Chhatta Chowk
Coordinates: 28°39′21″N 77°14′21″E / 28.655847°N 77.239261°E
The Chhatta Chowk (transl. Covered Bazaar) is a long passage way that contains a bazaar, or market, located in the Red Fort of Delhi, India.
The Chhatta Chowk is located behind the Lahori Gate and is set within an arched passage. It is lined with two-story flats that contain 32 arched bays serving as shops. During Shah Jahan's reign, the Chhatta Chowk was very exclusive, specializing in trading goods such as silk, brocades, velvet, gold, silverware, jewellery, gems and precious stones,[1] catering to the luxurious tastes of imperial households.
Its history dates back to the 17th century. It was inspired by another marketplace which Shah Jahan had seen in Peshawar in 1646.[2]
It is a unique example of Mughal architecture in which bazaars were typically open-air.[3] As such, the bazaar was formerly known as Bazaar-i-Musaqaf, with a saqaf, meaning "roof".[1]
The arches were walled up in the 20th century and the passage thus lost its original appearance. The ceiling was also originally painted in colours. There are plans to restore the bazaar.
References[]
- ^ a b "Description sign of Chhatta Chowk". Wikimedia Commons. User:Vssun. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ Asher, Catherine B. (1992-09-24). Architecture of Mughal India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 193–194. ISBN 978-0-521-26728-1.
- ^ Kuriakose, Anthony. "Chatta Chowk: A market for all reasons". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
External links[]
Media related to Chhatta Chowk at Wikimedia Commons
- TNN (2003-08-31). "Chatta Bazar, a sore point in Red Fort". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
- Red Fort
- Retail markets in Delhi