Venue: Nomadic Haat, Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Subway below the parking area

We discovered a new underground market at Connaught Place. In the Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan area (Baba Kharak Singh Marg )in front of Coffee Home there is a subway. While walking across, we saw some quaint ethnic looking goods peeking out. We walked down into the tunnel and came across this crafts shop Nomadic Haat.

It is a simple store across the tunnel that carries an interesting collection of gypsy crafts such as artifacts, musical instruments (ektara and been ), ornaments, bags and pouches, and simple furniture like stools, and home decor items.

Also Read: Top Places to buy Indian Handicraft in Delhi

The collection is limited but exciting and the store was manned by a gentleman in a white dhoti Kurta- complete with a colorful dotted Rajasthani turban.

What awed us the most was this huge Hanumanji mural, made with bright ceramic tiles, flying across one of the longer walls of the subway. Using basic Indian colours such as navy blue, yellow red, and white, this was one of the dreamiest depictions of an epitome of masculinity in the Hindu pantheon.

To create an earthy feeling the store was layered with mud texture with folk paintings.  Some of the walls were adorned with modern paintings by school children of Delhi. Somehow everything fitted in and colourful lanterns added to the effect.

This is a laudable initiative by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and an ideal destination for picking up slightly unusual nick knacks/souvenirs at very affordable prices.