All About Janpath Market: What To Buy, Where To Shop, Prices, And More

Janpath is one of the busiest, most vibrant markets in Delhi. Some people call it chota sarojini nagar, but I believe it has its own distinctive charm that no other market can replicate. One of its standout features is the two culturally rich lanes, each dedicated to showcasing the best of Tibetan and Gujarati heritage. Trust me, these lanes are an experience you won’t want to miss—I'll get into the details soon! The part that everyone looks forward to is shopping at Janpath market, the main flea market where all the bargains on all the cool clothes happen. Chalo, let's talk dive deep now!

How To Reach: The nearest metro station is Janpath on the Violet Line. Exit through Gate No. 2, and you’ll find yourself right at the start of the main market. Oh, and don’t miss the street shop just outside the gate selling embroidered bags for as low as INR 200.

Timings: The market is open from 11 AM to 8 PM, with some shops staying open until 9 PM. Heads up, though—many shops in the main market take Sundays off, so plan accordingly.

On the right side of gate no.2, Janpath metro station, the Tibetan market starts. Most of the stores here sell similar things, such as knockoff and silver jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones, all sorts of glass, wooden, acrylic, and plastic beads, statues of all forms and sizes, and Tibetan Thangka paintings of gods and goddesses. If you have enough patience and dedication to dig through the piles, you’re more than likely to find an antique bracelet or a cool trinket. Even most of the shopkeepers are really sweet and they will do their best to find something for you, that's their job but it's the effort that counts! 

Here are the shops I would go back to in a heartbeat:

- Handicraft Good Store (Shop no. 4) for stone, wood, and acrylic jewellery starting at INR 50 and going up to INR 700. 

- Hill Qurio (Shop no. 8) for embroidered bags and belts ranging between INR 200 and INR 800.

- Tibetan And Nepali Art Corner (Shop no. 11) for peetal idols starting at INR 100. 

- P.Dass And Sons (Shop no. 23) for Nepali kaanta, mirrors, and all things handpainted starting from INR 500.

- Kangra Arts (Shop no. 1) for Kashmiri shawls starting from INR 1,000. 

As you reach the end of the line of Tibetan shops, you look to the left and see an explosion of colour (mostly oranges and pinks) extending into the lane before you. Sitting under a canopy of trees are Gujarati craftsmen and women selling brightly coloured bags, pillowcases, lehengas, and umbrellas, all embroidered with mirrors, blingy threads, stones, and more. You will see the lane ten times more crowded during the Navratri times, because of course. The price points are somewhat higher but the quality you will get in return would justify the whys! 

- Bryan's (80-B) for tops that start at INR 400 and varieties of bags ranging between INR 500 and INR 1,800.

- Shop no. 5 for luxe-looking embroidered jackets (INR 3,500 approx.) and gowns (INR 1,800 approx.).

- From Shop no. 8, you can find 3 to 4 oxidized jewellery markets attached together where you can buy earrings for INR 350, bangles (set of 12) for INR 500, and kadas for INR 900.

I asked a shopkeeper in the main market where is the 'main' market (thinking about that bustling lane you’re probably imagining too) and he said this is it, meaning the stores on the roadside. Here, you will get quality products at moderately cheap prices. From footwear to books to perfumes to clothes, you can find everything here.

- Royal Garments (Shop no. 93) for Kashmiri kurtas starting at INR 1,050, shawls INR 350 onwards, and tops INR 300 onwards.

- Paramount Bookstore (Shop no. 88) for a great selection of books (but mostly at base prices).

- Imperial Stores And Tailors (Shop no. 34) for shawls starting at INR 200.

- Samsons (Shop no. 83) for stitched blouses starting at INR 500 and festive suits starting at INR 1,900.

- Vasu Handicrafts (N-52) for the dupes of all high-end perfumes. Get 10 ml for INR 170 and 15 ml for INR 250. 

- Maujri Collection (Shop no. 45) for kolhapuris (INR 770), juttis (INR 1,800), and embroidered slippers (INR 1,400).

The flea market at Janpath is where you’ll see about 90% of the crowd. It’s a haven for on-trend clothes! As for the prices? Well, that depends entirely on how sharp your bargaining skills are. So, whether you prefer wielding the power of negotiation or flashing those puppy-dog eyes, this is your time to shine.

The best part? The market’s layout and products are ever-changing, adapting to trends and seasons. So, there’s a good chance the collection I rave about here might look completely different when you visit. But hey, isn’t that the beauty of surprises? You never really know what to expect until you’re there, in the thick of it, experiencing it full-on. Some of the shops that I have seen always selling cool stuff are Sood Garments (shop no. 8), Vagale Gift House (shop no. 9), Amar Garments (shop no. 16), and shop no. 19.