4 Places in Delhi for Shopaholics

Delhi, capital of India has a lot of things to offer. It has both overwhelming history and fine modern culture. It is known for its heritage and different way of life and traditions. This richness is reflected in the food of Delhi, as the city offers different types of people a variety of cuisines and so on. Delhi is the place you swear by, no matter whether you are an avid shopper or you are a foodie like me, you would definitely fall in love with this place and for those who love street food, Delhi is heaven for them.

Are you planning a trip to Delhi? If you are, do pay a visit to the historical monuments, forts and mosques. For all the shopaholics out there, you have to visit its several markets to enjoy shopping in Delhi at its best. 

Delhi is the hub of places to shop. From the lavish buildings of shopping malls to the wide spread street shopping sites, the city of Delhi has it all. Here’s a list of markets where you can buy fashionable, stylish and trendy clothes without making a hole in your pocket. Also, learn the skills of bargaining from Delhiites while you’re shopping.

•Sarojini Nagar- It is named after Sarojini Naidu. This place is one of the popular shopping areas in Delhi to buy clothes. Sarojini Nagar is slightly different than others as if you are looking for branded clothes at a cheap price, then this is place you should be. If you are in hurry, I would suggest not going there as there are lots of options to confuse you. You better avoid Sunday afternoons as it is the rush hour, with the locals coming out to shop.

•Lajpat Nagar- It is famously known for hand-made embroidery of Lucknow chickan. This place demands to be visited once when you are in Delhi. You can get various kinds of accessories, clothes, footwear and saris here. If you have already got some bargaining skills, you might even save a few bucks while shopping from Lajpat. You will also discover some mehendiwalas around the market. They apply mehendi at a very nominal price. One important thing to keep in mind is that the shopping area is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly.

•Chandni Chowk- This place is one of the oldest and most popular markets in Delhi. It holds an astonishing amount of history. The place is very crowded and encompasses every colour of Delhi. Katra Neel Market is one of its famous markets here, which offers various kind of fabrics like silks, satin, cotton, muslin and crepe. Khari Baoli is a must visit for spice lovers. One can buy electrical goods from Bhagirath market which is Asia’s largest market for electrical goods and this also offers medical equipment and allopathic medicines. If you are fanatical with pearl jewellery, you must visit Moti Bazar; which offers exquisite collection of pearl jewellery.

•Janpath Market- The shops are starting from outer circle of Connaught place to Windsor Place. It’s attracting tourists with its colourful shawls, attractive t-shirts, dazzling earrings and a lot of junk jewellery. If you are an ethnic lover, this place will surely satiate your desire for junk jewellery. In winter, you can get some really good woolen clothes within your budget. Janpath market is closed on Sundays.

If you want to visit a mall in Delhi, you can go to Select Citywalk, one of biggest malls in Delhi and if you are with your family, this mall has a huge kids’ play zone. It is known to have quite an well- liked kids play zone in New Delhi.

Why are Malls so Popular?

Up until a few years back, stepping out of the house, whether for a family outing or a groups of friends getting together, was a hassle. There were not many places that a group of people could come to a consensus easily and in time. There were of course, the typical markets and bazaars, and playgrounds and such. But there was still no such place, where one could a multitude of different things all under one roof. One would still have to shop in one place, then travel either by auto, or on foot to go somewhere else to eat and then travel some more to finally get back home.

However, since that time, people of the city have been blessed by the boon that are malls. Malls like Select Citywalk and more quickly grabbed eyeballs from near and far and gained immense popularity within a relatively short period of time. These malls have the thing that people have been wanting all this while and that is almost everything one can imagine to have a good time, in one place.

It is no wonder, that malls have become so popular, that they have become the go to place for people all over the city. Whenever a group is unable to decide on where to go, the easy answer is a mall. In a mall, one can shop, eat, watch a movie, and even participate in a number of different activities, without having to travel much.

One can find in a mall, the best restaurant in Delhi, top brands for shopping, from domestic to unknown and unheard of international brands too. The versatile and vast nature of malls which is able to cater to people of all ages, from small kids to the elderly, is something that perfectly lures people over to it. All these reasons are more than enough to elevate the popularity of a mall.

The Trend Of The Cafes

Whenever someone imagines a café the first image to come to mind is that of a quaint little establishment in Paris, against the backdrop of generation’s old buildings, and soft music playing from a wayward musician. The whole setting just begs to relax and lose themselves in the aroma of coffee, some pastries and forget about anything else.

And that is one reason why cafes in general are so popular across the world. They are much more relaxed compared to the formal vibe from proper dining places, be it for lunch or dinner. Even economically, there is much growth in the business of cafes as opposed to other establishments.

Delhi is a hub of many things, culture, heritage, arts, a glorious mix of modern and history. And one can find multiple activities to do here, from the cinema lovers or the crafts enthusiasts, or the health nuts; there are gyms clubs in Saket, Malviya Nagar and other places too and malls and other recreational activities one can take advantage of.

One thing that Delhi has a lot of is cafes, and they are rising in popularity, especially amongst the younger crowd. Cafes are excellent places, where people can go to spend a few hours, relax and have some light snacks at affordable prices.

Cafes are essentially great places for people who do not really want to consume a heavy meal, yet would like to have something filling, without shelling out a lot of money. Cafes in Delhi cover a wide span of themes, from hippy to calm, to cheerful. And they are exquisitely decorated too; nothing very expensive, but more in terms of creativity and many also display any type of arts created by the patrons there.

The first choice these days for people is going to a café, since they are more compact, and are nowadays offering very unique choices in terms of food and beverages too.

A Shopping Mall Is A One-Stop Shop!

The idea of Shopping sets us in the right mood! I don't know a person who is unaffected by the charm of shopping! Checking things out, getting engaged in the trial rooms and finally coming to the right piece- every part of the process brings joy!

There are multiple places to shop in Delhi. We have street shopping sites and individual showrooms. And we also have giant Shopping Malls into the popular sub cities of Delhi. To me, the Best Places to shop in Delhi are the ones which are complete packages. A typical Shopping mall is more like a one-stop shop where you can shop, eat, drink and indulge in an activity. Here's a list of things that you'd often find in a shopping mall of Delhi.

•    A food court: A food court has become a feature of a shopping mall, and why wouldn't it! We have to have a good place to eat after we are tired of running around the shops! A food court contains multiple kinds of outlets  offering a range of dishes, drinks and desserts!

•    Game zone: This is where you can leave your toddlers when you're busy buying clothes! The Best Kids play zone in New Delhi consists of everything from video games and paint balls to outdoor activities like Bungee- Jumping and toddlers' pools!

•    Coffee Shops: Having a nice chat with your friends and discussing about what you've shopped can happen over a good cup of coffee, and that is exactly why shopping malls contain coffee shops somewhere in them.

•    A grocery mart: The lady of the house would understand the pleasure of finding a mart inside a shopping mall! How delightful it is to pamper yourself with the clothes and accessories, and then getting what your home needs- right there!

Indeed, shopping malls are blessings!

The Best Anniversary Gift For My Brother!

It was my elder brother’s 10th marriage anniversary. We’ve always surprised each other on occasions like birthdays, and anniversaries. Since this is their 10th I decided to go a bit out of ordinary. I am settled in Delhi for about five years now. My brother too, once lived here while he was pursuing his graduation and this is where he met his wife. I have heard him recollect so many events about their love story which blossomed in this city. Sadly, he barely comes to Delhi now as he is settled with his wife and kid in our home town, Bangalore.

I invited my brother and sister-in law to Delhi and after a lot of coaxing and convincing; they took out time out their busy schedule and they agreed to pay a visit. Their arrival was on the night before their anniversary. My husband and I went to receive them at the airport and after the initial greetings; we led them to a car which was not ours. We kept their son with us though, who happily came with his beloved aunt! I booked for a suite in a luxury hotel for them and arranged for a dinner in one of the best restaurants in Delhi the following night.

The hotel I booked for them was in close proximity to the area where their college is. No wonder they were elated to walk down the memory lane after so many years. I sent them to a movie in one of the cinemas in Saket where they used to go while they were dating. They were short of words out of joy and I was glad when they said this was their best anniversary gift ever! The last day of their stay we all had a grand dinner together and their happiness was evident.

Sure, all these arrangements were a bit heavy on pocket, but I realized that cherished memories are the best part of someone’s life and one should never lose an opportunity to celebrate it, re-visit it.

STREET SHOPPING

Who doesn’t like shopping? I mean doesn’t the idea of spending money on clothes and accessories sounds exciting? Delhi has a number of malls to offer a wide range of clothing, footwear and makeup for girls. While counting the most popular malls of Delhi, Select Citywalk is on top, showcasing multiple brands and variants. Although roaming around in Shopping malls and trying a dozen things out before deciding what to buy is interesting, street shopping has its own perks. Not only does it save a lot of money, it makes shopping really interesting as you get to bargain with the sellers and the two-way convincing process is quite funny.

If you’re a college goer and you literally plan the expenditure of your pocket money, there are a number of places to shop in delhi wherein you can get clothes and bags at really reasonable prices. Here, let’s take a look.

•    Janpath: Situated near the Connaught Place metro station, Janpath has a number of small local stalls. You can find latest fashion goods all decorated pompously in attractive colors that just cannot be missed.

•    Dilli Haat: It is more like a traditional market with small roof cottages and gives the feel of a village. The market showcases handicrafts, traditional kurtis for women, traditional earrings and wooden showpieces.

•    Chandni Chowk: Situated from hundreds of years, this place has narrow valleys containing a number of small congested shops. Although the shops are small, they contain millions of things. Ladies often come to this place for wedding shopping of lehengas and suits.

•    Sarojini Nagar: This I believe is the cheapest place possible as it sells really cheap designer materials- clothes and accessories.

•    Lajpat Nagar: This market, although quite hectic, gives an interesting glimpse of Indian culture.  It is abuzz with middle class Indian shoppers for its famous Indian kurti tops and Salwar Kameez.

And don’t worry, you don’t mandatorily have to be a college goer to go shopping at these interesting markets. They welcome all with open arms.

A Child’s Birthday Celebration

Birthdays are one of the most special occasions for a child. Children have utmost craze for birthdays and though subdued, it persists in their older years as well. This day brings on a sheer delight that is displayed on their faces. Birthdays have this magical charm that has affected children of all ages and parents also try to make it memorable for them. I got the opportunity to relive my childhood memories as I got the chance to observe an eight year old child’s birthday party in Saket, at one of the best malls there

Further, children were rushing in and out of the kids play zone in New Delhi mall, as if the place was their playground. I was waiting for a friend and was more than happy to spend my time observing the zeal and celebration around. The birthday girl needed no introduction as she was happily clad in the prettiest dress around along with a little tiara. But it wasn’t these accessories that distinguished her from the rest; rather it was the sheer delight that painted ‘The Birthday Girl’ all over her face. She was the celebrity around, for that day; and the place’s ambience contributed to her princess like stature. The elegant interiors that are usually aptly ornamented with seasons decorative were decorated with red all over it as it was February. This gave me the impression as if the entire place is decorated especially for her; and I suppose she believed the same.

The party was being hosted in the kids play zone in New Delhi mall, which are well equipped with games and play stations to occupy a child’s attention. The children were all so delighted and the little hostess was happily entertaining everyone, while her mother was arranging the pile of gifts. I was reminded of myself as I saw the girl was stealing a peek at those every once in a while, she was probably wondering about their contents. I actually enjoyed that wait while watching that birthday party in Saket. The happy clamor around took me to a different world altogether. It recalled the sweet memories from my childhood; and while observing those children I realized that as adults we have complicated our lives so much that in the act of being mature we do not allow ourselves the simple pleasures of life.      

To Delhi, With Love

It feels great to be back to the city where you spent your college life. After all it stands as a witness to all those madness and crazy days! Who doesn’t like to reminisce those honey colored days? Well I am fortunate enough to be back in Delhi shortly after my marriage and me and my husband plan to settle here for a while. After a stay in our hometown (we belong to the same hometown) for about a couple of years, fate brought us back to place we first met that too within a month of our marriage! Needless to say we both love this city and we chose to stay in Saket which would not only be close to our workplaces but because it’s a familiar place to both of us.

We were classmates and our common hang out place was PVR Saket complex. We have uncountable memories here! The walks, the movies the gossip sessions and the crazy photo sessions! Ah we revisit those days each and every time we pay a visit to PVR Saket.

The interesting fact is, we are still regular visitor to a café in Delhi which is close and we love it as much as we loved it back then, in fact this is the place where my husband once confessed his feelings for me. This café remains a special for both of us! What’s funny the manager still recognizes us!

Apart from all these, we have reunited with a lot of friends here who we missed badly during our exile from Delhi. Although life has taken a different turn and would do so eventually, these are the things which help us connect to our innocent carefree days which no other memory can beat. It is like first love, no one really forget it!

The Father-Daughter Movie Buffs

While downloading the latest movies has become the trend with my generation, I still like to catch a new movie the old-fashioned way. And so I impatiently await each Friday when some new movie or the other hits the cinemas.

Battling the urge to go on ‘torrent’ and download the latest movies, or simply streaming it online –as easy as it all really is- I don’t quite enjoy a movie on my laptop’s tiny screen. No, I want the big, shiny silver screen experience. I’d go to Select Citywalk and watch check out a movie at PVR than on my laptop anyday! In my world, that’s how a movie ought to be watched.

Perhaps this love for movies and movie theatres alike has stemmed from my father. Ever since I can remember, movies have always been a ‘father-daughter’ thing for me. From Antz to Titanic, Babe in the Big City, Lion King… the days of my childhood are filled with memories of my father and I catching the first show of every good movie that hit the cinemas.

If you had to go to pvr and you planned to go to cafe in delhi all you had to do was ask us, we knew it all! Back then, and even now, kids my age would want to go with their friends for movies… But not me! Being the daddy’s girl that I was, I couldn’t even begin to fathom watching a good movie in the theatre without my father! So I’d end up watching all the Harry Potter movies twice –first with my father, and then my friends.

Even now, when my friends want to go to Select Citywalk to catch a movie, I always check first with my father. If he hasn’t watched it, then sorry guys, in a few days! I may not be a little girl anymore, but I have a gut feeling this ritual is going to go on for evermore –maybe even my kids will love to go to the movies with their grandfather!

Saket –A Social Hub

Everyone living in South Delhi will understand me when I say that Select Citywalk has become a social hub for us all. Often enough, I’m sure you find yourself planning an outing with your friends, and unable to reach a conclusion as to where to meet, someone always quips in with, “Oh, let’s just meet at Citywalk.” 

Such urban clichés are cliché for a reason, are they not? It’s centrally located in South Delhi, you can drive down, take a rickshaw or even get there by metro. Sprawled across a large area, Saket offers all kinds of entertainment. You could go to the Best pvr in saket to catch a movie, eat a positively delectable meal at one of the many restaurants, and shop till you drop, or even just walk about and still have a good time.

You will find the Best pvr in saket, so you and your friends can lounge in the more than comfy seats, sip on some coke and munch on some scrumptious popcorn while enjoying a Hollywood or Bollywood flick. And if you’ve still got time to spare after your movie, then there’s a variety of restaurants with all kinds of cuisines that will definitely curb your food cravings. So Delhi's Best restaurant could be one of many at Citywalk. That’s the beauty of this social hub, it’s not just a mall to shop (or window shop) at –it’s got just about everything. Any of the fantastic eateries at Saket could be given the title of Delhi's Best restaurant –the culinary expertise is just that great!

So if you want to plan an outing with your friends or family, catch a movie, or eat out, all you have to do is decide to meet at Citywalk and you’re in for an assured day of fun!