I know, all of us love shopping markets. These days, one would root for the malls and their airconditioned confines. But there are lot of these neighbourhood markets where things are still old fashioned. Several long forgotten things are available off the shelf. They are affordable, offer you fresh products and the variety is mind boggling. It does remind you of what Delhi once was, with its wide roads and little traffic and of course the friendly neighbourhood shops especially the Kirana ones!
This one is called DDA Flats Kalkaji, mini market. It is at a walking distance from the main DTC bus depot. This bus depot was our mainstay for U Specials during good old DU days! The market is referred to as mini market. It has a small group of about 30 to 40 odd shops. And the shops between them offer a lot. Of course, the attitude of the shopkeepers is brisk, no nonsense, no bargaining but the range is interesting. There are a couple of bakeries offering fresh products, a couple of cloth shop. Yes, you do get your fabric by the meter and there is a veritable range. From the astar or lining cloth, poplin, rubia, falls for saree, blouse pieces, cotton fabrics for everyday wear, curtain cloth, sofa cloth, gamcha, handkerchiefs, dupatta and oh yes they are affordable. There is fancy odds and end shop too. The is where one can get lace for stitching, dori for blouses, buttons, dori for pouches, coloured yarn and more. A couple of stationery shops, printing press. There is a good ole chakki, where one can get chakki atta ground just in front of you and it is hot. I think, they also let you take your own mix of grains! So any diehard multi-grain follower or grain-lentil flour master, this place is good for getting your own recipe or measurement ground. There are a couple of good tailors – reasonable and good. A bartan or vessel shop to buy steel and brass utensils. I have picked up a silbatta from here! There is a razai wala family across the road, who make pure cotton mattresses, cushions, floor cushions, razais and more! Next to it is the typical South Indian – Kerala shop selling a lot of items from Kerala.
Where – Just less than 0.10 kms from DTC bus stop. One has to turn right from the corner Taxi Stand called Gahunia and proceed straight and the market will be to the right. There will be a large number of carts selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Believe me, walking down the road is a bit of a nightmare though!
Timings – Open 10 am to evening 7 pm. Several shops open at 8 am especially the bakery. The rest though is laid back. Several do close in the afternoons too. Tuesday the market is closed and the shopkeepers take their holiday seriously! So the market is closed.
Highlights – The kirana shops at the back sell a lot of Kachris or fry ums. One can get macroni, chips, vrat aloo chips and more. They also stock vadiyans and chillies. The razai wala called Popular mattress is skilled in making all kinds of cushions inclusing customised floor cushions!
Inside Tip – The Kerala shop opposite the market is a tiny one in the byland. Before Vishu and Onam one can get Nedran bananas, chips, tapioca chips, coconut, tapiocal, koorka and more. Hari Kripa Bakery is my favourite. Introduced to me by my father in the 80s, when bakeries were old fashioned. He still bakes his own biscuits, patties, cup cakes, Christmas Plum cakes. They are delicious and affordable. The team is willing to try so one can give orders for puffs, patties or pastries or cakes. They are wholesellers for eggs especially the desi eggs or the country chicken eggs. Yes, the light brown variety. One can pick up that as well as a whole assortment of breads and buns. Narendra Cloth house has some very interesting fabric including the old fashioned velvet, satin, mattee cloth.
No comments:
Post a Comment