Stripped down to its essence, Khari Baoli is best described as a wholesale spice and grocery market. Besides being Asia’s largest spice market, why do tourists and locals alike often rave about it? Why should you visit it?
The answer is fairly simple. Khari Baoli has a unique charm that cannot be replicated or copied. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to walk through the market, to soak up its atmosphere and to feel like you are a part of the minutiae of everyday Indian life. It is not an experience to be missed.
( Picture Source: Outlook India )
Situated near the Southwestern end of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, Khari Baoli is a heavily populated market with a wide range of different spices. Here, you can find almost any spice that is indigenous to India, such as turmeric and cardamom.
( Picture Credit: Tripoto )
Many shopkeepers there will excitedly draw you towards their many different types of exotic foods and spices sold in their generational shops. In the market, you can find prunes and dried mulberries from Afghanistan, black and purple carrots and dried plums from Kashmir.
There are also tons of different types of medicinal herbs and spices for the more health-conscious to enjoy. The most popular of these Ayurvedic items are Reetha (soapnut) and Amla; natural remedies to improve hair texture and quality.
( Picture Credit: Travel Tales from India & Abroad )
Besides the myriad number of items available at the market, the main reason for its charm could very well be the fact that the Khari Baoli is approximately 4 centuries old. It is always heartwarming and alluring when countries with rich and colourful histories preserve their monuments with great respect and tender care.
Khari Baoli is an extremely picturesque scene, and so, it’s a very common attraction for tourists who want to memorialise breathtaking memories. It’s a great place to take pictures because of the romance of its preserved history.
(Picture Source: Pinterest)
Almost everything in this spice market from the architecture of the buildings, to the chipped vibrant paint, the massive crowds and the rustic atmosphere is very reminiscent of Old Delhi at the prime of its glory.
With rapid westernisation, and constant renovations being done in India, its becoming increasingly hard to hold on to things that are quintessentially Indian. You will find this authentic India in Khari Baoli.