Dilli Haat – a treasure trove of Indian culture

Incredible India”, as it is famously called is home to different cultures, religions, and ethnicities. It is this diversity in regions that make India – rich in culture, traditions, and cuisine. A platform that brings all of these different regions together is the famous “Dilli hat” in Delhi.

Delhi, one of India’s famous places, is a tourist hub worldwide. While making a trip to India, and with famous attractions in India being easily accessible from Delhi, the city is always crowded with travelers. Delhi is a multicultural state where people from all parts of India are settled. These exuberant people give the state its richness with a variety of cuisines and cultural diversity.

The history behind the famous Dilli Haat

The history of Dilli Haat in Delhi would be incomplete without mentioning the name Jaya Jaitly, whose concept led to the birth of Dilli Haat. Her work in the handicraft scenario in India made the idea so popular.

In the Match of 1994, the inception of the famous Dilli Haat took place. Jointly established by Delhi Tourism, the Government of Delhi, and the Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the Dilli haat started gaining fame over the years.

It was initially created for middle-class people and not for the elite. However, the popularity and interest it received from the general public and tourists alike made it what it is today. With people from all walks of life – students, families, and tourists coming to this grand enclave has certainly stamped its importance.

The Dilli Haat is run by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation and was a salvaged land and later transferred into a plaza as part of a reclamation project.

Reaching Dilli Haat

The first Dilli Haat is located close to the Hauz Khas village. Dilli Haat INA is the closest metro station if you are traveling by metro. It is only a 5 min walk from the metro station to the Haat. Khan Market and India Habitat Centre are on your way there and are places you can visit near Dilli Haat.

Taking the Red Metro Line to the Netaji Subhash Place Metro Station will lead you to Dilli Haat in Pitampura.

To reach Dilli Haat in Janakpuri, Delhi, you can take the Blue Line to the Tilak Nagar Metro station.

The best time to visit Dilli Haat would be around early autumn or during the winter because Delhi is a very hot and sultry place. Since most of Dilli Haat is an open market area, navigating through the area would be uncomfortable in the heat.

A look at the importance of Dilli Haat

Looking for that perfect gift to send your loved ones that catches their eye while also giving off a hint of your cultural sentiment? Dilli Haat is the right place for you.

The Dilli Haat in Delhi is not only a solution that provides financial upliftment to the artisans and craftsmen of India but also gives them an emotional boost to keep the tradition ongoing. The Haat incorporates permanent food stalls representing each state of India and craft stalls which keep on changing every 15 days.

The Dilli Haat in Delhi aims to encourage artists and artisans from all across the country to sustain and preserve the rich heritage and culture of India.

Unlike weekly local markets, the Dilli Haat remains open all week long. There is an interaction between buyers and sellers making room for haggling but the organizers regulate a check on prices to keep them moderate and well within the market standard.

A look at the three Dilli Haats

Dilli Haat is not just a traditional market, it is a forum where rural artwork and life are brought forward to the urban lifestyle. A showpiece of traditional Indian culture, the beauty of the Haat stems from the fact that it showcases the history and culture of India.

Dilli Haat is now located in three different locations in Delhi. The Dilli Haat timings are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Dilli Haat, Janakpuri
• Dilli Haat, INA
• Dilli Haat, Pitampura

Dilli Haat, Janakpuri

The establishment of the third Dilli Haat, namely the one in Janakpuri took place on the 13th of July 2014. With an area spanning almost 8 acres, the Dilli Haat in Janakpur holds much more space compared to the other two Haats.

100 total stalls are located in this Haat which showcases ethnic and exotic products exclusive to India. A total of 14 food stalls are located in Dilli Haat, Janakpuri where you can savor flavor from all across the country. To enjoy cuisine from across the globe there are 15 food stalls.  

With the demand for increased security, security cameras have been installed across the venue. The architecture of Dilli Haat Haat is also developed with eco-friendly features and is also fully disabled-friendly.

You can find Indian musical instruments and musical artifacts which are displayed in a museum dedicated to the theme of the Haat – music. Enjoying the Indian music culture may be one of the best things to do at Dilli Haat.

King’s Park Street is 15 min from the complex and may be one of the good places to visit near Dilli Haat.

Dilli Haat, INA

The most popular among the three Haats, and the first one from its inception in 1994, this Dilli Haat in Delhi presents a panorama of craft, cuisine, and cultural activities. The architecture of Dilli Haat has been designed in the traditional style of North India. With shrubs and forests surrounding the area, it moves towards giving off an environment-friendly location. 

The Dilli Haat food is an attraction of its own and second to none from the food you find in the rest of Delhi. From the delicious momos of Sikkim to the hot chicken bamboo from Nagaland, the fish curry of West Bengal, and Rajasthani Thali, the Hyderabadi biryani, the dosa and idli, kebabs and Mughlai food, you can get it all in the Dilli Haat. Your taste buds will be able to experience the flavors of India, all in one place.

With the ambiance of a rural market, the Dilli Haat, INA boasts craft stalls selling native and ethnic products from all over the country.

Holi in Delhi sees the complex crowded with people ready to celebrate the colorful festival.

Dilli Haat, Pitampura

This Dilli Haat in Delhi is strategically located so that it can be accessed from various centers in the city. The Haat has 108 craft stalls and a lot of landscaped areas with terrace roof gardens. It is situated just near the Netaji Subhash Place Metro Station and makes it easily accessible to the local people of Delhi.

Festivals and events are organized in the Haat from time to time, therefore festivals are the best time to visit Dilli Haat. The stalls provide an aura of Indian heritage with a variety of handcrafted products and ethnic wear made by the rural people of India.

The basement parking in this complex holds a space for almost 250 cars and almost the same for two-wheelers.

Things to do at Dilli Haat

Dilli Haat offers a wide range of possibilities when it comes to exploring Indian culture. Apart from just glaring at the tourists, there are a lot of things to do at Dilli Haat.

Buying Home Decor – Want to show the traditional side of you to your guests? Get those visually aesthetic decor pieces that will make you stand out. Paintings depicting the Indian histories and mythologies may be a good start.

Indulge in mouth-watering food – Cuisine from all over India including north Indian food, northeastern food, and south Indian food is available here. When you are tired of shopping all day, take a break. Why not hop into one of the stalls and let the food speak for itself

Buying traditional outfits – Immerse yourself in the Haat by purchasing Khadi outfits which are symbolic of Indian culture and nationalism as well as purchasing kurtas and Nehru jackets for less exorbitant prices.Getting souvenirs – How can you say you traveled to India without showcasing some of the handcrafted souvenirs made by the local Indian artisans and artists? Help in their endeavor by going through their catalog of paintings, woven products, and ethnic pieces.

Which Dilli Haat should you choose and visit?

As the saying goes – “You cannot replace an original”, the Dilli Haat, INA has a charm that is outmatched by the newer versions of Dilli Haat located in Janakpuri and Pitampura.

As mentioned above, the best time to visit Dilli Haat would be during the festivals, and all three locations are quite vibrant and exuberant during these times. However, if no festivals or events are being held in the Dilli Haat, the ones in Janakpuri and Pitampura are quite deserted because there is much development to be done in these two locations.

If you are a music lover, then Dilli Haat, Janakpuri is the place for you. The idea for this Haat was to provide a place for entertainment for people who reside locally, giving opportunities to local artists to showcase their talent.

The Great Indian Food Festival in January, the Baisakhi Festival in April, the International Mango Festival in July, and the Teej Festival in August may be one of the best times to visit Dilli Haat as the place gets buzzing with local people and tourists alike. A trip during the new year in Delhi is also an amazing time to visit Dilli Haat.

Changing times

The reason that the craft stalls keep rotating every 15 days is to ensure that the products on sale remain fresh and diverse. However, most of the stalls sell the same thing and the item choices are not varied and the items have lost their uniqueness. 

With middlemen and traders entering the market, the use and sale of Chinese products have risen in recent times. This invasion of foreign products has made the whole notion of a local market offering local traditional items lose value.

Genuine artisans lose their credibility as their items get second-choice and tourists and buyers in turn take to other places to get a taste of traditional products.

The construction of malls around the city has also pushed down the value of traditional markets.

A marketplace with a lasting experience

The items showcased (the genuine ones) in Dilli Haat, made by the artisans of India are genuine with unique designs and the beauty of these products is no match. A reminder to all about the history and cultural heritage of India, these products scream – “Made in India”, something Indians should be proud of.

Don’t forget to haggle!