Forget Sarojini! Janpath Market Is Bound To Become Your Favourite Place To Shop

Janpath market, located in the heart of New Delhi, right next to Delhi’s most prized possession, Connaught Place makes for an amazing day out. There is so much to do, from shopping to food and culture. Essentially, on the map Janpath is just a road that runs along one of Delhi’s most iconic areas. But in reality, it has been the backdrop to some memorable films and harbours hidden art gems in the form of handicrafts.

About Janpath Market

History of Janpath Market

The Best Time To Visit Janpath Market

How To Get To Janpath 

Things To Buy From Janpath Market

About Janpath Market

Delhi Belly and Fitoor are just some of the movies that were shot and promoted in Janpath. Stepping into the market, you are bound to be welcomed by an overwhelming mix of colour, something from every state. The market has two aspects to it, one is the street shopping at janpath which will remind you of Sarojini Nagar and another set are the shops that line the main road. These shops mostly belong to handlooms who are displaying the culture of different states in India, however, if you are out there to shop cheap then these wouldn’t be your pick. There are some iconic food stalls that have been around for years and have since expanded to other parts of the city, but the original is always better, right? 

History of Janpath Market

Source: Mystic Tour India

Divulging into the history of Janpath, it was originally known as the the Queen’s way when it was a part of Lutyens Delhi in 1931. Named after the British architect named Edwin Lutyens, who designed Janpath and Connaught Place when India was a part of the British empire in 1920s, 30s and 40s. He also designed four buildings in the Rashtrapati Bhawan and the road leading from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan. The architecture is an aspect of Janpath that is often ignored because the tourists often treat it as a shopping hub and don’t stop to admire the work done in the area. Though the street shopping at Janpath market doesn’t actually have any buildings as such, the core of the market is a circular building with shops opening up on every side with something different to offer at every angle. 

The entire market expands to about 1.5 kms from the outer circle of Connaught Place to Windsor Place. It is undoubtedly one of the oldest markets in New Delhi, especially the boutiques which date back to 1950. The reason why most people make it a point to visit Janpath whenever they are in the city is because you can always be sure to get your hand on the originals, from Pashmina shawls from Kashmir to Phulkari dupattas from Punjab. The emporiums that line the outside of Janpath are what make this market so iconic. 

The Best Time To Visit Janpath Market

Source: Youth Mag

The Janpath market timings are from 11 am to 9 pm and if you ask me, I can visit the market any time of the day! But the best time to visit the market differs according to the season. If you are visiting during winters, then the sunny hours from 2-4 pm will keep you going and you can even get a cup of hot coffee from DePaul’s while you’re at it.However, it is the exact opposite during the summers. Catch the early hours of the market and munch on some yummy momos from Dolma Aunty Momos, right next to Depaul’s. Avoid the heat, and even the dark. Since most of the market is out on the streets, you will miss out on some clothes and accessories if you’re looking in the dark. The advantage of going just an hour after it opens is that you’ll catch all the clothes fresh out of the box and there won’t be much crowd to hinder your binge-shopping process.

Also Read Street Shopping In Delhi

How To Get To Janpath 

You can pick your own mode of transport to reach this marketplace. Though the best way to visit Janpath is via the metro, if you are visiting during the crowded hours then you can pick which mode suits you. 

Reaching Janpath By Metro:

No matter which corner of the city you are travelling from, you can find your way to Janpath with no hassle. Since it is located near the most central metro stations in the city, Rajiv Chowk and Kashmere Gate, it is a comfortable stop. 

Taking the Violet Line from Kashmere gate to Janpath is just 6 stations, which takes approx 14 minutes on the clock. You can reach Kashmere gate via the Red Line from North and East Delhi, Yellow Line from North and South Delhi and Violet Line from Central to South East Delhi.

Reaching Janpath By Car:

Source: Maps Of India

1. Time from Ghaziabad to Janpath Market: Approx. 55 min by car

2. Time from Noida to Janpath Market: Approx. 41 min by car

3. Time from Nizamuddin To Janpath Market: Approx. 17 min by car

4. Time from East of Kailash To Janpath Market: Approx. 32 min by car

5. Time from Shanti Niketan To Janpath Market: Approx. 20 min by car

6. Time from Vasant Kunj To Janpath Market: Approx. 38 min by car

7. Time from Rajouri Garden To Janpath Market: Approx. 36 min by car

8. Time from Dwarka to Janpath Market: Approx. 54 min by car

9. Time from Gurgaon To Janpath Market: Approx. 1 h 7 min by car

10. Time from Rohini To Janpath Market: Approx. 1 h 8 min by car

Reaching Janpath By Bus:

The cheapest and by far the most hassle-free way to get to Janpath market is here. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has buses running from different parts of Delhi to Janpath market and so I’ve made a list of buses from various directions of Delhi. 

1. East Delhi: If you live in East Delhi then you can take routes 73 and 740 to the Janpath Street Market.
2. West Delhi: If you live in West Delhi then you can take routes 408, 410, 810, 857, 894 and 522 to the Janpath Street Market.
3. South Delhi: If you live in South Delhi then you can take routes 500, 448, 522, 604, 620 and 781 to the Janpath Street Market.
4. North Delhi: If you live in North Delhi then you can take routes 957, 972, 966, 940 and 982 to the Janpath Street Market. 

Things To Buy From Janpath Market

Street shopping, my friends, is a religion. And every girl who has ever bought a mind-blowing dress for under Rs. 500 after bargaining with the shopkeeper in full “paisa bachao” mode knows the level of satisfaction a good thrift shopping day brings! Sure, Delhiites go ga-ga over Sarojini Nagar but Janpath has a charm of its own, not being over-crowded is one of them. It is, true to its past, one of the most magnificent street shopping destinations in India! So I decided to decipher Janpath and create the ultimate list of shops and things that you MUST visit/buy and I am in love with each and every one of them, to say the least!

1. Dupattas To Dazzle!

You will go crazy trying on different dupattas because they are just so pretty!! Great colours along with amazing designs at totally affordable prices, what more could you ask for? From phulkari style threadwork to mirror-work and pretty prints, the variety will leave you spoilt for choice. You will love to pair these dupattas with plain kurtas or with a simple t-shirt and palazzo pants to add that traditional oomph to the outfit!

Price: INR 200-950
POPxo recommends: Novelty Store, 54, Municipal Market, Janpath

2. Cloth Material

Let’s face it guys, customising your clothes and getting them stitched is way cheaper and more satisfying than buying readymade clothes. That is exactly why I suggest hitting Janpath for the diverse assortment of unstitched fabrics and cloth material. You are free to choose from a wide range of floral, indigo, geometric and ikat prints according to what your budget is and you can get them stitched into kurtas, kurtis, ethnic dresses, tops, shirts, jackets…anything and everything that your wild imagination can think of! Got an existing shirt dress or kurta dress whose silhouette you need more of? Pick your favourite print and get it stitched in the same way to add more of what you love to your wardrobe.

P.S. – You can get all those amazing designs that brands like Anokhi and Fabindia have for a much cheaper price!

Price: INR 175-350
POPxo Recommends: Janta Cloth Store, 57, Municipal Market, Janpath

3. Add-ons For That Extra Sparkle

What’s dressing up without a little experimentation? A little tweak here and a little addition there, don’t we all love creating something new out of our old clothes or just adding a little something to our new ones. Janpath has a whole collection of just add-ons to really help you get the most out of your wardrobe! From little pom-pom additions for a plain denim shirt, to your bag or to use in wedding blouses to proper hand-stitched embroidery patches to add to your old kurtas or tops to create something super amazing. Since pins and brooches are super in nowadays, you can also pick those up for you fuzzy sweater.

Price: INR 100-1,500
POPxo Recommends: Asha Handicrafts, S-12, Gujarati Market, Janpath

Also Read Markets For Fabric Shopping In Delhi

4. Jholas, Potlis And More

Never in her lifetime does a woman ever have enough bags! And ethnic embroidery and print bags are all the rage these days! And guess who has bucket loads of them? Janpath! I absolutely adore those bright colours and fringe designs. More so, the fact that a lane of entire shops were covered with them – from small clutch bags to potlis and jholas – so if not this then that! If you are a basic girl, then Janpath also has a range of backpacks and solid coloured totes that you can carry to work everyday and pair with the fanciest of your outfits.

Price: INR 100-1,500
POPxo Recommends: Mohan Garments, N-53B, Municipal Market, Janpath

5. Indigo Print…Just Because!

To be honest, indigo print is the new black! It looks great on literally everyone. And we found a one stop destination for all your indigo print requirements. From kurtas, jackets, short kurtis to crop tops and skirts…you will find it all here! The quality is great and the quantity is even better. I personally love layering indigo prints, so don’t hesitate from stitching or picking up a co-ords set of Indigo print from Janpath.

Price: INR 350-750
POPxo Recommends: Fashion Point, 12-A, Municipal Market, Janpath

Also read: Sarojini vs Our Fashion Editor: 5 AMAZING Picks For Rs 150 Each!

6. Indo-western Dresses And Tops

The amalgamation of Indian prints and western styles is the best, isn’t it? The simplicity of western clothes and the intricate Indian designs just create such a soothing yet stylish combination that we just can’t take our eyes off. From printed dresses to embroidered ones, short and long to Gujarati-style embroidered crop tops that can also be used as saree blouses, you will be left mesmerised. 

My personal favourite are those long kurta dresses which can be thrown on and somehow make you look more put-together than you actually are. Zero effort yet 100% stylish.

Price: INR 250-1,000 (depending on your bargaining skills)
POPxo Recommends: Mohan Garments, N-53B, Municipal Market, Janpath

7. Accessories To Adore

Junk jewellery is a must-have for every girl. Especially when you’re having one of those Boho chic moods. Just a tiny accessory can add volumes to your outfit. And Janpath has more than what you might need, trust me, you will be pleasantly confused. From chokers and necklaces made with stones and threads to pom-pom earrings and ethnic belts, you can have everything to give you that hippie look that will add that much needed vacation vibe to your outfit.

Price: INR 150-375
POPxo recommends: Lovely Jewellery, 14, Main Market, Janpath

8. Attars To Smell Amazing, Always!

Attars are natural and pure perfumes or essential oils obtained from flowers and petals. They are extremely healthy for your skin since they are chemical free and smell amazing. Tons of different and interesting smells take over you as soon as you enter an attar shop in Janpath. The curiously shaped bottles take you to a time in history when attars were much more in use. These natural babies are way better than our chemical infused deos and perfumes, and the interesting names like ‘Jannet-E-Firdaus’ sound so elegant, you just can’t resist exploring more! Once you find your personal fragrance, you will keep going back to restock.

Price: INR 200 for 10 ml onwards
POPxo recommends: Arihant Fragrance, 17, Main Market, Janpath

9. Home Decor

Who says fashion can be only represented through your clothes? What about your room? Ever wondered how you can make it look like they do in movies? Well, now you can stop thinking and start acting! Janpath has quite a lot of places to explore when it comes to home decor and personal style. From dreamcatchers (big and small) to pretty colourful lights, huge vintage wall clocks, cages, leather bound journals, frames, Rajasthani puppets, storage boxes and many more! The place is an absolute heaven for modern and vintage decorations! P.S. the dreamcatchers that are all the rage on Instagram and Pinterest can actually be found in large quantities and various sizes at the stores in Janpath.

Price: Starting from INR 150
POPxo recommends: Monga Handicrafts Corner, Shop no. 1, Old Mini Market, Janpath

Also read: Did You Know There’s A *Right* Time Of Day To Go Shoe Shopping?

10. Not Just Fashion – Food And Books Too

Source: Twitter

Hunger pangs while shopping is a no-brainer. There is so much walking, thinking and critical analysing involved that you end up famished. To fulfill this purpose, you have the ever famous DePaul’s in Janpath. If you come to Janpath and don’t try Depaul’s Hazelnut coffee and variety of sandwiches then have you truly visited Janpath at all? Plus, the amazing momos right by its side make for a great day out. Everyone in the crowd can be found shopping in a frenzy with a DePaul’s cold coffee in their hand.

Now that your stomach is full, there is just one thing left that you can’t leave without checking out. Books! They’re always a great investment. Buying books at a much cheaper price is the most ingenious idea ever. And most of them are real copies, just for a lesser price. What’s better? Some of the book stalls allow you to exchange the books you buy once you are done reading at 50% exchange value. You read and you get half of your money back. 

You can get second hand books as well. Just make sure you go there with some cool totes so you can carry your shopping back home intact and free of plastic.

POPxo recommends: Depaul’s, 22, Janpath Bhawan and MBS Book Stall, Janpath Subway, Near Shop no. 1, Janpath Market Delhi