Old Delhi: Spice Market Tour, Rickshaw Ride & Sikh Temple

Summary

Old Delhi’s tangled streets, spice market scents and rickshaw rides

You’ll weave through Old Delhi’s buzzing alleys with a local guide, ride a rickshaw past the Red Fort, taste the air inside Khari Baoli spice market, and step quietly into Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib’s kitchen where thousands are fed daily. Expect moments that stick—like laughter over chai or the sudden hush inside the temple—long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me in Old Delhi was the noise — not just car horns but this hum of voices and bicycle bells. We’d barely squeezed out of the metro when our guide, Anjali, waved us into a narrow lane. There was a hardware shop with metal pans stacked like silver pancakes. I remember brushing past someone selling kites — bright paper triangles fluttering above heads. It was all so much at once, but somehow it worked.

We ducked into Chandni Chowk and I nearly lost sight of our group. Anjali pointed out the Red Fort through a tangle of wires overhead (she laughed when I tried to pronounce “Lal Qila” — I definitely butchered it). Then we climbed onto these battered rickshaws for a short ride. The driver grinned at us in the mirror as we jolted along, passing wedding shops with marigold garlands spilling out onto the street. The air smelled like fried snacks and something sharp — maybe turmeric? Hard to say.

Khari Baoli spice market was wild — sacks of red chilies piled up almost to my shoulder, and men scooping cardamom pods by the handful. At one point I sneezed so hard from all the pepper dust that an old woman selling nuts handed me her scarf with a smile. We also stopped outside a Jain temple (just looked from outside), then walked on to Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib. Inside, there was this calm after all that chaos; people moving quietly, hands washing steel plates for lunch service. Anjali explained how they feed thousands every day — it made me feel small in a good way.

I still think about the sound of those temple bells echoing behind us as we stepped back out into sunlight. My shirt smelled faintly of cumin for hours after. If you’re looking for an Old Delhi & Spice Market Tour that actually gets under your skin (and maybe up your nose), this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Old Delhi markets and landmarks

• Pass hardware, kitchen, kite markets
• Visit mosque built by Shahjahan
• Walk through Khari Baoli spice market
• Rickshaw ride to Red Fort
• Visit Red Fort outside
• Explore bicycle market
• Walk Old Delhi alleys and residential area
• Visit Dariba Kalan jewellery market
• Visit Kinari Bazar wedding market
• See Jain temple from outside
• Visit Hindu temple of Shiva
• Learn about Sikhism at Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib

Top questions

What does the Old Delhi & Spice Market Tour include?

The tour includes a rickshaw ride, an English-speaking local guide, and water or cold drink during your walk.

How many people are on each tour?

Group size is limited to 15 people for a more personal experience.

Do I need to dress modestly for this tour?

Yes, since you’ll visit religious sites like Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, cover shoulders and knees and avoid tight or revealing clothes.

Is lunch included in the tour?

No lunch is included but you’ll get water or a cold drink; you can buy snacks along Chandni Chowk if you want.

Does the tour include entry to Red Fort?

No entry—Red Fort is viewed from outside during your rickshaw ride; your guide shares history there.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes—the walking is gentle and there are breaks; public transport options are nearby too.

Will we visit any temples on this tour?

You’ll enter Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib (Sikh temple) and see other temples from outside along the route.

What’s included

Your day includes an English-speaking local guide leading you by foot and rickshaw through Old Delhi’s markets and temples, plus water or cold drink along the way before finishing near Chandni Chowk.