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 originally built in 1870 stood until its partial collapse and subsequent demolition in 1950s. The term "Chandni Chowk" (translation: silvery or moonlit square) originally referred to this location which later came to designate the entire street. The Ghantaghar location has been regarded as the center of Delhi, and even now serves as a center for major civic events. Today, Delhi Town Hall is located at the site.

It was perhaps the oldest clock tower in India, constructed before Rajabai Clock Tower, Mumbai, 1878, Husainabad Clock Tower, Lucknow, 1881, and Secunderabad Clock Tower, Secunderabad, 1897. While the clock tower is long gone, the location is still termed Ghantaghar within Old Delhi.

Ghantaghar was the location of some of the events relating to Indian's freedom movement. On March 30, 1919, many protesters were killed by the British soldiers. It is still a very popular spot for organizing protests.

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:

The serai was demolished perhaps even before the ghadar of 1857. The seari was replaced by the Victorian-Edwardian architecture building now known as the Town Hall, and the pool in the middle of the square was replaced by a grand clock tower. 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. The Institute, contained a Darbar Hall with a publio library and reading rooms. 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.’

In front of Lawrence Institute, in the center of the Chandni Chauk, a 128 feet tall lofty Gothic clock-tower with four faces was constructed.

Built by Delhi Municipality at a cost of Rs. 28,000, it was formally termed the Northbrook Clocktower. after Thomas Northbrook, the Viceroy of India from 1872 to 1876. Northbrook hotel, a famous hotel near the Moree gate was also named after him. The tower is said to have been 80 years old when it collapsed, implying its construction occurred in 1870.

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