In pictures: Iftar in the Walled City of Old Delhi

For almost half a century, the Walled City of Old Delhi has come alive during Ramadan at night.

The narrow alleyways, unchanged since they were built in the 16th century, are crammed with people and food stalls.

Before iftar begins, one can offer prayers in more than 90 mosques, including this one, the Kalan Mosque.

The Kalan mosque, with its aquamarine walls, reflection pool and a fortress-like front facade was built in the 12th century by the Tuglaq dynasty, which preceded the Mughals. “This mosque was built on a mound because back then it was in the middle of the forest,” said Smita Vats, left, the founder of Walk Delhi.

The Walled City gets its name from a six kilometre-long, 13 metre high rampart, which exists in parts. Post-independence, the Indian government tore down most of the wall to alleviate the over-crowding in what came to be known as Old Delhi.

Streets meet in threes, in a pattern the Mughals called the spider’s web, a design created to make fleeing thieves easier to catch and arrest.

A Chail wallah at work in Old Delhi. Shops are open throughout the night during the Holy Month. "During Ramadan they are on fire. They do a roaring trade,” says Pamela Timms, who writes a popular blog on Old Delhi street food called Eat and Dust.

A barbers shop in Old Delhi. Markets were historically demarcated according to professions.