From cultural pieces of art like Madhubani paintings, beautiful pieces of fabrics like Assamese Silk and Khadi to delicious edible products like Aachar, Mathri, and Masala Chai, there are plenty of worth-buying things in Delhi for you to bring home as a souvenir for family and friends.
Image credit: Andrea KirkbyMadhubani paintings are truly beautiful pieces of art that will make an excellent addition to any room. They are created with all kinds of stunning fabric colors which then get painted onto silk, cotton, floral and all types of different fabrics. These art works take vast amounts of time to create and a true lover of art would be able to appreciate the fine details that go into these masterpieces.
Madhubani paintings are a unique souvenir to bring back home that will bring happiness, fun and vibrant colors into the home. The drawings on these paintings are always all sorts of fantastic elements. They range in everything from Krishna, Ram, Shiva, Durga to all sorts of Hindu themes and animals. There are huge selections to choose from, enabling you to buy a unique and thought out gift for a particular person back home.
BEST GIFTS FOR
This is a wonderful souvenir to bring home to those people in your life who appreciate good art and culture. They may be best suited for your parents, in-laws or uncles and aunts. It is a great present to give to a couple as a joint gift.
PORTABLE LEVEL: Manageable
PRICE RANGE
From a few US dollars up to hundreds of US dollars
WHERE TO BUY
House no.1734, Laxmi Bai Nagar, near INA metro station, Delhi
Image credit: Tatkala Assam SilkSilk is known all over India as a luxury item. One of the reasons why Assamese Silk is so sought after by visitors to Delhi is because it’s indigenous. Creating items from this silk is a very labor intensive process which takes vast amounts of man power, time and energy.
Some people prefer to buy certain items like shawls made out of silk, while others prefer to just buy the silk. If you just buy a piece of silk you could take it home and make it into something beautiful or later on decide what to do with it. When it comes to all the beautiful silk items in Delhi the options are endless.
BEST GIFTS FOR
Ideal for a unique gift for a very close and loyal family member, who can appreciate luxury and the finer things in life.
PORTABLE LEVEL
Easy to pack and carry around
WHERE TO BUY: Bihu Bazaar-Naveena Kalkaji Extension, Govindpuri, Govindpuri Extension, Delhi – 110019, India
Image credit: anuajay25One of the best and tastiest gifts you can bring home from India is a jar of Aachar. Aachar is extremely tasty and is a real treat for anybody who has never eaten it before. It is created with the use of preserved fruits and can be sweet or spicy in flavor.
Aachar is a great souvenir to take home to all those foodie lovers. Not only does it make a great add on as a sauce, topping or side but it can also be used for all different types of cooking dishes. A small piece of advice is that Aachar does taste very rich and strong; you only need to purchase small jars.
BEST GIFTS FOR
The foodie family and friends
PORTABLE LEVEL
It may not be the easiest thing to carry home so look out for smaller bottles which are sealed tightly shut.
PRICE RANGE
Expect to pay around $3 per jar, depending on the size, make and variant.
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: Margie SavageThere are some really delicious and traditional Indian teas available in Delhi. It is highly recommended that you personally taste some of them before deciding on which teas you want to bring back home with you.
One of the most popular is the Masala Chai. It is traditional flavored tea which is perfectly brewed with black tea and all sorts of Indian herbs and spices. You have really got to try this, and then buy the ingredients to recreate the experience for your friends and family back at home.
BEST GIFTS FOR
Perfect for all those tea lovers back home – your grandmother, mother and older female friends.
PORTABLE LEVEL
Easy to manage
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: Vanila BalajiPeople all over the world will be able to testify to the fact that the spices at home never taste anywhere near as good as they do in India. There is something authentic, pure and intense about the rich aromas and tastes of Indian spices. They are also made and mixed to pure precision, making Indian spices one of the very best products you can bring back.
Your options include curry spices, turmeric, ground mixtures, chili variations, herbs, and all sorts of traditional Indian blends. If you have a friend or family member who loves strong foods, rich tastes and hot curries then you have just found the perfect gift.
BEST GIFTS FOR
Fantastic souvenirs to bring home for food enthusiasts who love cooking with spices and flavors -parents, friends, and co-workers.
PORTABLE LEVEL
Manageable
PRICE RANGE
Expect to pay from $2.50 to $3 per kg
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: Khadi NaturalSome of the biggest and most beautiful sandalwood forests are in India. This is good news for you as it means that you have direct access to some of the best sandalwood products available. It even gets better than that, because you are in India and it is produced on location, the prices are very economical. The quality is fantastic and fresh.
Some of the most popular sandalwood products are incense, essential oil, body scrubs, face packs and powders. The best option would be authentic Sandalwood soaps, coming in all different varieties at great prices. Not only do the people back home benefit but so do you as your luggage will smell wonderful.
BEST GIFTS FOR
You could literally fill your bag with different Sandalwood soaps. They are great add-ons for gifts for friends, co-workers and relatives with another small gift.
PORTABLE LEVEL
Easy to magage
PRICE RANGE
The Sandalwood soaps are very economic at only 59c to $1 each.
WHERE TO BUY
9/5, Nehru Enclave East KALKAJI, New Delhi – 110019
Image credit: Rashmi GuptaMathri is a delicious and very popular afternoon snack in India. It is similar in taste and flavor to salty crackers but they are made very differently. They are served with spicy pickles and make a delicious snack with some Indian tea. This is one of the best snacks you can bring back home to your family and friends.
It makes a great add on to another gift or you could consider buying a jar of Aachar, which it will go very well with. This is a unique tasting and traditionally Indian snack which is perfect for all those people back home who love to eat and snack all day long.
BEST GIFTS FOR
These are wonderful gifts to bring back to all the teenagers and children in your life.
PORTABLE LEVEL
Manageable
PRICE RANGE
Around Rs 190 ($3) for 500 gram
WHERE TO BUY
Ghantewala Confectioners 1862-A, Chandni Chowk, Delhi-110006
Image credit: simisboutiqueIf you are a lover of jewelry and accessories then you will have an amazing time viewing all the Meenakari and Kundan jewelry in Delhi. There are unique, funky, fashionable and trendy pieces of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings for you to choose from. Anyone who appreciates great designs and who loves wearing special pieces will be thrilled to be given any one of these pieces.
BEST GIFTS FOR
These unique and beautiful pieces are perfect for those people in your life who really stand out and who have gone the extra mile for you – a parent or a sibling.
PORTABLE LEVEL
Easy to manage
PRICE RANGE
From Rs 2200 ($34) – Rs 9000 ($140)
WHERE TO BUY
Titu Jewellers, shop No.268, Dariba Kalan, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, 110006
Image credit: tommyIndia produces and directly manufactures a wide variety of different pashmina scarves. You will find tons of these practical, traditional and trendy scarves all over Delhi at astoundingly good prices. If you have extra space in your luggage now is the time to take advantage of this and pop in a few for yourself, after all you may regret it if you don’t.
BEST GIFTS FOR
These make beautiful gifts for all the lovely ladies in your life that you are dying to spoil. A genuine luxurious Pashmina scarf is the perfect gift to bring home for a grandmother, mother, aunt or even a close female friend.
PORTABLE LEVEL
Easy to manage
PRICE RANGE
You can expect to pay around 50 USD for fake Pashmina and around 100 USD for genuine Pashmina
WHERE TO BUY
E – 84 (Lower Ground Floor), Lajpat Nagar Part-I, New Delhi – 110024
Image credit: sutra_global, portableprintstudioKhadi is a very special type of cloth in India, which is spun into different things. It is the ideal fabric to create all sorts of amazing garments, especially traditional Indian wear. One of the very best aspects of all time about Khadi is that the fabric is extremely versatile. It will keep you cool during the summer months and warm during the winter months.
Locally made Khadi is a great gift to bring back as a souvenir. You can choose to buy cloth, garments or towels.
BEST GIFTS FOR
These are super fun gifts to give to your father, brother or uncle. They will look and feel great in their new and unique Indian wear.
PORTABLE LEVEL
Cloth and clothing are always among the easiest things to pack and carry around.
PRICE RANGE:
Expect to pay around Rs 350 ($5.40) onwards for female Indian wear and around Rs 250 ($3.40) onwards for male Indian wear.
WHERE TO BUY
Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, 24 Regal Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001
