Delhi Shopping

Delhi Shopping Delight

As our rickshaw meandered its way through the crowded Chandni Chowk in Delhi, I was dazed with the exhilarating atmosphere, the myriad of colors, plethora of shops, innumerable narrow lanes and by lanes which is just the beginning of the maze that we call old Delhi. It is not unusual that a newcomer would be confused while wandering in the mesh of lanes of this famous market. The harkening of shop keepers, bargaining of the tourists is what meets your eyes once you set foot on these famous bazaars of old Delhi. Chadni Chowk is almost synonymous with old Delhi and the essence that it holds of the Sultanate period is contagious to say the least. Visit to Delhi is incomplete without a trip to this 300 years old Chandni Chowk market established by the Mughal royal family near Red Fort . The by lanes of Chandni Chowk still survive the onslaught of time with their specialties – there are the Parathawala gali for the delicious parathas, jewelry lane, textile lane and the kebab lane. Here you can bargain at your will. Chances are you will strike a good deal if you are aware of the market prices.

For a shopaholic, Delhi is the shopping paradise as the city presents an assortment of diverse shopping centers and markets to buy anything under the sun. Be it the modern shopping malls or the old bazaars, every specimen is there in Delhi. A recent survey has shown an alarming number of shopping malls and multiplexes being constructed in the city. Shopping malls like Ansal Plaza, DLF City center, Santushi Shopping Arcade near Ashoka Hotel are the favorite destination of those who want to hang on to designer and branded items while enjoying their time in a care free ambience. People also venture to satellite towns of Delhi like Faridabad and Gurgaon for a shopping spree.

If you cannot find any item of a particular brand or designer in any of the mall, then head for South Extension market place situated at Ring Road. Known for the presence of designer stores and international branded stuffs, South Extension is a bliss for the brand conscious Delhiites.

For more availability of big brands, there are other markets like Lajpat Nagar, Connaught Place, Khan Market, N Block in Greater Kailash and Karol Bagh. Khan Market, situated at the heart of city and surrounded by government and private residential, is said to be the costliest retail location in India and a preferred place of shopping for the families of bureaucrats. In these market squares, the foreign labels like Mango, Lacoste, Levis, are available at half the price that one pays for them abroad. For traditional Indian clothes, drop in at Anokhi or FabIndia in Khan Market, selling traditional exquisite Indian clothes. Bookworms can pay a visit to the fabulous book shop called Full Circle, present in both N Block and Khan Market or can go to Mascot's in Sundar Nagar Market to get good collection of books on India.

Designed by Robert Tor Russell and W H Nicholls, the circular Connaught Place market place has witnessed the changing face of the capital city since the time of Raj. With many restaurants, shops, cinema halls, Connaught Place is an important business center of Delhi. Shopping in Connaught will be a nice experience for the vast array of different products available there, only if you can bear the impossible crowd and traffic jam on road. Shoppers good in bargaining can go south of Connaught Place for buying at Janpath, but if you are not comfortable with it, then move ahead to find quality goods at Central Cottage Industries Emporium opposite the Tibetan Market Area .

Lajpat Nagar market complex in South Delhi, Sarojini Nagar Market in South West Delhi and Karol Bagh near New Delhi station are ideal for all income groups. From big showrooms to roadside stalls, from posh restaurants to small food joints, one can find them all in these market places.

Art lovers must visit Delhi Haat if they want to collect intricately designed handicrafts, metalwork, blue pottery, home décor, jewelery and Indian puppets. For ethnic and antique jewelry, some well known places are Kinari Bazar and Dariba near Chandni Chowk, Amrapalli at Khan Market or the stores behind Jama Masjid near Red fort.

Every market in Delhi has a characteristic ambience and history connected to it. Shopping in Delhi does not mean just buying things, but is a way of understanding the multi-faceted character of the capital city of India. So, while you visit the historical monuments or do the sight seeing, set aside at least one day to wander about in the market places of Delhi.

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