India GO
Janpath and the Cottage Emporium
The Souvenir Mile
Janpath, the "people's path", runs south from Connaught Place, and its first stretch is Delhi's souvenir mile: kiosks of cotton, brass, mirror-work and Tibetan curios. The method is simple: look at fixed prices first, then bargain on the street with a number in mind.
👥 Who it suits
souvenirs learning fair prices
Staying here
No reason to stay: it's a shopping strip; base yourself next door in Connaught Place.
🌙 In the evening
Stalls pack up by nine.
Getting there
Ⓜ Janpath
Shopping
Where to stay
👣 How to walk Janpath
The street is short, so the order is about prices rather than distance.
- Start at the Cottage Emporium
From Janpath metro, the Central Cottage Industries Emporium is at the door: the Government of India's crafts store since 1948, with fixed prices and checked authenticity. Press reports describe sparse shelves after unpaid suppliers, so treat it as a price lesson rather than a sure shop, and call ahead if you need something specific.
- Walk north along the stalls
Then walk up towards Connaught Place along the Janpath Market kiosks: cotton clothes, scarves, bags, prayer beads, silver and costume jewellery, Gujarati mirror-work and brass. The Tibetan row, with Himalayan crafts, singing bowls and beads, sits between Fire Lane and The Imperial. Bargaining is expected here; check silver and stones before you pay.
- Lunch at Kerala House
For lunch, cut across to the Kerala House canteen on Jantar Mantar Road: banana-leaf vegetarian meals, appam with stew, puttu and strong South Indian coffee at government-canteen prices. Jantar Mantar, in the Connaught Place area, is close by.
When to come
There is no official weekly closing day: each kiosk keeps its own hours, and the stalls pack up by about nine in the evening. Late afternoon works well, after the worst of the heat and with Connaught Place's evening a few minutes away. Delhi Tourism lists the Cottage Emporium as open 10 am to 7 pm daily. Around Gandhi Jayanti in October, Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan at the CP end runs its seasonal discount, which makes the same walk a good khadi stop.
Janpath compared with other markets
Janpath is a strip to shop rather than a place to stay. The one grand exception is The Imperial, a hotel of 1931 on Janpath itself; otherwise base yourself in Connaught Place at the northern end (see where to stay in Delhi). Walk south and the street crosses Kartavya Path, the ceremonial avenue of Rajpath and India Gate, on its way to the National Museum.
Against the other markets: Sarojini Nagar is cheaper for clothes (export surplus, dug out of piles), Janpath is better for small gifts in the centre of town. Dilli Haat has craftspeople selling their own work from every state, for a token entry fee and without haggling. Old Delhi is the place for spices and serious silver. The full comparison is on Delhi markets and Delhi souvenirs.
❓ FAQ
What is Janpath famous for?
Cheap street shopping in the centre of Delhi: cotton clothes, silver and costume jewellery, scarves, bags and Tibetan curios, with the government Cottage Emporium at its southern end.
Is Janpath expensive?
No, prices are low but not fixed. Learn real prices at the Cottage Emporium first, then bargain.
Which day is Janpath closed?
No official weekly closing day is published. Each kiosk keeps its own hours, and the stalls pack up by about 9 pm.
Which is cheaper, Sarojini or Janpath?
For clothes, Sarojini Nagar. Janpath is better for small souvenirs and Tibetan crafts in the city centre.
Which metro station is nearest to Janpath?
Janpath on the Violet Line, next to the Cottage Emporium. Rajiv Chowk at Connaught Place serves the northern end.
Sources (2)
Facts checked: 8 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.
Other areas of Delhi
In the app: the city's areas on the map, the places inside and a route.
Open in India GO