When someone comes to Delhi, the one thing on their mind is shopping to their heart’s content in the many bazaars (markets) that Delhi features. Enormous discounts, wide varieties, and trendy pieces are what these markets are beaming with. So wait no longer and head out shopping. We have made a checklist of what to buy in New Delhi, India, just so you don’t miss out buying the must-haves for yourselves and your loved ones back home.
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Chandni Chowk is popular for a variety of items at wholesale prices – from electronics to spices, the list is endless. Make sure to create a list of all the things you need in advance, so you won't spend too much time shopping. This will leave ample time to relish the street food offered here. And polish up on your haggling skills or take someone along who can do it for you.
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
Tip from Trip101 local expert
If you're on the lookout for ethnic wear in Delhi, I've got just the place for you: Lajpat Nagar. It's my go-to and never disappoints. The lanes are lined with shops selling rich Saris, Lehengas, and Salwar Suits — it's like a festival of colors. Plus, you can catch some fantastic artificial jewelry. My pro tip: negotiate a little, it's part of the fun and can get you amazing deals.
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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)
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4. Sandalwood products
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Ancient to India, Khadi Natural™ Sandalwood Essential Oil heals scars and spots, tightens and calms skin, improves...
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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
New Delhi Tour Guide
Farman Guia Turstico
Hello Travelers! People call me Farman. I am an experienced freelance tour guide. I work with several Free Tours company and we would love to show you around and give you the best tips and recommendations. If you travel to India you will discover a new aspect of this wonderful city. If it is your first visit i warn you of just one thing: you will fall in love with India and will end up comi... Read more
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New Delhi Tour Guide
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Hello and Namaste! I am a full-time licensed tour guide living in Agra, India. I received my Regional Level Guide certificate in 2007 from the Ministry of Tourism now I have a Pan India license. Before I discovered the tourism industry, I worked in the law, medical and insurance fields. I have a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biology and Organic Chemistry. After achieving my Masters of... Read more
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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
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Dilli Haat INA is one of my favorite places to check out authentic and designer Pashmina shawls. You can find a range of handicraft sellers displaying fine collections of pure pashmina at a decent price. Just a heads up that Dilli Haat can be a little overpriced compared to other popular markets in Delhi, but you can surely expect some good-quality materials here.
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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
11. Silver handicrafts
Contributed by Trip101 Local Expert, Janvi Sinha
Delhi is a great place to buy silver handicrafts and gift items because of the region’s long history of silver craftsmanship. The city is home to many skilled artisans who create beautiful and unique silver pieces. I love browsing the shops of Old and New Delhi for silver jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. I also adore silver home decor items such as vases, bowls, and figurines.
I would highly recommend always inspecting the silver items carefully and checking their hallmarks to make sure that they are of good quality. My go-to place for silver handicraft shopping is Beliram Elegance in Pitampura.
12. Madhubani paintings
Contributed by Trip101 Local Expert, Janvi Sinha
Looking for traditional Indian paintings and wall decor? I would highly recommend checking out the beautiful Madhubani paintings, which originate from Bihar’s Madhubani district and can be found throughout Delhi. What I love about these paintings is that they usually depict some kind of folk ritual and are made with vivid and natural colors derived from flowers and fruits.
Since the designs are usually very intricate and the paintings are pretty popular, you can expect the prices to be a little higher than normal paintings.
13. Rugs and carpets
Contributed by Trip101 Local Expert, Janvi Sinha
Rugs and carpets are among my favorite interior decoration items as they give any room a touch of coziness. Delhi boasts a great collection of hand-knotted and densely scrunched carpets that are sure to liven up the entire home. There are a lot of abstract designs and soothing colors available to fit everyone’s personal preferences.
I love exploring the shops in Lajpat Nagar and Chandni Chowk, where a lot of artisans create customized carpets of excellent quality and sell them for affordable prices.
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-
- Chandni Chowk - Undeniably the largest and most famous place for all things Delhi, all things India.
- Connaught Place - It is home to two big markets, Janpath and Palika Bazaar. Bargaining is a must.
- Delhi Haat - Weekly/monthly village market for all handcrafted items. It is located near AIIMS.
- Karol Bagh - This one is almost similar to Chandni Chowk and caters largely to handmade/machine made jewellery and second-hand books.
- Sarojini Nagar - Clothes, clothes and more clothes at super steal prices.
Happy Shopping!!
Tip from Trip101 local expert
If you've only got one day in Delhi, take it from me – you need to head straight to Kamla Nagar. A short walk from the metro and you're in the heart of a shopper's paradise. And when hunger strikes, duck into Mr. Momos. Their veg steamed momos have won my heart over and over, and at 60 INR a plate, it's my little secret for a delicious, budget-friendly bite.
Tip from Trip101 local expert
If you're a book lover, you must stop by Daryaganj Book Market. I have visited on a couple of occasions and got lucky both times as I found a few good reads. Even though there are plenty of stalls selling an infinite number of books for dirt cheap prices, finding a well-known book among those is not a particularly easy task.
History
This article has been endorsed by New Delhi local expert Janvi Sinha and 2 other(s)
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