Story of mysterious combination – rectangle shape ‘fafada’ and round shaped never ending ‘Jalebi’…

Have you ever been to Chandravilas ? Not yet ? Join us for food Walk.

Chandravilas Fafada and Jalebi

In 18th century, Ahmedabad emerged as the main center of trade and ‘mill culture’.And it was a reason to get developed new businesses and business tactics too. Amdavadis are opportunity seekers and it was time to convert dream into reality for. Gandhi road was considered as busiest road of Ahmedabad.’Shree Chimanlal Amrut Joshi’ chose Gandhi road to sell tea with toast, biscuits, nankhatai (cookies) and more other snacks on Gandhi road.

It was just a beginning, there is much more. Chimanlal has stared Chandravilas in 1900.

yeah yeah start counting years ????

Chandravilas, who has introduced concept of Gujarati thali to Ahmedabad,

Who has introduced different flavours of tea, yea almost 16 varieties….

Who has introduced togetherness of this un-matched but lip smacking combination – Fafda n Jalebi!!!!

Fafada And Jalebi At ChandraVilas

Freedom fighter’s tastebuds lost their battle against Chandravilas munchings that includes Mahatma Gandhi, Indulal Yagnik and iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.Bollywood start Raj Kapoor was huge fan of Chandravilas Gujarati Thali.

They served Gujarati thali for 1 rupees only.

Thali includes:

Rotli/Puri/Bhakhri(Indian breads),

Daal(stew or soup made with lentils),

Rice,

Varieties of savory snacks( khaman, paatra, khandvi, dhokla),

Chaas(buttermilk),

Papad,

Salad,

Pickles,

And offcourse a sweet dish!! Jalebi , Gulab Jamun, Churamana Ladu or Shiro(Halwa),

Certainly Mouthfreshner at the end…

Kitchen was busy in making tea all day long, in lunch time it was time for ‘Dal'(lentis soup) – yes , sweet and sour Gujarati dal. Amdavadi cooked Shaak (Curry),Rotali ( Indian Bread) , Bhat (Rice) at home but they preferred to take away ‘dal'(lentils soup) Chandravilas. That was routine on sundays!!

It is difficult  to say no to the long, crispy,hand-spinned –  hot fafda, kadhi (Indian curry) and grated raw papaya? Along with thin, crisp, sweetness overloaded Jalebi that completes in 5 rounds- Yes, that is speciality of Chandravilas Jalebis – pure ghee and Jalebi in 5 rounds  only. And, Amdavadies are just crazy about this.

For the cutting- lover amdavadis , Chandravilas is tea museum. They served 16 variety of flavored tea in 25 paisa only ???? Tea named like – Amiri, Gulabi, Kawo, Bagicha Special and many more…

British education and life style had strong influence on Amdavadis. Chimanlal  ordered 12 beautifully carved oak chairs especially from France.The cost on single chair was 1 rupee that includes cost of chair, shipping charges and expenses of the masons that travelled from France to India to assemble those chairs….. Intresting nah ??? By the way, there was interesting deal, Chimanlal received 1 chair free of cost on ordering 12 chairs. Pakka Amdavadi ????

In the year 2002’s havoc, Chandravilas had to suffer too much loss; most of the part was damaged in the fire. A large portion of the basement survived despite the gas cylinder burst.

While entering Chandravilas, on the right side is a small portion covered with a curtain, is the Dargah of the Sufi saint “Sakhi Sattar” who came from Junagadh, where a diya (lamp) burns continuously since 125 years. On every thursday, Amdavadis visit here to offer the Jalebi to the saint. Shree Chimanlal’s third generation Malavbhai believes the saint’s Dargah is our fortune and in year 2002 there was no damage caused to the basement and the Dargah in the loss.

Savory snack-lover Amdavadis can find all varieties of other  snacks also- patra, khandvi, samosa, sev-usal, khaman and puri-bhaji.

And that’s over enthu me 😉

Jalebi Is In Making At Chandravilas