The culinary and cultural landscape of Mughal Delhi was shaped by spices. They played an important role in the vibrant gastronomic scene of the city and its cultural traditions. The Mughal Empire, the dominant power in India from the 1500s to the 1700s, possessed deep knowledge of spices and skillfully used them in cooking. With the transfer of the Mughal capital to Delhi, the use of spices became a more noticeable and important element in the royal family's diet. The extensive use of spices in cooking was driven by the need to adapt to problems caused by the high level of water pollution in the Yamuna River. Mughal paintings often depict scenes of lavish banquets, culinary activities, and the meticulous process of food preparation, emphasizing the significance of spices in Mughal cultural practices.

Spice trade at that time was an important factor contributing to the country's trade surplus. According to Shame Mitra Chennoy, Delhi quickly became an important commercial center, facilitating the movement of goods from the northwest to the east, south, and southwest of the country. Khari Baoli, the largest spice market in Asia, is an example of a spice market that emerged during the Mughal era. In its early years, Khari Baoli did not function as a spice bazaar. In fact, this structure was a 'Baoli' — a stepwell containing salty water (as indicated by the term 'Khari,' meaning salty). These stepwells had a dual purpose: providing bathing facilities and serving as reservoirs.

In his scholarly work "Dilli-Ke-Aasar-E-Qadeema," Halik Anjum discusses the creation of Khari Baoli by Khwaja Abdul Shahr Lawar Qureshi in the first year of the reign of Salim Shah, son of Sher Shah Suri. Its construction was completed in 1551 AD (958 Hijri year). The presence of Arabic inscriptions on the walls and doors of the baoli is also documented. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan also recorded these inscriptions in his scholarly publication Asar-us-Sanadid. The construction of the Fatehpuri Mosque, located at the western end of Chandni Chowk, was started in 1605 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of Shah Jahan’s wives. The commercial market developed near the Fatehpuri Mosque and Lahori Gate, serving as a hub for wholesale trade in grains and Indian spices. François Bernier noted that Delhi was characterized by shops displaying containers of oil or ghee, as well as numerous baskets with various grains such as rice, barley, chickpeas, wheat, pulses, and several types of spices. Bania shops in Delhi were more numerous compared to other establishments trading in quality goods. Numerous Jains, Punjabis, and Hindu traders, as well as Muslim merchants, settled in the alleys of Shahjahanabad during their respective periods of rule.

Today, Khari Baoli is a bustling street in the historic area of Old Delhi. Here you can find a variety of establishments, including spice mills, pickle vendors, dried fruit sellers, herbal shops, and even grain traders. Sainath Traders is a long-established mill with a history spanning 70 years. The establishment offers a variety of spice blends specially designed for different culinary traditions, such as chana masala, pav bhaji masala, rajma masala, and others. The surrounding atmosphere is filled with the aromas of chili pepper and turmeric. Some traders and businesses are now run by people of the ninth generation, with a lineage as old as the spice market itself. Khari Baoli serves as an important resource for Indian exporters and spice businesses, who rely on its offerings of quality spices distributed to various international markets.

The Gadodia Market serves as the foundational infrastructure of the Khari Baoli spice market. The market, built in the 1920s by the wealthy merchant Seth Lakshmi Narayan Gadodia, often referred to as Seth Gadodia, is considered by one spice enterprise employee to be the largest supplier of whole spices, often called Saabut Masale. In this area, each establishment is equipped with large and ancient scales. The market attracts many consumers looking for good deals, along with sellers from regions such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and several other states.

At Khari Baoli, most establishments primarily display and sell ground and powdered spices. However, to gain a more complete understanding of the packaging and transportation processes of these spices on a larger scale, it may be useful to study the Gadodia Market. Gadodia Market is characterized by an outstanding and captivating feature — a magnificent colonial-era mansion. This architectural masterpiece has been fully transformed and now functions as a full-fledged wholesale market, where bags of spices or nuts are systematically stacked and efficiently transported by diligent workers to various locations within the premises. However, despite the chaotic circumstances, the architectural features of the building, especially the historic window patterns, continue to attract those with a keen interest in history and a deep appreciation of art.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khari_Baoli

https://enrouteindianhistory.com/reservoir-of-spices-khari-baoli-through-the-ages/