Chandni Chowk, Delhi

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Chandni Chowk
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Chandni Chowk
Location in Delhi, India
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Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk (India)
Coordinates: 28°39′22″N77°13′52″E / 28.656°N 77.231°E / 28.656; 77.231
CountryIndia
Union Territory Delhi
District Central Delhi
Metro Chandni Chowk
Languages
  Official Hindi, Urdu
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
Planning agency MCD
Website https://delhitourism.travel/chandni-chowk-delhi

The Chandni Chowk (meaning Moonlight Square) is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, India. It is located close to the Old Delhi Railway Station. The Red Fort monument is located at the eastern end of Chandni Chowk. It was built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, and designed by his daughter, Jahanara. The market was once divided by canals (now closed) to reflect moonlight. It remains one of India's largest wholesale markets. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Procession of the Emperor Bahadur Shah II on Eid in Chandni Chowk in 1843. A panorama in 12 folds showing the procession of the Emperor Bahadur Shah to celebrate the feast of the 'Id., 1843.jpg
Procession of the Emperor Bahadur Shah II on Eid in Chandni Chowk in 1843.
Existing Delhi Town Hall (Municipal Hall) at Chandni Chowk, with a statue of Swami Shraddhanand in front. Delhi Town Hall.jpg
Existing Delhi Town Hall (Municipal Hall) at Chandni Chowk, with a statue of Swami Shraddhanand in front.

The market's history dates to the founding of the capital city of Shahjahanabad when Emperor Shah Jahan established the Red Fort on the banks of the Yamuna River besides his new capital.

Original Chandni Chowk

Jahanara Begum's caravanserai that formed the original Chandni Chowk, from Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalf's 1843 album. TheChowkMetcalfAlbum.jpg
Jahanara Begum's caravanserai that formed the original Chandni Chowk, from Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalf's 1843 album.
Chandni Chowk in the 1860s. Chandni Chowk, Delhi, 1863-67.jpg
Chandni Chowk in the 1860s.

The original Chandni Chowk, half-moon-shaped square, was located in front of the Municipal Townhall and its reflection used to shine in the moonlit water pool located in front of it. A shallow water channel was built from Yamuna, which ran through the middle of the straight road currently known as the Chandani Chowk bazaar, with roads and shops on either side of the channel. This road had three bazaars. [3] Chandni Chowk, or the Moonlight Square, and its three bazaars were designed and established by Princess Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan's favourite daughter, in 1650 CE. Originally containing 1,560 shops, the bazaar was 40 yards wide by 1,520 yards long. [4] The bazaar shaped as a square was given elegance by the presence of a pool in the centre of the complex. The pool shimmered in the moonlight, a feature which was responsible for its name. [5] Shops were originally built in a half-moon shaped pattern, now lost. The bazaar was famous for its silver merchants, which also have contributed to the name of "Silver Street" [6] as silver is referred to as Chandi in Hindi, a slight variation of which forms Chandni.

The pool in the chowk was replaced by a clock tower (Ghantaghar) in the 1870s. The centre of the market is still referred to as Ghantaghar. Chandni Chowk was once the grandest Indian market. [7] Mughal imperial processions passed through Chandni Chowk. The tradition was continued when the Delhi Durbar was held in 1903. Delhi Town Hall was built in 1863 by the British.

Original three bazaars

Shahjahanabad: Chowk bazaar as a horizontal street in the centre of the walled city marked in the red, half-moon shaped moonlight Chandani Chowk square itself was located in front of the Municipal Hall. Equi-divided one-third sections of the road represent three bazaars, Urdu Bazaar, Johri Bazaar and Fatehpuri Bazar. c. 1911. Shahjahanabad or Modern Delhi 1911 map.jpg
Shahjahanabad: Chowk bazaar as a horizontal street in the centre of the walled city marked in the red, half-moon shaped moonlight Chandani Chowk square itself was located in front of the Municipal Hall. Equi-divided one-third sections of the road represent three bazaars, Urdu Bazaar, Johri Bazaar and Fatehpuri Bazar. c. 1911.

The term Chandni Chowk originally referred only to the square that had a reflecting pool. Now the whole straight road which runs through the middle of the walled city, from the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid is called Chandni Chowk. The road was then divided into three following bazaars: [8] [3]

Now choked with congestion, the market retains its historical character. [9]

Naughara mansions in Kinari Bazaar Naughara mansions in Kinari Bazaar.jpg
Naughara mansions in Kinari Bazaar

Kucha, katra and havelis

The road now called Chandni Chowk had several streets running off it which were called kuchas (streets/wings). Each Kucha usually had several katras (cul de sac or guild houses), which in turn had several haveli's. The following terms are generally used to describe the buildings and the streets: [9]

Some other commonly used terms are Chatta (the upper floor which arches over the street below), phatak (door, usually to a katra or street which could be locked at night), mahal (a palace, as in Taj Mahal), kamra (a room), kuan is waterwell, etc. [10]

Historic religious buildings

Lal Jain Mandir and Gauri Shankar temple in the background Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, Chandni Chowk, Delhi.jpg
Lal Jain Mandir and Gauri Shankar temple in the background

Delhi's most famous mosque, Jama Masjid, built-in 1650 in the vicinity, is near other religious shrines, belonging to multiple religions. Starting from the Red Fort, the buildings include:

Present

On both sides of the wide Chandni Chowk are historical residential areas served by narrow lanes (gali), several of which are teeming with the peddlers, street vendors, street food and bazaars.

Shops

Chawri Bazar, full of activity ChawriBazar.jpg
Chawri Bazar, full of activity
Food shop on Khari Baoli Road Chandni Chowk, 2008 (18).JPG
Food shop on Khari Baoli Road

Chandni Chowk's speciality is its variety and authenticity: food, delicacies and sweets of more than 1,000 kinds, sarees with chikan and zari. Narrow lanes host shops that sell books, clothing, electronics, consumer goods, shoes and leather goods. It is the location of the original Haldiram's and brands such as Giani's. [22] A particular local delicacy is the jalebis, which are fried in pure ghee (clarified butter).

Starting from the Red Fort end one finds the State Bank of India building. A short distance away is Bhagirath Palace Begum Samru [23] which has an intriguing history. Bhagirath Palace and the adjoining area have perhaps the biggest market in India for electrical goods, lamps and light fixtures.Also for medical essentials and related products. Dariba Kalan is the market for silver and gold jewellery. This market also offers trophies, shields, mementos and related items. At its Southern end (and close to the Jama Masjid, Delhi) is Bazaar Guliyan where about a hundred shops selling metallic and wooden statues, sculptures, bells, handicrafts are located. Nai Sarak is the wholesale market for stationery, books, paper and decorative materials. Chawri Bazar is a big market for greeting and wedding cards as well as plumbing and sanitary ware and accessories. Lal Kuan is a wholesale market for hardware and hotel kitchen equipment. Located at the western end of Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli is a street entirely dedicated to all kinds of spices, dried fruits, nuts, herbs, grains, lentils, pickles and preserves/murabbas. Tilak Bazaar is a wholesale market for industrial chemicals. The Cloth Market supplies home furnishing fabrics, including ready-made items as well as design services.

Restaurants and eateries

Chandni Chowk is home to several notable restaurants and halwais (confectioners), most well known among them is Gali Paranthe Wali. [24]

Chandni Chowk was featured in the 2001 Bollywood film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham where the leading lady Anjali (Kajol) and her sister Pooja (Kareena Kapoor) lived.

In 2008, The Bollywood movie Black & White starring Anil Kapoor, Anurag Sinha, Shefali Chhaya, and Aditi Sharma is set in Chandni Chowk.

In 2009, The Bollywood movie Chandni Chowk to China starring Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Mithun Chakraborty, and Ranvir Shorey features some scenes depicting the city. In 2009, The Bollywood movie Delhi-6 starring Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri, Atul Kulkarni and Divya Dutta had its shooting in the ancient Walled City of Old Delhi, centered around Chandni Chowk.

In 2016, The Bollywood movie Saat Uchakkey starring Manoj Bajpayee, Kay Kay Menon, Annu Kapoor, Vijay Raaz, Anupam Kher, Jatin Sarna, Aparshakti Khurana and Aditi Sharma was completely shot in and around Chandni Chowk.

In 2018, the Bollywood movie Rajma Chawal starring Amyra Dastur, Rishi Kapoor, Aparshakti Khurana, Raja Hasan, Mukesh Chhabra, Nirmal Rishi, Harish Khanna had its extensive section of the film shot in Lachu Ram Ki Haveli. [31]

In 2019, the Bollywood movie The Sky Is Pink starring Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Suresh Saraf was partially shot in Chandni Chowk as the main characters of the story, Priyanka and Farhan lived here. [32]

Redevelopment

Chandni Chowk heritage walk starts from Red Fort Red Fort DSC 0468.jpg
Chandni Chowk heritage walk starts from Red Fort
Chandni Chowk State Bank of India State Bank of India, Chandni Chowk.JPG
Chandni Chowk State Bank of India
Central Baptist Church Central Baptist Church, Delhi 02.jpg
Central Baptist Church
Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Delhi.jpg
Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib
Fatehpuri Mosque, the end of Heritage walk Fatehpuri Masjid (4143074260).jpg
Fatehpuri Mosque, the end of Heritage walk

Chandni Chowk was redeveloped as heritage trail to promote tourism getting inspiration from Heritage Street Amritsar. [33] Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, under the auspices of the Government of the NCT of Delhi, is the agency carrying out this task. The redevelopment plan includes footpaths to make the area more pedestrian-friendly for a large number of shoppers and visitors. No motorized traffic will be allowed on Chandni Chowk from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid in the day time. Roads are also planned to be decongested and some will be barricaded. People who want to come there will have to use the Ebus. The redevelopment plan was supposed to have been completed before the 2010 Commonwealth Games but has been delayed for various reasons. Delhi government is now pushing it seriously. The redevelopment plan is being implemented under Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The Plan also includes extra parking for 1500 cars.

As a part of the redevelopment, a multilevel parking cum commercial complex is coming up at Gandhi Maidan in Chandni Chowk. The project was inaugurated by Union minister of science and technology, Dr. Harshvardhan. [34]

This multilevel parking cum commercial complex would be an eight-storeyed building with three basements covering 18,524 square meter area at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore on a PPP model with a Leading Real estate developer Omaxe. The project that has a capacity to accommodate over 2,300 cars. [35]

See also

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References

Citations

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Further reading