_0_1200.jpg)
From a copy of Sabyasachi or Manish Malhotra wedding attire to spices to electronic items, you name it and get it. Yes, this is what the Chandni Chowk market is all about. Many of you would be aware of this three-century-old market in Delhi; there are many reasons for knowing about Chandni Chowk. If you are not familiar with this place, one shopaholic will help other shopaholics know everything about Chandni Chowk Delhi. Here is your guide to the most prominent and busiest shopping market in Delhi. Also, we have talked about imapct of redevelopment of market on Chandni Chowk real estate.
Impact of Redevelopment of Chandni Chowk on Real Estate Growth
Redevelopment of Chandni Chowk has opened many options for real estate investors, also it has restored its lost glory as the country's most famous commercial market. For years before the revamp of the market this locality has remained entangled in overhead wires, aged buildings, broken roads, cluttered walkways, and traffic jams. The new look of the market is going to attract many more commercial investors. One of the reasons why it is a great investment place is the rare combination of high returns and low risks for investors. As per the reports the rent of commercial properties have increased 32 percent year-on-year to 4.39 million sq. ft. during the April- June period in 2022. In the coming years, Chandni Chowk Delhi will cater around 40 lakh serious shoppers.
Omaxe Group has launched one of Asia's largest wholesale markets named Omaxe Chowk. This multi level space is strategically located near to Chandni Chowk Metro Station. Price of commercial shops in Omaxe Chowks starts from Rs 65 lakh and the minimum size offered is 550 sq ft.
History of Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk is located in Old Delhi, or in Delhi's dialect Purani Dilli. Old Delhi lies in the North-East part of the city. Mughal emperor Shahjahan built this oldest and busiest market in the 17th century and called it Moonlight Square. Jahan Ara Begum, the favourite daughter of Shah Jahan, designed the Chandni Chowk market. Chandni Chowk was initially built in a half-moon square shape, and the moon's reflection was used to light the water pool in front of it. This pond was located in front of the Town Hall. Until the 1950s, the pond remained near the clock tower.
In earlier days, the market gained popularity among silver traders. Many merchants came from different parts of countries like China, Denver, Turkey and many more to trade in silver here. This is the reason why Chandni Chowk is also sometimes known as 'Silver Street' in English.
Places to Visit Near Me From Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk market is a hotspot for clothes, books, jewellery, spices and many other items. You can find almost anything you need, and that too at a price which will not burn a hole in your pocket. You also have many scrumptious food options when shopping here. The following are key tourist attractions in Chandni Chowk.
-
Red Fort- The Red Fort, also called Lal Qila, is near Chandni Chowk. Once, Red Fort served as the principal residence for Mughal Emperors. Its construction started in 1638 when Shah Jahan decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi.
-
Urdu Park- Urdu park, also known as Lahori Gate, is a vast park between Jama Masjid and Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib. It is a lush green park which provides space for local professionals like body masseuses, ear cleaners, head massagers etc., to offer services to visitors in the park. You can visit the park throughout the week in the daytime.
-
Jama Masjid- Masjid-i Jehan-Numa is one of India's oldest and biggest mosques. It can occupy 25,000 devotees in its courtyard. Shah Jahan built this mosque in 1656, just 200 metres from the Chandni Chowk market. A Muslim visitor can visit the mosque between 7 AM to 12 PM and 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM, whereas non-muslims can see it between 8 AM to half an hour before sunset.
-
Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir- Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest Jain temple in Delhi. It is situated opposite Red Fort, which makes it easy to locate. The temple is dedicated to 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanath, whereas it has figurines of Parshvanath, Lord Mahavir, Rishabhdev and others. It is also known as Lal Mandir, owing to its colour red. It is built of red sandstone. A devotee can visit it from 6 AM to 12 noon and from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
-
Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib- One of the nine historical gurudwaras situated in the country. The gurudwara was established in 1783 by Baghel Singh to mark the martyrdom of the Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur. Anyone can visit this gurudwara throughout the week, it is open for 24 hours, and langar is also offered.
Chandni Chowk Markets
In Chandni Chowk, you can shop for almost everything, and dedicated streets/markets specialise in particular items. Most outlets are wholesale shops and hence offer the most economical prices. Following are the different markets in Chandni Chowk Delhi.
-
Kinari Bazaar- This is the best market to shop for wedding items. From decoration items for wedding functions like sangeet, Mehandi etc., you will find the fanciest varmalas, borders for clothing items, trimming and tinsels, and other textiles. We are sure you will love this market if you have a wedding at home or are going to attend one.
_0_1200.jpg)
-
Chawri Bazaar- Looking to buy a wedding card? Then this is the place for you. You will get a wide variety of wedding cards which start from Rs 10 and go up to even lakhs. Customise a card as per your choice, size and shape. Apart from this, you can find several printing shops as well.
-
Nai Sarak- Nai Sarak houses books for school, college, or any competitive exam. Also, numerous stationery shops are available in the market. A buyer can purchase a product in resale or wholesale. Besides educational books, you will also find fictional and nonfiction books at Nai Sarak.
-
Dariba Kalan- Darbi Kalan is a market famous for jewellery, from necklaces, earrings, bangles, nose pins, etc. The market is famous for silver jewellery. However, you can get gold and diamond jewellery as well. Other things which you will find in the market are silver utensils and silverware for households at an affordable price. You can also find Indian perfumes called Itar.
-
Khari Baoli- This is the biggest spice market in Asia. It is a famous spice market which sells daily use spices like cardamom, cloves, turmeric, jeera, mirch etc. It also sells fresh herbs like retha, gold varq, silver varq, Kesar and plum. You can get almost any type of spices or dry fruits here.
-
Bhagirath Palace- Bhagirath Palace is popularly known as the market of lights. All the shops in the market sell chandeliers, lamps, light bulbs, lighting fixtures, and hanging lights. Formerly, Bhagirath Palace was the palace of Begum Samru.
-
Fatehpuri Market- You will find numerous shops that sell milk-based products like Khoya and Paneer in wholesale. Besides this, you can also find other products like clothes, fruits, wedding stuff and prayer accompaniments in this market.
-
Ballimaran Market- Ballimaran Market is famous for its affordable shoe market. You can find all types of shoes and sandals in this market. Also, you can find various frames of sunglasses and eyewear at very cheap rates.
-
Chor Bazaar- It is an exciting place to visit if you are visiting Chandni Chowk Delhi. You will find very low prices for second-hand products like cameras, phones, shoes, gym equipment, and branded clothes. If you find scope for more bargaining, you can go ahead because there are no boundaries! Remember to visit the market early in the morning, like 6 AM.
-
Katra Neel: Another famous market of Chandni Chowk is Katra Neel. In old times it was famous for Indigo cloth traders. In this market, you can get all fabrics like cotton, brocade, silk, crepe, georgette and satin. Also, you will find many shops which sell designer suits, lehengas and Indo western dresses. If you plan to make an outfit from scratch, you must visit this market.
-
Kucha Choudhary Market: A market that opened in the mid-1970s, is famous as a photo market. It’s a camera haven for budding and professional photographers. Whether you want a vintage camera, a polaroid or a high-tech DSLR, this is the place for you. With cameras, you can also find the best accessories at Kucha Choudhary Market.
-
Krishna Market: Ladies suits, fabric market, salwar kameez, and so much more, Krishna Market comprises varied shops. Ladies line up here especially to buy trendy suits. No matter what the occasion, Krishna Market can provide you with the best stitched or unstitched suits. Boutique owners and tailors also prefer this market for buying suits.
_80_120.jpg)
Real Estate Landscape of Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk is located at a very strategic location in North-East Delhi. The area is well connected to various places in central Delhi as Connaught Place, Daryaganj, IP Estate, Karol Bagh, Minto Road, Paharganj, Patel Nagar, Pragati Maidan, Rajender Nagar and others. Chandni Chowk is known for its commercial units. However, there are a few residential units as well.
In Chandni Chowk, the most commonly available configuration of residential spaces is 2 BHK. However, 45% are commercial shops which are available for rent and sale.
Price Range of Properties in Chandni Chowk
The pie chart shows the price range of properties in Chandni Chowk:-
Omaxe Chandni Chowk
Omaxe Chandni Chowk is a skillfully designed Asia’s largest wholesale market. This is one of the most significant developments in Chandni Chowk. It is a 22-metre high building spread over around 3.6 lakh sq. ft. space for retail and 1.25 lakh sq. ft. for food and beverages. In this complex, you can buy an office or shop space between a price range of Rs. 46 Lac and Rs. 3. 45 Crore. The exact address of Omaxe Mall Chandni Chowk is 138 Kaccha Bagh Area, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006.
_0_1200.jpg)
Renovation of Chandni Chowk
Recently, Chandni Chowk has got a new look with red sandstone tiles, more trees and colourful pots. In the first phase, beautification was carried out from Red Fort’s Lahori Gate to the Fatehpuri Masjid. A stretch of 1.3 km. No vehicle, including electric rickshaws, can operate from 9 AM to 9 PM. During market hours, only manually peddled vehicles are allowed. Around 124 CCTV cameras are installed in this area. All the dangling wires have been fitted underground, which obstructed the Skyview of the area. A pedestrian path of about 2.5 metres has been constructed for people to walk on.
The renovation and beautification work was started in 2018 by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) and Delhi’s Public Works Department (PWD). According to sources, the total renovation cost of phase I is Rs 99 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia held a meeting with officials of various departments for the facelift of Chandni Chowk. In the second phase, the government aims to revive and beautify the historical architectural character of buildings. In a statement released by Manish Sisodia, he mentioned that the project includes conservation of heritage structures as per original material and construction techniques, structural retrofitting, restoration and unification of facade of heritage structures, colour and signage scheme for shops, lighting and facade illumination of shops and buildings.
_0_1200.jpg)
Watch the video of Chandni Chowk’s revamp
Comparison of Chandni Chowk with Similar Localities
If a person wants to start a business, Chandni Chowk is the first name that comes to mind. Now that this locality has been redeveloped, more people wish to invest here. Here is a comparison of Chandni Chowk with other major commercial localities of Delhi.
| Particulars |
Chandni Chowk |
Connaught Place |
Kamla Nagar |
Karol Bagh |
| Price of Commercial Shop |
Rs 92,581 per sq ft |
Rs 32,954 per sq ft |
Rs 16000-Rs 65,000 sq ft |
Rs 13,647 per sq ft |
| Residential Property Price |
House (Rs 5,747-65,421 per sq ft) |
Flats (Rs 35,556-63,771 per sq ft) |
Flats (Rs 4231- 16,667 per sq ft) |
Builder floor (Rs 11,672 per sq ft) |
| Metro Station |
Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line) and Lal Qila (Violet Line) |
Rajeev Chowk (Blue Line) |
Vishwavidalaya (Yellow Line) |
Karol Bagh (Blue Line) |
| Nearest Railway Station |
Old Delhi Railway station is 2 km |
New Delhi Railway Station is 2.4 km |
Sarai Rohilla Railway is 2 km |
Sarai Rohilla Railway Station and Kishanganj Railway Station are 1 km away |
Top 10 Eating Spots in Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk has served mouthwatering food for ages. While the rest of Delhi is busy spurring aesthetically lovely cafes, Chandni Chowk market proudly owns small stalls and kiosks. All the foodies out there, you should try these top 10 eating spots for sure.
-
Parathe Wali Gali: Chandni Chowk is famous for its Parathe Wali Gali; it is a street where you will get many shops selling more than 100 varieties of Paratha. It is a wholesome meal in itself, plus it is budget-friendly too.
-
Natraj Dahi Bhalle: A shop selling Dahi Bhalles since the 1940s. It is one of the best shops selling this dish in town.
-
Lala Babu Chaat Bhandaar: If you are a chaat lover, you must visit this authentic Chaat seller. Along with Aloo Tikka, you must also try their cauliflower peas samosa.
-
Karim's: Karim's has been serving delicious non-vegetarian dishes for ages all over the Delhi NCR. However, the original Karim is at Chandni Chowk and is a must-eat place for non-veg lovers.
-
Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale: You will get to taste different varieties of Kulfi here, and we bet this place serves the best Kulfi in Chandni Chowk.
_0_1200.jpg)
-
Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala: The people of Chandni Chowk generally have kachori sabji as their breakfast. You must try this place if you love eating crisp kachoris with aloo sabzi.
-
Meghraj and Sons: Jalebis of Meghraj and Sons are irresistible, and the USP of the shop is that it cooks jalebis in desi ghee. It is a guilty pleasure, and you will thank us later!
-
Amritsari Lassi Wala: To keep you hydrated, you can find the Amritsari Lassi Wala. This delicious drink will pamper your taste and work as a wholesome meal.
-
Giani Di Hatti: If you are in Chandni Chowk and do not eat Chole Bhature at Giani di Hatti, your trip will be wasted. You can end it with faluda topped with creamy rabri.
-
Kake Di Hatti: You must try the oversized lip-smacking naans from Kake Di Hatti. It is an iconic Dhaba which always lives up to its reputation for good food.
Religious Places in Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk is a bustling and busy market in Delhi, but it also has some religious and sacred places in those busy lanes. Here is a list of some religious places in Chandni Chowk market:-
-
Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir: This temple is influenced by many religions like Hinduism, Islam and Jainism. The temple was built on the orders of Shah Jahan when he invited some Jain merchants to stay in the city. It is one of the oldest and most well-known places of worship for Jains in Delhi.
-
Gauri Shankar Temple: Gauri Shankar is located adjacent to Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir. This temple has an old structure which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The structure was built by a Maratha soldier. Legends say that temple is situated from the time of Mahabharta and has seen Yudhisthira worship.
-
Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib: Built in 1783, Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib stands tall as resistance of Sikh to the Mughal Empire. It marks the site where the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded. He was beheaded on the orders of the emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam.
Some of the other religious places are Jama Masjid, Sunheri Golden Mosque, Central Baptist Church, and Fatehpuri Mosque.
Days and Timing to Visit Chandni Chowk Market
Chandi Chowk market is open on all days except Sundays. You can visit this market from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Also, the market remains closed on national holidays and festivals like Janmashtami, Diwali, Eid etc.
Best Seasons to Visit Chandni Chowk
Spring, autumn and winter are the best times to visit Chandni Chowk Delhi. The scorching heat can put the brakes on your shopping spree in summer. So make your plans between October to March.
How to Reach Chandni Chowk: Nearest Metro Station
Chandni Chowk can be easily reached by various modes of transportation.
-
Metro: To reach Chandni Chowk, you can take either the yellow metro line or the violet metro line. If you take the yellow line metro, deboard at Chandni Chowk Metro station; if you take the violet line, then deboard at Lal Qila metro station. You can easily walk or take an electric rickshaw from these metro stations.
-
Auto/taxi service: You can use an auto or Ola/Uber from any part of the city to reach the Chandni Chowk market.
-
Bus: There are various DTC buses which go to Chandni Chowk from different parts of the city. These are bus numbers which you can take 138, 442, ML-96, ML-11, 567, 861A, 753 and 159.
Guide Availability at the Chandni Chowk Market
You can hire a guide if you have never been to the Chandni Chowk market. It's a common misconception that only foreigners hire guides in India. But no, Indians also hire guides to make the best of their shopping and sightseeing experience at Chandni Chowk. An advantage of hiring a guide is that they will take you to the best shops and eateries. Since they are familiar with the area, they can also help you get discounts at a few places.
Chandi Chowk’s Bollywood Connection
Chandni Chowk is Delhi’s heritage market - from incredible monuments to narrow roads, it makes you travel back in time. So much so that our Bollywood directors have scripted their movies based on the Chandni Chowk market. Here is a list of a few films shot in this unique locality.
-
Bajrangi Bhaijaan: The movie starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor shows the couple roaming around different parts of Chandni Chowk market. The romantic number ‘Tu Chaiye’ from the movie is shot in the busy streets of Chandni Chowk.
-
Band Baaja Baaraat: Shruti (Anushka Sharma) was seen in Kinari Bazaar looking for wedding decors.
-
Delhi-6: Delhi-6 starring Abhishek Bacchan and Sonam Kapoor, gives a relatively great view of Chandni Chowk.
-
Chandni Chowk to China: Another movie which is based on Chandni Chowk. This movie starring Akshay Kumar is purely based on this locality.
Black and White, PK, Kurbaan and many more movies are shot in this area. Many TV soap operas show the Chandni Chowk area too.
Chandni Chowk Multi-Level Car Parking
As a redevelopment project, the Government of Delhi has constructed multi-level parking in Chandni Chowk to resolve the issue of traffic jams. In the market, there is no parking area due to which a lot of congestion is faced. Considering this, the government decided to construct multi-level car parking. After missing several deadlines, the multilevel parking will be operational from August end. A private builder built a six-storey structure at the former Gandhi Maidan.
Out of three underground levels, one level will be reserved for commercial use. This parking will be able to accommodate 2300 vehicles.
The multilevel parking in this historically important area is being developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) model. We have directed the officials to expedite the remaining work. MCD’s project will help in solving the parking crisis in the area while making the Chandni Chowk commercial hub more accessible,” said Mayor Oberoi.
Tips to Keep in Mind While Visiting Chandni Chowk
When you are visiting Chandni Chowk market, you need to take care of these mindful tips:-
-
To keep yourself hydrated on the chaotic streets of Chandni Chowk Delhi, carry water bottles.
-
Always ask for permission from the shopkeeper before taking a picture. Many shopkeepers do not allow photography because of the copyright of designs.
-
Beware of pocket pickers and bag snatchers in the market. Keep your belongings with utmost care.
-
Check the genuineness of the product before buying it.
-
To get the best deal, bargain well, as there is no boundary for bargaining.
Chandni Chowk Delhi: Interesting Facts
Here are some amazing facts that one must know about Chandni Chowk Delhi:
-
World-famous Chandni Chowk Delhi is designed by Princess Jahanara Begum, the emperor's favourite daughter.
-
Chandni Chowk gets its name from old canals, reflecting the beauty of moonlight.
-
The name of the place/market is also inspired by silver merchants, who used to visit the marketplace often.
-
Chandni Chowk has been a focal point in various Bollywood films and TV shows across India.
-
The famous vegetarian food outlet Haldiram started its business from Chandni Chowk. It now has hundreds of outlets across India and globally.
-
Chandni Chowk celebrates diversity; it comprises many places of worship for different religions.
Top Things to Do In Chandni Chowk Delhi
Here are a few things you can do when visiting Chandni Chowk locality in Delhi.
-
Taste the Street Food: Enjoying delicious cuisines from roadside food outlets is one of the major things you should do when going to Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Some of the major outlets include Natraj Dahi Bhalla Corner, Karim, Old Famous Jalebi Wala, and Shiv Mishthan Bhandar.
-
Shop for Designer Outfits: There are a wide range of designer outfits available in the locality that you can shop for. Even if you don’t buy, these designer clothes stores in the locality are worth visiting.
-
Take a Glimpse of Jewellery: If you need to buy jewellery, Dariba Kalan in Chandni Chowk is one of the best markets you can go to to get genuine gold and silver jewellery pieces. You can take a walk and find costume jewellery as well if you don't want to spend on real jewellery.
-
Visit Religious Sites: There are various religious sites located in Chandni Chowk, such as Jama Masjid, Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Gauri Shankar Temple, Shri Jain Meru Mandir, etc., where you can visit and pay respects.
-
Enjoy Gorgeous View of Delhi: Jama Masjid, one of the famous mosques located in Delhi does not allow women to enter. However, they can enter the grounds and climb a few steps to get to the top of the building. A beautiful view of the entire Delhi city can be seen from here. Do not forget to enjoy the same when visiting Chandni Chowk.
Bhagirath Palace in Chandni Chowk
One of the oldest markets located inside the popular retail hub Chandni Chowk is the famous Bhagirath Palace. Established in the 1950s, the market is known for its sales of electrical items. It is the one-stop destination for anyone looking for electronics, be it light switches, chandeliers, smartphones, chargers or even a simple wire- Bhagirath Palace has it all.
Once you enter Chandni Chowk from Red Fort in Old Delhi, walk through the narrow lanes of the retail destination to enter the Bhagirath Palace Bijli market.
The building, which is now worn out, once was a palace belonging to Begum Samru. Begum presided over a mercenary army of not just Indians but also Europeans in the 18th century.
The historical palace has now turned into the most iconic wholesale electronics market. The palace was purchased by businessman Seth Bhagirath Mal, who renamed it Bhagirath Palace. There is no historical record about how the palace was turned into a wholesale market. However, visitors can visit Bhagirath Palace in Chandni Chowk to get all types of electronics.
Summing Up: Chandni Chowk Market
Chandni Chowk is the first name that pops up when anybody talks about old Delhi. Situated in the North-East part of Delhi, this is the oldest and most significant market for wholesale products. You can find anything here, be it wedding attire, jewellery, decorative lights, camera, spices, etc. Another not to miss aspect of this market is its finger-licking food. Another factor which increases the market's footfall is easy connectivity. Take a metro, bus or an autorickshaw to reach here. We hope this guide will help you plan your trip to the Chandni Chowk market.
| Also Read |
||
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
