chowk

Chowk is a term used in the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions to refer to a public square, crossroads, or market area in a town or city. The word is derived from Persian and Urdu, denoting a place with four corners or a central gathering point where roads meet.

Historically and in everyday use, a chowk serves as a social and commercial hub. It is typically lined with shops and street vendors and functions as a nexus for transportation, business transactions, and community interaction. Many chowks are located near religious or administrative sites and can form a core part of a city’s old-town layout. In some places, the name chowk is attached to a specific intersection or square as part of local addresses and signage.

Transliteration varies, with spellings such as chauk, chauk, or chauk often used in maps and street signs. The concept is widely understood across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and parts of Afghanistan, reflecting shared linguistic and cultural ties. In modern urban planning, some chowks have been redeveloped into pedestrian-friendly plazas or redesigned as traffic roundabouts, while others remain busy, multi-use intersections that retain their traditional market character.

Chowk remains a flexible urban term rather than a fixed place, describing any central crossroads or market square that functions as a focal point for commerce, transit, and community life.