Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi, India. We visited Chandni Chowk, or Moonlight Square, designed and established by Princess Jahanara, Shah Jahan's favorite daughter, in 1650. The square-shaped bazaar was further elegantly decorated by the presence of a pool in the center of the complex. The pool sparkled in the moonlight, perhaps the source of the market's name. The shops in the complex were originally built in a crescent-shaped pattern. The bazaar developed during the reign of Shah Jahan, who was famous for his silver merchants. Chandni Chowk runs through the center of the walled city, from the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid. Originally, a canal ran down the middle of the street as part of the water supply scheme. It was initially divided into three sections: 

*From Lahori Gate to Chowk Kotwali (near Gurdwara Shish Ganj): This section closest to the imperial residence was called Urdu Bazar, meaning the market camp. The Urdu language owes its name to this camp.

* From Chowk Kotwali to Chandni Chowk: The term Chandni Chowk originally referred to the square that had a reflecting pool. It was replaced by a clock tower (Ghantaghar) that was damaged and demolished in the 1950s. This section was originally called Johri Bazar.
 
* From Chandni Chowk to Fatehpuri Masjid. 

Although Chandni Chowk appears choked with traffic today, it retains its historic character. The following terms are commonly used to describe its buildings and streets.