Shopping · Delhi · India
Shopping in Delhi
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Anupamg, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Delhi is one of India's best shopping cities, from Old Delhi's specialist bazaars to government emporiums with fixed prices, crafts markets and export-surplus clothing stalls. Best souvenirs: Spices and tea, Block-printed textiles and Attar.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Spices and tea
Where to shop
Chandni Chowk and Dariba Kalan
Silver jewellery, traditional perfume oils (attar), fabrics, wedding wear and spices in Old Delhi's lanes.
Khan Market
An upmarket market of bookshops, designer boutiques and cafés near Lodhi Garden.
Janpath
Street stalls selling textiles, cushion covers and jewellery, plus the government-run Central Cottage Industries Emporium with fixed prices.
Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar
Bargain markets for clothing, fabrics and export surplus fashion; bargain hard.
Markets
Dilli Haat (INA)
A ticketed open-air crafts market with rotating stalls from artisans across India and regional food stalls.
Khari Baoli
Wholesale spice market where you can buy small quantities of spices, dried fruit and tea.
Sarojini Nagar Market
Crowded, low-cost market famous for export-surplus clothing.
What to buy
Spices and tea
Garam masala, saffron, cardamom and Darjeeling or Assam tea from Khari Baoli or Khan Market.
Block-printed textiles
Hand block-printed cotton bedspreads, scarves and tablecloths from Rajasthan, sold at Janpath and Dilli Haat.
Attar
Alcohol-free perfume oils sold in small glass bottles by long-established perfumers in Chandni Chowk.
Pashmina and shawls
Kashmiri shawls at government emporiums; buy genuine pashmina from reputable shops.
Handicrafts
Brassware, papier-mâché and miniature paintings from state emporiums along Baba Kharak Singh Marg.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Old Delhi
Chandni Chowk
Old Delhi's main 17th-century boulevard runs from the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid, passing Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a Jain temple and historic sweet shops.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
- Iconic
Market · Old Delhi
Khari Baoli spice market
At the western end of Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli is one of Asia's largest wholesale spice markets, where porters carry sacks of chillies, turmeric, cardamom and dried fruit through narrow lanes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
Museum · Pragati Maidan
National Crafts Museum
The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum gathers folk and tribal art, textiles and architecture from across India, including a village complex of reconstructed rural houses.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Stuffed parathas, Jalebi, Kulfi and Daulat ki chaat. Paranthe Wali Gali, a lane off Chandni Chowk lined with paratha shops. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Connaught Place | $$$ | Colonnaded Georgian circle at the centre of New Delhi with restaurants, bars and the main metro hub |
| Paharganj | $ | Backpacker bazaar opposite New Delhi Railway Station |
| Old Delhi | $$ | Mughal-era bazaars, mosques and havelis around Chandni Chowk |
| Lutyens' Delhi and Chanakyapuri | $$$$ | Leafy avenues of bungalows, embassies and grand hotels |
| Karol Bagh | $$ | Busy shopping district with mid-range hotels on the Blue Line |
| South Delhi colonies | $$$ | Residential areas such as Greater Kailash and Defence Colony with B&Bs and markets |
| Aerocity | $$$ | Hotel district beside the airport with an Airport Express station |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in INR. Tip about 10% in restaurants if service is not included, a small amount to porters and hotel staff, and a daily tip to drivers and guides at the end of a hired-car trip.
- Remove shoes before entering temples, gurdwaras, mosques and some homes and shops.
- Bargaining is normal in markets but not in malls, department stores or restaurants.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–June; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- February: India Art Fair (usually early February)
- March: Holi — festival of colours (usually March)
- October: Diwali — festival of lights (October or November)
- December: Christmas and New Year celebrations
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and nightlife
Connaught Place
Colonnaded Georgian circle at the centre of New Delhi with restaurants, bars and the main metro hub
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Delhi?
Spices and tea, Block-printed textiles, Attar and Pashmina and shawls.
+Where is the best shopping in Delhi?
Chandni Chowk and Dariba Kalan: Silver jewellery, traditional perfume oils (attar), fabrics, wedding wear and spices in Old Delhi's lanes.
+What are the best markets in Delhi?
Dilli Haat (INA), Khari Baoli and Sarojini Nagar Market.