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The
antiquity of the main market area of Chandni
Chowk has rendered it a venerated place
in the markets of Delhi. It is said that
it was once lined with beautiful fountains.
However, with time, it grew as crowded as
it is today. Situated opposite the Red Fort,
Chandani Chowk houses the Digambar Jain
Temple, Fatehpuri Mosque - built by the
wives of Shah Jahan - and Sunheri Masjid.
It was from here that the
troops of Nadir Shah started their mission
of plundering and massacring the 'infidels'
at Delhi. One of the most prominent wholesale
and retail markets of India, Chandni Chowk
is more than 300 years old. It was established
in 1650, when Mughal Emperor Shahjahan shifted
his capital from Agra to Delhi, as an accompaniment
to the fort. Jahanara, the Emperor's favorite
daughter, is credited with designing this
market, where an arcade of shops was built
in a half-moon shape around a pool.
It soon budded into a prosperous
trading center and branched into a number
of by-lanes and soon stretched from the
Fort to Fatehpuri Mosque. A canal known
as Faiz Nahar, renovated by Ali Mardan Khan,
is said to have run through the entire length
of Chandni Chowk, providing water for both
drinking and irrigation, but it went into
disuse later. Besides the Red Fort situated
nearby, one can also visit the famous Chawri
Bazaar.
It is one of the narrowest,
busiest and most prosperous trading centers
of Delhi, dealing in iron and hardware,
paper, utensils of brass, copper and stainless
steel. You can see traditional framework
of Chandni Chowk consisting of 'Havelis',
'Kuchas' & 'Katras'. Visit the seven
major Hindu and Jain temples, two Churches,
three Mosques and two Gurudwaras in the
area. These places of worship include Sri
Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, Jama Masjid, Gurudwara
Shish Ganj, Gauri Shankar temple and Sunahari
Masjid.
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