( CNN ) -- New Delhi strains under the weight of its own UNESCO World Heritage sites . What with the towering minaret of Qutb Minar , the glorious Humayun 's tomb and the imposing Red Fort Mughal palace , visitors can feel swamped by the sheer abundance of history on display . But India 's capital city provides more than just awe-inspiring spectacles of its ancient past . With a preponderance of market stalls , bazaars , shopping malls and street vendors , New Delhi is a consumer paradise , lending a much-needed retail counterpoint to all that earnest sightseeing . To help you separate the glad rags from the plain old rags , here 's CNN 's at-glance-guide to shopping your way through New Delhi . Before you start . If the city is just one port of call on an India-wide shopping spree ( with a few sights thrown in for good measure ) , bear in mind that you can arrange for most things -- large or small -- to be shipped back , so that it 's waiting patiently on your doorstep when you return home . There are international couriers everywhere , and most hotels can help you arrange shipments for an almost disconcertingly small fee . Dilli Haat . For the most authentic and down-to-earth shopping experience head to `` Dilli Haat '' in south-west Delhi . Modeled around a traditional rural marketplace ( a `` haat '' ) , it features some 200 individual stalls that form a permanent al-fresco arts-and-crafts bazaar . This is a great place to buy original hand-made items directly from the producers themselves , with artisans from across the country selling everything from panel-beaten silver jewelry to brightly colored linens and vast decorative ornaments . Be aware , the stalls operate on a rotating basis -- so , if you see something you like , buy it on sight , as the vendor may have disappeared by tomorrow . Dilli Haat is not for the hesitant consumer and haggling the best price is standard practice . Crafts Museum . Those keen to combine consumer therapy with a bit of heritage should wander over to the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum -- one of the largest crafts museums in India . The 20,000 or so exhibits feature centuries-old textiles , rare metal works and intricately crafted clay pots . But the souvenir shop is almost equally as impressive , with ink drawings on parchment , handmade Himalayan shawls , mirrored fabrics and many other quintessentially Indian arts and crafts available for purchase . In addition , there are often live demonstrations by craftsmen , whose wares go on sale hot off the production line . Read related : New fashions inspired by New Delhi . Sarojini Nagar Market . A pilgrimage site for bargain-hunting fashionistas , the Sarojini Nagar Market stocks all the latest couture designs before they hit European and American boutiques with eye-popping mark-ups . Export surpluses and last-minute canceled lines are dumped here en-masse , so check for holes , faulty zips , stains and missing buttons before handing over your cash . There are no changing rooms as it 's not much more than a long road with make-shift shops on both sides . That said , prices are so low that buyer 's remorse is a rare experience , with entire wardrobes bought for less than the price of a few beers . State Government Emporiums . If you 're fearful of tourist traps and you 're just not the haggling type , then the government-run emporiums dotted across the capital offer fixed pricing and quality-assured `` India PLC '' produce . Each emporium tends to have its own specialism , showcasing products from different states . For instance , head to Himachal for blankets and shawls ; Tamil Nadu for sandalwood products ; Uttar Pradesh Emporium for the incredible stone-inlay work popularized by the Taj , as well as copper , brasswork and leather items ; Kashmir Emporium is the place for carpets ; and Orissa for fabrics and traditional paintings . If you 've only time for one , however , then the Central Cottage Industries Emporium Central Cottage Industries Emporium is the place to go . -- a six-storey Aladdin 's cave selling everything from giant ornamental Gods to packets of exquisitely scented Darjeeling tea . Khan market . If the rag-tag pandemonium of New Delhi 's more traditional bazaars and market stalls is taking its toll , or you hanker for the sight of some familiar shops , then the row of upscale designer boutiques , cosmetic outlets and chain stores in Khan Market will be just the ticket . With the ex-pat market in mind ( the diplomatic enclave is a stone 's throw away ) the shops here offer home-sick holiday makers the reassurance of popular brands such as the Body Shop and Nike -- and there 's even a Subway for the culinarily incurious . But this is also the place to pick up fine gourmet groceries -- such as Italian pesto and French baguettes -- that will otherwise be difficult to source in other parts of town . Beware , prices are sometimes more upmarket than the goods on offer . Chandni Chowk . No self-respecting shopper could visit New Delhi without taking the rickshaw ride down to Chandi Chowk , the old city 's famously frenetic merchant district . Spilling over with shops peddling luminous candies , vividly-colored saris and shawls , homecare products , discount electrical goodies , and much , much else besides , this traffic-choked thoroughfare is worth a trip for the atmosphere alone . Haggling like your life depends on it is just part of the fun .
With a history that spans millennia , New Delhi is replete with ancient monuments and wonders of the world . The city 's bazaars and street vendors also make it a bargain - hunter 's paradise . From traditional food stalls to designer boutiques , says CNN 's travel guide to New Delhi .