Khari Baoli
Encyclopedia
Khari Baoli is a street in Old Delhi
, India
known for its wholesale
grocery and Asia
’s largest wholesale spice market selling all kinds of spices, nuts and herbs. Operating since the 17th century, the market is situated near the historic Delhi Red Fort, on the Khari Baoli Road adjacent to Fatehpuri Masjid
at the western end of the Chandni Chowk
, and over the years has remained a tourist attraction, especially those in the heritage circuit of Old Delhi.
, which was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan
's wives. It was during his reign that the Khari Baoli, with Baoli, meaning the step well, and Khari and Khara meaning Salty, thus it was salty water stepwell used for animals and for bathing. It was constructed along with a fortified gateway on its western end popularly known as Lahori Gate, one of the 14 gates that Fortified city of Delhi or Shahjahanabad, named so because a road through it led to the city of Lahore
, now in Pakistan. However, today there is no trace of either the Baoli or the gateway here, which now lies buried under the main road of the market.
In 1936, Chowdhary Chhotu Ram, a minister in the Punjab
Government made a law which cancelled all the debts of the villagers, thus numerous Agrawal
traders lost business and migrated to Delhi and settled in colonies like Kamla Nagar
, Shakti Nagar and Model Basti, and took their trade took around the walled city areas of Old Delhi
, especially Chandni Chowk
, Khari Baoli, Dariba Kalan, Nai Sarak, Naya Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar
and Chowri Bazaar.
Here many shops are still known by their serial numbers eg "Chawal Wale 13" or "21 Number Ki Dookan", and are run by the ninth or tenth generation of the founders, who started these establishments, way back in the 17th and 18th century.
’s largest wholesale spice market. Today, Kari Baoli is not only Asia's largest spice market but also an important and busy commercial district, as it caters to vast spice market of North India
, including states of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and even as far as Madhya Pradesh
, making it perpetually crowded with traders, and shoppers looking cheapest deals and bargains, in the narrow margin spice, dry fruits and other perishable commodity market.
The other end of Khari Baoli market is on the GB Road (Red light district and whole sale market for engineering goods) and Sadar Bazar (wholesale market for non branded consumer goods).
Old Delhi
Old Delhi , walled city of Delhi, India, was founded as Shahjahanabad by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1639. It remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
known for its wholesale
Wholesale marketing
The consumption and production of marketed food are spatially separated. Production is primarily in rural areas whilst consumption is in urban areas. Agricultural marketing is the process that overcomes this separation, allowing produce to be moved from an area of surplus to one of need...
grocery and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
’s largest wholesale spice market selling all kinds of spices, nuts and herbs. Operating since the 17th century, the market is situated near the historic Delhi Red Fort, on the Khari Baoli Road adjacent to Fatehpuri Masjid
Fatehpuri Masjid
Fatehpuri Masjid is a 17th-century mosque located at the western end of the oldest street of Delhi, Chandni Chowk. It thus counterbalances the Red Fort on the opposite end of Chandni Chowk...
at the western end of the Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk , originally meaning moonlit square or market, is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, now in central north Delhi, India...
, and over the years has remained a tourist attraction, especially those in the heritage circuit of Old Delhi.
History
The market came up around, the Fatehpuri MasjidFatehpuri Masjid
Fatehpuri Masjid is a 17th-century mosque located at the western end of the oldest street of Delhi, Chandni Chowk. It thus counterbalances the Red Fort on the opposite end of Chandni Chowk...
, which was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
's wives. It was during his reign that the Khari Baoli, with Baoli, meaning the step well, and Khari and Khara meaning Salty, thus it was salty water stepwell used for animals and for bathing. It was constructed along with a fortified gateway on its western end popularly known as Lahori Gate, one of the 14 gates that Fortified city of Delhi or Shahjahanabad, named so because a road through it led to the city of Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, now in Pakistan. However, today there is no trace of either the Baoli or the gateway here, which now lies buried under the main road of the market.
In 1936, Chowdhary Chhotu Ram, a minister in the Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
Government made a law which cancelled all the debts of the villagers, thus numerous Agrawal
Agrawal
Agrawal or Agarwal is a large and influential community in India. Agrawals are Kshatriya by birth of the Solar Dynasty but after the adoption of Vanika dharma by king Agrasena, Agrawals started dealing in business...
traders lost business and migrated to Delhi and settled in colonies like Kamla Nagar
Kamla Nagar
Kamla Nagar is a neighbourhood of Delhi, in the North Delhi district of Delhi. Today it is also one of its major shopping centres.It is situated next to the North Campus, University of Delhi just opposite to Hans Raj College. The market is famous for popular brands of fashion apparel and the spicy...
, Shakti Nagar and Model Basti, and took their trade took around the walled city areas of Old Delhi
Old Delhi
Old Delhi , walled city of Delhi, India, was founded as Shahjahanabad by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1639. It remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty....
, especially Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk , originally meaning moonlit square or market, is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, now in central north Delhi, India...
, Khari Baoli, Dariba Kalan, Nai Sarak, Naya Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar
Sadar Bazaar
Sadar Bazar is the largest wholesale market of household items in Delhi, India, and is located at the western side of Khari Baoli. Like other major markets of Old Delhi, this market also feels very crowded and buzzes with activity. Although it is primarily a wholesale market, it also caters to...
and Chowri Bazaar.
Here many shops are still known by their serial numbers eg "Chawal Wale 13" or "21 Number Ki Dookan", and are run by the ninth or tenth generation of the founders, who started these establishments, way back in the 17th and 18th century.
Overview
"Gadodia Market", situated on the south side of Khari Baoli was built by wealthy merchants in 1920s has one of the numerous spice stores and is AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
’s largest wholesale spice market. Today, Kari Baoli is not only Asia's largest spice market but also an important and busy commercial district, as it caters to vast spice market of North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
, including states of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and even as far as Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, making it perpetually crowded with traders, and shoppers looking cheapest deals and bargains, in the narrow margin spice, dry fruits and other perishable commodity market.
The other end of Khari Baoli market is on the GB Road (Red light district and whole sale market for engineering goods) and Sadar Bazar (wholesale market for non branded consumer goods).
External links
- Reviving the baolis of Delhi The HinduThe HinduThe Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
- Khari Baoli in Fatehpuri