The best handicrafts of India are transported to the capital New Delhi because of commercial reasons. If you are a crafts and textiles or culture enthusiast, handicraft shopping in Delhi would give you enormous pleasure. But where to buy authentic Indian handicraft in Delhi? Where to buy souvenirs in Delhi? A one-stop solution for crafts shopping in Delhi could be Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan.

Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan at Baba Khadak Singh Marg houses craft emporiums by state governments as well as some NGOs.

What to buy at Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan

This spot is a treasure trove of handloom and handicrafts from remote corners of India.

You will find beautiful knick knacks, home accessories, block-prints and bandhni-dyed products at Gurjari and Rajasthali. Try Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu and Kairali from Kerala for wood-carvings and sandal wood items. For tribal art, Chhatisgarh store is your destination. If you want classical Kalamkari paintings, top floor of Lepakshi from Telengana is the spot and for Madhubani paintings, it is Ambapalli store from Bihar.

Go to Biswa Bangla from West Bengal for cotton and Baluchari Silk Sarees and the adjacent Khadi for charkha-woven cotton and other types of handloom fabric. This list is endless. There are a few private stalls too such as Kamala. They sell bespoke handicrafts and designer handloom.

Last but not least, you get a host of food products like honey and spices at Chhatisgarh stall, and Khadi outlet. For fresh jams and relishes and fruit products, visit Himachal Pradesh store. We also spotted unique brass repousse God faces here. These are frequently used during religious processions in Himachal Pradesh.

Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan is a Victorian building and the long corridors display various traditional paintings.

Why to shop from Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan

The importance of handloom weavers in India, both historically, demographically as well as commercially, can never be undermined. If you shop for handloom and handicrafts, you support these sectors and get little bits and pieces of India in your life.

There are distinct advantages if you shop from the stores at Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan.

• Firstly, all the products are authentically sourced. Hence you can rest assured that you are paying for a handmade product and not an imitation.
• Secondly, the stores operate on a fixed-price policy. And this is what we love the best, there is no bargaining involved. These stores often have festival discounts that make many fancy items affordable.
• Thirdly, most items are displayed on shelves so you have a clear idea as to what is available. More often than not, you can make a selection without involving a store attendant. This ease of shopping works well for us.

Other attractions around Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan

Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan is very conveniently located in the heart of Delhi. Connaught Place, perhaps the coolest shopping cum hangout zone is a stone’s throw away.

Also, rarely in Delhi can one find such fine instance of religious harmony. You can also visit the grand Bangla Sahib Gurudwara that is less than 500 m. Slightly ahead of that is the Sacred Heart Cathedral which is almost 90 years old. Bang opposite the crafts area is Hanuman Mandir, a popular shrine in Delhi that draws a lot of footfall.

The Charkha Museum, a collection of spinning wheels or charkhas and an ode to Gandhiji and the Khadi movement, is also a few minutes away.

Also, in the subway bang opposite Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan is Nomadic Haat, a store selling goods made by tribal community. There is a beautiful mural of Lord Hanuman in Flying posture here that makes for wonderful photo-op. If you are coming to this area, you can make a full day excursion and not get bored.

What to eat at Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan

If you are hungry after all that shopping, fret not. There is a Bikanerwala outlet in the building that serves vegetarian snacks and meals in a clean air-conditioned environment. The Delhi Tourism Department cafeteria Coffee Home is also at the middle of the building and you can rejuvenate yourself with fresh dosa and a cup of filter coffee. Some hawkers sell tea, litti-chokha from Bihar and other regionally food items from carts in this zone. Jain chawalwala, who is immensely popular for his rajma chawal, is just a left turn from this area.

 

And then, if you walk down to Connaught Place you are in a hub of cafes, restaurants and make-shift food stalls for endless food options.

How to reach Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, nearest metro station

You can drive to this shopping complex and they have parking lots here. Radio taxis and auto-rickshaws are popular modes of public transport to reach this place. If you do not plan to shop heavy, metro railway is, in our opinion, a great option. You drop at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station and come out of Exit A. Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan is a 5 minute walk from here. In fact, Shivaji Stadium Metro Station is also in the vicinity.

Pro-tips

• Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan is an interesting destination for shoppers as well as tourists who want to get a feel of India. It is like a museum; you can simply potter around and browse the marvelous treasures.
• Also, given that this part of Delhi is popular with tourists, beware of touts on the road who may try to sell you substandard products or lure you to questionable shops.
• Lastly, do not park at unauthorized spots behind Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan lane. Though it’s not a good idea anywhere, here your vehicle would be towed in no time as this is a sensitive no-parking zone.