Delhi at its center:
Connaught Place
Connaught Place, Edwin Lutyen’s work of architecture,
was completed in 1933. It has since then changed many faces, but it houses some
of the old time buildings and businesses which have survived the rise and fall
of the British. Let’s take you through some of those by-lanes in the history of
Delhi.
This is where it all started… ‘Keventers- Ends the
quest for the best’
Keventers, 1925 (Courtesy: Keventer's archives)
Our very own go-to place for a refreshing bottle
of milkshake has been flourishing for about a century now. It was set up by Edward
Keventers in 1920s, with its first factory in Chanakyapuri, and later taken
over by Ram Krishna Dalmia in 1940s.
With other outlets opening up in Saket and DLF
Promenade, the one bustling in A-block corner has to be one’s favourite.
While at Keventer's, it is hard to miss Wenger’s on
its side. One of the most popular bakery and restaurant among British
bureaucrats, foreign diplomats and Indian royalty until Independence was
designed in 1926 by British architect Sir Robert Tor Russell.
Wenger’s, 1930 (Courtesy: Atul Tandon)
It was built across a vast stretch of A-block with
a ballroom, restaurant and café on the first floor.
Wenger’s, 1930 (Courtesy: Atul Tandon)
In 1945, the Swiss owners of the place sold it to
B.M. Tandon. Since then, although it has shrunk to a small shop, the place is
hustling with people at all times.
Surviving the decades old legacy, commercial movie theaters, built in 1930s, mustered large crowds, and were considered cultural hubs by the elite.
Odeon cinema, 1950s (Source: unknown)
Plaza cinema, 1952 (Source: Jaspal Sawhney)
Regal cinema, 1980s (Source: unknown)
Before Bollywood films began to be showcased, these theaters ran silent films, organized Russian ballets and
Urdu Plays, and were frequented by the aristocrats till before Independence. With
many restaurants and cafes opening up around these halls it has started
to attract people from all walks of life.
And this is Delhi (or rather CP) through the years...
And this is Delhi (or rather CP) through the years...
(Written by Gurkiran Shahi)
2 comments:
Excellent article! Would love to share it with others too. Great work. :)
Good job GK! I really enjoyed reading it.
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