Travel

Dilli Haat Guide – Eating, Shopping & Some Secret Bargaining Tips

- By Anamika Mishra

If you plan a visit to Delhi, you must visit this amazing open-air market complex – DILLI HAAT. It is located on the main road near INA market in New Delhi.

Locals might suggest you to skip visiting Dilli Haat because they would say it’s quite expensive but then, here’s a post to help you out!

Dilli Haat is an experience in itself

…and I personally like the place.

One can eat regional cuisines and shop handicrafts, apparels and decor items from here. You can also enjoy live performances (usually folk) occasionally.

Also, this is run by Delhi Tourism and the entry is ticketed.

FYI: Cost of entry ticket for Delhi Haat INA is Rs.20/- for adult and Rs.10/- for child.

What to eat at Dilli Haat?

There are many food stalls (more like dhabas) inside this complex. They have almost all Indian states’ & union territories’ food stalls. The price for dishes are also very nominal. Means if you are craving for authentic litti choka or uttapam or Rajashtani thali, Dilli Haat should be your choice.

The only glitch I felt was since it is an open-air market complex and the architecture is village-like, the food stalls are also open-air and you have to sit under the thatched roof.

My suggestion would be 1) either go in winters or, 2) in summers, go in the evening time.

Shopping tips for Dilli Haat:

Dilli haat is an idea place to shop authentic handicrafts.

Although you can buy apparels and footwear as well, but then for these things, we have other amazing markets in Delhi.

Right?

For lovers of handicrafts, arts, paintings, handmade stationary and handmade decor items, Dilli Haat is truly a paradise. Locals of Delhi (since I have lived in Delhi for years) say that Dilli Haat is expensive.

But

I don’t agree to this completely, although there are some products that are over-priced.

I have been to here many times and I realised

1) if you shop from counters that are in the beginning, they are pricey than the counters towards the end

2) yes, some items are a bit costlier if compared to vendors outside, but then their quality is also good

and 3) you can always bargain!

Bargaining at Dilli Haat can be a bit hard as compared to Sarojini nagar market or Lajpat nagar markets of Delhi but not impossible. The counters towards the end of the complex are a bit mellow and you can bargain there. Example, a product of Rs1000 can be bought for Rs600-700.

Also, ask for prices in different shops and tell the shopkeeper about the other shopkeeper that you are getting for lower price and they might reduce the cost.

My words for Dilli Haat:

I really like the vibes of this place. If you don’t want to go especially for shopping then you may just plan an outing with family or friends or even a date (if you have seen MS Dhoni Movie, they roam inside the Dilli Haat in that song Phir Kabhi), you can go here, eat and window-shop! I feel Dilli Haat is a desi-version or MiniSo!