We could not have asked for a better introduction to India than we received from Amit: the New Delhi native who graciously offered up his spare room to us through the Couchsurfing Web site. For our first few days on the Subcontinent, Amit and his friends showed us around the sprawling city taking us to temples, parks, shrines, shopping centers, eateries and the fish market in Chittaranjan Park.

 

A fish vendor at the Chittaranjan Park market in New Delhi, India
A fish vendor at the Chittaranjan Park market in New Delhi, India

Chittaranjan Park

Chittaranjan Park is a neighborhood in South New Delhi that was set up in the late 1960s to accommodate migrants who had fled East Pakistan. Originally called EPDP (East Pakistan Displaced Persons) Colony, the name was changed in the 80s to honor the prominent freedom-fighter and lawyer Chittaranjan Das.

Today, Chittaranjan Park remains a major centre of Bengali cultural life in New Delhi and is home to one of the city’s main markets for freshwater fish, an integral part of Bengali cuisine, a large Kali temple, several cultural centers, four big markets specializing in Bengali sweets and as well as numerous stalls selling Calcutta style street food – chops, cutlets, etc.

 

Inside the fish section of the Chittaranjan Park market in New Delhi, India
Inside the fish section of the Chittaranjan Park market in New Delhi, India

 

Inside the fish section of the Chittaranjan Park market in New Delhi, India
Inside the fish section of the Chittaranjan Park market in New Delhi, India

If you’re headed to New Delhi or India, be sure to sample the amazing Indian food…especially the Thali.

All historical info on Chittaranjan Park courtesy of the good folks at Wikipedia.