>Great India Place, Sector 18, 3rd Flr, Noida
Tel: 011 4350 3716/17/18
Timings: Daily noon to 10 pm
Cost: Rs 200 for 2
>City Square Mall, Raja Garden
Tel: 011 43503 716/17/18
Timings: Daily noon to10 pm
Cost: Rs 200 for 2
Sweet Endings
Once the family has sampled its way through Delhi’s eateries, satisfy the sweet tooth with an array of desserts.
Ice creams
Baskin Robbins
With at least 31 flavours to sample, how can you go wrong? Rs 40 per scoop. Go to www.baskinrobbins.com for more locations.
>Defence Colony Market
Tel: 011 2433 3849
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
>New Friends Colony Market
Tel: 011 6450 9366
>Vasant Kunj Market
Tel: 011 6510 8662
>Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2371 3921
>Kamla Nagar
Tel: 98180 01139
>Pitampura
Tel: 011 2735 5971
>Ansal Plaza
Tel: 98713 13716
Timings: Daily noon to midnight
Gelato Italiano
Most of the flavours are 96% fat free and 100% vegetarian. The chain also offers 100% fat-free and dairy-free sorbets.
>M-34, Greater Kailash I
Tel: 011 4658 8556
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Price: Rs 65 per item
>6 G13, Community Centre, New Friends Colony
Tel: 011 4652 0857
>A-302, The Great India Place Mall, 3rd Flr Sector 38A, Noida
Tel: 0120 422 6556
Gelato Vittorio
Find a bounty of delicious and not run-of-the-mill flavours to satisfy your sweet tooth.
>West Gate Mall, 1st Flr, Rajouri Garden
Tel: 011 3254 3577
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Price: From Rs 90 per item
>Ansal Plaza, Ground Flr, C Block, Khel Gaon Marg
Timings: Daily 11am to 11 pm
>Select Citywalk Mall, Ground Flr, Saket
Timings: Daily 11am to 11 pm
>Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar
Tel: 98185 47242
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Giani Di Hatti
This place is famous for its kesar kulfi faluda and fruit ice creams.
>A-3, DDA Market, Paschim Vihar
Tel: 011 6579 8586
Timings: Daily noon to 11 pm
Nirula’s
Nirula’s seems to do everything at a reasonable price. After you’ve had a thali, choose from a robust selection of ice creams. Check the Web for an outlet nearest to you.
>Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 11 pm
Web: www.nirulas.com
For die-hard sweet tooths
Brownie Cottage
This is a chocolate lover’s paradise. Over 1,000 brownies are baked and sold daily. Customers can also choose chocolate toffee which start at Rs 12 a piece.
>Select Citywalk Mall, Saket
Tel: 98202 91196
Cost: Brownies Rs 45 to Rs 85; cakes Rs 550 to Rs 1,350 per kg.
Chaina Ram Sindhi Confectioners
Open for over 100 years, this sweet shop is famous for its Karachi halwa
>Chandni Chowk
Tel: 011 2392 7585; 011 2395 0747
Timings: Daily 7:00 am to 8:30 pm
Cost: From Rs 20 per item
Choko la
Handmade chocolates, rice crispy treats, cookies, pastries and cakes that are so beautiful, they should be photographed.
>36 Khan Market, Middle Lane
Tel: 011 4175 7570
> Choko la Vasant Vihar Priya Cinema Complex, Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar
Tel: 011 4166 9595
Cookie Man
Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? The Cookie Man stole the (ginger, almond, coconut, walnut and many more) cookies from the cookie jar. Cookies, cookies and well, more cookies. There are several outlets to choose from including IGI Airport.
>F-14 Metropolitan Mall, 1st Flr, Gurgaon (near Sahara Mall)
Tel: 0124 410 0788
Cost: Rs 40 per cookie
>L-1, Upper Atrium, Centre Stage Mall, Sector 18, Noida (near The Great India Place)
Tel: 0120 420 5921
>Centrestage Mall, Ground Flr, Sector 18, Noida (near Radisson Hotel)
Tel: 0120 431 2708, 0120 302 6555
Timings: Daily noon to midnight
Defence Bakery
This is the place for pastries galore.
>34 Defence Colony Market
Tel: 011 2433 8119
Timings: Daily 10 am to 10 pm
Mad Over Donuts
It’s hard to find a good doughnut in Delhi but this place delivers. Choose the regular sugar and chocolate varieties or snack on a mushroom and cheese doughnut.
>The Great India Place Mall A-2 Sector 38A, Noida
Tel: 95120 4271438
Timings: Daily 10 am to 8 pm
Cost: Rs 25 to Rs 30; Rs 250 per dozen
Web: www.madoverdonuts.com
> Select Citywalk Mall, Saket Level 2 Food Court A3 District Centre
Tel: 011 4059 7517
Mrs. Kaur’s Premium Cookies
With two (blink and you will miss them) outlets in Khan Market and one in East Patel Nagar, Mrs. Kaur’s definitely gives the Cookie Man a run for its money. There are 30 to 40 choices and a microwave to make the outlet’s famous brownies warm and gooey. Free delivery for the die-hard cookie fans.
>73-A Khan Market (Middle Lane)
Tel: 98189 0005
Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 10 pm
>Arcade E, Inside Gallery, Khan Market
Tel: 98189 0005
Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 10 pm
>29/6 East Patel Nagar
For delivery: 011 4248 0808; 011 4248 2345; 98189 00005
Cost: From Rs 35 per cookie; brownies Rs 50 to Rs 60 each
Web: http://www.mrskaurs.com/
Sugar ‘n’ Spice
There’s a huge selection of cakes, cookies, doughnuts, pastries and imported chocolates at reasonable prices, so it may surprise you that you’re actually standing in Khan Market. Imported cheeses and meats also are available.
>58-A Khan Market
Tel: 011 2464 0741
Timings: Daily 10 am to 8:30 pm
Traditional Indian sweets
Annapurna Mistanna Bhandar
This shop holds the distinction of being the only shop that caters to Parliament when it is in session. The majority of offerings at Annapurna Mistanna Bhandar are made of chhena, not khoya. However, you can still get rosogullas and sandesh here. Opened in 1929, the sweetshop is famous for its kancha golla that sells for Rs 250/kg.
>1463, Chandni Chowk, Delhi
Tel: 011 2396 2050; 011 2386 8466
Timings: Daily 8 am to 8:30 pm
Bengali Sweet House
Bengali Sweet House, one of the oldest shops in the Bengali Market, opened in 1942. It offers a wide variety of sweets and namkeens from the traditional North Indian mithai to Bengali mithai. There is also a snack bar serving south Indian dosa (pancake), chaat and golgappas.
>27–37, Bengali Market, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2331 9224; 011 2331 1855
Timings: Daily 8 am to 11 pm
Cost: From Rs 30
Ghante Wala’s Sweetshops
Famous for having sweetened the mouths of emperors with the always consistent jalebis, Ghante Wala’s is still going strong. They guarantee no milawatt, and all of their preparations are made with desi ghee. Some must-try sweets include their balushahi, gulab jamun, kala jamun, motichoor ke laddoo, shahi laddoo and pista ki lauj. Online delivery is available.
>1862-A, Chandni Chowk
Tel: 011 2328 0490
Web: www.ghantewala.com to place an order online
Haldiram’s
Look no further than Haldiram’s for a mithai shop. Their soan papdi, made of almonds, pistachios and desi ghee into a flaky sweet, comes in a variety of gift boxes. More typical fare includes gulab jamuns, kalam petha, raj bhog and rasgullas dipped in saffron and rose flavoured syrup stuffed with dry fruit. Outlets can be found city wide.
>1454/2 Chandni Chowk
Tel: 011 28883 3007
>B-1/F-2 Mathura Road, Badarpur
Tel: 011 2889 8018; 011 28889 8027
>45, Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar
Tel: 011 2889 8032/3
Timings: Daily 9 am to 11 pm
Web: www.haldirams.com for more outlets
Nathu’s
Typical North Indian fare that flies off the shelves every day. Some hot-selling, both literally and figuratively, items are gulab jamuns swimming in the hot syrup, rasmalai kesar, dhodha barfi and soan papri. There are sugar-free options like the kalakand. Online delivery is available.
>23–25 Bengali Market, Babar Road
Tel: 011 2371 7313; 011 2371 6326
>1 Defence Colony Market (near Mother Dairy)
Tel: 011 2433 3128; 011 2433 3127
>2 Main Market, Sundar Nagar
Tel: 011 2435 4982
Timings: Daily 8 am to 11 pm
Web: www.nathusweets.com for other outlets
Tiwari Brothers Confectioneries
Traditional Indian sweets. Pure ghee ladoos are their specialty.
>862 Chandni Chowk
Tel: 011 2392 7690; 011 2391 8326/3327
Timings: Daily 8 am to 10 am
>O-3B Lajpat Nagar II
Tel: 011 2684 9479; 011 2691 8348
Eggless treats
Most bakeries carry egg-less desserts and are labeled as such. However, it’s guaranteed they can be found at the following places:
Angels in my Kitchen
>Defence Colony Market; Shop 9AB New Friends Colony
Tel: 011 5163 1239/40
Big Chill
>68 Khan Market
Tel: 011 4175 7588/99
Gelato Vittorio
>M-69, GK I
Tel: 011 3251 2527
Web: www.gelatovittorio.com for more outlets
Mrs. Kaur’s Premium Cookies
>73A Khan Market
Tel: 011 4248 0808
Web: www.mrskaurs.com for more outlets
Organic Food Shops / Delivery Services
For a range of organic spices, pulses, jams, soaps, dried fruits, candy and vegetables, check out the following stores.
Bhatia Health Foods
C-16, Masoodpur, Vasant Kunj
Tel: 99681 77551; 99106 34333
Dubden Green
Seasonal selection of vegetables and fruits. Delivery is available.
>4-A Shahpur Jat
Tel: 98101 31343; 011 3290 5310
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.organicbounty.com
Fabindia
(Also see Shopping, p.177.)
Web: www.fabindia.com for outlets
French Farm
A big variety of vegetables, herbs, poultry (including turkeys), lamb and pork is delivered to your door.
Tel: Roger Langbourg 98101 66196
Khadi Bhandar
>Khadi Gramdyog Bhavan 24 Connaught Place, Regal Building
Tel: 011 2336 2231
Navdanya’s Organic Vegetables
There’s no hard and fast rule that you can’t prepare a home-cooked meal while you’re on vacation. According to your accommodations, you can go for a hot meal or refreshing salad. Orders have to be placed in advance and you’re given a pick-up time. Only members can get their greens delivered.
>D-26 Hauz Khas, near Hauz Khas Market
Tel: 011 2653 2124; 011 2653 2460; 011 2685 3772
Cost: Rs 400 for a basket of mixed vegetables and herbs
>Organic Café, D-26, Ground Flr, Hauz Khas Near Hauz Khas Market
>HPCL Outlet at Ashram Chowk Delhi Ring Road, Mathura Road Crossing
Tel: 011 5162 7100; 011 5162 7500
>Stall No.18, Dilli Haat, Opposite INA Market
>HPCL Outlet, Sundar Nagar, Mathura Road
Tel: 011 2435 8611; 011 2435 8144
>Shop No.35, Vasant Arcade, Vasant Kunj
Tel: 011 4178 3205
Tribes Shop
>9 Mahadev Road (near Gol Dak Khana)
Tel: 011 2373 1214
SHOPPING
No.1: Central Cottage Industries Emporium. One-stop
shopping for everyone in the family and the household, too.
Multiple floors, AC, and a restaurant mean that one can
easily spend a half-day here.
In addition to soaking up the rich history of Delhi, putting aside an afternoon or several afternoons for shopping is a must. Check out the many mega malls and the high-end and lowend markets and numerous bazaars. Handicrafts, fabrics, woodwork, trinkets, baubles, leather, toys, clothes, shoes, accessories and electronic goods can all be found here.
The government emporiums and stalls and shops all over the city carry items that will be envied at home. Fixed prices are never really fixed when you buy enough, except for the government emporia, but if you don’t mind haggling and are willing to walk away, till you get to the next stall selling something similar, that is, bargains can be found from Sarojini Nagar to Paharghanj and Chandni Chowk to Connaught Place. Even the hotels have expansive shopping arcades that sell marked up trinkets and designer duds. Look out the car window at traffic stops and the latest novels along with Indian flags, toys, magazines, pens and even glittery Ganesh statues can be bought after a few minutes of bargaining. If there is any hesitation on the part of the vendor after asking the price, offer a quarter of the quoted price and start the bargaining from there. Pay what you should be paying.
Remember, the airlines weigh the suitcases, not you. So stack those bangles on your arms, layer those scarves around your neck and put on a funky T underneath the Anokhi tunic.
Markets
Delhi’s markets come crammed with goods, people and smells. Although it seems as if a billion malls have cropped up around Delhi in the last several years, markets continue to thrive as regulars shop at the places where their parents and grandparents have shopped. The markets offer everything from household goods, daily food staples and the trinkets that tourists and locals can’t seem to get enough of.
The closing days for the shopping complexes in Delhi are as follows. However, some shops in all of these places sometimes keep hours different from the rest of the complex:
Sundays: Connaught Place, Janpath, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Jor Bagh, Khan Market, Malcha Marg, Nehru Place, Sunder Nagar, Yashwant Place, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar.
Mondays: Defence Colony, INA Market, Jangpura, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, South Extension.
Tuesdays: Greater Kailash, Green Park, Hauz Khas, Kalkaji, Safdarjung Enclave, Vasant Vihar, Shahdara, Yusuf Sarai.
Chandni Chowk
The magnificent bazaars of Chandni Chowk are open daily and piled high with sarees, beads, unique silver jewellery, gold, nuts, spices, pulses, silks, carpets and perfumes that are worth visiting to stimulate your senses. The large cycle market is a draw for those passionate about anything on wheels. Chandni Chowk is also famous for its cloth market, bed linen, photographic materials and photo albums. The Chowk is the major street in the walled city of old Delhi, which includes the Red Fort. It also has several religious shrines, the Jama Masjid being the most famous. Once among the most prestigious markets of Delhi, today mainly regulars and tourists flock to the shops. What really makes Chandni Chowk stand out is the variety of markets where everything can be found in a jumble of winding and crowded streets. There really is no point in shopping in Chandni Chowk if you don’t round out the experience by eating at Karim’s (see Eats, p.138), known to be a meat lover’s paradise; or Paranthe Wali Gali (see Eats, p.142), famous for its paranthas.
> Old Del
hi, near the Red Fort
Timings: Mon to Sat from 10 am to 7 pm
Connaught Place
Located at the heart of New Delhi, the shopping district is also called CP, but officially it has been renamed Rajiv Chowk. (The Metro stop is named Rajiv Chowk so don’t start wondering why you can’t find Connaught Place.) Built in 1932, it is the commercial hub of the city. Most shops in this tourist mecca are open 7 days a week. The markets and shops are structured on an inner and outer ring and are distinguished by blocks A to F in the inner ring and G to P in the outer ring. Framed by Janpath’s famous stalls, everything from knick-knacks to restaurants, jewellery and handicrafts can be found here. The infamous underground Palika Bazaar is also located here. It is the grandfather of all things from the grey market with about 400 stores selling cheap electronic goods and clothing. Frequent raids by the police close it down, but the stores are usually up and running in a few days’ time.
Most international and national retails brands and food outlets can be found here including Adidas, Benetton, Puma, Raymond’s, Bata, Nirula’s, KFC, TGIF and McDonald’s. For a complete list of stores, divided by blocks, go to www.connaughtplacemall.com. The majority of the shops are closed on Sundays but some remain open for the inevitable foot traffic.
Daryaganj
Books, books and more books. Some first editions of the classics have found their way onto the tables.
>Timings: Sundays from 7 am to 5:30 pm
Greater Kailash M and N Block Markets
Sure to give Khan Market a run for its money and a run on the money in your wallet, these markets are becoming more upscale by the day with all the international and national brands present and lots of restaurants to choose from including Moti Mahal, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and the Smoke House Grill.
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