Flavors of Allahabad
Old Bazaar & Street Food Tour
Savor the aura and aroma of Allahabad’s medieval past in the Grand Old Neighborhood of Chowk. The 17th Century Bazaar is dotted with a plethora of Historical Sites, Old Souks, Shrines, Hindu Mansions, Personalities, Vintage Eateries and Chronicles, to an extent that there pervades a thrill in every yard of the lane, trees & turn.
‘Flavors of Allahabad’ is a telltale – walk of Chowk’s layered history, a tryst with the rawness of the great old town that has been a melting point of cultures since the Mughal times. On the tour we cover everything right from our stop at ‘Loknath Gali’ – The Heritage Food Court, savoring delicacies; Khurchan (sweet) , Bhang Kulfi (Traditional Cannabis – Ice Cream), Makkhan Malai, Rabri – Lassi, Khajas, Kimam – Khushbu – Paan & the famous Hari Ke Samose etc., take a stroll to bustling shops of the oldest bazaars of India inside Chowk such as; The Bajaza Bazaar (cloth market), Thatheri Bazaar (metal and brass market), Kinari Bazaar (wedding market), Spice Market, Rani Mandi (named after ‘Queen Victoria’) and explore forgotten streets namely; Meergunj or Courtesans Street and The Grand Trunk Road.
The epic Grand Trunk Road a.k.a. GT Road founded around 3rd century BCE, passed through Chowk Bazaar during its heydays and is one of Asia’s oldest – longest major roads (2700 km) that connected Ancient India’s East End ‘Bangladesh’ with ‘Afghanistan’ the West End. Talking about ‘Meergunj’ the erstwhile Courtesans street was so popular & well-liked by then Rich & Royals that they used to hire courtesan services to cultivate learning of ‘Tehzeeb’ (Courteous Mannerisms) among their children.
Tour Highlights
Neem ka Pedh: The only surviving Neem tree i.e. one of seven trees on which roughly 1000 Indian freedom fighters & Civilians were hanged to death during the Revolt of 1857, at the order of Col. Neil and Col. Henry Havelock of the British East India Company. Neil ordered all villages beside the Grand Trunk Road to be burned and their inhabitants to be killed by hanging.
Old Chowk Church: Established in 1840, is one of the oldest protestant churches of North-Western Provinces of British India. ‘Chowk Church’ also happens to be the second oldest church of Allahabad as the City (Allahabad) famous for its Colonial Era Churches is also known as the City of Churches.
Allahabad Clock Tower a.k.a. Chowk Ghantaghar: Built in the year 1913, the four sided clock tower is one of the oldest clock towers in India. Built out of red bricks, the clock tower has a height of about 40 feet with a Memorial Chhatri – a Hindu style dome shaped pavilion on top of the tower.
Allahabad Bank Building (First Branch): Founded by a group of Europeans in the year 1865, in the Chowk area of Allahabad. Allahabad Bank is the oldest Public Sector Bank of India, having branches of about 2500 in all over the country & overseas, serving the customers for the last 154 years. The building has been a haunted site since its inception.
Jama Masjid: Is a 17th Century, Mughal Era Mosque.
Gurudwara Pakki Sangat: Is a prominent Sikh Shrine associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur (ninth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion) and Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh Guru). Pakki Sangat Sahib is regarded as one of the oldest Sarais (inn) of Allahabad where Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and his family stayed for about 6 months while travelling to the east. Later, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji stayed here for 5 days while travelling from Patna to Anandpur Sahib. The place also has its name mentioned in the autobiography of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji called ‘Apanikatha’
Telegraph Office a.k.a. Targhar: One of the oldest Telegraph offices of North India.
Kotwali Chowk: The Police Station (Kotwali) was established soon after the British regained the control of Chowk in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
The Historic Chowk Bazaar: The Chowk Bazaar is a mini economy originally designed to serve the merchants & nobles of the Mughal times. A celebrated junction for ‘Allahabadis’ since 1800’s, is an erstwhile haunt where the most brilliant minds gathered, be it Eminent Politicians, High Court Judges, Barristers, Actors, Authors, Poets, and anyone significant or insignificant have always found a special spot here in this part of the world. On the tour we walk into the bustling lanes of the age old Spice Market, Vegetable Souk, Colorful Garment Shops and have a glimpse of Traditional Money Hawkers ‘The Multi Generational Brokers’ who would give out new notes in exchange for those ‘torn & soiled notes’ to the customer.
Eminent people who belong to ‘Chowk’ area are:
Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru: the first Prime minister of India. Allahabad is also known as the city of Prime Ministers.
Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya: Indian educationist – politician and the founder of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi in 1916, which is the largest residential university of Asia.
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia: Indian Music Director & Classical Flutist, He serves as the artistic director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory, Netherlands. Chaurasia ji has collaborated with famous western musicians, including John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, Ken Lauber and has also played for English band ‘The Beatles’ for song The Inner Light which was written by George Harrison.
Shri Purushottam Das Tandon: Popularly known as U.P.’s Gandhi. Tandon is widely remembered for his efforts in achieving the official language of India status for Hindi.
About Tour: Evening Walking Tour & High Tea at a Hindu Mansion
Request this tour: info@holywaters.in
Allahabad Food Trail
‘Allahabad Food Trail’ is a curated tour to discover the best of the best cuisines, sights and culture of Allahabad. It is a city tour and culinary trail of Allahabad in one program. On the food tour you’ll get a chance to relish some of the best street food available in the city from the oldest and most famous food joints.
Tour Highlights
Netraam Kachori – Eat On Biryani – Loknath Lassi & Hariram ke Samose – Shiv Chat Bhandar (Allahabadi Chat) – Indian Coffee House – Sophiya Laurence Beetal Shop and more…
About Tour: Allahabad food trail and Sightseeing tour
Request this tour: info@holywaters.in
