Ghantaghar

Ghantaghar (literally clock-tower) is a location in the center of Chandni Chowk, Delhi, where an iconic clock tower, termed Northbrook Clocktower during early 20th century, stood.

[1] The term "Chandni Chowk" (translation: silvery or moonlit square) originally referred to this location which later came to designate the entire street.

The old city of Delhi was laid out by princess Jahanara Begum, who constructed an elegant caravanserai on the East side of the street with gardens in the back.

Herbert Charles Fanshawe, in 1902, mentions about the serai: "Proceeding up the Chandni Chauk and passing many shops of the principal dealers in jewels, embroideries, and other products of Delhi handicrafts, the Northbrook Clock Tower and the principal entrance to the Queen's Gardens are reached.

The Town Hall was actually planned before the Revolt, and was built in 1860-5, as a center for the Europeans and was initially called the Lawrence Institute.

According to MCD, the Town Hall had been planned to serve as an office for the municipality, chamber of commerce, a literary society and a museum to ‘improve the local minds and to forward intercourse between Europeans and natives.’ [7] In front of Lawrence Institute, in the center of the Chandni Chauk, a 128 feet tall lofty Gothic clock-tower with four faces were constructed.

It was actually standing in 1870 already according to Alfred Harcourt who wrote in 1870:[10] It is said that the pigeons sat on their hands so that it never showed the correct time.

When India became independent on 15 August 1947, GhantaGhar, was lit up for the occasion and the Union Jack on the top was replaced by a tiranga.