The most famous shopping area of Delhi is Chandni Chowk. People who are addicted to shopping and have a good taste bud are also addicted of visiting Chandni Chowk regularly. This may be the sweetest definition of the place.
The market is specially famous for authentic Indian food, delicacies, sweets of over 1,000 kinds, sarees with Chikan and Zari work etc. The most famous are Parathe in Parathewali Gali, Jalebis in pure ghee, Dahi Bhalle, and of course Biryani.
Origin of Chandni Chowk
Well, it is the major street of Old Delhi and was originally called Shah Jahanabad. It runs from the Lahori Darwaza (Lahore Gate) of the Red Fort (Lal Qila) to Fatehpuri Masjid with both side residential areas served by narrow lanes. Originally there use to run a canal in the middle of the street for water supply. Moon light use to reflect on this canal and hence the name Chandni (Moonlit) came into existence.
Famous restaurants, confectioners and chats of Chandni Chowk :
- Ghantewala Halwai, established 1790
- Dahi Bhalle of Natraj, established 1940
- Kanwarji Bhagirathmal Dalbijiwallah, established mid-19th century
- Chaatwallah (famous for fruit chaat), established 1923
- Gianiji ka Falooda famous for Rabri Falooda, established 1947
- Paranthe wali Gali with paratha shops from 1875-1886
Famous mansions in Chandni Chowk :
- Begum Samru's Palace of 1806. It is now called as Bhagirath Palace.
- Naughara mansions in Kinari Bazaar. It is an 18th century Jain mansions.
- Khazanchi haveli. Khajnchi means the accountants. It was during the time of shah jahan and there is a long underground tunnel connecting the haveli to the red fort used for carrying money safely.
- Haveli of Mirza Ghalib
- Haveli of Zinat Mahal
- Chunnamal haveli
- Haksar Haveli, Bazar Sitaram, where Jawaharlal Nehru was married in 1916 to Kamla Nehru.
- Haveli Naharwali, Kucha Sadullah Khan. Former president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf was born here.
Holy spots in Chandni Chowk :
Jama Masjid is very famous in Delhi. It is Chandni Chowk. Other religious shrines at Chandni Chowk are:
- Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, established 1656
- Hindu Gauri Shankar Temple, built 1761 by Maratha general Appa Gandgadhar.
- Christian Central Baptist Church, built 1814.
- Sikh Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib
- Muslim Sunehri Masjid, built 1721
- Muslim Fatehpuri Masjid, built 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, queen of Shah Jahan.
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