Exploring Chandni Chowk: The Heart Of Delhi

Old Delhi has seen better days, but a journey through its narrow and crowded bylanes still excites the pure-bred explorer. We went on such a journey and were not disappointed at all.

Even in today’s modern and fast-paced times, the history of this place has remained intact. But we will leave the history of the place for another post and focus only on the present-day attractions of this area.

Exploring Chandni Chowk

We begin our journey from the T-point that connects Netaji Subhash Road and Chandni Chowk Road, with the Red Fort right across the crossing. Chandni Chowk Road is basically a narrow two-way street that stretches from Lahori Gate of the Red Fort to the Fatehpuri Masjid and the best time to visit delhi is from October to March. Especially summers are scorching high touching almost 45-47 C during daytime.

There are a number of places worth visiting cramped in a small area that spans a few miles at most. The first such place was right at the point where we started.

Places to visit in Chandni Chowk

 

1. Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

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This is the best known and oldest Jain temple in India built with red sandstone. The temple houses the statues of Mahavira, Adinath, and Parasnath, three of the most revered icons in Jainism. The shrine area inside the temple is beautiful and ornate with gilded paintwork and light from lamps and candles. Visitors can enter during the morning and evening hours only.

Not only this Jain temple, Delhi have many temple to visit.

2. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib

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Barely a few hundred meters away from the Jain temple is another place of worship, Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib which is one of the nine historical Gurdwaras of Delhi built to mark the site of the beheading of the ninth Sikh guru. Guru Tegh Bahadur.

The complex even has a replica of a well from which the Guru is said to have drunk water. Visitors will surely find this to be a deeply peaceful and spiritual place amidst the hustle and bustle of the old city. And the delicious halwa served as prasad and the langar, both served free of cost, are an added bonus!

Best Food Places In Chandni Chowk

A visit to Chandni Chowk is incomplete without tasting the delicious trademark food served here. While there are many amazing places to eat here, we stick to the three most popular ones.

1. Ghantewala Sweets

Barely eighty meters from the Gurdwara stands one of the oldest sweet shops of Delhi, Ghantewala Sweets. The name of the place originates from the presence of a huge bell-tower right next to the shop. Legend has it that the sweets of this shop could weaken even the most hardened soldier’s will to fight.

The Sohan Halwa of this shop was and continues to be its most sought-after product even two hundred years later.

2.  Natraj Dahi Bhalle Wala

Do not be surprised if a blog about Old Delhi has so many eateries listed. Natraj Dahi Bhalle Wala is legendary in its own way.

While the taste may not be truly unique, the serpentine queue that lines up outside the tiny corner shop waiting to be served the delicious chaat bears ample testimony to the popularity of this humble outlet.

3. Paranthe Wali Gali

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Turn left and walk through the labyrinthine alleys and you would arrive in the famed Paranthe Wali Gali. Of the original 20 odd shops that existed in the 1960s, only 3 remain today. Nevertheless, the variety and taste would not let you miss anything. Famous people including many former Prime Ministers have dined at the shops in this lane.

4. Mirza Ghalib’s Haveli

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About a kilometer away from Parathe Wali Gali stands an old and dilapidated but recently renovated building that was once the home of renowned poet Urdu Mirza Ghalib. Now declared a heritage site by the ASI, this haveli in Ballimaran is now open to the public who can visit it for free.

The walls are adorned with a huge portrait of the poet and his couplets are hung around the side walls. It also houses many handwritten poems and a life-size replica of the poet in a realistic setting with a hookah in his hand.

Shopping Destinations in Chandni Chowk

Shopping in Chandni Chowk is a one of a kind experience and there is hardly anything that you will not find here. Clothes, books, household knickknacks, bags, shoes and electronics- name it and you are going to find it here.

If you are a book lover, or student looking for stationery items, you have to head towards Nai Sadak. You will find a wide range of fiction and non- fiction books as well as books for competitive exams from here.

On the other hand, if it is junk jewelry and costume jewelry that you are looking for, then head to Dariba Kalan. This region has some of the best shops in the city to sell handmade jewelry and the meenakari and the kundan jewelry found here are to die for. You will also get shops selling perfumes and ittar.

Chawri Bazar should be your destination for printing wedding cards in bulk, along with any other paper products that you may want. And for the actual wedding shopping, you should head towards Kinari Bazar. This narrow lane is the go to place for buying high quality lace and zardosi.

If it is electronic items you are looking for, then you should head towards Bhagirath Palace. From gadgets to light fixtures, you will get everything for your family from here.

For accessories like shoes and sunglasses, you should visit Ballimaran market and you will get them at the most affordable prices here.

Then of course, you can head towards Khari Baoli for spices, herbs, nuts and dried fruits. Fatehpuri Market is known for its eateries and you will find the best paneer and khoya in the city here. If you are a photographer looking for good deals on camera and lenses, then you have to head towards Kucha Choudhary market. Head towards Katra Neel for buying fabrics and clothes at wholesale prices. Moti Bazar is the place to be in, for buying high quality wool, but the market gets its name for the pearl shops that specialize in selling pearls of every kind.

Food at Chandni Chowk

If you want to enjoy the street food in Delhi, then there is no better place to experience it than Chandni Chowk. Some of the restaurants here are fifty to hundred years old, and have seen a lot of India’s past, since the pre- independence. People still come from far and wide to their favorite childhood joints, even though they might have moved away later.

The main streets here are the Paranthewali Gali and the kebab joints near Jama Masjid. The former has even been visited by many celebrities and the street gets its name from the paratha shops, which sell steaming parathas with dollops of butter. However, from the earlier 20 shops, only three remain functioning till now. All the paratha shops here are vegetarian, and there is no onion or garlic used in them. The stuffed paratha are to die for, potato, radish, carrot, cauliflower, paneer and many other kinds of fillings are used for them, and are served with an assortment of chutneys and pickles, with papads. The shops remain open from 9 am to 11 pm. The food here is in expensive and you can easily have parathas for two people in a mere INR 150!

Tea and paan shops selling authentic Benarasi paan are seen everywhere. Do not forget to try out the Dahi Bhalle from Natraj’s; Gianiji ka Falooda, and the jalebis from the streetside shops. Reputed confectioners like Tewari and Bhikharam also have their shops here.

History of Chandni Chowk

It is said that the foundations of Chandni Chowk were laid during the Mughal era, under the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. Chandni Chowk was supposed to be the central square of Shahjahanabad, the capital of Shah Jahan’s empire. There was a pool in the middle of the square with a fountain, and the waters reflecting the moon, which is why the square gets its name. The shops were to be arranged in the square in a half moon pattern, and it became the meeting place of traders and merchants from far away land.

It was said Shah Jahan did this so that his favorite daughter, Jahanara Begum could get whatever she wanted. The market soon became the largest market in the country and noble houses came here to buy their household goods. It was said that the market could have also got its name from Chandi, or silver, as silverware and silver jewelry from here are very famous.

Tips for Visiting Chandni Chowk

• When you go exploring Chandni Chowk, be sure to carry water as all the walking through the streets is sure to make you thirsty.
• Many shop owners here do not allow photography as they are worried that someone may copy their designs, so ask before clicking a picture.
• If you are buying footwear, wear a sandal which is easy to remove for trying on new shoes. Wear comfortable footwear for the long walks as well.
• You should also have an eye out for duplicate products, as it is easy to get tempted here for the low prices. Do not forget to bargain because some products are excessively priced just for tourists.

How to Reach Chandni Chowk:

The easiest way to access Chandni Chowk is to avail the Delhi metro and get down at Chandni Chowk metro. One can also get down at the Old Delhi Railway Station end. If you are coming with your own car, then this is where you leave it for parking. Then you can get an e- rickshaw to get to the desired lane. You can of course walk through the huge region, but try to conserve your energy. On the other hand, you can also get a bus till Darya Ganj bus stop, the nearest to Chandni Chowk. You may also book a cab from OLA and UBER to drop you.

And with this, we have covered the most important landmarks around Chandni Chowk. We have not mentioned any of the markets because that’s something we will take up in another post. And if you are planning to explore the area yourself, make sure you book a comfortable stay with OYO.

Check out the OYOs here: Hotels In Chandni Chowk

P.s. You might like these related resources:

• You Can’t Afford to Miss These Places in Your visit To Delhi
• Unusual Getaways from Delhi for Long Weekends in 2019
• 10 Novel Things To Do In Delhi