Chandni Chowk Market guide – Tips, Tricks, and Must-Visit Shops

If you have a quintessential shopper and a foodie in you, you must have heard about Chandni Chowk. Delhi ‘s oldest and busiest market is a delight for someone who knows the art of shopping. Chandni Chowk Market shopping guide with our insider tips, discover hidden gems, and food in find the bargains in Delhi oldest market

You want to buy a saree or a piece of crockery, you want to buy the authentic Indian spices or some exclusive dry fruits, has to be your go-to place if you are in town.

Only because has something to offer to everyone, it is a chaotic place. There are days when you may not even find place to walk on the bustling streets of Chandni Chowk. BUT the charm that Chandni Chowk carries is like no other place.

This old market has retained its charm and historic value over the year. It was built in the 17th century by the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan, opposite Lal Quila and close to Fatehpuri Mosque.

There is a rather interesting story scribe in the history on how the place got its name. There was a pool at the Centre of place, that reflect the moon. Hence, it was name as Chandni Chowk or Moonlight Square.

Chandni Chowk is a shopper’s paradise in true sense. The narrow streets of Chandni Chowk have shops that are struggling for space. However, shopping at Chandni Chowk is different level of fun.

The kind of variety you get there is unmatchable and that too, at the most reasonable prices. The market is divid into several narrow streets where one can get variety of clothes, jewelry, candles, perfumes, lifestyle items, etc.

Chandni Chowk (market) History

Chandni Chowk’s history dates back to the 17th century. It was establish by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s favorite daughter Jahan Ara Begum in 1650 CE. The market originally had 1560 shops and was spread over an area which was 40 yards wide and 1520 yards long.

A pool was create to render elegance at the Centre of this square shape market. The pool’s shimmering in the moonlight was a sight to watch out for. This is exactly where the place got its name.

The shops originally were built in a half-moon shape pattern, which doesn’t exist anymore after centuries. The Chandni Chowk bazaar was famous for the silver merchants who use to trade in the market.

The pool at the Centre of the market was replace by a clock tower, also known as Ghanta Ghar, by the 1950s. Ghanta ghar is now officially referred to as the Centre of the market.

It was one of the grandest market of the country. The Mughal Imperial processions use to pass through this market until 1903, when the Delhi Durbar was organize.

Chandni Chowk is spread between the Red Fort and Lahori gate of Fatehpuri Mosque. In the old times, a canal ran through the middle of the street connecting the two places. The bazaar was divide into three sections: Urdu Bazaar, Johari Bazaar and Fatehpuri Bazaar.

• Urdu Bazaar:

The area between Lahori gate to Chowk Kotwali near Gurudwara Shish Ganj was call the Urdu Bazaar. Infact, Mirza Ghalib name the language after being inspire by this bazaar itself.

• • • Johari Bazaar:

  From Chowk Kotwali to Chandni Chowk was the area of Johari Bazaar. Here Chandni Chowk refers to the square where the reflecting pool was create.

• • Fatehpuri Bazaar:

The area between Chandni Chowk to Fatehpuri Masjid was term as Fatehpuri Bazaar.

Inside the Chandni Chowk If you are planning to visit and experience Chandni Chowk, you need at least a day’s time of your travel schedule. And you will find the place totally worth it.

Besides being a huge market, it has places of religious and historical significance too. Here are some of the religious places that attract devotees all the year round:

• • • • Jama Masjid: Delhi’s most famous Jama Masjid is of extreme importance for the followers of Islam faith. It was built in 1650 in the vicinity of Chandni Chowk.
      • Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir: As the name suggests, the temple was built for the followers of Jainism in the year 1656. A bird hospital was built along with the temple in 1929.
      • Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib: This Gurudwara depicts the victory of good over evil. Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th Sikh Guru and some of his followers including Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Dyal Das and Bhai Sati Das were execute by the Mughals in the year 1675. After capturing Delhi, which was the Mughal capital then, the Khalsa built the Gurudwara as a memorial in 1783.
      • Sunehri Masjid: Sunehri Masjid was built in 1721 in the reign of Muhammad Shah. It is believe that Nadar Shah, the Persian invader had spent several hours on top of the mosque to watch the execution of mass killing that he had order. As many as 30,000 people were kill in that katl-e-aam.
      • Fatehpuri Masjid: This mosque in was built by Fatehpuri begum, one of the queens of Shah Jahan.
    • Havelis:

  As much as is famous for its shops, eateries and religious and historical monuments, it is popular for its havelis too. Begum Shamru’s palace built in 1806 is now known as Bhagirath palace.

Some of the prominent havelis of Chandni Chowk include Khazanchi Haveli, haveli of Mirza Ghalib, Chunnamal Haveli, Haveli Naharwali, Haveli Dharmpura and Haveli Banarasi Bhavan.

Shops:

If Chandni Chowk was a person, its shops would have been its soul. houses shops of all kinds. People fond of traditional Indian dresses must travel through the lanes and by-lanes of Chandni Chowk. The cloth market supplies men, women and kids wear along with home furnishings, which are ready-made as well as design services.

There are hundreds of shops selling sarees, suits and lehengas, and the beauty is that each shop has its uniqueness in terms of the collection and the customer it attracts.

Arun Vastra Bhandar is one of the most popular shops of Chandni Chowk. It is a multistory shop that has hundreds of customers crowding the place almost throughout the day. You will find all kinds of sarees, suits and Lehengas in the shop, at a relatively affordable price.

Shopping in offers a staggering range of goodies ranging from books, clothes, electronics, shoes, leather and consumer goods.

Walking along this jostling street can get quite intimidating, so be prepare to get stun. Each area of Chandni Chowk has different markets, which are known for various things.

Nai Sadak

Nai Sadak is mainly known for books and stationery items. It is perfect for the students and bibliomaniacs who will find everything they need here, ranging from books for competitive exams to second-hand college textbooks, fiction novels and even Hindi fiction and non-fiction.

Dariba Kalan

Kinari Bazar

Bhagirath Palace

Ballimaran Market

Chor Bazaar

Eateries:

If you come to Chandni Chowk shopping hidden gems and don’t try the eateries here, your experience is incomplete. It is a home to some of the very popular restaurants and confectionaries. Because food in Chandni Chowk The Ghante wala halwai, that was establish in 1790 is still there, and serving to its loyal customers.

Natraj’s Dahi Bhalla, establish in 1940 still entice the taste buds of visitors. The jalebi wala serves the best jalebis in town, while the chaat wala, that was establish in 1923, is still famous for its fruit chaat. Moreover, The Rasmalai of Bikaner Sweet Shop and the Rabri Falooda of Gianiji Ka Falooda are still world class, even after decades.

After that The variety of parathas, that the food in Chandni Chowk Parathe waali gali offers is huge. From Aam ka paratha to bhindi ka paratha, you may end up hearing names that you may never have imagine. Although Parathe Waali Gali is a narrow lane of Chandni Chowk, it remains crowd almost throughout the day.

Fourthly The Ghee Patisa of Chainaram Halwai, established in 1948, is still unmatchable. People flock during winters for this delicacy around the shop. Similarly and The Kulhad Waale Chole Chawal of Gol Hatti are famous right from the year 1954, when the shop was establish.

How to Reach Chandni Chowk