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Importance of Buying Souvenirs

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Shopping brings inner peace, we are sure the ladies will agree to it. We visit so many different places in our lifetime and one thing we surely do is shop not only of ourselves but we buy tons of souvenirs for people back home. Souvenir comes from a French word which means "a remembrance of memory" or a memento. It can be something that you like to collect or something that you want to gift to your loved once. A souvenir does not have to be of a set amount but should be of value in terms of memory or the thought behind buying it.

When you hear the word souvenir it reminds of small novelty gifts that you get from people who are close to your especially when they have returned from a holiday. They remind of the place where you have been or your experience during the visit; they also show that they thought of you when they saw it in a different city or country.

Buying souvenirs does not only make the people happy but does a lot of good to the country you visited as it increases the tourism industry revenue as well. It promotes the local people and advertises their skill by word of mouth. Buying a souvenir is a great way to help the country you visited and bring back a piece of what you leave behind with you.

Why Do People Buy Souvenirs?

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Entering a gift shop and not buying anything is hard and it is common for people to give in to the temptation and buy things either for themselves or people they love. There are many reasons why people buy souvenirs like:

  • You meet someone who is good in handcraft and want to support him. It is a great way to tell a story about the person and their piece of work when you head back home.
  • It brings back fun memories
  • There are times when you look at a piece and it instantly reminds you of someone, for example, a tin of coffee for the friend who would die for a cup of coffee.
  • There are times when you find something you have been looking for and you get a great deal for it.
  • You want to help the artist who created the piece or the business owner selling it.
  • You can't resist the beauty of it although you may not use it ever.
  • Because it's weird and you like collecting weird things.
  • You buy souvenirs because you like to collect things from the places you have been.
  • You also end up buying souvenirs because you simply fell in love with it even though it is of no use to you.

Things to Buy from Delhi

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If you are travelling to Delhi then you need to know that Delhi has some of the best markets in India where you can buy anything you can think of. You can find great deals in the local roadside markets at great prices. Here is a list of a few things that you ought to buy if you are in Delhi.

Indian Pickle

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Pickle is one thing you will find in every home in India. You will find homemade pickles or store-bought pickles. Pickles in India can be made from anything under the sun and if you love having pickle with your food then you need to buy a bottle or two from Delhi.

A pickle can be a great gift for anyone from your family members to friends or people you work with. Everybody loves them. It is a blend of great-tasting spices and flavours packed in a jar which makes your mouth water as soon as the aroma hits you. You can find the great-tasting pickles in almost all the general stores in Delhi. If you like to bring taste into your friend's life then you need to gift them a jar of pickle brought from Delhi. You can find sweet, sour or hot pickles or aachar for your foodie friend.

So, if you are looking for a souvenir for a friend who loves to eat adventure food then buying a jar of pickle will make her happy. It is easy to carry as it comes tightly packed in airtight plastic or glass bottles. They are affordable and you can choose whichever size the flavour you want.

You can find some great pickles at Sethi's Achar shop in Khari Baoli, Chandni Chowk or at Pachranga Achar at Than Singh Nagar in Delhi.

Indian Silk Garments

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Silk is famous in India, it is one of the most luxurious materials made in India and you can find sarees, Kurtis, shawls made of silk everywhere in India. Silk is an expensive material as it takes up a lot of effort, time, energy and manpower to create a piece out of raw silk. You can find silk in different varieties and colours. Some people buy readymade clothes made of silk and some like to simply buy the material and make beautiful garments out of it like kurtas or blouses. If you like to buy clothes then you should buy a piece made of silk. You can easily find silk material or clothes in Delhi in almost all the garment shops.

Silk makes a wonderful gift for your mother or even father as you can buy a great looking silk kurta which he can wear during the festivals or special occasions and be proud of it. People who like the finer things in life would love to own a silk garment. Silk is not bulky therefore it is easier to pack and carry it with you.

If you plan to buy a silk garment from Delhi you should visit the Bihu Bazaar in Govindpuri, Delhi.

Indian Tea

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We all have that one person who is a diehard fan of tea and getting him a bag of great Indian tea would be the best gift ever. Indians love to drink tea, it’s a tradition in India to offer tea anytime a person comes over to visit regardless of the time of the day. Tea or chai brings instant energy and refreshes you after a full day of work and gives you an opportunity to kick those shoes off and gossip with your friends over a cup of tea.

If you are looking for a perfect gift for your tea lover member of the family then you ought to buy Indian tea from Delhi. Delhi is packed with tea houses that offer a great variety of tea in different flavours. You can either buy a simple pack of tea or can choose from masala tea or ginger, lemon, apple, cinnamon tea flavours.

You can find plenty of teas at the Mittal Tea House at Lodi Colony, New Delhi. It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 at night.

Silver Jewelry

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Jewellery is an all-time favourite for ladies and they can't get out of a market unless they buy a piece of great jewellery. Although can find different types of jewellery all over Delhi but Delhi itself is quite famous for silversmiths. They are experts in creating unique jewellery out of silver. If you like to accessorize yourself then you should buy silver jewelry in Delhi. You will find a great variety as well as good deals on it as silver is beautiful and affordable.

If you are looking forward to buying jewellery from Delhi then you should think about buying silver jewellery from Dariba Kalan, Chandini Chowk or Janpath.

Old Monk Rum

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Visiting Delhi on official business and can't think of what to buy for your husband? Don't think too much just buy a bottle of Old Monk Rum and watch him grin. Your husband will thank you endlessly for this great gift and will brag about it between his friends. Old Monk Rum is a 60-year-old Indian brand produced by Mohan Meakins. It comes with a rich flavour of strong molasses.

You can buy it from Mohan Nagar in Ghaziabad.

Meenakari and Kundan Jewellery

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Another great thing to buy from Delhi for the ladies is the Meenakari and Kundan Jewelry. If you are the kind of person who loves to wear jewelry then you should buy a piece of beautifully crafted Meenakari and Kundan jewelry. You can find unique, quirky as well as fashionable earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, anklets and many more from Delhi. They make great gifts for friends and sisters. They are beautifully crafted and come in all sizes and can be worn either formally or during formal occasions. Gifting Meenakari jewelry will make your bond with your sister stronger and she will cherish it for a long time. They are easy to carry and require zero maintenance. They come in a great variety of prices.

You can find Meenakari jewelry from between Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 10,000 and a great place to buy it from the Titu Jewelers in Chandini Chowk, New Delhi.

Attar

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If you love perfumes than you should buy the locally made attar (perfume) from Delhi. The Attar is made from natural perfumed oil extracted from botanical sources. They are made from flower petals distilled in water and cooked on low heat and pressure to retain their natural fragrance. Some of them also contain exotic woods and spices for a special fragrance. Making attar is a long process therefore they are expensive. These attars are made by steaming the natural products over weeks and then collected in a container of mild sandalwood oil. The oil then blends with the sandalwood and emits an exotic fragrance that lasts for days even after washing the clothes.

If you want to buy authentic attar in Delhi, you should visit the Gulabsingh Joharimal which is a 200-year-old shop and are the only people who make genuine attar. You can choose from a variety of attar according to the seasons like the khus (poppy seed) for summer or henna for winters. You will also find attar made of Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Lavender, Cherry and many more all in one place.

The price range of these attar starts from Rs. 2000 for 10 grams, you can also buy blended oils for Rs. 120 for 10 grams or essential oils for Rs. 30 for 10 grams.

Gulab Singh Joharimal is situated in Dariba Kalan, Chandini Chowk and is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. except for Sundays.

Spices

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If you love to cook and experiment in your kitchen then you should buy spices from Delhi. Delhi has the world's biggest wholesale spice market and you can find any spice you can think of in this market. Spices like peppercorns, brown mustard seeds, fenugreek leaves, kala elaichi (black cardamom) and asafetida are easily found in the market.

You can have any amount of these spices packed in silver airtight bags and carry with you to where ever you want without being worried about it spilling over in your bag and ruining your clothes. You will fall in love with this market due to the variety and affordable prices of these spices found here.

Head out to Khari Baoli to experience the magic of spices in Delhi. The market is open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day.

If you are looking for packaged spices then you can visit Roopak’s at Karol Bagh or Mehar Chand & Sons Near Fatehpuri Masjid as well.

Astadhatu Statues (Eight-Metal Statues)

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Gifting idols of Hindu Gods is an age-old tradition in India and you can find beautiful Astadhatu (eight metal) statues in Delhi. Astadhatu is an auspicious metal in the Hindu religion and is considered a great gift as it keeps the evil spirits away from your house and brings in positive energy into your life. The Astadhatu is made from a blend of gold, silver, copper, lead, brass, Parad, Iron and tin. Making Astadhatu is a difficult process and is considered as a rare craft in India. You will find idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva made of Astadhatu and bring them back for your loved one as a special gift.

You can find great Astadhatu statues in Dariba Kalan in Delhi, the price range of these statues starts from Rs. 3,000 for a 6 or 7-inch tall idol

Exquisite Handicrafts

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If you like to collect great handicraft items from the places you visit you will love Delhi. Delhi is filled with places that offer beautiful and authentic handicrafts from Jewelry to handmade bags, showpieces, khadi fabric and many more. You will find these items beautifully decorated in the stall along the roadsides or shops in almost every market.

You can also visit the famous state emporiums, Dilli Haat, Craft Museum and Central Cottage Industries to buy a stunning piece of handcraft from Delhi and add it to your collection.

Great Shopping Places in Delhi

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Visiting Delhi is exciting as it has so much to offer. You will find great food, historical monuments, pubs and markets in Delhi. If you love to shop then Delhi is a great place to be in. It is called heaven for shopaholics. Here is a list of some of the great markets in Delhi so you can shop till you drop.

  • Dilli Haat It is a huge market which has beautifully decorated stalls which depict the culture of India. You can find great handicrafts and artifacts from Dilli Haat at good prices. The nearest Metro stop for reaching Dilli Haat is the INA Station and you can walk to the market from there. It is open from 11 am to 10 p.m. every day. You will find beautiful jewelry, paintings, pottery, furniture and many more things all in one place.

  • Janpath Market Another must-visit market in Delhi in Janpath. It is famous for leather items, Indian artifacts, shoes, imitation jewelry etc. If you like to haggle then run to Janpath and catch some great deals on things. Janpath is also called the Tibetan market as you will be able to find a lot of Tibet handicrafts here. You can reach Janpath from Rajiv Chowk metro station. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. of weekdays.

  • Khan Market If you like to shop in the street markets then you should visit the Khan market. It is known for Ayurvedic medicines, books, cosmetics etc. You will love the market as it has something for everyone at affordable prices. You can reach Khan Market from Dilli Haat as they both are very near to each other. It is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day except Sundays.

  • Chandni Chowk It is a must-visit market in Delhi. It is one of the oldest shopping markets which is still very popular. You will find it in many Indian movies as well. The market has tons of narrow passages and alleys that lead to great shops that are famous for a variety of fabrics, wedding lehengas, embroidered bags, books etc. You can also find beautiful silver articles here. It is open every day of the week. You can reach Chandini Chowk via the metro or hire a taxi from the Old Delhi Railway station.

  • Connaught Place one of the most happening markets in Delhi is the Connaught Place also known as CP. If you like to shop for brands then CP is the place to be. You will find all the national and international brand showrooms here as well as great street vendors and awesome eating joints around CP. You can get off at Rajiv Chowk and walk to CP. The market is open till late at night.

  • Palika Bazaar Don't forget to visit the famous Palika Bazaar if you are in CP. This is an underground market which is fully air-conditioned and you can find anything under the sun here. If you know how to bargain you can find great deals on clothes, electronics, books etc in Palika Bazaar. It is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Sundays.

  • Karol Bagh Market IF you are in Delhi and didn't visit Karol Bagh you will be at a loss. It is one of the oldest shopping places in Delhi and you will find everything you can think of here. You can find great roadside shops and branded showrooms all in Karol bagh. It is a great place to buy cosmetics, books, clothes, electronic gadgets, bags, shoes etc. Other famous markets near Karol Bagh are the Ghaffar market is known for imported goods, Arya Samajh road known for second-hand books and Bank Street famous for gold jewelry. The market is open from 10 in the morning to 8 at night except for Mondays.

  • Sunday Second-Hand Book Market Love books head out to Sunday Second-hand book market and choose from thousands of new and old books piled up on the roadside. If you give some time and effort you may end up finding first editions of some great books here too and don’t forget to haggle. It is open on Sundays but the best time to visit is between 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. to find what you are looking for or else it will be sold out.

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From our editorial team

Know Some Bargaining

Firstly, to get a feel for how much goods should cost, visit some fixed price stores first. If you see something you like at a market, don't immediately buy it from the first stall you come across. There will be plenty more vendors selling the same thing and they may even have a better variety for a cheaper price. Walk around the market and check out all that's on offer first.Keep in mind that bargaining is meant to be fun. Do it with a smile! In addition, using some of the local languages may fetch you a better deal, as well as break the ice. In Hindi, you can ask, "Yeh kitne ka hai?" (How much is this?). And say, "Bahut mahanga hai". (It's very costly).