India GOWhat to buy in Delhi
Delhi sells the whole country, so the hard part is not finding a souvenir but knowing what a fair price looks like. Start at a fixed-price government emporium to learn what a good shawl costs, then go into the bazaars of Old Delhi for spices and silver, where bargaining is expected, and finish in Khan Market for books and the gifts that come in a box.
What to bring home
Each item comes with the place in the guide where it is bought best.
Spices and saffron
Khari Baoli, at the western end of Chandni Chowk, has traded spices since the 1600s and is the largest wholesale spice market in Asia. Sacks of chillies, turmeric, cardamom, Kashmiri saffron, nuts and dried fruit stand open along the lanes, and the air is sharp enough to make a newcomer cough. Shops sell retail too, and this is where Delhi families go for saffron and garam masala (a blend of ground warm spices). Closed on Sundays; mid-morning is the working hour.
Khadi and handloom
Khadi is hand-spun, hand-woven cloth, Gandhi's economic argument turned into fabric. Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan on Connaught Place, the government flagship since 1967, sells it by the metre and as kurtas (long shirts) and saris at fixed prices. FabIndia's first shop, opened in 1976 in the N-Block Market of Greater Kailash-1, sells handwoven shirts, bedcovers and kantha (running-stitch) quilts; its branches all over Delhi carry the same range.
Block prints
Anokhi, a Jaipur label founded in 1970, helped revive Rajasthani hand-block printing with natural dyes. Its Khan Market shop has clothing downstairs and quilts, tablecloths and soft furnishings upstairs, where the cottons are easiest to compare in daylight. It is the no-risk alternative to buying silk on trust in a bazaar.
Ayurvedic oils and soaps
Ayurveda is India's traditional system of medicine, and its cosmetics come at three price levels. The cheapest good buy is the shelf of natural soaps, hair oils and shampoos at Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan. Kama Ayurveda's flagship in Khan Market (since 2012) sits in the middle, with kumkumadi facial oil and rose and mogra (Arabian jasmine) waters. Forest Essentials, whose first shop is also in Khan Market, sells gold-leaf facial oils and saffron-and-sandalwood soaps in packaging made to be given.
Silver, beads and attar
Dariba Kalan, the jewellers' lane off Chandni Chowk, is where Delhi itself goes for silver (including decent handmade pieces), semi-precious stones, beads and amulets; first prices can come down three or four times. In the same lane, the attar counter of Gulab Singh Johrimal, which dates itself to 1816, sells alcohol-free perfume oils by the single note (see workshops in Delhi).
Books
Bahrisons in Khan Market (1953, still family-run) is strong on new Indian writing and signed editions; its neighbour Faqir Chand & Sons, trading there since 1951, is the place where staff dig out an obscure title. Midland Book Shop at Aurobindo Place has two floors and standing discounts. The Daryaganj Book Market runs on Sundays, with many books at approximately ₹50–100 (2026). More in bookstores.
Small gifts and cheap clothes
Janpath Market next to Connaught Place is touristy but useful for inexpensive scarves, bags, costume jewellery and prayer beads. Sarojini Nagar sells export surplus of Western-brand clothing in piles: dig, inspect seams and hardware, and bargain hard.
✅ How to buy without regret
Prices in Delhi range from fixed to wildly negotiable, sometimes on the same street.
- Learn prices at the emporium first — Central Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath, state-run since 1948, has five floors of crafts from across India (pashmina, carpets, bronzes, jewellery, tea) at fixed prices with authenticity checked. It is the place to learn what a good shawl costs before bargaining anywhere else; shipping and foreign exchange are handled in-house.
- Bargain where it is expected — In Sarojini Nagar start by offering half; in Dariba Kalan the first price can fall three or four times. Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, the Cottage Emporium and brand shops have fixed prices.
- Check before you pay — Inspect seams and hardware on branded stock, and be careful with electronics in Chandni Chowk, which are often counterfeit.
- Mind the days — Khari Baoli is closed on Sundays, while the Daryaganj book market runs only on Sundays. Sarojini Nagar is at its worst on weekends; go on a weekday morning. Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan is crowded around the Gandhi Jayanti discounts each October.
❓ FAQ
What is Delhi famous for buying?
Spices and saffron from Khari Baoli, khadi and handloom cloth, silver from Dariba Kalan, block-printed cotton, ayurvedic cosmetics and books from the old family bookshops.
Which market is very famous in Delhi?
Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi: crowded, loud, smelling of spices and frying oil, and worth visiting as much for the atmosphere and street food as for shopping. For boutiques and books, Khan Market.
Which area is best for shopping in Delhi?
It depends on what you want: Old Delhi for spices, silver and fabric; Janpath and Connaught Place for fixed-price crafts and khadi; Khan Market for books and gifts; Sarojini Nagar for cheap clothes. More on each bazaar in markets in Delhi.
What is a good food gift from Delhi?
Saffron, garam masala, nuts and dried fruit from Khari Baoli, where Delhi families buy their own.
Where can I buy a genuine pashmina shawl in Delhi?
At the Central Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath, where prices are fixed and authenticity is checked. Even if you plan to buy elsewhere, it shows what a good shawl should cost.
Do I need to bargain in Delhi?
In the bazaars, yes: start at half in Sarojini Nagar, and expect first prices in Dariba Kalan to fall three or four times. Government emporiums and brand shops have fixed prices.
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