A Bicycle Rickshaw Ride in Old Delhi

It seems as though any type of transportation is acceptable on the streets of Old Delhi.  Very common are bicycle rickshaws — a three-wheeled bike with a bench that holds two passengers.  I’d never been on one of these contraptions until visiting Old Delhi where they are very popular because they are reasonably mobile on the crowded streets.   And they’re quite cheap to hire (more so for locals than to tourists).

01 Chandi Chowk Market (53)

03 Chandi Chowk Market (44)

25 Chandi Chowk Market (120)

We spent the better part of an hour in the rickshaw, although given how bad traffic was, really didn’t get as far as you might think. 

Here’s some of what we saw as we slowly moved along the streets and alleys of the city.  

04 Chandi Chowk Market (55)

Cattle roam the streets freely, although some are used to pull carts…

06 Chandi Chowk Market (57)

08 Chandi Chowk Market (100)

The streets and sidewalks are absolutely filthy and smelled as bad as they looked….

09 Chandi Chowk Market (45)

10 Chandi Chowk Market (49)

19 Chandi Chowk Market (110)

Vendors of all types use the roads, including the fellow below who seemed to have a back-breaking job….

12 Chandi Chowk Market (60)

14 Chandi Chowk Market (90)

11 Chandi Chowk Market (59)

28 Chandi Chowk Market (64)

15 Chandi Chowk Market (92)

Busy, busy roads…

17 Chandi Chowk Market (89)

18 Chandi Chowk Market (109)

20 Chandi Chowk Market (111)

21 Chandi Chowk Market (112)

Some of the scenery is interesting and attractive.  There are some lovely temples and, of course ,seen at the bottom the amazing Red Fort of Delhi.

26 Chandi Chowk Market (65)

29 Chandi Chowk Market (63)

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6 years ago

Few things in life are as comprehensively stimulating as old Delhi. The relative leisure of a cycle rickshaw allows you to take in so much more as on foot you would be constantly on guard against breaking your neck stepping into a manhole or a ripe pile of garbage. Believe me, in India, if it is in the garbage it is of no conceivable use. 

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