Reading a book in physical form has a different jest to it; the way it fills your hands and the way it smells brings back memories. But buying books can get quite expensive, especially if you’re a millennial and hate reading on Kindle.
But don’t worry! If you just keep the ease of Amazon home delivery aside, I have some amazing and incredibly cheap book markets in Delhi for you!
You will find everything from new first copies to secondhand books sold in kilos!
Come, let’s dive deep into this treasured but lesser-known side of Delhi’s markets.
Daryaganj Sunday Book Market
Also known as the Sunday book market and Mahila Haat market, Daryaganj is the cheapest book market in Delhi and has been the hotspot for bibliophiles for many years!
I was heartbroken when I heard the market had closed, but to my relief and many others, it got shifted to the Mahila Haat market in 2019.
The open-air market didn’t give the same feel as the old Daryaganj market until I heard the familiar “lejao bees rupay, bees rupay,” and I knew nothing had changed.
Be ready to squat down and flip through the pile of new and old books, and you might as well find some signed copies! If you live in Delhi and haven’t yet explored this bookworm’s paradise, it’s high time you do now!
Nearest Metro Station
The nearest railway station to the Daryaganj/Mahila market is Delhi Gate Metro Station. It is about 180 meters away from the market, exit from gate 3, and a 3-minute walk will take you to the market.
Opening and closing time
The market opens every Sunday from 6 am until 6 pm and stays closed for the rest of the week.
Learn more about the cheapest book market in Delhi through this short YouTube vlog by Fly with Ankit vlogs.
Nai Sarak Book Market
If you’re from Delhi, you must have heard the name of Nai Sarak market — if you have not visited it once in your lifetime.
Contrastingly to its name, this market is one of the oldest and largest book markets, existing ever since the time of Britishers in Delhi.
This old book market in Delhi is a whole extensive street in Chandni Chowk dedicated to books and stationery. So if there’s a book you can’t find online or in the normal bookstores, you will most likely find it here.
So get ready to savage through bookstores and stalls selling stuff for a mere ₹30!
Nearest Metro Station
The nearest railway station to Nai Sarak is Chawri Bazar, located about 750 meters and will take about 11 minutes to reach on foot.
Opening and closing time
The market is open from 11 am to 8 pm from Monday to Saturday and stays closed on Sundays.
Connaught Place Book Market
CP is famous for many things like the legendary fire paan, Bangla Sahib, and Museum of Illusions, but that’s not all! It is not just a place for cafes, bars, and brand lovers; Lectiophiles also hub around this city center since you can find many fictional and non-fictional books at dirt prices decorated along the streets.
As much as I have noticed, Ana Huang’s Twisted series is the bestseller in this market, and yes, you can also find those distractingly discreet covers of the series here.
You can also visit Anil Book Corner which is one of the most popular and aesthetic bookstores in the market.
Nearest Metro Station
Rajiv Chowk metro station is the closest one to the market, which is just 230 meters away and will take you just a 3-minute walk.
Opening and closing time
The market opens from 10 am to 8:30 pm and stays open 7 days a week.
Janpath Book Market
Janpath market is not just popular for clothes, jewelry, and the very famous Gujarati lane, but as soon as you enter, you can find lots of retailers selling every kind of novel in shops and pull-carts.
If you have good bargaining skills, you can get any book you want at relatively low prices.
The British Bookstore is a very popular shop in the Janpath market from where you can buy books at prices as low as ₹25, and you can even return the book after reading and get your money back.
Nearest Metro Station
Rajiv Chowk metro station is the closest one to the Janpath book market, which is just 400 meters away and will take you just a 6-minute walk.
Opening and closing time
The market opens from 11 a.m. to 8:00 and stays open 7 days a week.
Mukherjee Nagar Book Market
All I could feel in this market as soon as I stepped foot in it was study pressure. Mukherjee Nagar is a book wholesale market in Delhi, mainly famous for study books and NCERTs. If you’re preparing for UPSC, you can find all the preparation books here.
Not just books, but preparation notes, Maps, and previous year’s question papers are also available in many shops, just like in Karol Bagh market.
Nearest Metro Station
The nearest station to the market is GTB Nagar metro station, which is about 1.6 km away from the first bookshop of the market.
Opening and closing time
The operational timings of the market are from 11 am to 8 pm.
Khan Market
Khan Market is not just a famous hangout place in South Delhi but also an Instagrammable spot for bibliophiles. I’m sure you’ve heard about the Faqir Chand and Sons bookstore, a go-to place for all the bookworms.
The bookstore is worth every bit of the hype, walking into it felt like I was walking in a different world. The walls of the bookstore are completely covered with books. You’ll find every single title you can imagine here.
Nearest Metro Station
The nearest metro station to the market is Khan Market metro station, located about 350 meters away.
Opening and closing time
The market opens from 10:00 am until 11:00 pm, from Monday to Saturday, and stays closed every Sunday.
Palika Bazaar Book Market
Hidden beneath the bustling Connaught place this huge market is one of a kind in Delhi, selling everything from clothes to tattoo-making services, and books are obviously a part of it.
Palika Bazar offers a huge variety of books tucked in the corners of this underground shopper’s paradise. You can scavenge your way through stacks of books and get them for super cheap prices.
Nearest Metro Station
The nearest metro station to the market is Rajiv Chowk metro station, located just 350 meters away from the market.
Opening and closing time
The timings of the Palika market are from 10:30 am to 8:00 pm from Monday to Saturday and stay closed on Sunday.
Final Words
The book markets in Delhi are famous all over India for their extensive collection and dirt-cheap prices. Doesn’t matter if you are a bibliophile, or want to open your bookstore-cum-café-cum-flower shop one day, these markets are where you should start.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your strongest and biggest bag because I’m sure you’re gonna shop in Kilos!
What is the biggest book market in Delhi?
The biggest book market in Delhi is the Nai Sarak market.
What is the best time to visit the Daryaganj market?
The best time to visit Daryaganj is early in the morning on Sundays from 8 am to 6 pm.
What is the cheapest book market in Delhi?
The cheapest book market in Delhi is Daryaganj which is also known as Mahila Haat market.
Which metro station is closest to the Daryaganj book market?
The nearest station to the market is Delhi Gate, about a 5-minute walk away.
