Chandni Chowk is the oldest and the busiest market in Delhi. Moughal Emperor Shahjahan, who earlier ruled from Agra, shifted to Delhi and built the city of Shahjahanabad and the Red Fort on the bank of river Yamuna. He also built Chandni Chowk close to the Red Fort in 1650 AD.
Chandni Chowk was designed by Jahanara, Emperor’s favorite daughter. It was in form of a square. There was also a pool just close to it. It is said that the square and the pool would shimmer in the moonlit nights. Hence it was given the name of Chandni Chowk—the moonlit square. There is also another legend about its name. The market got its name from the large number of silver—chandi- smiths who worked here.
An arcade of shops was built in the shape of a half-moon. With the passage of time, the market became a prosperous and popular trading center which spread along a wide road. As the market grew more crowded, the road branched off into many lanes and by- lanes in all directions. Although the original market square was called Chandni Chowk in the beginning, later on the whole area extending from Red Fort to Fateh Puri came to be called by this name.
Besides being a trading center, Chandni Chowk houses a number of places of worship for all religious communities, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Muslims and Christians. There are temples, gurudwaras, mosques and churches in and around Chandni Chowk. These religious places attract hordes of believers and tourists from India and abroad.
One of the most visited temples in Chandni Chowk is Sri Digamber Jain Lal Mandir. This famous temple was built during the time of Emperor Aurangzeb. It is situated exactly opposite the Red Fort, just at the beginning of the road to Chandni Chowk. The temple was built with red stones; therefore it is called Lal-red- mandir. The inner walls of the temple are covered with beautiful paintings in which real gold has been used.
A unique feature of the temple is the medical center for the birds that is housed in its premises. It is a charitable hospital for the treatment of birds. The hospital draws its inspiration from the teachings of Lord Mahavir, the twenty fourth Tirthankar of the Jains. The central message of his teachings is: Live and let live. The injured and the sick birds are given treatment here and are allowed to fly back to freedom after they are cured.