What to bring as a gift? This perennial problem usually glozed tourists from the first days of travel. We want to give something unusual, but special for the country and not very expensive - because every one has a lot of friends.
On this page we will publish not standard traveler's ideas what to bring as a gift.If you can replenish our ideas - write us
Markets and shopping places for tourists In Delhi all for tourists can be found in Paharganj, Janpath, Village Market and Chandni Chouk (there are silver, decorations, gemstones, various assortment for sewing). Between all these markets there is a subway that is cheap and convenient; they are approximately on distance of one station from each other (except Village Market that can be reached by a car and a payment for the entrance has to be done). Janpath Market Janpath Market (Jan Path) is situated opposite the famous Connaught Place, in New Delhi. It is the perfect for buying the latest fashion goods at cheap prices. There is mainly assortment that expected for tourists - souvenirs, folk creativity. Some of the most popular items at Janpath market in details are: ethnic dresses, daily-wear clothing (right from skirts to jeans to t-shirts and so on), silver jewelry, imitation jewelry, leather footwear (Jutis, Mojris, Kohlapuris, etc), embellished linen, cotton garments, Rajasthan vegetable color paintings, Indian artifacts and carpets, CDs and DVDs, furniture and decorative items. There are a fair number of showrooms also in this market. However, shopping in Janpath is best done at the numerous stalls that have been put up there. One thing to remember while shopping at Janpath is to bargain as much as you can. There is no limit to how low you can get the prices to be.
Hauz Khaz Village (Village Market)
This urban "village" is known for its glam clothing boutiques (selling both Indian and Western garments), designer duds, handiworks and fine folk crafts, curios, hand-blown glass items for the home, carpets, art galleries and furniture shops. In Hauz Khas Village sophisticated boutiques and shops set in converted old homes up and down narrow alleys. This suburb of New Delhi is often compared to New York City's Soho or Greenwich Village. Credit card acceptance varies by shop. Chandni Chouk Chandni Chouk is the largest trading center of North India offering in general such goods us decorations, silver products, all for trimming in sewing (stones, bead, spangles, laces of very great choice). There are a number of by-lanes in Chandni Chowk Market, each specializing in a particular field. Some of these by-lanes are: .
Santushti Shopping Complex situated across from Diplomatic Enclave and Ashoka Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi is a calm green bazaar. The Air Force Wives association runs this small shopping complex, which is a favorite haunt of diplomats' wives. Thirty boutiques are ringed around a small garden. This isn't the best spot for bargains, but it is the perfect place to find high fashion Indian clothing. Cosmetics, jewelry, leather accessories and decorative home items are also sold here. Connought Place and Palika Bazaar On markets that are estimated on tourists, prices are always higher than common shopping places have got. For example, Connought Place and in the same location there is one more place for purchases - Palika Bazaar; there are in general all for tourists - souvenirs, skin, bags, coats, ornaments etc. There is a wide selection of commodities and it is necessary to bargain, prices can be reduced in 2-3 times, the main thing is to be persevering. Dilli Haat Among places of purchasing it is necessary also to name a shoppers Paradise Dilli Haat in Delhi (there are two now, old and new one). Dilli Haat, situated in the center of Delhi near the "All India Institute of Medical Sciences" and opposite INA Market, is a kind of a weekly bazaar, organized on a much grandeur scale. It is possible to get to by any auto-riksha or taxi; the name is very famous (it is needed to spell the name of the place only). It is a permanent haat that offers an amalgamation of folk handicrafts, food and cultural activities. Dilli haat is spread over an area of approximately 6 acres and has a typical traditional Indian village look to boast of. It is proud of its look that consists of a plaza paved with stone and brickwork and sprinkled with grass, flowering shrubs, eucalyptus trees, etc. Shopping in Dilli Haat is full of an exotic variety of handicrafts and handlooms ranging from handmade wooden articles and intricate woodcarvings to embellished camel hide footwear. There are also sophisticated fabrics and drapery, cotton and shawls, gems and beads' ornaments, metal crafts and so on. The handicrafts stalls at the haat are allocated on a 15-day rotational basis to craftsmen from different parts of the country. In is way, it is made sure that different handicrafts are available to visitors at each visit. District center District center is situated along the Metro-line towards Dwarka (that is a sub city, located in the South West Delhi area of National Capital Territory). It is similar to Dilli Haat. Once again we would pay attention that it is necessary to bargain and not to buy a thing at once. As in one place it can be 500, and in other 50. Here is such difference. In shopping malls there is the quality of goods, but the price is more expensive. Sarojini Nagar Market Sarojini Nagar Market of New Delhi is one of the most affordable and fashionable markets in India. The market is located in South Delhi and is also known as SN market Yashwant Place Market Yashwant Place Market is spacious shopping complex located in 5 minutes of driving from Sarojini in Chanakyapuri near by Ashoka Hotel. The market is an attraction for tourists who would like to buy woolen carpets at a low price, leather products, fine fabrics etc. There is a possibility to order also bedclothes that are sewn from natural silk. Silver jewelry and gemstones can be bought at Mapnha Emporium. Very beautiful tables, dinner-wagons, cases and screens that are made of natural wood exposed to the appreciation and enjoyment of visitors. There are Russian-speaking sellers and possibility for discounts. Rajouri Garden Rajouri Garden a popular market and residential neighborhood that is located in West Delhi. Rajouri Garden is also home to many western style indoor shopping malls. It is possible to get there all kinds of goods having high quality, but mainly there are clothes and footwear. There is in general, as well as in all malls, production of well-known companies and in accordance with it prices are offered. These malls are located conveniently next to the Rajouri Garden metro stop. The malls include TDI Mall, TDI Paragon Mall, Shoppers Stop, City Square, West Gate Mall, and Paradise Mall. All of these malls are quite technologically advanced and feature great parking space and a nice ambiance. Jawalaheri Market Jawalaheri Market (Jawala Heri Market, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi) has affordable prices; there are a lot of sales, mainly offering clothes, bangles, decorations, fabrics, saris, kurtas (traditional wear) etc. Metro Walk Mall at Rohini It can be advised to visit one of the biggest and best malls in the NCR that has come up recently at Rohini in North Delhi near by a Japanese park - the Unitech Metro Walk Mall with a total area of 200,000 sq. ft. Clothes, sari and various garments can be bought there. Being one of the biggest malls in the capital the Metro Walk also boasts of an excellent Amusement park - Adventure Island - housing several rides and swings specially imported from abroad. It can be told that entrance tickets cost for nothing (for adults - 350, for children-200, but it is for whole day and as much as wanted). The park is especially popular amongst children and teenagers. Lajpat Nagar Market Lajpat Nagar Central Market is located near the Ashram Chowk in South Delhi. The market is a mixture of roadside stalls as well as glitzy showrooms. Here one can observe vast selection of goods such as clothes, textiles, footwear, bags, any kind of accessories etc. You can find ethnic Indian wear on one hand and the latest in the western style clothing, on the other. If you are buying anything from the stalls in the Lajpat Nagar Market do not forget to bargain with the shopkeeper to reach a reasonable price. This bazaar attracts bargain-hunting locals on the prowl for household goods, mainly clothing and jewelry. Karol Bagh Market The Karol Bagh Market is one of the oldest and most flourishing shopping centers in Delhi. This middle-class market sells competitively priced consumer goods, from kids wear to kitchenware. The whole of the shopping place has been sub-divided into various roads, streets and markets, each specializing in a particular field. There are following divisions in Karol Bagh: The Goa In Goa all goods are very expensive, especially at a season; and for foreigners are even more expensive. In general prices in India depend on a season. For example in Goa during not a season (from June to October) prices will be at 2-3 times less.
There are also Dilli Haat, Sarojini Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Santushti Shopping Complex.
Katra Neel is the cloth bazaar of Chandni Chowk. There are silk, satin, crepe, cotton, muslin; you will get almost every fabric of the world in this market;
Bhagirath Palace is supposed to be the largest electrical goods market in Asia. Apart from that, it is also famous medical equipments and allopathic medicines;
Kinari Bazaar is very famous for zari and zardozi work, of any and every kind. It can offer anything and everything that one may need for an Indian bridal trousseau. Zari is a type of thread made of fine gold or silver wire used in traditional Indian and Pakistani garments. This thread is woven into fabrics, primarily made of silk to create intricate patterns. It is believed this tradition started during the Mughal era. Zari is also a method of traditional textile weaving in Iran. Zardozi work is a type of embroidery in India. Zardozi reached zenith under the patronage of Emperor Akbar. This technique employed use of laid stitch with golden thread. The name zardozi is from Persian and means "sewing with gold". It can also be defined as applique method of embroidery. The loss of royal patronage during the time of Aurangzeb and the onset of industrialization led to the decline of the craft. During the middle of the century this traditional craft resurged. Today, Hyderabad, Madras, and Bareilly such as Allampur, Faridpur, Biharkala, Nawabganj and Chandpur in Uttar Pradesh have emerged as important centers of craft.
Dariba Kalan is the perfect place for silver jewelry shopping in Chandni Chowk. Once a place full of gold and silver jewelers, it now specializes in silver jewelry;
Chhatta Chowk Bazaar A covered bazaar, dating back to the 17th century, Chhatta Chowk Bazaar has around forty shops selling artificial and semi-precious jewelry, embroidered bags, hand painted wall hangings, fake antiques, etc.
Chandni Chouk is also known by the name of Moonlit Square (or Silver Square).
Cigar aficionados will appreciate Kastro's, which has Cuban cigars of high quality, Davidoff mini-cigarillos etc. Meanwhile, Lotus Eaters sells sublime old gold and silver pieces including Ganesh pendants from Rs 1800, while Anokhi (branch also at Khan Market) specializes in quality block-printed textiles, from tablecloths to garments.
The Cannaught Place Market of New Delhi that is officially the Rajeev Chowk is one of the best places in India that is considered by shopping enthusiasts a paradise on the earth. Located at the heart of the city or rather gradually transforming itself to become the heart of Delhi, the Cannaught Place Market is one of the popular places that are known for its myriad of shops.
Delhi is all about shopping and when it comes to shopping in the luxurious plazas and malls then the Palika Bazaar of New Delhi deserves a special mention. There are four hundred shops housed in the Palika Bazaar that is subterranean market located under the grassy square, between the inner and the outer circle of the Cannaught Place. The Palika Bazaar was set up in the late 1970 and since then it has continued to be a popular shopping place in Delhi.
(The address is Sarojini Nagar Market, Sarojini Nagar, New Delhi). The selling-place specializes in garments - from shirts to saris and shawls, from traditional and ethnic clothes to modern dresses. Here one can find variety of products. Main goods are textiles and clothing, but there are many sales; therefore it is possible to purchase things for an affordable price. Also footwear, bangles, decorations there are on sale. In general all popular brands of clothes are sewn in India and Bangladesh. For some reason prices on it here are less than in Europe. There is possibility to find the same things on markets Laxmi and Sarojini (so-called surplus i.e. overproduce). One of the major attractions of the Sarojni Nagar Market is that it provides even branded goods at cheap prices. This is so because export surplus garments as well as rejected export clothing comes to this market at throw away prices. Right from Levis to Van Huesen to GAP, you will find almost every Indian as well as International brands here. One thing to remember in the Sarojini Nagar Market is to bargain and haggle a lot with the shopkeepers to get a reasonable rate. Otherwise, you will get expensive things, even here.
This is a best place for eating too. Local restaurants offer Momos, Thokpa, Sizzlers, Tandoori, Kababs and Indian & Mughlain food here. There are many Chinese restaurants, Chinese garden and China Town.
There is an opinion that purchasing of commodities in India is better to be done in shops or on such markets as Rajouri Garden - then quality of goods can be got. A shopping on opened bazaars would be even slightly dangerous in general, where someone can be cheated, because such phenomenons there are quite a lot. A garment that already had been worn can be sold without any ceremony.
Near to Rajouri Garden there is a small market, as it is said, for local people. Surrounding areas to Rajouri Garden are Subhash Nagar, Shivaji Enclave, Tilak Nagar, Shiv Nagar, Vishal Enclave, Ashok Nagar, Tihar Village, Hari Nagar and Shivaji Place.
Like all other malls, the Metro Walk Mall too has outlets of all leading national and international brands including Pantaloon, Reebok, Nike, etc. An artificial lake spread across a 3.5-acre area provides a unique and refreshing backdrop to the exclusive retail experience. The address is Unitech Metro Walk Mall, Sector 10, Rohini, Adjacent to Rithala Metro Station, New Delhi.
One of the attractions of this market is the Mehndiwalas (Henna appliers) sitting on the pavement. They will adorn your hands with beautiful henna designs in no time at all.
Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh once specialized in inexpensive ready-made garments, cotton yarn and embroidered garments. However, now, this road boasts of big fancy stores, international labels, along with all kinds Indian munchies and masalas (spices) that are available here.
Arya Samaj Road is one of the best places to buy second hand books in Delhi.
The Bank Street in Karol Bagh is known for its numerous Jewelry shops. These shops specialize in jewelry for the bridal trousseau.
Shopping in Karol Bagh is incomplete if you haven't been to the Ghaffar Market. There is not a single imported product in India that is not available here. From cosmetics to watches to cell phones to footwear, you will get anything and everything here.
Apart of these special items, you will find other items like furniture and furnishings, carpets and dhurries, tea, fashion accessories and a lot of other items in this excellent market.
The main advice is - do not buy anything without bargain and haggle. For all that are desired to be bought, bargain against the stop.