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Fast facts about Chandni Chowk in Delhi
When it was built: 17 the century
By whom it was built: Mughal Emperor Shahajahan
Nature of the building: Market
History of Chandni Chowk in Delhi
Chandni Chowk meaning the Moonlight Square, was designed and
laid by Jahanara Begum, Mughal emperor Shahajahan's daughter
between the Red Fort and Fateh Puri Masjid. There was Najafgarh
pond, the water of which glittered while reflecting the moonlight
and then flowed into a cannal, Faiz Nahar across this locale.
There were expansive gardens to the north of this avenue that
also canopied Jahanara sarai, the palace of the Begum, which
today has the biggest electrical market of north India. History
says that the emperor thought about founding this market in
Old Delhi to satisfy his daughter's shopping spree.
Features of Chandni Chowk in Delhi
- Chandni Chowk originally stretched from Lahore Gate
of Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid, and it was divided into four
parts. The first part, Urdu bazaar, which extended from the
present Jain temple to Dariba Kalan.
- The second part from Dariba Kalan to Kotwali, came
to be known as Phool Mandi or flower market.
- The third part from Kotwali till the present Town Hall,
was known as Jouhari bazaar or Ashrafi bazaar.
- The fourth part, proper Chandni Chowk, stretched from
Jouhari bazaar till the Fatehpuri Masjid. The Brotishers changed
a lot of this part as they filled the canal flowing through
it with a clock tower that later collapsed.
- You will find entire galis with wholesale textiles
market
- You will be tempted to the gali with jewellery shops.
- You can go for window shopping in the narrow lanes
with shops selling books, clothing, shoes, leather goods, electronic
and consumer goods.
- Haldiram's, jalebis are fried in pure ghee, you will
get alleys where you can try out lip-smacking and street-smart
dishes
- In a way the street reflects the national unity, secularism
and diversity of India as it houses many important places of
worship of major religions of the world. Jain temple, Gauri
Shankar temple, Gurdwara Sisganj, Baptist Church, Sunehri Masjid
to Fatehpuri Masjid- there are places of worship for almost
all religions in this area that speaks about the unified and
secular spirit of Chandni Chowk in Delhi.
Don't Miss in Chandni Chowk in Delhi
All festivals make this area vibrant with a festive mood but
the procession on Republic Day is worth watching when a grand
parade passes through Chandni Chowk in Delhi.
Trivia on Chandni Chowk in Delhi
Grandeur of Mughal emperors during their reign, oppression
of later emperors like Aurangzeb, atrocious killing and looting
of citizens by the Persian invader Nadir Shah, the invasion
and destruction of the city by Ahmad Shah Abdali and consequently
by the Marathas, Rohillas and Jats, fall-outs of Sepoy Mutiny
after 1857 and finally the National movement leading up to India's
freedom-- Chandni Chowk in Delhi has witnessed this amazing
variety of historical events in the span of more than 300 years.
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