Photo Feature

Time travel through Delhi’s rustic doors

Published by
Mohd Shehwaaz Khan

Old Delhi was once dotted with palaces, havelis, gardens, water bodies and avenues. But everything changed when apartments and urban architecture appeared on the scene. Today, what remains of the old city’s ambience are the ruins or the reconstructions that give away the reflections of history. 

The doors, along with windows and taaks, are one such elements that takes you to the time when they were more than just a portal of entry. They are intricately decorated and thoughtfully carved. Some of them are exquisitely colored: bright yellow, bridal red, and shining blue. Primarily made of solid wood, they are accompanied by the frame of a taak above or beside them.

Tucked inside the congested alleys and mohallas, these doors provide a sense of drama to an otherwise mundane urban life. They seek an immediate attention to their architectural beauty and ‘photogenic’ facade. 

Interestingly, some of these doors are a combination of both modern panels and traditional frames. The frames of such doors remain as earlier, but the panels have been replaced. Many of them are accompanied by three elevated doors on the sideways. A walk though the old city brings you across several such entrances to the history and evolution of the place.

Some of them have colorful floral designs of yellow and green.

Others do not have many colors yet steal the show.

 

One looks like a door of a Church, but then you see the image of Ganesh carved out on top.

Then there are the elevated ones opening to a platform.

 

And of course, the intricately decorated frames.

Many have windows on each side.

Some have their panels replaced.

What about havelis that have been turned into schools?

We must not forget these small ones that did not demand much attention.

 

For more stories that cover the ongoings of Delhi NCR, follow us on:
Instagram: instagram.com/thepatriot_in/
Twitter: twitter.com/Patriot_Delhi
Facebook: facebook.com/Thepatriotnewsindia

Mohd Shehwaaz Khan

Mohd Shehwaaz Khan is a journalist based in New Delhi. He won Laadli Media Award 2023 for best feature in print

Published by
Mohd Shehwaaz Khan

Recent Posts

Land-grabbing racket busted in south Delhi; 3 arrested

A case was registered at the Greater Kailash police station and later transferred to the…

January 31, 2026

Delhi Aerocity metro station to become key interchange hub with Golden Line connection

With the approval of the Golden Line extension up to Terminal 1 IGI Airport station…

January 31, 2026

Delhi: Man held for brutally murdering 12-year-old stepson

Police said they are verifying all aspects of the case, including the sequence of events…

January 31, 2026

Delhi Capitals look for win against UP Warriorz to seal Eliminator berth in WPL

A win for DC will straightaway send them to the Eliminator against Gujarat Giants with…

January 31, 2026

‘The Poetics of the Ordinary’: a solo exhibition by Mona Bendre

Featuring works from the late 1960s onwards, the show highlights Bendre’s textured surfaces, earthy tones…

January 31, 2026

Sunny Deol-starrer ‘Border 2’ earns Rs 257.50 crore at box office

Released on January 23, the film is directed by Anurag Singh and is a sequel…

January 31, 2026