History Of Chandni Chowk-
Chandni Chowk ( Moonlight Square) is a market that hubs with activity all through the year. The water in a pool reflected the moonlight and then flowed into a channel that flowed through the avenue. It is a crowded place and normally there is a maze of traffic that one has to negotiate almost every second. North of the avenue were vast gardens and one of them surrounded the glittering Jahanara sarai, which has a plinth as spacious as that of Jama Masjid. There was the palace of the Begum which today houses the biggest electrical market of north India, Bhagirath Palace. At the western end is the Fathepuri Masjid which was built by one of Shahjahan's wives and was the venue of public debates between Muslim theologians and Christian missionaries in the 19th century. It has a large number of galis(lanes) and a famous poet wrote about the lanes saying that " who would like to leave them". Each gali has some thing special about it for instance there is the paranthawali gali, where people could feed on the choicest paranthas. There are galis which house the wholesale textiles market and there is also a gali where jewellers have their shops.
The favourite daughter of Shahjahan, Jahanara laid the foundation of today Chandni Chowk which is the largest trading centre of North India. Also known as the moonlit square, it is located in the main street of Old Delhi. Situated opposite the Red Fort, the bazaar has several galis (lanes). Each of these galis represent a specialty of this market, for example the parathawali gali famous for it's parathas. Similarly there is the jewellery lane, textile lane and so on. The market place has historical land marks like- The Sunheri Masjid which stands next to the Kotwali (old police station). The Fatehpur Mosque, is located at the west end of Chandni Chowk and the famous Jumma Masjid is also situated nearby.
Tourist Information-
Chandni Chowk as Shopaholic's Paradise
Shopping is fun! Shopping is a time-pass!! Whatever might be the reason, Shopping is an ongoing activity that is more or less a hobby for some. Every city has numerous shopping places so as there in Delhi too. The Chandni Chowk is the major attraction for habitual shoppers.
History of Chandnichowk market
After shifting his capital from Agra to Delhi emperor Shahjahan established Chandni Chowk in 1650. It soon became the heart and soul of the commercial activities of Mughal Empire and the legend continues till today. Chandni Chowk is located opposite to the Red fort. The market is far from the conventional airconditioned malls or gorgeous shops with plush interiors in posh markets yet its importance can be boasted of about among wholesale traders. In Mughal era Chandni chowk was famous for the Fountains and the shops.
Tips For Enjoying Shopping At Chandni Chowk-
- While going around Chandni Chowk pay special attention on your pockets.
- Beware of touts and the duplicate products.
How Chandni Chowk Got It's Time-
When the famous Mughal Emperor Shahjahan shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi and established the city of Shahjahanabad, he had the majestic Red Fort or Lal Qila, on the banks of River Yamuna. Chandni Chowk was built in 1650 AD as an accompaniment to the fort. It was designed by Jahanara, the Emperor's favorite daughter. A large chowk ("square") with a central pool was built at some distance from the fort.
The story goes that on a moonlit night, the new complex and the pool lay shimmering; as a result, it acquired the name of Chandni Chowk- "the moonlit square".
Another legend says that the Chowk was named after it's silversmiths and there is a confusion of the word 'chandi' (silver) with 'chandni' (moonlit).
Market-
- Nai Sarak: A popular book-shopping destination in Old Delhi is Nai Sarak. Connecting the main Chandni Chowk Road with Chawri Bazaar, Nai Sarak has numerous wholesale and retail shops selling college and school textbooks. Just a left turn from the famous Paranthewali Gali will take you to Nai Sarak. You will also find shops that sell only stationery items. The market remains closed on Sundays.
- Chor Bazar : Located near the Red Fort and Lajpat Rai Market, Chor Bazaar literally means "Thieves' Market". From electronic items to designer clothes, you can find everything here. Prices are enticingly low but the life of the product can't be guaranteed. You have to depend on verbal assurances and on your own judgement.
- Chatta Chowk : The Chhatta Chowk Bazaar, which dates back to the 17th century, was meant for ladies in veil. In this covered thoroughfare leading up to the Red Fort, the caravan traders would lay out their wares and move away. The ladies could then come and make their choice without being observed. Today, the market has 40-odd shops selling artificial and semi-precious jewellery, embroidered bags, hand-painted wall hangings and 'antiques' with dubious authenticity.
- Daryaganj Book Market: Be it the latest best-seller or an out-of-print book, Delhi is a hot destination for buying books. Stretching for more than a kilometre, the Daryaganj Old Book Market is often referred to as the world's largest weekly book market. It is organised every Sunday.
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