Dilli Haat Couture! Food and shopping destination at INA set for revamp

NEW DELHI: The famous Dilli Haat at INA is soon going to get a facelift.

Keeping the G20 events in mind, which are likely to attract a large number of delegates from the participating countries as well as tourists next year, the Delhi government has decided to revamp some popular tourist destinations located in and around central Delhi. Dilli Haat at INA is one of them, said officials.

Built in the early 1990s, the Haat was last revamped more than a decade ago. Officials said they had been planning to upgrade it for a long time. With eight G20 events scheduled to be organised in Delhi, officials said a large-scale beautification has been planned in the national capital.

While the rustic look of the Haat will be preserved, some tweaks will be made to make it more appealing. The revamp work is also likely to include installation of murals, landscaping, and necessary repair work, wherever required. The public conveniences will also be modernised, said a senior Delhi government official.

The official said the revamp plan was being prepared by the tourism department, which maintains the Haat. The revamp work is likely to be completed by June 2023.

Artisans from across the country with different styles of handicraft will be given space to ensure there is a representation of all states. “The handicraft will be carefully curated and the quality and variety of goods will be maintained,” said an official.

Dilli Haat is spread over six acres of land. The red stone and brick architecture gives it a look of a village. The architecture is very common to the typical north Indian style houses and also strikes a close resemblance to the bazaars of Jaipur. Each of these shops is formed in the shape of a small cottage with a stone roof. Various varieties of flowers and shrubs give it a very pleasant and harmonious look.

The Haat also has an open air theatre and a small stage, which is supported by a beautifully done graffiti wall. Cultural programmes, including folk dances and songs, will be organised every day at the Haat, especially in September 2023 when most of the G20 events will be taking place in Delhi, officials said.

The Haat has a food court with stalls from almost all Indian states that sell authentic regional food. The revamp of Haat will also include redoing the food court, an official said. “We will ensure that popular cuisines of all Indian states are available at these stalls. We will ensure quality checks on food vendors in association with various states running these stalls,” said the official.