SHOPPING

Delhi is a very interesting place to haggle and shop. (haggling and bargaining are almost mandatory, and the Delhi shopkeeper feels cheated if you don't bargain at least a little bit and agonises privately whether he's underpricing the stuff.).

Apparel: Delhi is the place for both cottons and wollens considering the city's weather conditions fluctuate between extremes. Most clothing is inexpensive and haute couture too is available in Delhi. Leather items are cheap. All branded stuff is available with inexpensive duplicates too.

Local fashions such as Lucknow chikan fabrics are cheap and of good quality and have a large range.

Foodstuffs: The prices are slightly above the all India average but usually supplies are plentiful.

Some illustrative prices obtained by CMI team:
Potatoes Rs 12-14.
Onions Rs 15-20
Tur Dal Rs 30-35
Wheat Rs 7-10
Rice Rs 18-20
Sugar Rs 10-18
Fish Rs 150
Milk Rs 16 per litre
Meal in a good restaurant Rs 80-120
Cup of tea in a good restaurant Rs 5-10
Typical thali meal Rs 50
A haircut Rs 30
Stitching a shirt Rs 170
Stitching a trouser Rs 250
Ironing a pair of mens clothes Rs 5
Ironing a saree Rs 5

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INFRASTRUCTURE & COST OF LIVING

Being the capital naturally Delhi is a sort of showpiece so the infrastructure is good compared to other Indian cities. The new city is well planned, roads are wide and so on but the traffic has outstripped planners' calculations and infrastructure needs to be strengthened. There is a shortage of low cost housing and slums are found in some areas. Electricity and water supply are in the opinion of long time residents, better than in other Indian cities.

Compared to most Indian cities, say residents, general costs of living are high in Delhi.

Food if eaten out, is expensive. The locals on the whole seem to prefer home cooked food, so there is really a a shortage of businesslike restaurants compared to say Mumbai or Bangalore.

According to residents the most wholesome food available in the city is actually the rustic Roti and vegetable curry. It costs around Rs 50 in a small restaurant.

There are several fast food places in some areas like the busy Connaught Place area, the famous Nirula's for one. Old Delhi has several eating places serving inexpensive and excellent foodstuffs, for instance near the Jama Masjid and Interstate Bus Terminus.

All the large hotels in Delhi have their well known restaurants--Bukhara at the Sheraton for instance. South Delhi has several upmarket retaurants. Hauz Khas has a collection of distinctive cuisines available at several restaurants. Paharganj is basically a budget western tourist area but there are several interesting restaurants here too.

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