For those who want to take a glimpse at India's kaleidoscope of arts and crafts, then Delhi is the place worth checking out. On Baba Kharak Singh Marg, near Parliament Street, is a row of emporia representing the various states of India. The Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath merits a visit, while Crafts Museum on Mathura Road has craftspeople at work. In here, against the rustic background a tourist can pick up great bargains such as shawls, pottery and paintings. The Hauz Khas Village is an ideal place, if not for buying anything specific then for window-shopping. A visit at Sunder Nagar with its rows of antique shops can be rewarding. For cheaper antiques, Chandni Chowk is the place to look out for. Also situated in this particular area is Dariba Kalan, a narrow street that can be visited for its exquisite range of gold and silver products.Dilli Haat, near INA Market is a shoppers' paradise, as one can buy numerous number of items related to crafts, handlooms and a host of other from different regions at one place. Connaught Place is the foremost shopping centre of the capital offering a large variety of shopping options for novelties, gifts and handicraft items.

Ansal Plaza is part of a massive complex - HUDCO Place, built on 35 acres of land and remains one of the most monumental and prestigious achievements of Delhi till date. HUDCO Place is situated at a very strategic location, just half a kilometer from south Delhi's major commercial hub, South Extension - in the very midst of posh colonies. The Plaza complex, in its design and aesthetic details, measures up to the highest international standards and is designed to give a shopping experience as exciting as anywhere in the world.

A much-frequented but exorbitantly priced market loved by the cash-rich, mobile-toting brigade. The famous M-Block market offers clothes both western and traditional, cosmetics, exclusive lingerie, excellent footwear, artificial flowers, colourful buttons and baubles and even exotic fruit imported from across the world. The N-Block market, though not as glitzy as the first, has stores like FabIndia comprising of ethnic Indian wear, furnishings and crockery and The Next Store with pottery, crockery, wrought-iron furniture and household linen. A third market nearby is the Archana Arcade that is dotted with exclusive sari, salwar-kameez and lehanga boutiques. An ideal place for girls buying for their trousseau.

An upmarket shopping area where quality garments and footwear sell like hotcakes. Frequently visited by rich yuppies and Delhi's cash-flush teenagers, the complex has outlets of almost all the top international brands. Huge departmental stores like Ebony, Big Jos, Hopps are extremely popular and their annual sales are a much-awaited feature. Electronic showrooms, popular eat outs and a truly hip crowd makes this a very popular hangout.

The Paharganj area running west from New Delhi railway station is a popular hunting ground for inexpensive and mid-range accommodations. It's also a place where one can buy from other travellers things they no longer need such as Enfield motorbikes, rucksacks, camping gear, malaria tablets and so forth. Lodges at knockdown prices are available in this area if one is looking for a budget room, there are exceptions on and around the Main Bazaar, which runs west from New Delhi railway station for nearly 1-km. The area is crowded and noisy, unlike the spacious surrounds of the hotels south of Connaught Place, but staying here makes one feel more a part of the throbbing city.

The area around Karol Bagh properly settled after the partition when Punjabis from Pakistan made it there home and opened numerous shops to make out a living. Today this place is a thriving commercial and business centre and there's simply nothing that one can't find over here.

Situated in Karol Bagh, it used to be a place for inexpensive readymades, cotton yarn and embroidered garments but is much more than that now. Fancy stores, big international labels and all kinds of Indian munchies and masalas are available here. The weekly 'haat' is held over here every Monday, when all the big stores enjoy their weekly holiday and is perhaps the biggest of its kind in Delhi.

This is a place where one can buy second hand books. But the real McCoy is actually the Sunday book bazaar held at Daryaganj.

Just off Ajmal Khan Road, it has shop after shop displaying gold jewellery. Pick up a handcrafted piece or a machine-made pattern, the variety is mind-boggling. An excellent place for those shopping for their trousseau.

This labyrinth of alleys and lanes specialises in supplying any imported product that you can dream of buying sitting right here in India. From cosmetics through watches, sunglasses, calculators, electronic diaries to hairdryers, one can expect to find everything.

The Lajpat Nagar market is a shopping area where one can buy products no matter how tight their budget limit is. The market is bursting at the seams with ready-mades from salwar-kameez to jeans to all sorts of inexpensive cotton and lycra western wear too. Amar Colony in Lajpat Nagar is a wholesale market for salwar-kameez and there's even a lane of shops that sell supposedly 'antique' furniture. Just follow the golden rule of bargaining to get good value for money. Lajpat Nagar Central Market has been a shoppers' Mecca for years. It is one of the largest markets in Delhi, which offers almost everything from fresh vegetables, dyed-to-order duppattas, wedding decorations, to dresses and whatever else one can need and not actually require. But nothing can replace a binge at the 'chatwalla' or simply irresistible taste of the 'chola bhaturas' and 'gol guppa'.

A South Delhi market but nowhere near as expensive as South Extension or Greater Kailash. A must visit market for people with low budgets and one can actually find everything from needle and thread to electronic gadgets. An entire lane with kiosks is devoted to cotton garments, which are mainly export rejects or surplus.

Off the Race Course Road roundabout, beyond a cluster of trees is the Santushti Shopping Complex. 'Santushti', literally means satisfaction. Pebbled paths lead the way to the shops, which have a select range of exclusive products. The pace is easy and the shopping complex has a quiet, elegant, neat look, which makes shopping here a distinct pleasure. Santushti is run by the Air Force Wives Welfare Association. With 30-odd shops stocking a range of high quality artifacts, furniture, furnishings, house decor articles and clothes, the relaxed atmosphere makes shopping at Santushti an enjoyable experience.

In view to its proximity to Delhi, the New Okhla Industrial Area or Noida, came up as a satellite town to the capital. Noida is India's one of the most happening cities and has provided comprehensive facilities for residential, commercial, institutional activities with ample social infrastructure in terms of education, health, socio-cultural and recreational facilities. The city has a Golf Course, social & cultural clubs, health clubs, and a stadium. The best place worth checking out for shopping and entertainment are situated in the big shopping complex of 'Atta Market'. The place not only provide day to day products but also comprise of some of the finest hangout zones such as Ebony, Mac Donnels, Nirula's, Domino's and countless others.

This Sunday Bazaar on the ramparts of the Red Fort is locally called 'Chor Bazaar' (a market of thieves) or 'Kabadi' (trash) Bazaar. Here as in other flea markets, one can get just about anything from antiques, beautiful bottles, carpets, car tyres to even used bullets.

A visit to Delhi would be incomplete without browsing through the streets of Chandni Chowk. A very well known market, this was once visited by merchants from Turkey, China and even Holland. The most prominent bylanes for shopping in this area are:

'Katra' was a separate wing for tradesmen and craftsmen in the same business who lived and worked together. This particular Katra is the cloth bazaar, comprising of silks, satin, crepe, cotton, muslin and any other fabric that one can think of.

Said to be Asia's largest market for electrical goods, it is also known for medical equipment and allopathic medicines. To local people it is known as 'Chooriwali ki Haveli' or the Bangle Seller's Palace. Originally, this place was the mansion of Begum Sumroo, a Kashmiri 'Nautch' girl with the most accomplished band of dancers in her troupe. The story of her life would actually make a sensational film - a drama of almost epic scale. This bewitching seductress was not only an accomplished dancer and singer but a shrewd businesswoman who knew precisely when to grab an opportunity. She converted herself to Christianity and married two mercenary European adventurers in succession and it was because of them that she ultimately became 'Begum' of a principality at Sardhana, near Meerut.

Check out this place for any kind of traditional embroidery of zari and zardozi work. This street has everything an Indian bride could need for her trousseau.

Once there were rows of jewellers specializing in gold and silver ornaments situated in this lane. Today a few remain, producing silver jewellery. Do visit Gulab Singh Johri Mal, a shop established in 1819. They are well-known manufacturers and exporters of natural 'attars' (perfumes).

This 'covered bazaar' dates back to the 17th century, to the days when ladies used to practise the 'purdah' (veils) very rigorously. Caravan traders used to lay out their wares in a covered thoroughfare leading up to the Red Fort and moved away to allow the ladies to come and make their choice. Things continued like this till the British turned the fort into a garrison for their troops.
Today the Chhatta Chowk has around forty shops selling artificial and semi-precious jewellery, embroidered bags, hand painted wall hangings and fake 'antiques'.

This place is a must on every tourist's itinerary list. Remnants of a glorious past will make one feel like one's back in the 18th century.

As its name suggests, this bazaar specializes in making and selling pillows, quilts and mattresses. It is situated in the lane behind Jama Masjid.

A busy market, it is located just beyond the cotton market. It still is the best place to buy all sorts of kids' bicycles, cycles and accessories in Delhi. It's also a great place for photographic equipment.

A recent addition to the list of bazaars in Chandni Chowk, it has shops dabbling in readymade garments and cosmetics. The bazaar is basically aimed at pilgrims and tourists. Try the food at the 'dhabas' (roadside eateries) - it is delicious, but don't expect the place to be spick and span.

A popular road visited by college and school students as it specializes in second hand school and college textbooks. Musical instruments are also sold over here.

This Sunday Bazaar on the ramparts of the Red Fort is locally called 'Chor Bazaar' (a market of thieves) or 'Kabadi' (trash) Bazaar. Here as in other flea markets, one can get just about anything from antiques, beautiful bottles, carpets, car tyres to even used bullets.