Must-see shopping in Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

It feels as if little has changed for centuries in Delhi's fabulously atmospheric, labyrinthine spice market, as labourers hustle through the narrow lanes…

Backpacker Central, this crazy-busy bazaar that runs through Paharganj sells almost everything you want, and a whole lot more. It's great for buying…

Delhi's Tibetan enclave, Majnu-ka-Tilla, is a fascinating tangle of tiny alleys – too narrow for vehicles – that are dotted with cheap guesthouses,…

This spice shop have been purveyors of taste-tingling flavour since 1958. There's a huge selection of easy-to-transport-home, pre-packaged spices…

Specialists in the finest Indian teas, from Darjeeling and Assam to Nilgiri and Kangra. You can try before you buy, and teas come lovingly packaged in…

Kinari means 'hem' in Hindi, and this colour-blazing market sells all the trimmings that finish off an outfit. It's famous for zardozi (gold embroidery),…

This area is apparently where Delhi's Yamuna boat operators once lived. Today this market street and the smaller lanes fanning off it specialise in…

For silver (jewellery, ornaments, old coins), head for Dariba Kalan, the alley near the Sisganj Gurdwara, and with the easy-to-spot Jalebi Wala at its…

Running south from the old Town Hall, Nai Sarak is lined with stalls selling saris, shawls, chiffon and lehenga (blouse and skirt combo).

This hectic collection of market stalls and shops on Arya Samaj Rd and the roads fanning off it, is favoured for clothes and wedding shopping, and…

Old Delhi's backbone is an iconic shopping strip, dotted by temples, snarled by traffic and crammed with stores selling everything from street food to…

Come Sunday, second-hand books spread along the pavement for around 1km from Delhi Gate westwards along Asaf Ali Rd. Rummage for everything from Mills &…

Beautiful handmade handicrafts (bags, purses, gift cards, bookmarks) made by members of the city's deaf foundation and sold from their community hall…

With its roots in Pokhara, Nepal, this fair-trade nonprofit organisation sells quality weave and knitwear, including pashmina shawls, cashmere scarfs and…

This good-value Tibetan boutique is one of many tucked away in the alleys of Majnu-ka-Tilla Tibetan Quarter selling purses, prayer flags, felt toys,…

Handy for Paharganj, this mini-supermarket is open round the clock and stocks a mix of Indian- and Western-branded snacks and packaged foodstuffs.

For steel cooking pots and cheap-as-chapatis paper kites, head to decidedly non-touristy Lal Kuan Main Bazaar.

For competitively priced instruments, inspect the instrument shops along Netaji Subhash Marg in Daryaganj.

For gorgeous wrapping paper and wedding cards, head to Chawri Bazaar, leading west from the Jama Masjid.

Stocks small bottles of Kingfisher Light (₹70) as well as the usual strong stuff.