Old Delhi: Food Tour, Spice Market & Temples with Rickshaw

Summary

Old Delhi’s flavors, temples, and chaos on foot and rickshaw

You’ll taste legendary street food in Old Delhi’s busiest lanes, visit the massive Sikh Gurdwara kitchen where thousands eat daily, explore Asia’s largest spice market and secret mansions with a local guide, and end up bouncing through the chaos on a rickshaw ride. It’s messy and loud but strangely welcoming — you’ll feel part of something bigger for an afternoon.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing Aman did was hand me a samosa from a street cart in Chandni Chowk — no warning, just “Eat this, trust me.” It was still warm, flaky on the outside, and the filling had this punch of spice that made my eyes water (in a good way). He grinned when I asked what was in it — “Family secret,” he said. The air smelled like fried dough and cardamom, but also something sharp from the spice stalls nearby. People moved around us like they were late for something important. I tried to keep up.

We ducked into the Sikh Gurdwara next. I’d read about the mega kitchen but seeing it — steel pots big enough to bathe in, volunteers rolling out dough by hand — was another thing entirely. Aman explained how over 15,000 people eat here every day for free. The sound of metal bowls clinking together echoed through the hall. He showed us how to cover our heads (I fumbled with my scarf), then we sat cross-legged for chai that tasted sweeter than any I’d had before. There was something grounding about it all — maybe just being invited in for a few minutes.

Later we wandered through Asia’s largest spice market. That place is wild: colors everywhere, sacks piled high with red chilies and turmeric so bright it looked fake under the old bulbs. At one point I sneezed five times in a row and an old man selling cinnamon laughed at me — “First time?” he asked. We stopped at a hidden spice mansion too; honestly I never would’ve found that door alone. Somewhere along the way Aman tried teaching us some Hindi phrases (my accent still makes him laugh when I message him). We finished with a rickshaw ride that felt like being inside a pinball machine — horns blaring, kids waving from shopfronts, everyone shouting but somehow nobody angry.

I still think about that moment in the Gurdwara kitchen sometimes — just sitting there with strangers who didn’t seem like strangers at all. If you want Old Delhi raw and real (and don’t mind getting lost in it), this food tour is as close as I got.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Old Delhi's Markets and Temples

• Taste Indian street food
• Visit Chandni Chowk market
• Tour historic Sikh Gurdwara and mega kitchen
• Explore Asia’s largest spice market
• See 370-year-old mosque
• Photograph Red Fort from outside
• View Jain and Hindu temples from outside
• Walk through Nau Ghara Gali for photos
• Visit secret spice mansion
• Enjoy rickshaw ride in Old Delhi market
• Learn basic Hindi phrases
• Receive money-saving tips for India

Top questions

How long does this Old Delhi food tour last?

The tour lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours total.

Is street food safe to eat on this tour?

Yes, only tried-and-tested street food is included for safety.

Does the tour include visiting temples?

You’ll visit the Sikh Gurdwara (inside) plus see Jain and Hindu temples from outside.

Will there be vegetarian options during the tasting?

The foods offered like samosa, jalebi, paratha/choley bhature are vegetarian-friendly.

Is hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup; you meet at a central location in Old Delhi.

Are children allowed on this Old Delhi tour?

Yes, infants can join if seated on an adult’s lap or stroller; suitable for all fitness levels.

What is included in this Old Delhi tour?

Bottled water plus multiple tastings of famous local foods are included.

Does the tour include a rickshaw ride?

Yes, there’s a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi’s busy markets as part of the experience.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes bottled water to keep you going as you taste your way through samosas, jalebi, paratha or choley bhature and chai at trusted Old Delhi stalls. You’ll step inside the historic Sikh Gurdwara temple and its mega kitchen where thousands eat daily, wander Asia’s largest spice market (and even sneak into a secret spice mansion), plus finish with a classic rickshaw ride weaving through Chandni Chowk’s madness before heading back on your own steam.