This way to Gali Mandir Wali

The Walled City encyclopaedia

- Mayank Austen Soofi

The temple is locked. The pink door is tightly shut. So much so that pushing it doesn't make the two panels loosen even slightly. The temple is almost always locked. In spite of that, it gives the street its identity.

Old Delhi's Gali Mandir Wali is very small, very narrow, and is home to around 20 families. A passerby remarks that a priest does occasionally visit the temple, and when he does, he keeps the door open for a few hours.

Emanating from Pahari Bhojla, the gali is deserted this afternoon. It ends with a house. The door of this last house is open, the curtain is wavering due to the strong breeze.