Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk Market, and shopping in New Delhi… the two will go always hand in hand. If you are shopping in New Delhi you will at some point end up in Chandni Chowk. New Delhi’s oldest and busiest market, it is defined by crowded streets and a thousand shops selling all kinds of stuff- clothes, electronics, books, furnishing….as the list is endless. One of the outstanding markets of its time, it is dotted with havelis, kuchas and gallis telling the stories of an era gone by.
MAP OF CHANDNI CHOWK MARKETS
Places to shop in the Chandni Chowk Market
- Dariba Kalan
- Nai Sadak
- Bhagirath Palace
- Katra Neel
- Chawri Bazaar
- Kinari Bazaar
- Khari Baoli
- Fatehpuri Market
- Chor Bazaar
Dariba Kalan, New Delhi
Marked with delightful jalebi shops, Dariba Kalan is where you go to apprise the jewelry box. Very beautiful silver trinkets, quality costume jewelry at affordable places, silverware for home, silver utensils for attar- that luxurious Indian perfume– stock up the shops here. This one stares straight out of Arabian Nights!
Nai Sadak, New Delhi
If Dariba Kalan appears as a wonderland, Nai Sadak brings you right back into the realm of reality with its rows of shops selling books for schools and colleges, textbooks and guides for competitive exams, and stationery supplies. And that last one you can’t repel because fresh pens and stacks of notepapers brand new labels and crisp notebooks… you just gotta have them.
Bhagirath Palace, New Delhi
When God said let there will be light, Bhagirath Palace took it quite seriously. There is not a shop in this maze of the market that doesn’t sell lighting fixtures, lamps, chandeliers, hanging lights, fairy lights, or even just basic light bulbs. It is believed to be Asia’s largest market for electrical and electronic goods. It is located in what was originally Begam Samru’s palace in Chandni Chowk. This market may seem like a catastrophe waiting to happen but if you want that chandelier, this is where you will get it.
Katra Neel, New Delhi
Katra Neel is situated near Chunna Mal ki Haveli, an old majestic mansion from the 19th century, it was originally a market for the Indigo merchants. Today it is famous for its shops selling wedding finery and jewelry. One of the first Raymond outlets was opened here and the market today prides itself on its many shops selling fine textiles, menswear, and the only whole shop for the mehndi. And you also know better that we can’t have a wedding without henna!
Chawri Bazaar, New Delhi
Chandni Chowk shopping in New Delhi usually means shopping for a wedding and that includes a wedding card. The best place to get them in all shapes and sizes and colors is Chawri Bazaar in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi. Shopping in New Delhi can get a little overwhelming but you don’t know what it really means till you have been to Chawri Bazaar- scores of shops selling invitation cards, serpentine rows of customers at the printers, etc.
Kinari Bazaar, New Delhi
Chandni Chowk shopping in New Delhi is usually aimed at stocking up for weddings, whether you want decorations, lights, spices, gifts, or a wedding trousseau. And for that last one, you make a beeline for the Kinari Bazaar. This blingy street is rife with shops selling festive textiles, zari borders, embroidered fabric, lace, fabric accessories, party favors, the fanciest varmalas and even menswear.
Khari Baoli, New Delhi
Khari Baoli is a little piece of the chef’s heaven, filled with many textures of fresh spices, vibrant colors and aromas, and the sounds of the merchants and buyers busy with the business. One of the largest spice markets in Asia, it gets its name from a saltwater step-well that was in the area once. This step-wall is gone, but the market’s legacy as a spice hub carries on, often with 9th or 10th generations of merchants.
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