Chandni Chowk – The Ancient Heart Of Delhi

Chandni Chowk is one of the busiest and oldest markets in Old Delhi. Located close to Red Fort and the Old Delhi Railway Station, this market receives numerous tourists every day. The name (Chandni Chowk) can be translated as Moonlight Square.

The market got its name from the center pool that was built to reflect the moonlight at night. Today, a clock tower stands in its location. 

How to reach? 

The easiest way to reach the market is through the metro. From the metro station, you can hire auto to reach the market. The Chandni Chowk station is the nearest metro station to the market.

Once inside the market, you can easily scale the place on foot. You can find taxis, autos and buses from many parts of the city to the market. From Old Delhi Railway Station, the market is just 2 km away. The Indira Gandhi International airport is 21 km away from the market.  

Things to buy 

This market attracted merchants from different parts of the world during ancient times. This market is still known for its collection of silver, natural perfume, pearls, gold and others. 

The market is divided into different lanes and sectors- each famous for specific item. 

a) Gulab Singh Johri Mal – attar (perfume) 

b) Khari Baoli – Spice, dried fruits, herbs, nuts and others. You can find many exotic items like dried mulberry and others 

c) Katra Neel – Cloth bazaar for muslin, cotton, satin, silk, crepe and others 

d) Bhagirath Palace – Electronic goods, medical equipment, allopathic medicine 

e) Moti Bazaar – pearls and shawls 

f) NaiSarak – Book stores, stationery items and others 

g) ChhattaChowk – semi-precious jewels, embroidery bags, wall hangings, antiques and others 

h) Dariba Kalan – A lane dedicated for jewelry, silver articles, utensils and perfumes. 

i) Kucha Choudhary Market – This region is the solution for all photo needs. Starting from vintage camera to accessories, you can find everything related to camera here. 

j) Ballimaran Market – Famous for eyewear, frames and others. 

k) Chawri Bazaar – famous for street food, invitations, crockeries and others. 

l) Kinari Bazaar – fabrics and street food

m) Fatehpuri market – street food     

Best time to visit 

If you are planning to enjoy street food along with shopping, evenings are the best time to visit the market. It will be very crowded during this time of the day and during weekends. If you are looking for a lazy shopping experience, choose afternoon or weekday mornings. 

Delhi’s tourism season starts in October and ends in March. During this season, you can find many new souvenirs and articles at display.Always haggle before you buy. The market is filled with authentic goods and cheap alternatives. Bring a local with you to learn about the product to understand its authenticity.  

What to eat? 

Street food is very popular here. Make sure to choose hygienic stalls to eat. 

Top delicacies to try here are 

a) Chat items

 b) Parathas 

c) Kulfi 

d) Kachoris 

e) Jalebi 

f) Lassi 

g) Dahibhalla 

Religious places in ChandniChowk 

You can find a few temples and religious places inside the market. 

a) Jama Masjid 

b) Sunehri Masjid 

c) Gurudwara Shish Ganj

d) Gauri Shankar Temple 

e) Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir