India GOKarachi halwa in Delhi
Karachi halwa is Delhi's edible souvenir with a story: a chewy, translucent block of cornflour, sugar and ghee, studded with cashews and brought to the city by families who left Karachi in 1947. The classic place to buy it is a Sindhi sweet shop at the western end of Chandni Chowk, beside Fatehpuri Masjid.
🟥 Karachi halwa
Cornflour, sugar and ghee cooked to a translucent, rubbery block studded with cashew, cut into bright squares. Brought to Delhi by families who left Karachi in 1947, and sold under that name ever since.
How it's eaten
Chewy rather than crumbly; one square is a portion.
The city's food with veg and non-spicy filters, in the app.
Open in India GO
Where to buy it
The India GO guide names one address for Karachi halwa in Delhi.
Chaina Ram Sindhi Confectioners, Fatehpuri
A Sindhi sweet shop beside Fatehpuri Masjid, known for sweets made in desi ghee. The chewy Karachi halwa is the thing to buy, alongside sohan papdi, patisa and ghee-rich ladoos. It is sold by weight.
The Fatehpuri end of Chandni Chowk
Fatehpuri Masjid, a 17th-century mosque, stands at the western end of Chandni Chowk, and the halwa fits a walk along the old street. Kake Di Hatti, famous for giant stuffed naans with chole, is also at Fatehpuri, and the Khari Baoli spice market, where Delhi families buy saffron and garam masala, is at the same western end of Chandni Chowk. Khari Baoli is closed on Sundays.
Why Delhi calls it Karachi halwa
The name is older than the border: sweet-makers in Karachi sold it under that name before 1947. With Partition, families from Sindh moved to India and brought it with them. In Bombay it became popular enough to take that city's name, and elsewhere in India it is also sold as Bombay halwa, but in Delhi it kept the old one. More on the sweet on the Karachi halwa page.
Taking it home
Karachi halwa has a long shelf life, which is why it works as a gift; check the date on the shop's box. It is rich, and one square is a portion. It contains ghee, so it is vegetarian but not vegan. For other things to carry home see souvenirs from Delhi.
❓ FAQ
Where can I buy Karachi halwa in Delhi?
Chaina Ram Sindhi Confectioners at Fatehpuri, beside Fatehpuri Masjid at the western end of Chandni Chowk.
What is Chaina Ram famous for?
Sindhi sweets made in desi ghee, above all its chewy Karachi halwa, plus sohan papdi, patisa and ladoos.
What is another name for Karachi halwa?
Bombay halwa. It is the same sweet, named after the city where it became popular after 1947.
Does Karachi halwa travel well?
Yes. It has a long shelf life; check the date on the box.