Chandni Chowk

Delhi has a perfect blend of old and the new culture. It is divided into Old Delhi and New Delhi. When it comes to Old Delhi, the most famous place is Chandni Chowk. Chandni Chowk means a moonlit square or market. Old Delhi was known as the Shah Jahanabad. This walled city includes the Red Fort and the Chandni Chowk. Mughal emperor Shahjahan established it in 1650 A.D. Jahanara; the daughter of Shahjahan designed the Chandni Chowk. Chandni Chowk runs between the Lahori get of the Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid.

Earlier, a water canal ran in between the streets of the Chandni Chowk to supply water. Chandni chowk was initially divided into three sections. The first sections consist of the area between the Lahori gate and the Chowk Kotwali which near Sheesh Ganj gurudwara. This area was known as the Urdu Bazaar and was very close to the royal residence. The market was destroyed during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The second section extends from the Chowk Kotwali to Chandni Chowk. The term Chandni chowk means a square that had a reflecting pool. Later on, the clock tower or the Ghantaghar replaced the pool. It was also known by the name of Johri Bazaar.

The third section is from Chandni Chowk to Fatehpuri Masjid and was also as the Fatehpuri Bazaar. The moonlight gets reflected from the canal and from this the Chandni Chowk got its name. Chandni chowk was one of the biggest Market place in India.

The feel of Mughal architecture can still be seen in the congested areas of the Chandni Chowk. The chandni Chowk is surrounded by the historic residential area with narrow streets. The most famous mosque in India, the Jama Masjid lies in the vicinity of the Chandni chowk and was built in year 1644. The street has many religious shrines of different regions and reflects the cultural harmony of India.

The Chandni Chowk is also famous for the Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir which was built in 1656. The place also holds many historic shrines like Christian Central Baptist Church, Gauri Shankar Temple. The Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib is famous for the execution of the 9th Sikh guru- Guru Teg Bahadur and his many followers by the Mughals. Chandni Chowk is also famous for its food. The Paranthe wali gali is famous for its delicious paranthas and attract foreigners.