The old market district around Gulmandi has a dense concentration of small chai stalls that are the real social hubs of the city. The chai here is kadak — strong, dark, very sweet, boiled long with ginger and cardamom — served in small glasses for ₹10–15. The best time to visit is early morning, when the stallholders are setting up and the biryani restaurants are beginning their long slow cooks, or late evening when shopkeepers gather after hours. There is no seating as such: you stand, drink quickly, and move on. Several stalls also serve samosas, mirchi bajji (chilli fritters), and biscuits.