Photo Essay – The Doors, Around Town
The noble entrances.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
The entrance doors of a few houses and mosques and monuments in old parts of Delhi such as Mehrauli, Nizamuddin Basti and Matia Mahal have an artistic character. They add dignity to the sad streets that are filthy, congested and full of stench. There is simplicity of style and nobility of elegance. Sometimes it’s a tattered old curtain that adds grace to its door. But Delhi, like any living city, is changing. Old buildings are being demolished. Havelis with inner courtyards are giving way to apartment complexes. The carved wooden doors set in arched entrances are becoming rare. Soon, they will survive only in photographs.
Chitli Qabar
Matia Mahal
Bulbuli Khana
Safdarjang’s Tomb
Chawri Bazaar
Paharganj
Chandni Chowk
Khari Baoli
Hauz Khas Village
Shahganj
Mehrauli
Turkman Gate
Chandni Chowk
Nizamuddin Basti
Nizamuddin Basti
The changing time, Hauz Khas Village
The changing time, Behind Jama Masjid
mmmaaaaaassssttttttttttt
Thanks Mayank for reminding us of the forgotten elegance of Old Delhi.
The craftsmenship of some of these doors is simply phenomenal. Alas, art beckons patrons for it to flourish.