Chandni Chowk is a popular market, a historical site and tourist attraction rolled into one. The place also features a rare combination of 17th century Mughal architecture with modern buildings and it is also a place where almost every shop and lane has a history often stretching back several generations.
Such is the heritage associated with the area that not one description is enough to accurately portray or highlight the essence of the place. In this iconic destination – Omaxe Chowk, the magic of Chandni Chowk will be recreated.
“Chandni Chowk is a popular market, a historical site and tourist attraction rolled into one.”
The marketplace was designed by Shah Jahan’s daughter Jahanara and legend has it that he built the market so that she could shop for all she wanted. There are 18 notified heritage buildings on the main thoroughfare of Chandni Chowk, a staggering 783 heritage structures and 325 Havelis in the area that fell under the erstwhile Shahjahanabad – the opulent planned capital city of Shah Jahan. The market was once the venue for many a royal processions that winds through its narrow lanes.
The architecture of Omaxe Chowk is such that it will blend with the landscape of Chandni Chowk and its interiors are meticulously carved with history of three centuries incorporating British, Indian and Mughal architecture.
The real Chandni Chowk which initially was just the area around the pool where the square was built slowly expanded to cover the whole area. The British replaced the pool that gave the area its name with a clock tower ‘Ghantaghar’ which was later damaged and demolished without leaving a trace. Even after decades the market still manages to retain its essence, though in places they are concealed by modern edifices there are ample signs of the ancient architecture which are visible on careful observation.
Omaxe Chowk will showcase history of the lost art, the ruined structure and the three centuries of heritage that has somewhere been lost into the bustling marketplace.
The redevelopment of Chandni Chowk will restore the lost heritage that would sustain for generations.
In an attempt to preserve and protect the heritage of Chandni Chowk, redevelopment works are underway that will provide modern solutions to problems while retaining the aesthetics and splendour of the area. Traffic flow management, no vehicle zones and moderns structures for parking and commercial activities are being planned and would soon be functional to preserve and sustain the heritage.
Omaxe Chowk is a part of the government’s Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan where a multilevel parking is coming up, accommodating 2100+ cars; and its location is such that travel via metro, road or even railway will necessitate a stopover or a glance. Will be a hard to miss destination!
