Who Was Jahanara Begum, The Forgotten Mughal Princess Who Designed Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk?

In

a time when social media feeds are brimming with stunning architecture and grand renovation efforts, discussions about women in design and history are once more becoming prominent. With heritage walks and slow tourism emerging as popular trends in Delhi, one woman's legacy subtly endures in its bustling bazaars, serene moonlit pathways, and Mughal resonance — Jahanara Begum, the offspring of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Although the world cherishes her parents via the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, few recognize that Delhi’s most famous market — Chandni Chowk — was created by this extraordinary princess.

The Princess Who Transformed Strength and Elegance

Jahanara, born in 1614 in Ajmer, was Shah Jahan’s favorite and the oldest among seven siblings. Yet she was not a typical monarch — this was a lady who grasped the skills of administration, commerce, and verse, and exercised her power with grace. At 17, after her mother Mumtaz Mahal's untimely death, Jahanara assumed the title of Padshah Begum — the First Lady of the Mughal Empire — and took control of imperial affairs while her heartbroken father withdrew into isolation.

Her intellect, diplomacy, and empathy established her as one of the most reliable individuals in Shah Jahan's court. French traveler François Bernier noted that "no meal could be served at the royal table unless it had been made under her guidance." Her closeness to the emperor was such that her signature could change fates.

The Bard, The Merchant, The Designer

In contrast to numerous royal women limited by the harem's veil, Jahanara established her own identity — and did so quite literally. She was not merely a supporter of art and architecture; she was an architect as well. Her most renowned creation, Chandni Chowk, was imagined as a market illuminated by moonlight that sparkled beneath the night sky. Constructed with uniform streets and a central waterway mirroring the moonlight, it evolved into a social and trade center that continues to pulse as the core of Old Delhi. In addition to her architectural skills, she was also an astute businessperson. With her own vessel, Sahibi, Jahanara engaged in independent trade with merchants from Europe and the Middle East. The ship transported items made in her karkhanas (workshops) from Surat to global ports, resulting in her great riches — her yearly earnings allegedly hit three million rupees, an astonishing amount for her era.

The Devoted Daughter and The Prudent Negotiator

Jahanara’s existence was closely connected to her family's chaotic political landscape. She had a profound spiritual and intellectual bond with her brother Dara Shikoh — the philosopher prince — and sought to foster peace amid the intense succession conflict with their ambitious brother, Aurangzeb. Yet her words went unheard. When Aurangzeb took the throne, murdered Dara, and detained Shah Jahan, Jahanara’s devotion remained steadfast. She decided to reside in confinement with her father at Agra Fort for eight extensive years, looking after him until his final moments in 1666.

A Heritage That Surpasses Crowns and Graves

Following Shah Jahan's passing, even Aurangzeb could not ignore Jahanara’s prominence. He reinstated her royal title and referred to her as Sahibat al-Zamani — Lady of the Age. In her last years, she was deeply engaged in poetry, philanthropy, and spiritual activities, overseeing the construction of mosques, gardens, and caravanserais throughout the empire. In contrast to the magnificent tombs of her ancestry, Jahanara’s burial site reflects her modesty. At the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi, her grave is exposed to the heavens — simple marble encircled by lush grass — engraved with her own poetic verses in Persian:

"Allow no one to conceal my grave except with green grass." “This grass is enough to serve as a grave marker for the impoverished.”

The Lady Behind the Moonlit Bazaar

Currently, Chandni Chowk can be a labyrinth of rickshaws, commotion, and the alluring scent of jalebis, yet beneath the din exists Jahanara’s dream — a city that honors community, trade, and culture in the radiance of collective moonlight.In a society that’s reexamining overlooked historical women, Jahanara Begum represents intelligence, elegance, and subtle strength — a testament that while empires may collapse, heartfelt legacies last through ages.