The Hindu : Walled City museum opened

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Walled City museum opened

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 8. A Walled City museum depicting the glorious 350-year-old history of Chandni Chowk was thrown open to the public at Lahori Gate today. Bringing together the lifestyle, heritage, architecture and composite culture of Chandni Chowk under one roof, this first-of-its-kind museum has been set up with the support of the Union Minister Vijay Goel who has contributed Rs. 1crore out of his MPLAD fund.

The collection of old artefacts, rare photographs, rare objects of Shahjahanabad like Jharokhs and Jaalis and the rare pictures of Havelis which find a place in the museum have also been contributed by Mr. Goel. Interestingly, all these and more have been featured extensively in the recent book "The Emperor`s City" written by him.

The former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and the Delhi Minister for Power Haroon Yusuf, who were present at today's inauguration, appreciated the efforts made by Mr. Goel to set up this unique treasure-house of history.

Hoping that the museum would soon find a respectable place in the tourist map of Delhi and attract domestic as well as foreign tourists, Mr. Goel said it was housed in a 100-year-old two-storey building spread over 1000 square yards which is actually a dispensary functioning since 1929 and was still being used to treat patients.

The MCD dispensary was housed in only two small rooms leaving the rest of the building untilised. Two big halls were created here with minimum expenditure and without changing the basic structure of the building. The DESU transformer and MTNL junction box outside the heritage building were shifted to a nearby place, Mr. Goel informed, reiterating that he was commited to turn Chandini Chowk into a beautiful, green and clean place.

The museum would remain open on all seven days of the week and would have no entry fee.

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