Khari Baoli is Asia's largest wholesale spice market, a dense maze of shops and warehouses near the western end of Chandni Chowk. The lane has been Delhi's spice trading hub for 400 years, and the air here is thick with the mingled fragrance of cumin, cardamom, black pepper, dried chilies, and turmeric. Sacks of spices, dried herbs, nuts, seeds, and pickles are stacked to the ceiling in every shop.
Despite being wholesale-oriented, individual buyers are welcome and prices are significantly cheaper than supermarkets. The best time to visit is mid-morning when the market is busy but before the heat of the day. The area around Fatehpuri Mosque at the western end of Chandni Chowk makes a natural extension to the spice market visit.