7 Best Markets To Go Shopping In Delhi

New Delhi is not just a place where you can go back in time with historical landmarks, monuments and cultural centers. It is also one of the best shopping destinations in the country, a fact seconded by thousands of tourists and locals thronging the popular shopping hotspots of the National Capital. Here’s taking a look at the best shopping places in Delhi that you should not miss.

The regions of Old and New Delhi are endowed with some of the exciting shopping regions. Famous for Madhubani painting, silk textiles, tea, spices, puppets and others, this region is an important shopping destination of central India. Yes, street food is also an important part of the market and shopping.

# Chandni Chowk

One of the oldest and best-known shopping strips in Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk is a must-visit. Absolutely heaving with people, traffic and stalls, this place sells almost everything you can imagine - but in truth it is worth visiting for the experience alone, even if you don't find anything to buy.

Chandni Chowk has actually been here for more than 300 years, and is an excellent place to pick up all kinds of souvenirs. Indeed, you can stroll around some of Old Delhi's most interesting bazaars here, including Katra Neel - a wonderful cloth bazaar selling all kinds of colourful fabrics.

# Daryaganj Book Market

Held every Sunday, Daryaganj Book Market is one of the best places to buy books in the city and, at more than a kilometre long, is a fantastic place to browse. The particularly nice thing about shopping for books here is that you can enjoy the variety that's characteristic of Delhi - think everything from new releases and bestsellers to classics and out-of-print titles.

# Nai Sarak

Another good place to buy books is Nai Sarak, which is just off Chandni Chowk road. Closed on Sundays, it has a huge range of shops that sell a great selection of books, including academic texts that make it a popular place for students to visit.

# Chhatta Chowk Bazaar

Like Chandni Chowk, Chhatta Chowk has been around for several centuries. This covered bazaar leads up to the famous Red Fort, and is an excellent place to buy things like pretty embroidered bags, jewellery and artwork. Interestingly, this market was designed for women in purdah - traders would lay out their goods and then move off, allowing the ladies to come and select what they wanted while remaining in purdah.

# The state emporium

For tourists, one of the best places to shop is the state emporiums, because this way you can almost have a mini tour of the whole of India while you browse. You'll find these stalls along Baba Kharak Sing Marg, and they sell handicrafts and other items produced in different states.

So, while being in Delhi you can browse miniature paintings created in Rajasthan, sandalwood sculptures from Karnataka and carpets from Kashmir.

# Connaught Place

Shoppers who want to shop for brand names, meanwhile, should head to Connaught Place - a shopping, financial and business centre. The market here is made up of two large circles - the inner and the outer - both of which are home to plenty of household names.

In the outer circle, you'll come across the likes of Lacoste and Omega, while the inner includes Nike, Adidas Originals and Bentley - among many others. It's also worth keeping your eyes peeled for stores selling fine cashmere, such as Ganga Ram & Sons.

# Khan Market

Rounding off our list is Khan Market, which is the best place to go if you like the sound of doing some upmarket shopping. Full of boutiques, this bazaar has high-end homewares, cutting-edge fashion and excellent bookshops.