Janpath Market is one of the biggest shopping places in Delhi and frequented mostly by travelers looking for the latest fashion wear that fits in their limited budget. Janpath Market is the place to be if you want to flaunt the ‘in-vogue’ look but without burning a hole in your pocket. Curiously, this place attracts more foreign tourists than locals probably because the market boasts of stocking some of the finest ethnic dresses and junk jewelry which they can take back home as souvenirs and mementos for their family, friends and relatives.

The Market is the Best Place for Clothes, Artifacts, Curios and More

Situated very near to Connaught Place, in Central New Delhi, Janpath Market underwent extensive refurbishment and renovations recently. The best thing about shopping in this famous market is that it offers something for every type of buyer and across all budgets. Art lovers can spend hours looking for handicrafts and Indian artifacts, brass work, leather articles and jewelry at budget friendly prices. Janpath Market is equally popular by its moniker ‘Tibetan Market’ because you can shop for a wide range of Tibetan stuff too.

A Brief History

Janpath Market boundaries stretch from the outer end of Connaught Place to Windsor Place. The market is not only one of the biggest but also one of the oldest. Some of the shops were set up way back in early 50s.

Janpath Market was designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens and is a part of what is known as Lutyen’s area in Delhi. He was responsible for the layout of the administrative area of the place at the center of which is the sprawling and stunningly designed Rashtrapati Bhawan. Janpath which means ‘people’s path’ in Hindi is designed as a long winding corridor of stores selling quality products at easily affordable prices. The market is also famous for its stalls selling lip-smacking Indian delicacies and fast food.

What Visitors Can Expect

First time visitors are most likely to be dazed by the amazing range of ethnic wear, cotton garments, linen with exotic embellishments, Kolhapuri jootis, Indian handicrafts, bangles and an inexhaustible variety of curios. Fashion items such as necklaces, junk jewelry, handicrafts and local wear are extremely popular among foreign tourists as they make excellent souvenirs. 

Some of the exquisite items of Indian origin that domestic as well as international tourists look for include the globally famous Pashmina Shawls made in Kashmir, scarves and woolen shawls, ethnic wears such as salwar kameez, churidars, kurtis and saris. You can also find great looking carpets, rugs, wall hangings, bed coverings and arts and crafts created by artisans from various states of India.

The rows of bead shops in the market are perennially crowded with foreigners accounting for most of the sales. Janpath Market is the best place to find exquisite and creative gifts and curio items at cheap prices. Apart from the shops, you will also find an unusually large number of vendors hawking their stuff in baskets or push carts throughout the market.

How to Reach

The metro station that’s closest to Janpath Market is the Rajiv Chowk Station. There are buses from Delhi which run on a regular basis to places like Patel Chowk and Barakhamba Road from where Janpath Market is easily accessible. The market is well connected by both road and rail.