Portable tandoor was invented during the reign of Jahangir, a Mughal ruler. This oven was carried by a team of cooks every time he travelled.
Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion, also encouraged the use of tandoor. He promoted equality and the removal of caste barriers by urging everyone to build sanjha chulha, which is a common oven in the neighbourhood. Creating this community oven helped remove caste and class barriers, providing women with an opportunity to socialise and gossip while preparing meals.
Tandoori cooking only became common in Delhi in 1947 when the Punjabi refugees brought tandoor to the city. As this cuisine took its root in India, almost anyone eventually discovered tandoori chicken, naan, and other dishes prepared through this cooking method.
Older tandoors that were set into the ground and were fired by charcoal wood can still be found in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In fact, places in Punjab still use communal tandoors to this day.