A Sunday morning, at the break of dawn, a cloudless sky stretched above – a stark contrast to the previous days of relentless rain. The orange tinge of the rising sun traced a perfect outline of the mountains, extending from the western horizon to the east. I stood on my balcony, absorbing the milieu, captivated by the early morning splendour, further enhanced by the soothing chirps of the birds around.

For a long time, I had wanted to walk down Paltan bazaar, the bustling and age-old commercial heart of Dehradun. But I wished to see and capture it when the world  was still wrapped in slumber, when the shops remained shuttered, and the street vendors had yet to fill the air with their calls.

Here, I present a select few monochrome captures from my recent Sunday morning visit to Paltan Bazaar.

In earlier years, Ghosi Gali was lined with cow sheds, drawing people who came to buy fresh milk. Today, nothing of that past remains—only fast-fashion shops dominate the signboards. The only trace of history emanating from this street is Sunrise Bakers, which has been here since the 1950s.

This iconic landmark of Dehradun marks the junction where the famous Rajpur road and Chakrata road meet. It stands adjacent to the entrance to the Paltan Bazaar. The hexagonal tower has been a defining feature of the city since its inauguration in 1953.

A thriving cinema hall of yesteryears, a careful look evokes a sombre feeling to what has become of it. Located just across the street from the clock tower. Currently lies in a very sorry state.

Devki complex, in the heart of Moti Bazaar, once housed the famous Filmistan Cinema hall. Like many other theatres in town, it met a tragic end nearly 3 decades ago. Today, a commercial center with numerous shops stands in its place.

An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, located at one end of Moti Bazaar Road near Jhanda Sahib. It is believed to have been built in the late 19th century.

Jhanda Sahib, a temple dedicated to Guru Ram Rai, is said to have been built between 1697 and 1707. In the late 17th century, Guru Ram Rai set up his ‘Dera’ here, and since then, this place has evolved into its present form. A fair (Jhanda Mela) is held every year on the fifth day after Holi.

I spent about 2.5 hours roaming aimlessly in the labyrinths of this bazaar. Towards the end, I inched to a road-side eatery on Moti bazaar road ( Mamaji Katlamble Chole). Katlambe is a unique dish (somewhat closer to Chole Bhature yet different) that originated in Pakistan and carried all the way to Dehradun.

The sun was now fairly high, and the business activity was picking up. Vendors were out on the road, and the shutters were either already up or rising. I glanced around as I took my last bite of the crunchy snack and bid adieu to Paltan Bazaar. A short yet satisfying Sunday morning walk had come to an end.