Central Cottage Industries Emporium

Central Cottage Industries Emporium, housed in Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan on Janpath in central Delhi, is a multi-floor government-run store established to give buyers a safe, fixed-price alternative to bargaining for handicrafts. Its floors are organised by category and stock goods sourced from artisan cooperatives across India, including hand-knotted carpets, pashmina and silk textiles, brassware, sandalwood carvings, papier-mache and jewellery. Because it is a public-sector emporium rather than a commission-driven private shop, the risk of the gem, carpet and silk scams that target tourists elsewhere in Delhi is largely absent, and prices are clearly labelled rather than negotiated. Goods are generally higher quality than typical tourist-market trinkets, reflecting the emporium's role as a showcase for state handicraft boards, though prices are correspondingly higher than street-market equivalents. Payment is accepted by card, UPI and cash, and the emporium can arrange shipping for larger items such as carpets and furniture; no in-store tax-refund scheme operates, though visitors departing India may claim eligible refunds through separate customs procedures at the airport. The atmosphere is calm, air-conditioned and unhurried compared with Delhi's street markets, with attentive staff on each floor rather than crowds of vendors competing for attention. There are no food outlets inside the building itself. The upper floors carrying carpets and the ground-floor jewellery and silk counters are the strongest sections for serious purchases.