Sarojini Nagar Market of Delhi

Sarojini Nagar Market is the all-weather all-season market that caters to the needs of the entire South Delhi.   If there is one market that can satisfy Delhiwala’s appetite for shopping, it is this market.

Sometimes I have a feeling that people come here with the sole intention of testing out their negotiation and bargaining skills.   I used to hate bargaining and would simply feel quite magnanimous in handing over the price the vendors asked for.   But some of my visits with my husband, a hardcore bargainer have made me realize that the vendors kind of look down upon people who do not negotiate because as the norm goes, they hike up the price by atleast twice or thrice the original price so that they would still be left with some margin when the deal is finally done.

 However, there are fixed price outlets and wares where you can select garments in the same range starting from Rs. 100, 150, 200, 250, etc..

I have been visiting this market from the time I got married about 20 years ago and came to settle down in the south side of Delhi.   From then onwards, if I have anything to buy from children's clothes to shoes, bags, undergarments, hosiery items, bed sheets, covers or even curtains, etc., I head to this haven.   There are even shops for buying vegetables, grocery items, household items and kitchen utensils in case you need such items.

Babu Market is another complex that lies in the same vicinity and has approximately 4 rows of shops that again caters to mostly garments with some jewellery shops and accessories and all women’s stores thrown in.

All said and done, this market offers decent products at affordable rates.   You can find things you would not find anywhere else - children's fancy dresses for their school competition, from paalak to a fairy, these shops can change their personality.  They can even loan you these dresses for a day or two!  What else would you need.

A word of caution though - On Sundays, only those who have some really good patience, focus and crowd management skills should attempt to attack this market.   On Saturdays and Sundays, this market can be so crowded that you just need to stand at one place, the crowd will pull you to all directions.   

Recently there has been an addition of a multi-storied parking plaza which has turned out to be semi-modern building in the vicinity with Haldiram’s and other food joints like McD and Subway catering to the hungry public!

To know more about other markets in Delhi, visit my blog on Delhi Haat and Nehru Place.

For other tourist attractions in Delhi, visit my blogs on Zafar Mahal,  Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Safdarjung's Tomb, Lodhi Gardens,  Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Lotus Temple

Delhi Haat - Chaupal at the Town Square

Delhi Haat or “Dilli Haat” as it is popularly called, is an interesting amalgamation of a set of people coming together to buy and sell fabrics, crafts, art, food, and small things that are cute and interesting.   There are 3 of them in Delhi but I have visited only the one near INA and as far as I have gathered from my friends and colleagues who have visited the other locations (Pitampura and Janak Puri), this one is the best. more...

An auto ride in Delhi

Riding in an auto has become like the most frequent thing I do.  Every morning and evening I get into one of them and off I go.. to the destination that keeps changing.  Vehicles keep changing, drivers keep changing and conversations keep changing!

To say that I enjoy these rides would not be an exaggeration.  Auto Rickshaw simply called autos are the most common transport that we would easily get to go from one place to another.   It is available almost everywhere in the city, whether you are travelling to a market, mall or a residential area.  You get out of your house and you can see a whole lot of them standing outside the colony.

There would be lots of them standing at every bus stops, to lure travellers who are endlessly waiting for the bus.  It does definitely cost a bit more than the normal Delhi Transport Buses but gives the convenience of travelling on your own without jostling for space inside crowded buses and it can be hailed from anywhere you are and you can get down anywhere you want.

For a person like me who has tried learning to drive a car but not been able to get out of the fear of banging into someone, auto comes as a boon.   Taking a taxi is far too costly and therefore an auto ride is justifiable to one's conscience.  We can consider ourself prudent when we are taking an auto than a car.  A taxi or cab would cost almost double of what an auto would do.

But there has to be a word of caution, though.  If the driver is clever enough to understand that you don't know your way through Delhi, he can take you for a ride!!   Also, there are others who would fix their own rate depending upon the circumstance.  If there are less no. of autos available, they would increase their rate and if they feel that the customer is likely to get out of their hands, they might just reduce to close the deal.  It is usually safe to take the autos that run on meter.  However, if we are confident of the route and are clear on the approx cost, it could be a better fare to arrive at a mutual consensus on the rates.

For an outsider, it would be preferable to carry a GPS and make sure they stick to the meter fitted on the sides.  In Delhi, the fare starts from Rs.25/- for any distance of travel upto 2 kms. After that the meter starts ticking!

Every auto ride is an experience in itself.   Some auto drivers can be very talkative and you can gather as much information about the city, the government and the various happenings while you are on the go.   They kind of know the pulse of the city!

Travelling in an auto has a charm of its own.   In summers, one can enjoy the breeze that will wipe off the sweats and give goosebumps.  When it rains, we can enjoy the showers falling on both sides with some even hitting us from both sides.  Though the driver will pull down the shades, it would not be enough to stop the onslaught.   The winters are the toughest though... the cool breeze can be freezing and chill you to the bone!!

No wonder the Mexican Ambassador prefers to ride in an auto than a luxury sedan.  You can read the news at http://www.thebetterindia.com/54699/mexican-ambassador-to-india-auto/