Chandni Chowk is an important commercial hub of puraani dilli and gets its name from the pool which was built close to the square designed by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan’s daughter Jahanara. The pool used to shimmer during the moonlit, full moon nights and was thus called ‘Chandni’ which means ‘moonlight’ and ‘Chowk’ which means ‘Square’.
Chandni Chowk is the oldest and the busiest market in Dilli. Emperor Shahjahan, who earlier ruled from Agra, shifted to Dilli and built the city of Shahjahanabad and the Red Fort on the bank of river Yamuna. He also built Chandni Chowk close to the Red Fort in 1650.
The other reason it’s called ‘Chandni Chowk’ is because many gold and silver jewelers used to run form this market due to its close proximity to the Emperor’s residence.
An arcade of shops was built in the shape of a half-moon. However with the passage of time, the market became a prosperous and popular trading center which spread along a wide road. As the market grew more crowded, the road branched off into many lanes and by- lanes in all directions. Although the original market square was called Chandni Chowk in the beginning, later on the area extending from Red Fort to Fateh Puri came to be called by this name.
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