Is Chandni Chowk safe for tourists?

Yes, though it's very crowded, so keep valuables close and watch for pickpockets. A cycle rickshaw with your guide is the easiest way through the lanes, and mornings are calmer than afternoons.

Is Chandni Chowk open on Sundays?

Most of the wholesale markets close on Sunday, though the main street, its temples and many food stalls stay open. Monday to Saturday is the time to see the bazaars in full swing.

Market/Bazaar

Chandni Chowk

Old Delhi, Delhi

Delhi's oldest and most vibrant bazaar, a maze of lanes trading spices, jewellery and street food, unchanged in spirit since Mughal times.

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About Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk was laid out around 1650 as the main avenue of Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, running from the Red Fort's Lahori Gate to the Fatehpuri Masjid. Its design is credited to his daughter Jahanara, and a canal once ran down its centre; the moonlight reflected in it is said to have given the 'moonlit square' its name.

Today it's the busiest market in Old Delhi, and the lanes off it each have a speciality: Dariba Kalan for silver, Kinari Bazaar for wedding trimmings, Khari Baoli for spices, and Paranthe Wali Gali for stuffed, fried flatbreads. Along the main street stand the Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and the old Town Hall.

Chandni Chowk At A Glance

Location: Old Delhi, Delhi
Type: Market/Bazaar
Entry: Arranged by your guide on the day

Good To Know

Visiting Chandni Chowk

Is Chandni Chowk safe for tourists?: Yes, though it's very crowded, so keep valuables close and watch for pickpockets. A cycle rickshaw with your guide is the easiest way through the lanes, and mornings are calmer than afternoons.
Is Chandni Chowk open on Sundays?: Most of the wholesale markets close on Sunday, though the main street, its temples and many food stalls stay open. Monday to Saturday is the time to see the bazaars in full swing.

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