Cliched as it sounds....it's quintessential book lovers paradise.
So cute
A 2 km stretch of footpaths laid out with an unbelievable assortment of books, and at equally unbelievable prices. I totally got why it would be called an iconic cultural hub of Delhi. Just the range of books and sheer volume of spread is staggering to say the least.
It's across bylanes of purani dilli, and the wall at backdrop is part of the original walled city of Shahajahanabad which was the Delhi until 1911, when the new city started getting built outside the walls. Former Pakistan President, Pervez Musharaf lived in a haveli by this wall until partition.
Today Darya Ganj is also popular for being host to many large publication offices. I also heard that it's quite often that you see the likes of Kapil Sibal and Jairam Ramesh strolling around. What was more interesting was that Gabriel Garcia Marquez visited a book store here in 1980 (he's special so it mattered :)
The kitaab bazaar (book market) is said to have started circa 1964, and has been there every sunday since. It's no casual stroll, as there's crazy amount of traffic and you just have to have the eye to spot your books real quick as push and shove seems to be accepted norm there.
In fact space is so used up by books that the shop guy just walks on the books, across his display to reach the book you can only point to. Takes some getting used to.
Books are cross spectrum..... amazing coffee table books, classics (at times first editions), memoirs, chiklits, childrens books, text books, novels of any genre, books on any topic almost all at throwaway prices.
After an intial haul of books we chanced upon some guys doing it by the kilogram, Rs.100 a kg, where if you get lucky, you'll find your favorites for as little as Rs. 20.
Well, well....love by the kilo. This is a guy specializing in Mills & Boon and like genre, some sense of humor that :)
So cute
Part of my haul :)
Go prepared to be enthralled, it's one of those overwhelming experiences you want to have .
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ReplyDeleteI like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to going over your web page
for a second time.
Remember the abids Sunday book market? :)
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