Ghantewala sweets shop in Chandni Chowk

Ghantewala (link) is one of the oldest and most famous eateries and sweets shop in Delhi. It went into business in 1790. There's an interesting story behind how it got its name, Ghanta actually means a big clanging bell in Hindi Legend goes that whenever the royal procession moved down this road, the emperor was in the habit of stopping here for a snack - a habit that his elephant acquired too. Well, we all know how passionately fond of sweets elephants are, so of course came the day when he found the way to the shop himself. Apparently he refused to budge and kept on shaking its head until people rallied around with assorted sweets. The bells hanging from the elephant's neck would tinkle whenever the animal went into stubborn mode and shook his head and from there came the shop's name - beat that! (Another story is: A school used to exist near this shop and whenever the caretaker of the school would hit the hammer on the clanger, the sound would echo to the ramparts of the Red Fort. Whenever he felt like tasting some sweets, Shah Alam used to tell his flunkies to go to the `Ghanta Niche Halwai' -- the shop under the clanger. Hence, the name `Ghantewala.') The Ghantewala Halwai is celebrated for its sohanhalwa, a sweet made from dry fruits, sprouts and sugar.
Some of the products of Ghantewala are: Kaju Sweets, Desi Ghee Sweets, Badam Sweets, Petha Sweets, Bengali Sweets, Aloo Lacha, Dalmoth Kaju, Dalmoth Plain, Dalmoth Spl., Moong Dal, Kashmiri Mixture, Badam Mixture, Mongra, Chana Kabuli, Chana Dal, Aloo Wafers, Kaju Fried, kaju Masala, Kaju Roasted, Badam Roasted, Badam Fried / Masala, Sem Seeds, Sitaphal Beej, Kharbooja Beej, Mera Mixture, Mathri Gol Kali Mirch, Mathri Methi, Mathri Tikoni, Namakpare, Mathri Karela, Bakarwadi, Biscuits, Snacks, Papad.
Contact details:
Ghantewala Confectioners
1862-A, Chandni Chowk,
Delhi-110006
Phone : +91-11-23280490
Telefax : +91-11-23241851
Email : sweets@ghantewala.com


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Sona Sweets, Nehru Place

Post courtesy Akshaya (link)

I remember Sona Sweets from my days while working near Nehru Place. Nehru Place has lots of wonderful small eating places - Sona Sweets is surely one of the best there. It is a small eatery joint which offers nearly everything in India fast food - from Chhole Bhature to Aloo Parantha, from Chaats to Pao Bhaaji, from Idli to Dosa and much more.

It has a large (as per Nehru Place standards) open kitchen area where there are large stoves and large flat tawas. You can actually watch your paranthas or dosas being made right there (it is not a good experience watching though). The place is nearly filled each day during the lunch hours and you may have to squeeze yourself first to make an order (do payment and take a coupon) and then squeeze yourself more to get the food at your table. In the meantime, I forgot, you need to watch for a table as well. But let me tell, all this hardship is worth it. Truly amazing food at reasonable cost, especially the Aloo Parantha is tasty and filling - one is enough for me. But the best thing is Lassi there - served in a large (Punjabi) style glass, it is one of the best I ever had till now.

So, go there for Aloo Parantha and finish off with Lassi. Just make sure that you do not rush into lunch hours.

Contact Info:
Sona Sweets
G 1, 27 Saraswati House,
Nehru Place
New Delhi - 19
Ph: 91-011-26426777


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