Delhi's curiosity corners

Shop for the best in handicraft at the capital's museums and culture hubs

If you are a crafts enthusiast but can't bear to venture out in this scalding heat to open air venues such as Dilli Haat, then there are other eclectic and cooler options to explore in the city. Lota, the curio shop at National Crafts Museum located in one of the quieter corners of Pragati Maidan, is one such option. Renovated in February this year, the shop stocks a range of handicraft from the Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation, or HECC, which falls under the ministry of textiles.

The air-conditioned space comes alive with colours, with a myriad artworks such as phad from Rajasthan, Kalighat pat from Bengal and patachitra from Odisha. Wall after wall is lined with shelves displaying the best of traditional handiwork from across the country. Some of the works that stand out are neem wood combs from Kolkata, vibrant kantha shawls and bed covers, miniature metallic handpainted cups and spoons, madhubani papier-mache products and quaint leather puppets depicting the folk characters from Andhra Pradesh. You can also choose from a selection of Assam, Darjeeling and masala teas, and other gifting options such as wooden musical instruments, miniature kite souvenirs and marble creations from Agra and Auroville. The one thing that I couldn't tear my eyes away from was a beautiful Gujarati hand-embroidered patchwork tablecloth embellished with elaborate zari and mirror work, priced at Rs 29,000

From Pragati Maidan, I head to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, or IGNCA, on Janpath. A hub for seminars, performances and other cultural pursuits, IGNCA, however, falls short when it comes to its souvenir shop. Deep inside the corner building, next to the library, is a sales counter that I am able to locate after asking employees who don't seem to be aware of its existence. It's a nondescript space full of almirahs and steel cabinets stacked with IGNCA publications, CDs and DVDs. A singular collection that is pitiably collecting dust on the shelves needs to be better marketed for a greater reach. Especially commissioned by IGNCA, informative documentaries on traditional practices, art forms, communities from across the length and breadth of the country are priced at Rs 200, with discounts available for multiple buys. A few compelling titles belong to Thoda, an ancient dance form of Himachal Pradesh and Brahmavadinis, the first women's gurukul in India. These can also be purchased online from the IGNCA website, if you want to give the dingy ambience a miss.

Its next door neighbour, the National Museum, fares much better. Don't loiter for long at the mini shop behind the ticket counter downstairs that has a mediocre collection of tacky replicas of stone sculptures of Buddha, Yakshi and Vishnu and cheaply printed mugs. Instead, make way to the first floor and prepare to enter a kitsch studio like the ones found in Hauz Khas Village or Shah Pur Jat. With sleek wooden flooring and black stone walls, the attractive HHEC products are bathed in sunlight streaming in through the windows. From quirky coasters and mousepads adorned with Mughal miniatures to neon coloured potli bags and umbrellas with traditional motifs, the shop is an absolute delight. However, the three Amrapali glass cabinets in the middle are where the real treasures lie. An ornate semiprecious stone dagger (Rs 19,600) rests in one while a pair of exquisitely wrought silver meenakari jhumkas (Rs 6,400) grab attention in another. My favourite is a striking necklace made with 19th century coins, tied together.

Both, the National Crafts Museum's curio shop as well as the National Museum's souvenir corner, are managed by the HHEC. So customers will find similar, if not the same, products at both places.

The last stop, National Gallery of Modern Art, or NGMA, located at the India Gate hexagon, wraps up the eventful day and how. The NGMA Art Shop is situated within the new wing and is a pocket-conscious art aficionado's delight. There are many noteworthy biographies, portfolio books as well as digital artwork prints of works by architect Raj Rewal, artists Ramkinkar Baij, Amrita Sher-gil, Jamini Roy, Nicolas Roerich, Atul Dodiya, and various others. While the actual works of modern sculptor and installation artist Subodh Gupta are displayed in the gallery, within the shop his presence can be felt in a cabinet dedicated to his creations. So you can find postcards, specially designed Everything is Inside t-shirts, comprehensive catalogues of his works (Rs 4,999) and a tote bag. However, with high resolution digital prints of artworks by the best of contemporary artists being sold at throwaway prices, this shop is an absolute steal. Sample this: A 68 x 51.2 cm print of Gopini by Jamini Roy is available only for Rs 30, while a 47.4 x 70.7 cm Self Portrait by Amrita Sher-Gil is priced at Rs 75.