Chandni Chowk’s Naugraha Has Picture-Perfect Architecture & Jewellery

Chandni Chowk is an inexhaustible treasure trove of secrets and Naugraha is a gem we recently discovered. This quiet corner is a pocket of nine gorgeously painted Jain havelis that sometimes open up to jewellery stores.

Naugraha literally means nine houses, and they all date back to the 18th century. The street is small but pops of teal doors and ornately designed entrances make this the perfect backdrop for “Incredible India” photos.

Surprisingly, it’s just off Kinari Bazaar, but a world away from its chaotic neighbour. For good or for bad, it’s also easy to miss. This time around, though, we stopped by for a look-see and are happy to report that there’s more to the place than meets the eye.

A well-informed local let us in on this secret: The houses look traditional on the outside but inside, they’ve all been renovated to look modern. We don’t know when we’re going to use this info, but just thought of putting it out there for everyone who likes trivia.

While the door that looked most inviting was shut, we decided to walk into the second best. A flight of stairs took us right into a very khandani-looking jewellery shop. The owner was sweet enough to accommodate our snooping around on a cold Sunday morning and we liked not one but many pairs of silver earrings that begged to be taken home.

If you’re a junk jewellery enthusiast, you’ll find a lot of stash here at prices way lower than the malls or standalone designers. We picked a big silver earrings {fashionably oxidised and with a motif in the middle} for INR 2,800 and think it was quite a steal when pitted against prices we’re used to expecting.

Next time you go to eat kebabs or buy sari borders by the dozen, take a moment to check out this hidden gem.

The narrow gully ends at a Jain temple if you’re interested.