National Handloom Day: With a history spanning around 5,000 years, India’s handloom tradition has served as a form of cultural expression as well as a symbol of resistance during the colonial period. Delhi, too, has long been associated with the textile trade. After the Mughals established Shahjahanabad, Katra Neel and Kinari Bazaar emerged as important centres for textile traders and craftspeople.
Despite the growing dominance of mechanised production, Delhi remains a centre of traditional textile trade. Its fabric markets, craft emporia and museums showcase traditional textiles and support the artisans who produce them.
Ahead of National Handloom Day on August 7, here are five places to visit across Delhi and Gurugram.
Shankar Market, Connaught Place
Known for fabric sold by the metre and ready-made Indian garments, Shankar Market also offers hand-spun cotton, ikat and kalamkari textiles.
Located near Barakhamba Road, it is home to International Handloom House, which sources fabrics from artisans across India. Prices there start at Rs 350 per metre. Other shops in the market specialise in different textiles, embroidery and ready-made clothing.
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm
Nearest Metro stations: Rajiv Chowk and Barakhamba Road (Blue Line)
Central Cottage Industries Emporium, Janpath
Established by the Government of India, the Central Cottage Industries Emporium aims to preserve the country’s handicraft and handloom traditions.
Commonly known as the Cottage, the flagship government-run store sells wooden furniture, hand-spun fabrics and other craft products sourced directly from craftspeople across India.
Timings: 10 am to 7 pm
Nearest Metro stations: Janpath (Violet Line) and Rajiv Chowk (Blue Line)
Dilli Haat, INA
One of Delhi’s best-known marketplaces for artisanal products, Dilli Haat is also a popular tourist destination because of its village-style setting.
Its stalls offer regional food, textiles and handmade products from across India. Visitors can find a wide range of handloom products brought to the Capital by artisans from different states.
Timings: 11 am to 8 pm
Nearest Metro station: Dilli Haat–INA (Pink and Yellow Lines)
National Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy, Pragati Maidan
Run by the Ministry of Textiles, the museum houses one of the country’s largest collections of handmade products and documents India’s rural life and cultural diversity.
Entry is free for Indian visitors. The museum also hosts craft demonstrations and activities such as pottery-making and painting.
Timings: 10 am to 6 pm; closed on Mondays
Nearest Metro station: Supreme Court (Blue Line)
Banjara Market, Gurugram
Although primarily known for furniture and home décor, Banjara Market also offers colourful handwoven cushion covers, lamps and tabletop decorations.
Visitors can also find rustic macramé wall art and other decorative products. The market is known for its relatively inexpensive home accessories.
Timings: 9 am to 10 pm
Nearest Metro stations: Millennium City Centre Gurugram (Yellow Line) and Sector 55–56 (Rapid Metro)
