Chowk, Allahabad
Encyclopedia
Chowk is a locality/township of Allahabad
, Uttar Pradesh
, India
tree where numerous freedom fighters
were hanged in the first Indian War of Independence.
The old church is situated here. The Grand Trunk
road passed through Chowk in its early days.
The area once had, residence of Pt Motilal Nehru
and his son, Jawaharlal Nehru
,the first Prime minister
of India
,Jawaharlal Nehru was born in an area called Mir Ganj, which is now, unfortunately, notorious Red light district
of Allahabad
.
Its part of ganges plain with Alluvium
soil
,a traditional bazaar, from garments to spices sweets papads and vegetables in the morning, their aroma fills your nostrils, in the evening you can enjoy the delicacies like chaat
s that have unparalleled tastes.
Loknath Gali is its heart as well as its stomach—it serve as what would today be called a food court, for traders and shoppers. Here, the chaaterati of Allahabad
would congregate, to gossip and eat. A typical Loknath Gali evening would follow this course: one start from the northern end of the street—the city side—and sauntered to the end of the lane at the Baba Loknath Temple (the area was called Sarai Meer Khan before the temple was built), sampling the fare on offer along the way. The first course would be an assortment of chaat
, followed by dahi jalebi
or kulfi
faluda. If you were counted among the shaukeens(Connoisseur
in English), you would stop by for bhang
kulfi or bhang thandai
. And as you waited for the kimam-khushbu paan
at the end of the stroll, you ordered Hari namkeen's masala
samosa
to be packed for home.
committees, that adorn their chowkis in competition
Mahavidyalaya, set up by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, and still functioning.
There is one Bharati Bhavan Library
which has lot of old manuscripts in Hindi language.1
and other places from here.
Public transport consist of cycle rickshaw
.
Roads are narrow and congested as its part of old city with little scope for expansion
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
History
Chowk is a historical point, where once stood the NeemNeem
Azadirachta indica is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil...
tree where numerous freedom fighters
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
were hanged in the first Indian War of Independence.
The old church is situated here. The Grand Trunk
Grand Trunk
Grand Trunk can refer to:*The Grand Trunk Company in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels*The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in Canada*The Grand Trunk Railway in North America*The Grand Trunk Road in South Asia...
road passed through Chowk in its early days.
The area once had, residence of Pt Motilal Nehru
Motilal Nehru
Motilal Nehru was an early Indian independence activist and leader of the Indian National Congress, who remained Congress President twice, and...
and his son, Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
,the first Prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
,Jawaharlal Nehru was born in an area called Mir Ganj, which is now, unfortunately, notorious Red light district
Red Light District
Red Light District may refer to:* Red-light district - a neighborhood where prostitution is common* The Red Light District - the title of the 2004 album by rapper Ludacris* Red Light District Video - a pornography studio based in Los Angeles, California...
of Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
.
Geography
Chowk is situated in southern part of Allahabad Municipal council.1Its part of ganges plain with Alluvium
Alluvium
Alluvium is loose, unconsolidated soil or sediments, eroded, deposited, and reshaped by water in some form in a non-marine setting. Alluvium is typically made up of a variety of materials, including fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel...
soil
Amenities
The main market of AllahabadAllahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
,a traditional bazaar, from garments to spices sweets papads and vegetables in the morning, their aroma fills your nostrils, in the evening you can enjoy the delicacies like chaat
Chaat
Chaat is a term describing savoury snacks, typically served at road-side tracks from stalls or carts in India. With its origins in east India, chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of India and the rest of South Asia...
s that have unparalleled tastes.
Loknath Gali is its heart as well as its stomach—it serve as what would today be called a food court, for traders and shoppers. Here, the chaaterati of Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
would congregate, to gossip and eat. A typical Loknath Gali evening would follow this course: one start from the northern end of the street—the city side—and sauntered to the end of the lane at the Baba Loknath Temple (the area was called Sarai Meer Khan before the temple was built), sampling the fare on offer along the way. The first course would be an assortment of chaat
Chaat
Chaat is a term describing savoury snacks, typically served at road-side tracks from stalls or carts in India. With its origins in east India, chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of India and the rest of South Asia...
, followed by dahi jalebi
Jalebi
-Further reading:*Epicure's Delectable Desserts of the World By Asha Khatau ISBN 81-7991-119-5...
or kulfi
Kulfi
Kulfi or Qulfi is a popular frozen dairy dessert from the Indian Subcontinent. It is often described as "traditional Indian Subcontinent ice-cream". It is popular throughout countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Burma , and even the Middle East...
faluda. If you were counted among the shaukeens(Connoisseur
Connoisseur
A connoisseur is a person who has a great deal of knowledge about the fine arts, cuisines, or an expert judge in matters of taste.Modern connoisseurship must be seen along with museums, art galleries and "the cult of originality"...
in English), you would stop by for bhang
Bhang
Bhang is a preparation from the leaves and flowers of the female cannabis plant, smoked or consumed as a beverage in the Indian subcontinent.- India:...
kulfi or bhang thandai
Thandai
Thandai is a cold drink prepared with a mixture of almonds, fennel seeds, magaztari seeds , rose petals, pepper, vetiver seeds, cardamom, saffron, milk and sugar. Could be easily found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan - mostly in Peshawar. It is native to India and is often associated with the Holi...
. And as you waited for the kimam-khushbu paan
Paan
Paan, from the word pān is an Indian, Pakistani, Uttarvarshi and Southeast Asian tradition of chewing betel leaf with areca nut and slaked lime paste, and katha brown powder paste, with many regional and local variations...
at the end of the stroll, you ordered Hari namkeen's masala
Masala
Masala or massala is a term used in South Asian cuisines to mostly describe a mixture of spices. A masala can either be a combination of dried spices, or a paste made from a mixture of spices and other ingredients—often garlic, ginger, onions and chilli paste...
samosa
Samosa
A samosa is a stuffed, deep fried,snack that is very popular in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Southwest Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, the Horn of Africa, North Africa and South Africa...
to be packed for home.
Culture
During Dusherra festivals Chowk is crowded with tens of thousands of people for watching the Chowkis of Pajava and Patherchatti RamlilaRamlila
Ramlila is a dramatic folk re-enactment of the life of Lord Ram, ending up in ten day battle between Lord Ram and Ravan, as described in the Hindu religious epic, the Ramayana...
committees, that adorn their chowkis in competition
Education
The past exists in easy harmony with the present. In one of the many narrow lanes someone will point out a building that is falling apart—the SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
Mahavidyalaya, set up by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, and still functioning.
There is one Bharati Bhavan Library
Bharati Bhavan Library
Bharati Bhavan Library a Hindi and Urdu public library in Allahabad, India. The library was established in 1889 by the joint efforts of Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya and Mr. Bal Krishna Bhatt of Chowk, Allahabad....
which has lot of old manuscripts in Hindi language.1
Transport
Autorickshaw (carriage) used to ply to Katra, AllahabadKatra, Allahabad
Katra is a locality/township of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the trader location for common people with a few retail stores, supported by a thriving vegetable market called sabzi mandi. It is a very densely congested market place where it can be difficult to commute because of domestic...
and other places from here.
Public transport consist of cycle rickshaw
Cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw or, simply, rickshaw which also refers to auto rickshaws, and the, now uncommon, rickshaws pulled by a person on foot...
.
Roads are narrow and congested as its part of old city with little scope for expansion