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

From Seoul to Sicily: Delhi’s cafés serve up the internet’s hottest desserts

From velvety cheesecakes to espresso-soaked gelato, here are seven globally viral dishes that Delhiites cannot…

January 10, 2026

When Nicolás Maduro found echoes in Delhi

As Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolás Maduro returns to global headlines, a walk through Delhi’s diplomatic…

January 10, 2026

Delhi govt begins citywide beautification with Garden of Five Senses, Model Town’s Naini Lake

The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) has estimated a cost of Rs 48.75…

January 10, 2026

Delhi govt increases corpus for Narela Education City to Rs 1,300

Possession letters for land parcels for Delhi Teachers' University and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University…

January 10, 2026

Delhi govt trying to revive DTC that suffered losses of Rs 97,000 in part: CM

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also said that the government is trying to turn the…

January 10, 2026

Consider govt employee’s plea to include live-in partner in family pension: Delhi HC to Centre

A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Madhu Jain held that the petitioner government employee…

January 10, 2026