally "the Lane of fried bread ") is a narrow crowded lane in the Chandni Chowk area of  old Delhi. The lane is a popular culinary destination with a series of traditional shops that sell about 35 varieties of paranthas served with an array of chutneys and  currys.
I simply loved the place!
'Well built' people might find it a little tough to squeeze into the tables though!

The story goes that "in the year 1872 - Pt. Gaya Prasad, a yong man in early twenties, left his home in Tehsil Bah in Agra and came to Delhi in search of greener pastures. He put up a shop in a lane entering the Kinari Bazaar in Chandni Chowk and started making hot and sizzling paranthas. Soon the popularity of his paranthas grew so much that he had to call his brothers and cousins to help him in the business. Gradually, there came up almost a score shops - all belonging to the extended families of Gaya Prasad. Little they would have imagined that the lane itself would become popular after their paranthas! Of the 20 parantha shops in the late 1960s, three from the original family have survived: Pt Kanhaiyalal Durgaprasad Dixit(estd 1875), Pt Dayanand Shivcharan (estd 1882). Pt Baburam Devidayal Paranthewale (estd 1886)."

Lassi served in the traditional "Kulhad" 

the crowded lane...

the owners proudly display the photographs of their VIP customers...

 "Unlike the usual way of frying the parathas on a 'tawa', the parathas here are fried in a 'kadai'. The parathas, fried in the 'desi ghee' are then served in a 'thali' accompanied by 'kaddu (pumpkin) ki sabzi', 'aaloo mattar' (potatoes and green peas), 'aaloo mattar paneer' (potatoes, green peas and cottage cheese in gravy) 'kele ki saunth' (slices of bananas in thick jaggery and dried ginger chutney) and pudina (mint) chutney."

dusk at old delhi...