When it was built: 17 the century
By whom it was built: Mughal Emperor Shahajahan
Nature of the building: Market
By whom it was built: Mughal Emperor Shahajahan
Nature of the building: Market
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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