Delhi is a veritable paradise for shoppers, who can buy objects ranging from the simplest of Indian handicrafts to international designer labels, and often within the same shopping area.

Delhi is unique in that it has representative outlets for the handicrafts of each Indian state. This in it self presents a staggering array of goods, and at very affordable prices. In the last decade there has been a dramatic change in Delhi's markets. Upwardly mobile lifestyle has led to greater sophistication in display and upgrading of various markets in terms of availability of items.

Delhi has long been the most important trading centre in Northern India. Many of its localities, like Sheikh Sarai and Yusuf Sarai, derive their names from medieval market towns which serviced the bygone, shifted capital cities of Delhi. Today, all of these have become a part of the rapidly expanding metropolis. Instead of market towns, there are specific whole sale markets or"mandi's" scattered throughout the vast city, and their's is another story.

For visitors to Delhi, shopping is high on the list of "things to do". Tourists find a wide choice of items- such as carpets, silks, jewellery, leather and silver ware, handicrafts and handprinted cotton - that are synonymus with India. Each item is available in a range of prices, depending on the quality and the outlet.

Another interesting is that each market has its own, distinctive ambience and adds its own flavour to the experience of shopping. Haus Khas Village, Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk are worlds apart from one another, yet each of them reflects an aspect of this many - faceted city. In fact one of the fascinating ways of understanding a city is by wandering through its market places for it is here that contemporary culture is most visible to the outsider.

The exploration of Delhi's markets could be begin at Chandni Chowk. Despite the pressures of traffic and population, its historic land marks servive to tell the story of the last three centuries. Many of the shops here are more than 100 years, old and the mesh of lanes and bylanes is full of superises. Leading off Chandni Chowk are Dariba, the silver market, Khari Baoli, the spice market and Kinari Bazar for trimmings and tinsel. In some of these bazaars the item for sale are manufactured at site, which lands a special charm to the shopping experience well integrated into the culture of the old city, these bazaars offer the visitor a glimpse of life in Old Delhi.

There are some antique stores behind Jama Masjid, and more lining the entrance to the Red Fort, where the Meena Bazar once was. These offer items arranging from jewellery to painting and furniture, and cater almost entirely to tourists. Connaught Place, New Delhi's original shopping arcade was planned as part of the Imperial capital in 1911. On Baba Kharak Singh Marg, are the numerous government State Emporia. Which afford a glimpse of the handicrafts of each state. So does the recently- inaugurated new Central Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath. Across the road from "Cottage" as it is popularly known, are the inviting stalls along Janpath.

The Tibetans sell jewellery and ritual objects, while closer to Connaught Place are available embroideries from Gujarat and Rajasthan, readymade garments and bric- a - brac. When the wheather is good it is pleasant to amble down Janpath, where bargaining is the order of the day. Sundernagar Market is a fine place to shop for antiques and silver jewellery. The well - appointed stores keep a choice selection, especially of silver jewellery from Ladakh, semi- precious stones, some textiles and brass, copper and silver object d'art.

Not far from Sundernagar is the Crafts Museum Shop, attached to the museum in Pragati Maidan. Moving further south are the up market shopping centers of South Delhi- South Extension, Greater Kailash I and II, Green Park and Hauz Khas Village.

The haunt of the nouveau riche, these markets offer a combination of ethnic chic and designer lebels, Indian and international. Hauz Khas Village has set a very interesting trend as market. Over the countries, a village had developed around the medieval college and the tomb of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. A few years ago, an association called Dastakar - set up a showroom in the village. Now the village has a plethora of boutiques, galleries and restaurants which coexist with the buffalos, cow pats and men smokking hookahs on charpoys. Far from being a deterrant, the "rural" ambience is a positive attraction.

Other villages like Mehtauli, Khirkee and Lado Serai are fast following suit. Seeing the popularity of crafts bazaars held periodically in the capital, Delhi Tourism has set up a permanent outlet for craftspersons at Dilli Haat, where space and the availability of Indian cuisines make the visit a very pleasant experience. A more up market outlet for Indian handicrafts and antiques is the bazaar near the Qutub Minar.

The Santushi Shopping Arcade opposite the Ashoka Hotel has become another popular up market haunt. Developed by the Air Force Wives Association, it has a select number of boutiques where apparel, furnishings and accessories are available. A restaurant and patisserie add to the quiet charm of the place.
Shopping in Agra

Shopping Items

The magnificent city of Agra not only offers architectural delights but is also reputed as a shopper's paradise. The city has a number of markets and shopping malls that offers the best of handcrafted item specially the replicas of Taj Mahal that match in every detail of the real building.

Agra also offers a variety of leather items including footwear, purses, bags, and decorative items. You can also shop for sandal and rose wood items, brass and stone decorative, embroidered rugs, stone inlay work and floor carvings in the local Handicraft Emporium.

Shopping Areas
There are many shopping area across the city but the major areas include Taj Mahal complex, Kinari Bazaar, Raja Mandi, Sadar Bazaar.

How to Reach

Air
Kheria Airport of Agra is 9 km southwest of the city. Flights are on Tuesday,Thursday and Saturday, Sunday.
To: Delhi; Khajuraho; en route to Varanasi. At the Clarks Shiraz Hotel, the Indian Airlines office is located. Or, you can book your tickets at Sita World Travel on the north side of Sadar Bazaar. It is open daily from 10 am to 1.15 pm and from 2 to 5 pm. It is only a 40 minute flight from Delhi to Agra.

Bus
Most buses leave from the Idgah bus station. Buses fly between Delhi and Agra every hour.
To: Ajmer, Bikaner, Delhi, Gwalior, Jaipur via Bharatpur, Jhansi, Mathura, Udaipur. Buses to Varanasi start at Agra Fort Bus Stand, southwest of the fort. There are deluxe buses between Agra and Jaipur every half an hour.

Train
Agra has several Railway stations. Agra Cantonment, Idgah, Agra Fort, Yamuna Bridge (across river), Agra city (north of the town) and Raja Ki Mandi (northwest of old Agra). Agra Cantonment Railway station is the main terminal, southwest of the city and at the west end of the Mall, running toward Taj Ganj.
To: Bhopal (Shatabdi Express 2002); Punjab Mail 1037; Mumbai (Punjab Mail); Delhi (Shatabdi Express); Gwalior (Kerala Express); Howrah (Udyan Abha Tufan Express); Lukhnow (Ahemadabad Gorkhpur Express); Mathura (G.T. Express). The fastest train between Delhi and Agra is the daily air-con Shatabdi Express

Jaipur Shopping Areas

The builders of Jaipur took special care to provide ample space and facilities for the production and marketing of hadicarfts which made the place famous throughout India and abroad. An entire street and several city sectors were earmarked for artisans and traders. The mainmarkets are along Jauhari Bazar, Bapu Bazar, Nehru Bazar, Chaura Rasta, Tripolia Bazar and M.I. Raod.

Shops specialising in precious and semi precious stones, ornaments and jewellery are to be found on and along Jauhari Bazar. Jaipur enjoys a high reputation for the manufacture of jewellery. It is one of the most active jewel markets of the world and is famous for precious and semi-precious stones and also for the cutting, polishing and setting of these stone, particularly that of diamonds, topaz and emeralds.

Jaipur brass work is of immaculate quality. The Jaipur brass worker is successful in infusing life like charm into the dull metal. Two kinds of work is done in Jaipur on brass viz. Lacquered brass carved brass. Jaipur enamel or Minakari, mostly done on gold and silver has always been a class of its own. The Jaipur artist is renowned not nonly for the purity of the colours, but also for its evenness. Jaipur is also famous for its textiles. Sanganeri and Bagru block prints are the fashion designer's craze these days. The Bandhej (tie and dye)print is very typical of the region.

Near the Hawa Mahal are large number of shops dealing in antiques and pseudo-antiques. Some shops opposite Hawa Mahal stock the famous Jaipuri quilts, weighing from a few hundred grams to a kilogram.

The stone and marble carving industry is also famous art of Jaipur. The stone used is either procured from within Jaipur or from the marble mines of makrana, the famous quarry that provided all the marble stone for one of the wonders of the world at Agra, the Taj Mahal. The carvings, portraits and busts created in Jaipur are held in high esteem everywhere.

Shopping Arcades in Jaipur

Jauhari Bazar
This is where you can buy jewellery and tie and dye sarees. Two lanes joining the mainroad Gopalji ka Rasta and Haldion ka Rasta house numerous establishment selling jewellery. On the main road itself you find many silversmiths. Traditional tie and dye fabrics and textiles are also available here.

Bapu Bazar and Nehur Bazar
Here you can purchase textiles, local perfumes and shoes made of camel skin. Mirza Ismial road

M.I. Road
The broad thoroughfare houses a lrage number of emporia selling a variety of goods ranging fromjewellery and brass work to textiles, to blue pottery, to woodwork, etc. These shops stock a large variety of goods to satisfy the tourists' needs.

Tripolia Bazar and Chaura Rasta
You can shop here for textiles, untensils, ironware and trinkets. If you want to see the artisans at work, step into the side lanes and see for yourself.

Shop at
Ramganj Bazar for shoes or jutis as they are called. Kishanpol Bazar for tie and dye textiles,
Maniharon Ka Rasta (Tripolia Bazar ) for lac bangles and other items,
Achrol House, Subhash Chowk for carpets,
Khajanewalon Ka Rasta for marble carving, and
Saganer village for block printing, hand-made paper and blue pottery.

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