I just got back from my 8 day trip to India, which was probably one of the shortest trips I’ve ever made to the Motherland! While we may have spent more time on a plane than we did on the ground, it was time well spent. This was my first trip as an adult where I actually got to explore New Delhi, and I would love to share some of those experiences. Click more to read about the top spots to shop and hangout!
I only had 4 days to acquaint myself with this bustling city. We visited a variety of places, but I listed my top 5 favorite places to shop/eat at (mainly shop):
1. Connaught Place: This shopping district offered mainly Western clothes. I would say it had a similar concept to a flea market. However, if you venture off onto other streets, you can find beautiful handmade jewelry, embroidered purses, and a ton of other little knick knacks. I purchased mainly jewelry as well as a couple of cute Indian style purses. My word of advice is don’t buy the first eye catching item you see. Walk around. You will likely find a better or similar design/style at the next shop, and you can haggle too! 
2. Lajpat Nagar: In this area, you will find hundreds of shops displaying cholis (Indian style blouses), saris, jewelry, shoes, and a bazillion other items. It was so colorful! When entering the stores, they will usher you in and pull out thirty to forty outfits of different styles and colors. I always wonder how long it will take to fold and store everything away. Anyways, we ended up going to a fabric store and picking out material for a tailor to stitch for us. If you have more time in India, definitely take advantage of shopping for Indian clothes. It can get very expensive in the U.S.
3. Dilli Haat: This was probably my favorite area to shop. It has more knick knacks versus clothing, but I swear, there were so many hidden gems. If I had a more concrete idea on how I want to re-decorate my home, I would have definitely gone crazy. They had rugs, vases, cookware, jewelry, fake flowers for large vases, baskets, scarves, and the list goes on. I bought an Aztec looking rug that was about $15!
4. Sarojini Nagar Market: This place offers only Western clothes, and it’s probably one of the most interesting shopping experiences I’ve ever had. Once you enter this market, you will be surrounded by hundreds of stands that have multiple items of clothing hanging! It is overwhelming at first, but eventually you get into the rhythm: Walk, point at an item you like, bargain, buy. I purchased sweaters, a jean jacket, tops, and more jewelry.
5. Bukhara: If you’re looking for delicious, fresh Indian food with a modern and trendy vibe, this is the place to go! It’s one of the top restaurants in New Delhi and located in a 5 star luxury hotel, ITC Maurya. We ordered multiple dishes, but my favorites were the dal bukhara, butter naan, and reshmi kebab. It’s on the pricier side, but definitely a fun place to visit.
I would have loved to explore more of New Delhi, but for four days, I would say we got a lot accomplished! Next time I visit India, I hope I’ll be able to make a trip to Mumbai!
