Darya Ganj, once known for Golcha cinema and Butter Chicken dish of a famous restaurant, is today a Musical Street.
There is a long line-up of musical stores selling both Indian and western musical instruments. One can find any variety of sitar, dholak, harmoniums, tabla, and other Hindustani classical music instruments. At the same time, there is no dearth of stores selling guitars, pianos, keyboards, violins, and drums.
As the number of music lovers grew in the city, the musical stores have been expanding their services. There is a large variety of amplifiers, speakers, and other accessories available for the musical instruments.
One can get the instruments repaired also. The market, which was one of the major trading centres of the city like Chandni Chowk, shrunk over the years. This was mainly because of the huge traffic that passed through the bazaar. In the Sixties and the Seventies, people went to Darya Ganj for all of their requirements.
There were electronic stores and medical shops. A showroom for the famous Enfield motorbikes was a prominent landmark in the market. While Golcha, famous for its dazzling lobby, is now closed, there were a close-by restaurant attracting customers from all over the town, and even other cities, for its tandoori chicken and other dishes. Located between New Delhi and Old Delhi, the bazaar fell victim to the growing road traffic, and it turned into a mere passageway. Over the years, there was a ban on stopping or parking vehicles in the bazaar. This was a difficult situation for customers. The musical stores have, however, given a fresh character to this historical market. One has to mind one’s step while walking on the bazaar’s narrow pavements!