ChunnaMal Ki Haveli.

As I mentioned in my last blog that I went to Chandni Chowk to know the history in its crowded lanes. When I got to know about Ghalib ki Haveli, from there only I asked some persons that tell me more about some heritage places in these crowded lanes then they told me about Chunnamal ki Haveli. 

Yes, these kinda names sound little strange to us but these persons were a great part of our heritage.

Lala Chunnamal was a wealthy textile merchant who won favor with the British after the Revolt of 1857, and bought the Fatehpuri Masjid for Rs 19,000 when the British auctioned it off after the rebellion. Later, in 1877, the British government reacquired the Fatehpuri Masjid to restore to the Muslims, in exchange for four villages. Needless to say, Lala Chunnamal was a wealthy man! In fact, he is known to be amongst the first few people in the city to own a car and a telephone, and at that time he earned around 1 lakh rupees a month. The Haveli is built on three floors and has 128 rooms.
It is one of few havelis that have survived till now and it is the only one which is continued by generations of Chunnamal. The current inhabitants are very welcoming and understand the true historic significance of their home.
The next time you’re in Chandni Chowk, swing by Katra Neel, ask around for this haveli, and pop in if you can, and I promise you'll take back a piece of history with you.

This is a view from main road.