What To Buy In New Delhi, India, A Shopper's Paradise

1. Silk sarees

Saree is the traditional Indian attire and it’s said that a woman, no matter the age, always look ethereal in a saree. You will find sarees in all kind of materials ranging from cotton to georgette and chiffon to silk in any Indian market. But if you must take back something, go for the gorgeous and light silk sarees that you can find abundantly in New Delhi. They are considered auspicious and are so light to wear. Ask the shopkeeper for Assamese, Banarasi, Paithani or Kanchipuram silk and choose from what you like.

Bihu Bazaar

Address: Kalkaji Extension, Delhi - 110019, Crowne Plaza Today Hotel

Opening hours: 11.30 am to 8.00 pm (Monday closed)

Price : 70 USD onwards

2. Indian tea

That one thing that helps almost every Indian get through his or her entire day of tedious work schedule, coupled with the strenuous commute, is nothing but a cup of tea; lovingly known as chai. Instant refreshment guaranteed. People in India are addicted to their morning cup of tea and some can sip it multiple times in a day. All offices usually have a tea vendor on the premises who fondly serve a masala cutting chai (think of it as a tea shot). Delhi has some really chic tea houses from where you can buy your fill and recreate this magical potion back in your home.

Mittal Tea House

Address: Shop No 8, Main Market, Block 8, Lodi Colony, New Delhi, Delhi 110003

Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 8.00 pm

Price: 3 USD onwards

3. Indian pickle (achaar)

Indian pickles are world famous for being spicy, sweet, tangy, and heavenly delicious. Usually eaten as a side serving in small quantities, some avid lovers can also make a meal out of it savoring it with a chapati/roti/naan (Indian bread). It’s prepared with the use of preserved fruits or vegetables and come in a variety of flavors and sizes. Take back the food culture in small jars for the foodie in you.

Sethi's Achar Shop

Address: Shop No.6110, Khari Baoli, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006

Opening hours: 11.00 am to 6.30 pm (Sunday closed)

Price: Around 3 USD per jar (depends on size and variant)

4. Sandalwood products

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Since India is home to many sandalwood forests, you will find a huge variety of sandalwood products here. The amazingly refreshing fragrance of sandalwood, coupled with its many healing properties, makes it a must buy. You can purchase products ranging from incense sticks to essential oils, and body scrubs to soaps, and much more, all of which have this wonderful fragrance. These can make for excellent gifts for loved ones.

Khadi Natural

Address: 703-705, Shahpuri Tower, Community Center, C-58, Near Cinepolis Janak Cinema, Janakpuri- 110058. New Delhi. India

Opening Hours: 9.30 am to 6.00 pm; (Sunday closed)

Price: 70 cents to 1 USD

5. Indian sweets

Sweets are an essential and significant part of an Indian meal. A meal is not considered to be complete unless it’s ended on a sweet note. Sweets are also an integral part of any celebration and all the auspicious occasions in India. You will find a variety of sweets all over India but the jalebis, peda, malai barfi, gulab jamun, and rasgulla are some well-known sweets that you can relish in almost all the sweet shops.

Nathu Sweets

Address: 2, Main Market, Sunder Nagar, New Delhi

Working hours: 8.30 am to 11.00 pm

6. Spices

The secret ingredients in Indian food that make it so utterly delicious and world famous are nothing but the spices that go into the preparation. The various rich flavors and aromas are achieved by using the right amount of spices and blends. You can also pick some of these to take back home; perfect for the time when you crave Indian food and want to recreate some recipes. Delhi has its own spice market in Khari Baoli area, which is Asia’s largest wholesale spice market.

Mehar Chand & Sons

Address: 6535, Khari Baoli, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli Rd, Fatehpuri, Old Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi 110006

Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 8.00 pm (Sunday closed)

Price: 3 USD onwards

7. Traditional jewellery

Take back a piece or two of Indian tradition in the form of fashionable and funky pieces of jewellery made in traditional ways. The kundan and meenakari jewels are a piece of art and quite abundantly available in Delhi markets. You can choose from an array of bangles, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, anklets, mangtika and rings. If there is one thing out of all that you must buy, it must be a pair of dangling earrings fondly known as ‘jhumkas’. These trendy pieces can bring life to any boring outfit and are available in a variety of styles. Scout the markets in Chandni Chowk for your jewellery shopping.

Titu Jewellers

Address: No.268, Dariba Kalan Rd, Gali Kunj, Clock Market, Dariba Kalan, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006

Opening hours: 1.00 am to 8.00 pm (Sunday closed)

Prices: 10 USD onwards

8. Traditional lamps

Give your home a vintage edge by decorating it with an Indian traditional lamp. These lamps, unlike the modern electric ones, work on oil. They give a very antique accent and add to the overall vibe of the home. You can find these in any shop selling antiques in India.

Vintage Crafts

Address: 5068 1st Floor Sirkiwalan Near Metro Station, Chawri Bazar Rd, Hauz Qazi, New Delhi, Delhi 110006

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 8.00 pm (Sunday closed)

Price: 20 USD onwards

9. Pashmina shawls

Pashmina is a luxurious cashmere-wool. The textiles made from it were first woven to perfection in Kashmir, in the form of shawls. Slowly people have begun using the same techniques and recreating these in other parts of the nation. Delhi, too, has a huge market for Pashmina shawls and scarves. These are priced a bit high but the material is so soft and lovely that you must possess at least one piece of it. It can also make for great gifts for your special ladies back home, mom, wife, aunts, grandmothers, et al.

Pashmina shawls

Address: E 61, Block I, Lajpat Nagar I, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110024

Opening hours: 9.00 am to 7.00 pm (Sunday closed)

Price: 300 USD onwards

10. Handicraft puppets

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Kathputli, the string puppet theatre native to Rajasthan, India, is the most popular form of edutainment (education in the form of entertainment) in India. This unique culture of art and craft is still quite prominently practised in many parts of India and is an important aspect depicting Indian folklore. You can take back decorative puppets for the kids back home as they can be used very effectively in story-telling, or just place them in your showcases for a pop of colour.

Global Artifacts & Handicrafts Exports

Address: Jamia Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi-110092, Delhi, India

Price: 5 USD onwards

Delhi: Not just the capital of India, but the shopping capital of India

Apart from the shops mentioned you can go all out shopping in any of these (or all of these) below mentioned bazaars-

1. Chandni Chowk - Undeniably the largest and most famous place for all things Delhi, all things India.
2. Connaught Place - It is home to two big markets, Janpath and Palika Bazaar. Bargaining is a must.
3. Delhi Haat - Weekly/monthly village market for all handcrafted items. It is located near AIIMS.
4. Karol Bagh - This one is almost similar to Chandni Chowk and caters largely to handmade/machine made jewellery and second-hand books.
5. Sarojini Nagar - Clothes, clothes and more clothes at super steal prices.

Happy Shopping!!