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Chawri Bazaar |
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| To the west of Jama Masjid lies the specialized
wholesale market of brass, copper and paper products, popularly
known as Chawri Bazaar. It can be reached by taking the street
just near the middle projection of Jama Masjid's western (rear)
wall. Once popularly known for its bewitching dancing girls
in the 19th century, the street is named after a Marathi word
'chawri', which means meeting place. The street got this name
mainly because here a 'sabha' or meeting would take place in
front of a noble's house and he would try settling the disputes
before it would reach the emperor. A second reason is probably
that a gathering used to get organized when a respected dancer
performed and showed the finer nuances of her skill. The whole
ambience of the street however got changed after the 1857 war
when British destroyed many huge mansions of the nobles. |
| Built of Lakhori bricks, a small canon is placed
over the gateways of both the buildings. The buildings have
semi-octagonal projections on both sides with two small rooms
on either side. The rooms have semi-circular arches to enter
and it is difficult to visualize its former shape. The main
features of the buildings are its niches and arches at the roof-level
on the semi-octagonal projections, though difficult to make
out. |
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| Today, Chawri Bazaar is a very busy road as laborers
with their laden backs, cars, rickshaws, scooters and walkers
almost battle for the passage during the peak market hours.
Again it is also a wholesale market but you will be allowed
to purchase a brass or copper idol of Lord Vishnu, Buddha and
others. The shops also keep many useful items like jewelry boxes,
vases, pots and oil lamps. However, at present Chawri Bazaar
is more known as the wholesale market of paper products than
copper or brass. From beautiful wedding cards to attractive
wallpapers to nice greetings to any types of papers required
for any use, everything is available here in retail as well
as in wholesale. Though the whole process is very exhausting
but it will be a day to remember, as you will definitely enjoy
it. |
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