Home > Trip Planner > Places to Visit > Delhi > Shopping Places to Visit  Delhi Shopping Delhi is a veritable paradise for shoppers, who can buy objects ranging from the simplest of Indian handicrafts to international designer labels, and often within the same shopping area. Delhi is unique in that it has representative outlets for the handicrafts of each Indian state. This in it self presents a staggering array of goods, and at very affordable prices. In the last decade there has been a dramatic change in Delhi's markets. Upwardly mobile lifestyle has led to greater sophistication in display and upgrading of various markets in terms of availability of items. Delhi has long been the most important trading centre in Northern India. Many of its localities, like Sheikh Sarai and Yusuf Sarai, derive their names from medieval market towns, which serviced the bygone, shifted capital cities of Delhi. Today, all of these have become a part of the rapidly expanding metropolis. Instead of market towns, there are specific wholesale markets or "mandi's" scattered throughout the vast city, and theirs is another story. For visitors to Delhi, shopping is high on the list of "things to do". Tourists find a wide choice of items- such as carpets, silks, jewellery, leather and silver ware, handicrafts and hand printed cotton - that are synonymous with India. Each item is available in a range of prices, depending on the quality and the outlet. Another interesting is that each market has its own, distinctive ambience and adds its own flavour to the experience of shopping. Haus Khas Village, Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk are worlds apart from one another, yet each of them reflects an aspect of this many - faceted city. In fact one of the fascinating ways of understanding a city is by wandering through its market places for it is here that contemporary culture is most visible to the outsider. Chandni Chowk (Closed on Sundays)-- It was the eyes and ears of the Mughal's commercial instincts and is today one of the country's best known wholesale markets for textiles, electronic goods and watches. The entire area was designed by Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan's favourite daughter and was then inhabited by the well-to-do families of that time. There is however a word of caution and that is; that there are several elements selling duplicate goods and the tourist needs to be careful about this. Leading off Chandni Chowk are Dariba, the silver market, Khari Baoli, the spice market and Kinari Bazar for trimmings and tinsel. In some of these bazaars the item for sale are manufactured at site, which lands a special charm to the shopping experience well integrated into the culture of the old city, these bazaars offer the visitor a glimpse of life in Old Delhi. Meena Bazaar -- There are some antique stores behind Jama Masjid, and more lining the entrance to the Red Fort, where the Meena Bazar once was. These offer items arranging from jewellery to painting and furniture, and cater almost entirely to tourists. Connaught Place (Closed on Sundays)-- One of Delhi's most popular shopping centres built as early as 1931 there is nothing that one cannot buy here and it also has several eating-houses. The state emporia buildings are also located in this area so are the head offices of major banks, airlines and other such things of importance to the tourist. The complex popularly referred to as CP is an important meeting point for all sections of people and is something, which no tourist should miss if for nothing else then for its architecture and the humdrum of everyday life. Janpath (Closed on Sunday) -- Located in the heart of Connaught Place Janpath is one of the busiest roads in New Delhi. A street market famous for its cheap bargain on cotton clothes & trinkets. Be sure to bargain for the prices. Some famous shoe & music stores are also here in Janpath. A small but fragrant shop here sells original essential oils, "itr" in forms of ready to use concentrate perfumes. Loads of junk & glass jewellery shops dot the lane. For a good variety of stoles & scarves Janpath is an ideal choice. The Tibetans sell jewellery and ritual objects, while embroideries from Gujarat and Rajasthan, sell wall hangings, shawls, furnishings & readymade garments and bric-a-brac. The Cottage industry Emporium (Closed on Sunday) - Right in the heart of Connaught place is the govt. run one place mall for every kind of art & craft products made in India. Right from jewellery, silk, sarees, furnishing, carpets, furniture to toys, trinkets, clothes, tea, silver, sandalwood, pottery and brass items. Khadi Gram Udyog (Closed on Sunday) - Khadi a revolution in weaving initiated by Mahatma Gandhi has come a long way in the last century. It is no longer just some thick cloth and the Gandhi topi or kurta. The Khadi Gramudyog bhavan stores all the products like khadi cloth, ready made & embroidered clothes, silk & woollen clothes, natural, food products, incense, shoes & crafts etc. Also it houses a huge section only dedicated to various types hand made paper for art & craft purposes. From Oct 2, every year the Khadi gives heavy discounts on it's products for a month, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. State Govt. Emporia, Baba Kharak singh Marg (Closed on Sunday) - Just the corner form the Khadi bhavan, opposite the Hanuman Temple is the Emporia Complex. Starting from 'Gram shilp' in one street are the emporium shopping malls for all the different states of India. For all authentic regional craft & silk one can directly go to any of these govt. emporiums. And of course the Delhi emporium has something from every state. Hanuman Temple - a good place to put mehndi, or henna on the hand & feet. Crafts Museum Shop (Closed on Sunday) - In the corner of Pragati Maidan, diagonally opposite the Old Fort is the crafts Museum. Inside the museum the craftsmen showcase their talent while the shopper can, not just buy but also see how it was made. There is a small shop to sell the same craft items. Sarojini Nagar (Closed on Monday) - A similar market as the Janpath market, located in south Delhi. Dilli Haat -- Food and Crafts Bazaar, opposite INA Market, is a one-stop shopping place for tourists, which not only offers various arts and handicrafts of India, but also a taste of the ethnic cuisine. Visitors can also witness the different performing arts of the country. Qutub Shopping arcade -- A more up market outlet for Indian handicrafts and antiques is the bazaar near the Qutab Minar. Ansal Plaza / Greater Kailash / South extension markets/ Lajpat Nagar Central Market (Closed on Monday) - Upscale market for all types of goods starting from clothes to electronics. With several malls & restaurants, these are great places to hang around. Hauz Khas Village - The haunt of the nouveau riche, these markets offer a combination of ethnic chic and designer labels, Indian and international. Hauz Khas Village has set a very interesting trend as market. Over the centuries, a village had developed around the medieval college and the tomb of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. A few years ago, an association called Dastakar - set up a showroom in the village. Now the village has a plethora of boutiques, galleries and restaurants, which coexist with the buffalos, cow pats and men smoking hookahs on charpoys. Far from being a deterrent, the "rural" ambience is a positive attraction. Other villages like Mehrauli, Khirkee and Lado Sarai are fast following suit. Walk into the quaint shops to find the most exquisite handicrafts, trinkets along with the most renowned designer clothes stores of India. Also in the village are some good eating joints for the traveller to explore. The Santushi Shopping Arcade - This shopping complex opposite the Ashoka Hotel has become another popular up market haunt. Developed by the Air Force Wives Association, it has a select number of boutiques where apparel, furnishings and accessories are available. A restaurant and patisserie add to the quiet charm of the place. Sunder Nagar Market (Closed on Sunday) -- Chor Bazaar (only on Sunday) - Behind Red fort there is a weekly market, which sells old & antique things. If not for buying one can go there to just have walk around the flea market & who knows you could find a treasure. Weekly book Market (only on Sunday) - On Sundays the Darya Ganj Street comes alive with hundreds of shops & buyers browsing the old books Market. Other Shopping Centres : Karol Bagh (Closed on Monday) Yashwant Place (Closed on Sunday) To Top