Beware ! Dilli haat versus Delhi haat

nadusch

Hi all,

we have been to Delhi a few days ago and wanted to visit Dilli haat, a famous arts and crafts market in the south of Delhi. The riksha driver took a to three very expensive shops in nowhere, which call semselves Delhi haat. When we asked the driver if this is really the famous Dilli haat, he told us some humbug about Dilli haat beeing partly closed due to metro construction work and this is what remains...but of course he could drive us to a better bazaar... We did not believe a word and hired another riksha, which brought us to Dilli haat.

As we have not been the only tourist stranded in this place, I want to warn you to make really clear that you want to go to Dilli haat not Delhi haat!

dillichaat

That's one I hadn't heard about so far. Thanks for the update! The taxidrivers and autowallas make a tidy income out of such scams, I once had a driver who explained me that in one emporium, he'd get 400 Rs just for bringing in a foreign tourist. That's a huge sum for them. Of course we teamed up and scammed the emporiums, did a grand tour of 5 or 6 of them, me going in, not buying anything, him getting paid and showing me around for free the rest of the day

Aishah

Here is a website for Dilli Haat - I was trying to see if it had a photograph of the entrance, however no: http://delhitourism.nic.in/publicpage/delhihaat2.aspx

To give you an idea, it has a wide expansive paved area in front of the entrance gates. There is a building there with ticket offices, and an entry and exit gate to the side. If your rickshaw driver takes you to what look like shops, then he's taking you to the wrong place. Refuse to get out of the rickshaw, and insist he takes you to the right one, opposite the INA Market on Aurobindo Marg, not far from Safdarjung Aerodrome.

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delhiwala

Visitors may verify the logo of Dilli Haat at entrance. which appears like this:

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Aishah

That's a handy pic, Delhiwala - thanks for posting it.

delhiwala

You are welcome Aishah....

Here is a full Pic of Entrane also....people may please note that Elephant Toran (decorative gate) shown in the pic is temporaray..., and when they visit Dilli Haat, there may not be any toran...or there may be a different themed toran.....

The logo can be seen in this pic too...

Attached Thumbnails

 

tembo

Also, there is an entry charge (Rs 15?), ticket check and security check for the real deal Dilli Haat...

PeakXV

I used to due that all the time. Taxi guys would tell me how long to stay(5-10 minutes), to get their business card, & tell them you'll definitely be back when you have a bit more time to shop ..... then on to the next emporium. Cha-ching ( hmmmm guess I was working illegally in India then ???? )

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What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.
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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

JuliaF

Another clever rickshaw scam re Dilli Haat:

I was with an Indian friend (she's not from Delhi) and we set off in a rickshaw from Connaught Place to Dilli Haat. After we'd been going 5 minutes or so the driver started a conversation -

driver: Ah madam, today is Thursday (or whatever day it was)
me/my friend: Er, yes it is.
driver: I think Dilli Haat is closed today
us: Oh I've never heard of that
driver: I'm not completely sure madam but I think closed today. Dilli Haat is a long way from here, I can take you to these other emporiums, very good (passing cards to us)
us (wising up): no take us to Dilli Haat thanks, we'll take a chance
driver: As you like madam, but I have told you I think closed today

It was of course completely open
But it's a clever approach, to frame it as concern that we wouldn't waste our time!

worthyquest

oh i can't wait to get back to delhi and deal with scamming scooter men...

also can't wait to get back to dilli haat. does anyone know what the actual hours of operation are? i've been there during the day, but hear that evening is nice? i've looked at their website to no avail...

Aishah

Not sure what time it closes but I once was there around 9.00 p.m. and it was still going strong. I looked the website but can't see any hours for opening on it - a bit remiss really.

delhi_hunk2009

its notclosed on any day of the week...and for the genuineness, look for a petrol pump juxtaposed. The entrance would have a ramp with railings, which is usually followed by women interrupting passer-bys for beading. Have been there till 11 PM.