Panorama of Chunnalmal's haveli

Another panoramic image of Old Delhi. This is the historic haveli of Chunna Mal (sometimes also written as Chunnamal) in Chandni Chowk.

Seth Chunnamal was at one time perhaps the richest and the most influential Indian in Shahjahanbad. This was in the turbulent years after the revolt(mutiny) of 1857. His haveli(mansion) in the central street of Shahjahanbad is an extensive building that used to be in its heyday a cynosure of all eyes. It is still fairly well preserved, unlike many other fascinating structures in the same area that are crumbling and decaying into nothingness.Unfortunately, we in India are not strong on historical preservation.We will fight, agitate and become violent at some some perceived 'insult' to some historical personality even as the monuments that truly embody  our heritage rot and disintegrate. I made a film about it called the Losing Heritage- the case of Chunnamal's haveli.

  The historic haveli of Chunna Mal in Chandni Chowk  - click for a larger image

The Cat on Jahanara's tomb

More cats, this time on the latticed enclosure of Mughal princess Jahanara's grave, right next the dargah(shrine) of the saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia (d. 1325 A.D.)

The inscription on the tomb reads as follows:

He is the Living, the Sustaining.
Let no one cover my grave except with greenery,
for this very grass suffices as a tomb cover for the poor.
The annihilated fakir Lady Jahanara,
Disciple of the lords of Chisht,
Daughter of Shah Jahan the Warrior
(may God illuminate his proof).

Interestingly there's a novel on Jahanara by John Shors-
The Life of a Mogul Princess Jahanara Begum: Daughter of Shahjahan 

Unfortunately I haven't yet read it, so I cannot comment on it.