Khari Baoli - Asia's largest spice market

Image Source: Google

Delhi’s Khari Baoli is Asia’s largest spice market and its journey to this fame has been a long yet an interesting one. It came into being during the 17th century, dating back to the Mughal era. Baoli, literally means a step well, and ‘Khari’ or ‘Khara’ translates to salty, thereby translating the meaning of Khari Baoli to a salty water step well. However, the present status of Khari Baoli is totally the opposite of what it was. You won’t find any trace of water near the so-called area of Khari Baoli, and has now turned into a treasure trove of spices.

Western media has always referred India to be the land of spices, and you can decode the reason by visiting Khari Baoli at least once.

Image Source: Google

It is Asia’s biggest spice market that will allow you to select from a variety of both local and exotic spices. Hundreds of traders and buyers gather in the market for trading spices, and you will be surprised how trade happens here in such an orderly and organised manner.

There, you will even find shops that have still retained the names that have been used since the shops were step up, such as 15 Number ki Dukaan, Chawal Wale 13, and much more. The owners of these shops or the spice trades are now being carried forward by the ninth or tenth generations now. If you wander around this spice market, you will see how each shop spells history.

Image source:Google 

The wonder found at Khari Baoli lies inside the small lanes and gullies. But their size is in complete contrast to their business worth. There takes place, a business worth billions in these small congested, hardly a meter wide streets. There is a humungous variety of spices (local and exotic) found here. You will find the shopkeepers giving you a record of the history of the origin of these spices. There are prunes and dried mulberries brought all the way from as far as Afghanistan and also dried plums from Kashmir. The spices in different colours and types, laid out bare, are a treat for the eyes. The air is filled with a rich smell.The market favours both tika and mitha. You can also find khoya ( milk solid), a key ingredient of Indian sweets. The khoya is made in 3 different variants according to the purpose it would be used for. You will also find jaggery, in its different amazing kinds. Another bonus to Khari Baoli is a great variety of jadibotis found here. The ingredients like reetha, shikakai, are easily available here. These work wonders for your hair and skin.

Top 4 unsung heroes of Indian domestic cricket

1.RISHABH PANT

This Delhi boy has tons of runs for Delhi  in various levels. He has the record of fastest 50 in just 18 balls in under 19 world cup against Nepal, apart from this pant has a shining domestic career.

In the 2016–17 season of the Ranji Trophy in a match against Maharashtra, Pant scored 308 runs and became the third-youngest Indian and fourth overall, to score a triple century in first-class cricket.

On 8 November 2016, Pant scored the fastest century in the Ranji Trophy, from just 48 balls, in Delhi's match against Jharkhand

In February 2017, he was named Delhi's captain for the 2016–17 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He took over from Gautam Gambhir, who led Delhi to the final last season Delhi coach Bhaskar Pillaisaid it was a "consensus decision" to blood Pant for the future.

On 14 January, in the 2017–18 Zonal T20 League fixture between Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, Pant scored the second-fastest century in a Twenty20 match, making 100 from 32 balls.

2.SHAHBAZ NADEEM

This left arm spinner has a great impact in Indian domestic circuit from many years. His majestic performances is hard to ignore,but its hard for him to make his place in Indian cricket team.

A left-arm spinner who relies on flight, Shahbaz Nadeem took 51 wickets in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy, becoming the sixth bowler to claim fifty or more wickets in a Ranji season. His highlight performance during that rich season came against Kerala when he picked up 7 for 64 to stud Jharkhand's big win in Malappuram.

Nadeem, who has been part of India A sides, has also had a few stints as Jharkhand's captain. He made his first-class debut in 2004 and starred in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy with 42 wickets at an average of 25.97 in nine matches. He extended his domestic form into the 2013 IPL, taking nine wickets in 12 matches for Delhi Daredevils at a sub-six economy. Nadeem has been a frequent presence in Daredevils' bowling attack since 2011, and was retained by the franchise for the 2016 season.

3.MAYANK AGGARWAL

Mayank is widely known for his consistence performance in domestic matches from many years.

This right handed Karnataka batsmen never fails to impress the selectors by his excellent performances.

In November 2017, he scored his maiden triple century in first-class cricket, when he made 304 not out batting for Karnataka against Maharashtra in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy. It was the 50th triple century scored in first-class cricket in India. During the same month, he scored 1,000 runs in first-class cricket. He was the leading run-scorer in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy, finishing the tournament with 1,160 runs.

In January 2018, he was bought by the Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 IPL auction. In February 2018, he was the leading run-scorer in the 2017–18 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 723 runs in eight matches.He scored 2,141 runs across all formats, the highest total by any batsman in an Indian domestic season.

4.PRIYANK PANCHAL

This Gujrati allrounder has a great impact in domestic level.

While he started the 2007–08 season with the Under-19s, he made his List A debut for the senior team in the second half of the season, against Maharashtra in February 2008.

Panchal made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy competition the following season, against Saurashtra, in a game which Gujarat won by an innings margin.

In November 2016, Panchal became first player to score a triple century for Gujarat. The following month, he became the first player for Gujarat to score 1,000 runs in a single Ranji Trophy season. He finished the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy season with the most runs in the competition, with a total of 1,310 from ten matches and seventeen innings.

Hardik Pandya likely known for his big hitting skills came into limelight when he smashed 43 balls 73 runs in final of ICC champion trophy on 18 June 2017 against Pakistan. At the same time he broke Adam Gilchrist record of fastest 50,by smashing the same in just 32 balls. Hardik is the only Indian cricketer to smash 39 runs in an single over in BCCI  domestic matches.

Pandya made his T20 international debut for India on 27 January 2016 at the age of 22, picking up 2 wickets against Australia His first Twenty20 International wicket was Chris Lynn. In the second T20I against Sri Lanka cricket team at Ranchi, he came ahead of Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni and hit 27 off 14 balls. In Asia Cup 2016, Pandya smashed an 18-ball 31 helping India post a respectable score against Bangladesh. Later on, he also picked up a wicket to secure the win. In the next match against Pakistan,he bowled his best figures of 3 for 28 which restricted Pakistan to 83. In a 2016 World Twenty20 match against Bangladesh on 23 March, Pandya took two crucial wickets in the last three balls of match's final over as India beat Bangladesh by one run.

Pandya made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India against New Zealand on 16 October 2016 at Dharamshala. He became the fourth Indian to be named player of the match on ODI debut after Sandeep Patil, Mohit Sharma and K. L. Rahul In his first ODI innings as a better, he scored 36 runs from 32 balls. In the group stages of ICC Champions Trophy, Pandya hit three consecutive sixes to Imad Wasim before rain stopped play in the same over gained him a worldwide recognition as a lethal batsman. On 18 June 2017, in the final of the Champions Trophy at the Oval, he struck a 43-ball 76 in a losing cause, after coming in with India at 54/5 following a top order collapse.

 He was named in the squad that toured Sri Lanka  in July 2017 and played his first Test on 26 July in Galle In the 3rd and the final test match against Sri Lanka at Pallekele Pandya scored his maiden Test century, and set the record for becoming the first Indian batsman to score a test century just before lunch and set the record for scoring the most number of runs in a single over of a test innings for India in their test history scoring 26 runs. This century was his first century in international cricket.