Born to Shop In Delhi

An India Tour is not complete without shopping unless shopping is not your thing. India is a shopper’s paradise but for now, I am only going to talk about shopping in Delhi. I have been to Delhi several times and my knowledge of where to go is growing. One of my favorite places is Khan Market. Your driver can take you there and wait for you. I love Anokhi for Indian clothes made for western tastes. They are made in Jaipur where Anokhi originated.

Last time I was there, an Italian designer from Milan was buying piles of clothes to bring home and was going to charge three times as much. Anokhi has great scarves to give as presents. They also sell beautiful place mats, napkins and bedding. Then there is Fab India that has cotton Indian clothing at great prices. The clothes are made from handloom weaving techniques and natural dyes. Fab India’s clothes are made by artisans across India. Full Circle book store has a good assortment of Indian and Western authors. The staff is helpful. Paperback books are a third of the price of those in the US.

Big Chill, Khan Market



Tailor, Chandni Chowk

I always enjoy going to the Big Chill for lunch or a snack. It is small café with Hollywood posters on the wall. I love their ice cold yogurt smoothies that are particularly refreshing after walking around in the heat. They have good sandwiches, salads, pastas and entrees. You will be shocked by how inexpensive it is. I describe their food as Western or Italian with an Indian twist. Chandni Chowk near the Red Fort in Old Delhi is an extremely crowded but colorful marketplace. There is the spice market, the wedding market, jewelry market and more. There is even an area where stolen goods are sold and the police just look the other way.

There are great tailors in Chandni Chowk. My son was taken by an Indian friend to to have two suits custom-made made for him. He picked out the material and told the tailor what he wanted. My son had to go for a fitting and then return to pick up the suits. But what a bargain and so well made! The suit was tailored as well as any American or European designer. Santushti Shopping Complex has an upscale selection of shops. Shopping here is leisurely and not crowded. The shops have a beautiful assortment of women’s clothes with a few selling men’s clothes. I like Chritina because she has beautiful silk blouses with matching scarves that are wearable back home. The quality is excellent. Dilli Haat is an open area that imitates a rural market place. There are about 200 stalls where you buy directly from the artisans. There are crafts from all over India and the prices are extremely reasonable. There is silver jewelry, furniture, art and crafts that make great gifts. There are also many food stalls with food from different parts of India. I could go on and on. Delhi is definitely a shopper’s paradise. You must not forget to bring an extra suitcase or leave room for what you buy. 

If you want an India Tour that includes lots of shopping, Geringer Global Travel can plan that Customized India Tour for you.