Historically, Delhi has always remained
an important trading centre in northern India. Old Delhi
still contains legacies of its rich Mughal past that can
be found among the old city's tangle of snaking lanes
and teeming bazaars.[59] The dingy markets of the Old
City has an eclectic product range from oil-swamped mango,
lime and eggplant pickles, candy-colored herbal potions
to silver jewelry, bridal attire, uncut material and linen,
spices, sweets.[59] Some of old regal havelis (palacial
residences) are still there in the Old City.[60] Chandni
Chowk, a three century old shopping area, is one of the
most popular shopping areas in Delhi for jewelery and
Zari saris.[61] Notable among Delhi's arts and crafts
are the Zardozi (an embroidery done with gold thread)
and Meenakari (the art of enameling). Dilli Haat, Hauz
Khas, Pragati Maidan offer a variety of Indian handicrafts
and handlooms.
Shopping At Delhi Haat
Very good ethnic creations, the likes of which you may
never have seen before are available at DILLIHAAT.
Kantha Sarees from West Bengal, Bidri Work from Karnataka
and Andhra, Bamboo and Cane work from Assam, Aari embroidery
from Kashmir, Wooden Icons from Tamil Nadu, panels form
Bastar.. the list is endless.
Stalls are allotted on a rotational basis to the crafts
persons who come from all over the crafts persons who
come from all over the country, exhibit and sell their
creations for a period of two weeks each.
Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk's speciality is the variety of its markets
and their Indian-ness. From authentic Indian food, delicacies
and sweets of more than 1000 kinds, to sarees with chikan,
zaree work. There are lots of narrow lanes with many shops
selling books, clothing, shoes and leather goods, electronic
and consumer goods and what not. The area, even more so
than the rest of the city, is congested. This is also
a good area for window shopping.
Hauz Khas is an area in Delhi, India.
It has had an important place in Delhi's history. Today,
it is a major tourist and commercial area.
Janpath
Commercial offices can be found along Janpath, as its
central location accounts for high real estate values.
The Indian Tourist Office is on the corner of Janpath
and Connaught Lane, and good maps can be purchased there.
Between Fire Lane and the Imperial Hotel, the Tibetan
Market can be found which has a wide range of Himalayan
arts and crafts. Musical instruments, wall hangings and
bead shops are in abundance. Behind the Tibetan Market,
on Tolstoy Marg is the fabulous Jantar Mantar, an astrological
instrument of immense proportions which is well worth
a visit.
South of Rajpath is the National Museum, which will take
half a day to wander through.
Tourists should be wary of the large number of stray dogs
that roam the area. Karol Bagh is
a mixed residential/commercial neighbourhood in West-Central
Delhi. It is primarily known today as a shopping area,
originally centered around the main street, called Ajmal
Khan Road. In recent years, commercial activity has
expanded into the lanes that lead off it, swallowing
once-residential areas which now house, alongwith a
variety of shops, a large concentration of mid-range
hotels catering to a mixture of domestic businessmen
and foreign tourists. Some of the best-known shops on
Ajmal Khan Road include Roopak's, a spice store, but
what the market is mainly known for is clothes and shoes.
It has a plethora of shops specializing in clothes (including
branches of famous trousseau shops Ram Chandra Kishan
Chandra and Zohra, which were featured in Mira Nair's
film Monsoon Wedding).
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