Chhatta Chowk

The Chhatta Chowk is a long passage way that contains a bazaar, or market, located in the Red Fort of Delhi, India.

Chhatta Chowk
Drawing of the Chhatta Chowk in the early 1850s, by Ghulam Ali Khan

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.

Chhatta Chowk translated into English means, "covered bazaar". Its history dates back to the 17th century. It was inspired by another marketplace which Shah Jahan had seen in Peshawar in 1646.

It is a unique example of Mughal architecture in which bazaars were typically open-air.[2] 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
  1. "Description sign of Chhatta Chowk". Wikimedia Commons. User:Vssun. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  2. Kuriakose, Anthony. "Chatta Chowk: A market for all reasons". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2014-02-08.

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