India's rich historical and cultural legacy has created a wealth of handcrafted items and Delhi is the country's foremost shopping centre. Colourful bazaars in the old and new city are fascinating places to shop or just to browse for handicrafts made of brass, wood and leather as well as for jewellery. Shops tend to open around 1000 and close between 1800 and 1900. VAT is currently not used in India, however, implementation of this is planned for April 2003. Tip: Remember that bargaining is expected in the bazaars and smaller shops.

Delhi’s markets come crammed with goods, people and smells. The magnificent bazaars of Chandni Chowk are open daily and piled high with gold, nuts, spices, silks, carpets and perfume and are worth visiting for the spectacle alone. Sunder Nagar Market, off Mathura Road, is open Monday-Saturday and is a good place to search for antiques and jewellery, as well as boasting a huge variety of other knick-knacks and artefacts spilling out of the shops. One of Delhi's most prestigious markets and a regular haunt of the city’s ex-pats, is Khan Market, just south of India Gate, open Tuesday-Sunday. There are a number of excellent bookshops here. The wholesale Spice Market, on Khari Baoli, in the Old City, is where, for centuries, the culinary traditions of North Asia, China, Persia and the Middle East have worked their influence on local cuisine. Many markets specialize in certain goods, such as fabrics or crafts or produce, while others have a type of two-of-everything selection that is almost daunting. Travellers with even the most marginal interest in shopping should nonetheless check out at least one market, if only for the sheer spectacle.

In artwork several galleries carry paintings by contemporary artists. As the seat of empires for centuries and with royalty as patrons, Delhi has long been a cultural centre attracting the best painters throughout the country. Therefore you are sure to find something that takes your fancy. Even if not intending to buy, just looking will be a pleasure to most. Among the active galleries are Art Heritage, Triveni Art Gallery, Sridharani Gallery, Art Today, Vadehra Art Gallery, Eicher Gallery, Gallery 42, Dhoomi Mal Art Centre, Gallery Escape, Lalit Kala Akademi, LGT Gallery, Gallery Ganesha, Gallery steps, AIFACS, Max Mueller Photo Gallery, British Council Division Gallery, Gallery Romain Rolland, Khirkee Gallery, the Village Gallery and at times the American Centre.

All the carpets at Saga, on Mathura Road, come with a Central Silk Board guarantee. Similarly, Barakhamba Gallery, on Barakhamba Road, and June 1st, at New Friends Colony, offer high-quality goods and service.

In Handicraft The most central of the government-run handicraft centres is the Cottage Industries Emporium, on Janpath, which is well stocked with leather, textiles, jewellery, silks, cotton and saris. On Baba Kharak Sing Marg, the Himachal Pradesh Emporium has soft blankets and shawls in wool, cashmere or pashmina, while the Poompahar Emporium stocks the region’s glazed Thanjuver pottery and traditional stone carvings of gods and goddesses, and the Uttar Pradesh Emporium specialises in leather goods and copper and brass items. Located in south Delhi, Hauz Khas Village has a centralised collection of furniture shops and bazaars, along with a good selection of frequently changing boutiques offering designer clothes, silks, chiffons and organzas. Traditional crafts, have long been practiced in Delhi and you’ll discover fine potters, wooden toy makers, kite makers and lacquer craftsmen in Old Delhi where it is not unusual to come upon a traditional workshop.