History
If you want to have an experience of Indian village market then a visit to Dilli Haat at Aurobindo Marg is a must as it offers the visitor a perfect scenario right in the heart of the cosmopolitan city of Delhi. Craftsmen from all states of India display their wares here and a wide variety of handicrafts are available. Some of the things that you can pick up from Dilli Haat are hand painted papier mache products like bangles, jewellery boxes and trays from Kashmir, which certainly makes for great buys. Shawls, stoles and scarves in silk and cotton are popular item too. Dhurries, wall hangings, ethnic clothes and jewellery items are all available.
Dilli Haat is not just a marketplace; in fact it is much more than just a place where you go to buy traditional handicrafts. Dilli Haat offers visitors an ambience of a traditional rural haat or village market, which has been created keeping in mind the needs of a contemporary customer. Perceived as a centrepiece of traditional Indian culture – an environment where village life and folk art are brought closer to the city dwellers – Dilli Haat takes you to the exquisite world of Indian art and heritage thus offering you a unique and an unforgettable experience.
Some of the stalls that will catch your fancy at Dilli Haat are the stalls selling products like hand-painted papier mache products such as bangles, jewellery boxes and trays from Kashmir, which certainly makes for great buys. And if you like ethnic wear then you can choose from shawls, kurtas, dupattas, footwear made of camel-skin, and silver jewellery from Rajasthan and the North East. Other than these you can also buy Lac bangles from Rajasthan and Kolkata, which are made in all colours of the rainbow, are sold here and make for lovely gifts.
The craftsmen from Manipal showcase their black pottery here, and these ceramic wares will add to the beauty of your home interiors. Pick up the stone-art and Mughal paintings from Rajasthan, and Madhubhani paintings from Bihar, to adorn the walls in your house. Cane products such as jewellery boxes and trays are cute and inexpensive. Out of the ordinary, you might be drawn to the traditional drums and wooden toys sold here.
The complex of Dilli Haat offers a complete entertainment for the whole family where one can savour delicacies from all over the India like momos from Sikkim or the Bamboos hot chicken from Nagaland, Kahwa & Kebabs from Jammu, Pooranpoli from Maharashtra or the Guajarati Dhokla. There are more than 25 food stalls selling various delicacies in an eco friendly manner.
A treasure trove of Indian culture, handicrafts and traditional cuisine you can either window shop here or buy the traditional crafts of the various states, or just marvel at the rich heritage of our country. Although organisers allow unrestricted interaction between buyers and sellers, they like to keep a check on prices so as to keep them reasonable to the extent that both buyers and sellers are benefitted.
Established as a joint venture between Delhi tourism and NDMC, DC Handicrafts and Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and aims at offering support to the needy artists from all over the country so that the rich heritage of India could be sustained and preserved, Dilli Haat is located opposite INA market – one of the major commercial centres of South Delhi and is spread over an area of six acres of land that was retrieved as part of a reclamation project and transformed into a magnificent dream plaza.
After some extensive foundation work, small thatched roof cottages and kiosks with a village atmosphere, Dilli Haat of today is an attractive place that offers equal opportunity to craftsmen from to demonstrate their artistic skills to thousands of visitors every day.
Dilli Haat is not just another boring marketplace but it is a recreational market where the whole family will have a good time. After a hectic day you can visit Dilli Haat for some unwinding and savour some scrumptious cuisines from all over the country at very affordable prices.
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