Mirza Ghalib's Haveli

Situated in Gali Qasim Jan in Baliimaran, Chandni Chowk, this spartan two storeyed structure housed one of India's most profound poets. Way back in the 19th century, the Mughal sultanate was on an irreversible decline and Ghalib's poetry reeked of this decadence. He was a man of many words and little material possession and his home bears testament to this fact. Like the other residences of Shahjahanabad, the haveli comprises of a chowk or an open area surrounded by rooms on all sides that open into this chowk. Till the late 1990s, this structure was in a state of ruin with unchecked encroachments from neighbouring shops. You could have walked past the haveli not knowing of its presence in the least. However, post ASI kicking into action, the structure is now renovated and continues to be maintained also since it remains under the watchful eyes of Ghalib's many followers. You can visit the haveli any time of the day. It is advisable to take a peddle rickshaw from the Chandni Chowk Metro station (in case you are travelling by metro) or the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Red light (in case you are taking a bus or three wheeler) to Ballimaran. If you are on foot, the haveli is a brief walk in, once you reach the Ballimaran street. Any passer-by will be able to help you with its actual location since Ghalib’s haveli is one of the more prominent havelis of the Walled City.