A Walk Around Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid

Chandni Chowk is the central street of the imperial city of Shahjahanabad, founded in the mid-seventeenth century. The street runs from opposite the western entrance to the Red Fort, right down the breadth of the original walled city to Fatehpuri mosque. The name Chandni Chowk was originally applied only to one of the squares located on the street which had a large ornamental pool that refl ected the moonlight (chandni). The street has changed considerably over the centuries. Originally much wider, right until the mid-nineteenth century it had a channel of water running down its centre, and shady trees on either side. Today this is a busy commercial street, narrower and much more crowded than ever before in its history, but with many historic landmarks still remaining