Moving to Delhi: Shopping & Entertaining

While it is possible to buy almost anything in Delhi, be careful of quality. Knowing the right shop is important. Whether foodstuffs or manufactured items, the items may not be of the type you are used to, and may not be of the quality you expect.

There are no Western-style supermarkets or department stores in New Delhi (although there are a few department stores, they're not quite the same). You can find household goods, office supplies, electronic equipment (from toasters to computers), etc.

For clothing, there are a few shops with high quality goods, but much of the clothing is poorly made. Also, there are many good inexpensive tailors, so you can have clothing made.

On the food front, you can find fresh vegetables (following the season), chicken, lamb, goat (often called 'lamb'), pork, fish (safest in winter). Vegetables, in particular, may be unfamiliar. If you don't have diplomatic priviledges, many Western products are available on the black market, including things like Vegemite, wine or olive oil.

For large parties, you can hire glasses, plates, cutlery, lights, (and, of course, tents!) from your local "tenthouse". The quality of the items is not high, so for smaller parties, it is a good idea to have a decent supply of your own items. If you get fed up using the tenthouse items, you can also buy good domestic items cheaply -- again, not of high quality but sturdy and cheap. Also, catering companies will happily provide hors d'oevres and waiters/bartenders.

A few people have asked about pets. In the Khan Market, a market much used by the diplomatic community, there is a pet-supplies shop. I have no pets myself, but it seemed to have most stuff a dog-owner would want: dogfood, dogbowls, leashes, soap & anti-vermin wash, some toys. Didn't see much for cats, though I imagine that I just overlooked it. There are probably other pet-supply shops. I'll try to get better info soon. [24-july-98]

Where to shop in Delhi

Index of Delhi shopping centers with very brief descriptions. From Rediff on the Net.

Copyright © 1998 Peter R Bullen. Created: 15-Feb-98. Updates: 30-April-98, 20-May-98, 5-Aug-98, 29-Nov-98.