Chandni Chowk Market, Street market in Old Delhi, India
The Marché de Chandni Chowk is a large street market in Old Delhi, made up of a web of narrow lanes and small shops packed closely together. Each lane tends to focus on a specific type of goods, from spices and silver jewelry to fabrics and wedding accessories.
The market was laid out around 1650 under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, with his daughter Princess Jahanara Begum overseeing its planning. At its center stood a pool that reflected moonlight on the water, which gave the place its name.
The lanes of Chandni Chowk each carry a name tied to their trade: Dariba Kalan for jewelry, Khari Baoli for spices, Kinari Bazaar for wedding trimmings. Walking through them, you can see how family-run shops and old crafts have continued across generations without much change.
The market is best explored on foot since the lanes are too narrow for vehicles to pass through easily. Going in the morning before midday helps avoid the densest crowds, and wearing comfortable shoes makes the walk much easier.
Khari Baoli, at the western end of the market, is considered the largest wholesale spice market in Asia. The name of the whole market, meaning 'moonlit square' in Hindi, comes from that long-gone pool at its center, which no longer exists today.
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