Nai Sarak

It is a common knowledge that people seeking to know Delhi in and out need to traverse in a specific pattern penetrating layer by layer inside it. To explore the city and to feel its vibe are two different things. To get a feel of what has been spoken by Ved Vyas in the epic Mahabharata or much later trysts of sword clashing Rajput clans or the Afghan Sultanate or the British Colonial Rule, you need to be here and listen to the city, the streets, the lanes, the alleys, the markets or the buildings, each one has a story to narrate to anyone who cares to stare.

It is true that much dust has precipitated since the earliest record in history and much of earth has been unearthed at the same time. With the occurrence of every new event, the past has never missed a fleeting appearance so as to show that each occurrence is actually a recurrence and that with each passing day are actually going back in time. Such has been the destiny of this nation.

Nai Sarak is one such checkpoint in history - whose origin is stark enough to open up memories of grievous wounds which date back to an event which changed the course of fate.

About

Nai Sarak, the name implies a new road, which certainly is in comparison to the dense network of entrails running though the city. Nai Sarak is functionally a linking road which connects the main Chandni Chowk Street to Chawri Bazaar. The stretch of Nai Sarak is lined by rows of double storey houses – built in the late 20th century style. The ground floor of these houses function as book stores. In fact, Nai Sarak is famed for its wholesale and retail market. The street is marked predominantly for dedicated book stalls. For instance, there are stalls which sell only medicine related books or books purely on engineering subjects or some selling only computer science books. There are also some shops which sell stationery articles and mainly cater to office supplies. Apart from that, books on various subjects ranging from civil services examination guides to engineering or law entrance examination guides making way even to frothy magazines in different languages – are all found along the street. There are also some shops which sell both old and new musical instruments. Thus, this market is an easy and obvious chase for students.

Varying kinds of clothing are also available in this market. Mostly clothes belonging to a reigning fashion phase and daily wear items are sold here.

There are two ways to reach this place. One can reach by turning left just beyond Paranthewali Gali till before the Katra Nawab Gali on the main street of Chandni Chowk. The second way that leads to Nai Sarak is while entering from the direction of Jama Masjid, one need to take a right turn at Chawri Bazaar.

The pivotal incidence which marks the birth of this street is the Mutiny of 1857. It is right after the recapture of Delhi by the British Forces that the Street was constructed.

Chawri Bazaar

The Chawri Bazaar deserves a special mention since it marks the end of Nai Sarak. It is a very old market which dates back to 1840. It is well known for its wholesale market dealing in brass, copper and paper. It is a very popular hardware goods market too. Although, a wholesale market one can still purchase small copper idols of deities.

In 19th century, this avenue was well known for courtesans. This place drew a horde of aristocracy of Delhi. That was until the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, after which the British demolished most of the mansions of the nobilities. A handful of those ancient havelis inconspicuously persist till date. The courtesan culture lost patronage and hence declined under the British regime and subsequently prostitution and criminality became rampant on the upper floors of the markets until the Delhi Municipal Corporation evicted them totally.

Chandni Chowk

This is the oldest thriving market in Old Delhi. Built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan’s daughter Jahan Ara, this street was divided by canals which would reflect the moonlight – which perhaps inspired its name.

An object d'art of romance, born out of marriage between contrasting cultures and conflicting beliefs, this street has ever since been one to enchant. Its magnetism has increased in folds with the decay in its roots. Even today when it decks up on events of delight one cannot help but reminisce the bounty and lavishness which marked the age.

Location

Much has been spoken about the location and directions of Nai Sarak already. It is 18kms away from Indira Gandhi International Airport. It is at 1 km distance from the Old Delhi Railway station. The closest Metro Stations are the Chawri Bazaar metro station from one end and Chandni Chowk metro station from the other. It takes around 10 minutes by bus or auto rickshaw to reach Nai Sarak from the metro station.