Download - Delhi Heritage City

Medieval And Colonial Capital Cities Of DelhiDESCRIPTIONThe very inclusive nature of the city is reflected in the fact that shrines of different religions coexist on the samestreet, imparting a strong cultural harmony. The street and its squares are also the setting for periodic religiousand other celebrations and processions, some going back to the days when the city was founded.The first stretch of this street is from the intersection of Netaji Subhash Marg and Chandni Chowk to what isknown as Phawwara Chowk. The eastern half of this section consists of development that has taken place afterthe demolitions of the mid‐19 th century. Thus Esplande Road, which runs southward off the main street, was aBritish creation. On the other hand certain older structures such as the Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, and thejewellers market called Dariba Kalan (a major street linking Chandni Chowk to Jama Masjid), have survived to thepresent day.Some key heritage structures in the area:o Digambar Jain Lal Mandir lies at the eastern end of Chandni Chowk. Though added to down thecenturies, the temple dates to the time of Shahjahan. The Jain temple is surrounded by several smallshops. Built in red sandstone with a shikhara and a finial on top, the temple includes several shrines ofwhich the main shrine is that of Lord Mahavira. The temple has intricately decorated interiors with floralmotifs, images of dancers, musicians and geometrical patterns. The charitable bird hospital lies withinthe complex of the Lal Mandir where injured and ill birds are brought in for treatmento Gauri Shankar Temple was founded in the 18 th C AD and rebuilt several times. The white marble andplaster temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. It is surrounded by shops selling flowers,incense and clothes.o Gurudwara Sis Ganj with its beige sandstone building and golden domes and finials lies further west fromthe Digambar Jain Mandir. This gurudwara rectangular in plan, in sandstone and white marble has seenwas established in 1783 AD and marks the site where the ninth guru Teg Bahadur was beheaded by theMughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1675. The Gurudwara rectangular in plan, in sandstone and white marblehas seen considerable expansion over the last century.o Sunheri Masjid, also along this street, is located just beside the Gurudwara Sis Ganj. The mosque standson a high platform with shops on the lower floor. It is approached by a series of narrow steps leading uptothe court. The domes of the mosque are covered in gilded copper and form another landmark alongChandni Chowk.o The State Bank of India building, which originally housed the Imperial Bank, stands 70 feet tall with aPalladian façade spanning 120 feet close to the eastern end of Chandni Chowk. It is the most imposing ofthe several early 20th century bank buildings in Chandni Chowk. It is a three storeyed building with highceilings, colonial style gateposts and a verandah supported by Corinthian pillars on the first floor level.This building is constructed on the land which consisted of Begum Samru’s Palace and gardens in the early19 th century. Though no remains of the gardens can be seen, the original palace of Begum Samru, calledBhagirath Palace, still exists and is located north of the State Bank of India buildingo The Central Baptist Church, next to the State Bank of India building is one of the earliest churches of Delhi,having been built in 1858. It has a heavy circular colonnaded porch and the roof of the church is made instone supported on iron beams.o Phawwara Chowk, which is the first square on the main street, was in Mughal times known as KotwaliChowk. It is today called Bhai Mati Das Chowk, though it is popularly known after the fountain(phawwara) in its middle, built to commemorate the visit of the Governor General Lord Northbrook(1872‐76)31‐07‐2012 INTACH, Delhi Chapter 5