Firdous Khan

If you come to the Jama Masjid area of Old Delhi, you must visit Rahmatullah Hotel to have your meals. This British-era hotel serves food at an incredibly reasonable price.

Fazlur Rehman Qureshi, the owner of the Hotel, says it was opened by his father Haji Rahmatullah to feed the poor. No wonder it’s known as the hotel of beggars and poor.

Fazlur Rehman Qureshi says during the British era, there was rampant poverty. Not to speak of eating good food on festive occasions, the poor couldn’t afford even two square meals.

This was followed by India’s partition when most of the rich Muslims left India for Pakistan and those who stayed back were mostly working-class including artisans. Their financial condition was pathetic.

The Kitchen of Rahmatullah Hotel

He says his father Haji Rahmatullah was pained to see this and decided to do something about it.

“He wanted that the poor should also get good food of their choice. It was not possible to feed the poor by getting food cooked from home every day. So he decided to open a hotel,” Fazlur Rehman says.

He promised that he would open an eatery where all the poor could get good food at a reasonable price. He wanted that people should be able to visit the place with family and friends for food.

Rahmatullah took a pledge that his hotel will make food affordable for the poor. He wanted that even the poor people along with their family members should come to his hotel to have food.

He visualized that poor people happily bring their friends and relatives here to feed them and remember the food as delicious.

When he opened the hotel, the prices were fixed at reasonable rates.

The service counter

Soon, the hotel became the most sought-after eatery and also a favourite food takeaway joint in Delhi. I

Though this hotel existed when the British were ruling India, its license was made in the year 1960.

His son says that Haji Rahmatullah was a very good cook. He was an expert in cooking Mughlai food that was much sought after by the rich people. He used pure and quality spices for the food and that practice continues even today.

The Mughlai food was beyond the reach of the poor for its exorbitant costs.

The hotel take care of the cleanliness rather meticulously. They say that in Islam, cleanliness is called half-faith. He also says that there is a great virtue of feeding and saluting in Islam.

He is very happy that he is associated with the work of feeding. Apart from Biryani, Nahari, Qorma, Keema, Stew, Kebab and other dishes made of meat, lentils, and vegetables are also available in the hotel.

Naan, Rumali Roti, Lachha Parantha, Sheermal, and Bakarkhani are also available in roti. Curds are also available here and Gulab Jamun, Jalebi, and other sweets are also available. Apart from mutton, chicken dishes are also available here.

Here Nahari, Paye, Qorma, Green Chilli Keema, Stew, and Dal Keema are available for Rs.50.

Biryani is available for Rs.40. Keema Aloo Matar is available for Rs.35 and Egg Potato is for Rs.30. Sheermal, Lachha Parantha, and Kulcha are also available for Rs.30.

Rice, chickpeas, lentils, and vegetables are available for Rs.15. Naan and Rumali roti are available for five rupees.

It is worth noting that there is always a big crowd waiting for the food all day. Many people keep waiting for a donor to feed them by sitting in front of the hotel from afternoon to night.

People can enjoy a delicious meal for Rs.25 to 30. Two rotis and one vegetable are available for Rs.25. Similarly, rice and chickpeas or rice and lentils are available for Rs.30.

The dishes being served at Rahmatullah Hotel

That is, for 250 to 300 rupees, 10 people can be fed comfortably. A lot of people who want to feed the poor also approach the hotel.

The 70-year-old Jamal, a resident of the area says that he has been seeing this hotel since childhood. He remembers eating a meal from here for one rupee. He uses the services of this hotel to feed the poor and especially beggars.

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Manoj, another local resident, says that he often comes here to eat food. He also keeps coming here with his friends. They say that delicious dishes are available here at a reasonable price.This hotel is called Hotel Number 105 and is located on the left-hand side of Matia Mahal in front of gate number three of Jama Masjid. It can be reached on foot from Jama Masjid. 

(The writer is a poet, storyteller, and journalist)