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On a journey's trail

Moti Mahal — India's forerunner in tandoori cuisine, now enters its 90th year. Established in Peshawar, then a part of undivided India in 1920, Moti Mahal's greatest claim to fame is that its founder Kundan Lal Gujral invented the two staples of Indian cuisine — the tandoori chicken and the butter chicken. He received many awards such as - IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) Lifetime Achievement Award for introducing tandoori cuisine to the world in 1991; H&FS award for his life time contribution to Food and Beverage industry in 1995; World Tourism Promotion Award in recognition of his innovation - the tandoori chicken and his contribution to the hospitality industry; Trans Himalayan selection award - gold medal for introducing to the world tandoori cuisine.

The tandoori trail began in Peshawar, where the first Moti Mahal was opened and it is there that Kundan invented tandoori and butter chicken that became a hot favorite with the British and the Indians. In 1947, when the city was reeling under a Punjabi refugee crisis as millions of dispossessed streamed to Delhi from Pakistan, young Kundan Lal set shop in Daryaganj. Soon Kundan Lal with his trademark lamb wool cap, thick twirling moustache, pathani suit and genuine warmth became a familiar figure to the elite of Delhi who flocked to his restaurant for the taste of the homes they had left behind on the other side of the border. Among his clients were members of a burgeoning bureaucracy of the newly independent country and legendary leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad and Indira Gandhi who patronised the restaurant.

Expansion

In 1970s Kundan Lal expanded his operations and saw good future in south Delhi. In 1972, he opened the doors of Moti Mahal Delux in Greater Kailash I — an upmarket version to suit the tastes of emerging modern India. Today his third generation has taken the brand across India with operations in almost every city. The Trail continues…..

(Written by Monish Gujral, grandson of Kundan Lal Gujral, who now runs the Moti Mahal chain of restaurants. As a tribute to his grandfather he calls the restaurants ‘Motimahal Delux Tandoori Trail.')

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