The Bazaars of Jalandhar explores the vibrant relationship between traditional marketplaces, informal economic activities, and the evolving urban landscape of Jalandhar, Punjab. Focusing on Jyoti Chowk and its surrounding commercial areas, the boo...

The Bazaars of Jalandhar explores the vibrant relationship between traditional marketplaces, informal economic activities, and the evolving urban landscape of Jalandhar, Punjab. Focusing on Jyoti Chowk and its surrounding commercial areas, the book examines the spatial, socio-economic, cultural, and infrastructural dimensions of urban bazaars. Through field observations, mapping, stakeholder interactions, and mobility analysis, it highlights the significant role of bazaars in sustaining livelihoods, providing affordable goods and services, fostering social interaction, and preserving the city’s cultural identity. It also investigates key challenges, including congestion, inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, inefficient waste management, limited public amenities, and conflicts between formal commercial establishments and informal vendors. Moving beyond conventional approaches that view informality primarily as encroachment, this book advocates for inclusive, context-sensitive, and evidence-based urban planning. It presents planning and design strategies for organizing vending spaces, improving mobility and infrastructure, strengthening governance, and integrating informal economic activities into the formal urban framework. By bringing together urban analysis, market culture, policy perspectives, and design proposals, The Bazaars of Jalandhar offers valuable insights for urban planners, architects, researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing bazaars as integral components of urban life and creating accessible, functional, and equitable market environments where economic vitality, cultural identity, and public well-being can coexist.