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Shopping in Delhi
If you wish to get
a glimpse of India's art & craft, a feel of the culture of the
country within the purview of the city then Delhi is the place
to be in.
 Delhi with it's innumerable shopping complexes is
able to cater to every individuals desire to acquire items
that have the essence, the originality of a particular region
in India. Although there are shopping complexes in almost
every locality in Delhi, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh
and Chandni Chowk are the principle shopping areas. Multiple
emporia representing every state of the country are to be seen
at the famous Baba Kharak Singh Marg, near Parliament
Street. Each state emporium has a slice of the best of its
crafts under one roof at government-controlled prices.
The Central
Cottage Emporium in Jawahar Bhavan at Janpath is
undoubtedly worth a visit for anything ethnic anc chic. It has
almost anything that you might desire to buy. From furniture
to clothes, to shoes that are typically Indian, to small gift
items that could work as souvenirs, the Cottage Emporium has
it all. The quality is absolutely the best and the prices are
reasonable enough. In the rustic background of the Crafts
Museum at Mathura road, one can pick up great bargains on
items like shawls, pottery and paintings. A shopping complex
of a similar kind is to be seen in Hauz Khas. Popularly
known as The Village; you can find designer labels, authentic
jewelry and gift items within the complex. The Hauz Khas
Village is a complete experience with its ancient buildings,
designer stuff and a list of restaurants.
For those who are
interested in antiques, Sundar Nagar is just the place
to be in. Of course for cheaper antiques, it is Chandni
Chowk. While in that area, Dariba Kalan, a narrow
street, may be visited for gold and Silver. Chandni Chowk is
famous for jewelry and saris, so for those who wish to get a
feel of the tradition of India, Chandni Chowk is the place to
visit. Chandni Chowk is also the place to buy silverware and
jewellery.
Karol Bagh
is yet another famous shopping complex in Delhi of similar
nature. You can find a variety of Indian clothes, shoes and
accessories out here as well as precious jewelry and bridal
wear. What's more, this place sells automobiles and related
accessories too.
For casuals,
Janpath with its rows of shops, Sarojini Nagar and
Lajpat Nagar are the places you would like to visit.
These places offer variety of novelties, gifts and handicraft
items at bargain prices. Sarojini Nagar also has this rather
big market of export surplus clothes. Here you will find
clothes made for GAP, Van Hausen, Joe Boxer, Levis being sold
for a song. All these clothes have been made in India for
these designer brands and are sold just because they are
surplus. Terrific bargains!
Dilli
Haat, near INA market,
developed by Delhi Tourism has on display almost everything
that would be very typical to a particular region in India. It
has been designed to be an upscale version of a haat
(generally a weekly traditional market). Unlike the
traditional haat where the market itself is mobile and
transient, in this case it is the craftspersons who are ever
changing - thus offering a kaleidoscopic view of the richness
and diversity of Indian culture and handicrafts.
This market is
spread over a six acre spread with imaginative traditional
rural architecture and provides an ambience for the market.
The stone and brickwork paved paths interspersed with grass
patches make browsing and ambling fun. The not too large but
diverse food court bring the cuisines of different states
together.
This is a good
places to look at or buy handicrafts to do with rosewood and
sandalwood carvings, leather wear, fabric, drapery, gems,
beads, metalware, and garments is variety of fabrics. You can
contact their office at Phone : +91-11-4629365, 6119055
Delhi also has a
very popular underground shopping center called Palika
Bazar. This shopping center like most shopping complexes
in Delhi has variety of goods on display and at a reasonable
cost. However, while shopping here you need to be good at
bargaining, as generally the prices quoted are high.
A recent
phenomenon in Delhi has been the steady rise of foreign
collaborations in consumer goods areas. With extremely steep
prices abroad, foreigners visiting India can pick up items of
international brands like Benetton, Ray-Ban, Adidas, and
Pierre Cardin at a comparatively lower price. A common sight
in South Delhi, rather in Greater Kailash and South Extension
is the presence of multi storeyed departmental stores. These
stores are complete in themselves in as much that they have on
display items of all kinds ranging from cosmetics to clothes
to shoes to books to household items. If you wish to buy
quality products and do not mind spending a little bit more,
then these stores are worth visiting.
For music,
The Music Shop at Khan Market, Rhythm Corner at South
Extension, Blues in Defence Colony and Sheilma and Pyramids in
Palika Bazar should be visited. Although you will find music
available almost everywhere, the quality of music in these
shops is better.
If you want to
break a bit out of the ordinary, you might want to spend a
little time in the Chandni Chowk area. As mentioned earlier,
Chandni Chowk is a big market for silver, and for lot else.
Fabrics, woollens go cheap here. Take a diversion to one of
the by lanes into Chawri Bazaar and Nai Sarak to
see Delhi's big stationary and books market. Take another
bylane to get into Parathewaali Gali. This bylane
houses the most number of parathawallahs (parathaas are
kind of friend flatbread, which could have a variety of
stuffings or be without) on one street. Unfortunately as the
tastes of people get more and more urban, the parathaa shops
are giving way to the more profitable garment shops. And no
visit to this area is complete without sampling a jalebi
(a sweetmeat made of flour, fried and dipped in sugar
syrup) at the jalebiwallah at the mouth of the lane to
Dariba Kalaan, or visiting Ghantewallah's - a
sweetshop more than 150 years old.. Walk forth a little more
and you will reach a plethora of colors in Fathepuri's
spice market. This market is situated almost at the end of
road which leads to Chandni Chowk. All in all, this area
represents to some extent Delhi's old worldly charm.
The closing days
for the shopping complexes in Delhi is as follows:
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Sundays:
Connaught Place, Janpath, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Jor Bagh,
Khan Market, Malcha Marg, Nehru Place, Sunder Nagar,
Yashwant Place, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar.
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Mondays: Defence
Colony, INA Market, Jangpura, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar,
Sarojini Nagar, South Extension.
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Tuesdays:
Greater Kailash, Green Park, Hauz Khas, Kalkaji, Safdarjung
Enclave, Vasant Vihar, Shahdara, Yusuf Sarai.
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