The Grand Old Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk has been a place of intrigue and inspiration for artists from every field—writers, filmmakers, painters, photographers—for its fascinating history, evolving fabric and spirit of survival. Today, what is a go-to market for Dilliwalas and visitors alike, for mouth-watering street food, wedding apparel and inexpensive gadgets and contraptions, was once a great city in its own right. Shahjahanabad—the name still echoes with a wistful grandeur in the narrow alleyways—was built by Shah Jahan and served as an important cultural hub in its prime. This book is a tribute to that grand city and its evolution into the crowd-puller it has become. Swapna Liddle, whose love for history and Delhi was evident in her first book, Delhi: 14 Historic Walks, has drawn upon various sources—poetry, memoirs, newspaper reports and Mughal court documents—to narrate the poetic journey of a grand destination.