Shopping in New Delhi

Art and Antiques

Shopping in New Delhi can be as enjoyable as in Mumbai, but the city is so vast that shopping tends to be concentrated in far flung pockets of the city.  If you don’t want to miss out on any treasures, take time to comb through each neighborhood one at a time. New Delhi is unique in that art and craft emporia from almost each Indian state are camped here, mainly in the Connaught Place area which displays a range of artifacts, textiles, and handicrafts produced by local artisans. A visit to these locales is a must, especially if you’re not planning on exploring India further.  The Jammu and Kashmir emporium has the best selection of carpets and shawls, while the Rajasthan emporium is a treasure trove of miniature paintings and jewelry.  Prices are fixed and reasonable so you’re spared any haggling.  Head to the Central emporium for quality handicrafts from all over the country. 

Jewelry

As the seat of the Mughals for centuries, New Delhi was the birthplace of two exquisite forms of jewelry – kundan in which stones are set in gold leaf and minakari or enamel work.  Another distinctly New Delhi style of ornamentation is the Navratna style of jewelry in which nine different kinds of stones are set perfectly in gold.  Seek out old jewelry shops in Chandni Chowk for minakari and kundan pieces. 

Pottery

Traditional terracotta flower pots, lamps, and long necked pitchers can be found at potter colonies scattered across the Saket, Uttam Nagar, and Bindapur areas.  The blue glazed pottery that the city is known for comes in the form of urns, tea sets, ashtrays, and napkin rings. The earlier popular Persian motifs have given way to a more sophisticated palette of colors. 

Shopping Districts

Chandni Chowk in the Old Town adjacent to the Jamia Masjid is one of the oldest bazaars in the city; a labyrinthine maze of narrow alleys lined with old shops that sell silver jewelry, bridal outfits embellished with elaborate embroidery, leatherwear, bangles, silks, crepes, and muslins.  Don’t let the heat or the smells get to you – this is a bargain hunter’s paradise.  The horse shoe shaped Connaught Place area is the shopping hub of New Delhi, and you’ll find virtually everything here, from inexpensive local handicrafts to international brand names to Indo Western wear.  The 6 acre Dilli Haat near the AIIMS is an updated version of the traditional village crafts market known locally as haat and has dozens of stalls that offer handicrafts from around the country in an imaginative rural setting.  For a unique shopping experience, head to the elite Hauz Khas Village where exclusive galleries, boutiques, and upscale restaurants rub shoulders with 12^th century monuments.