You Asked: ...for advice for someone who has only a day in New Delhi and loves to shop.

We recommend hiring a personal shopper to get the most out of your time. Quite a few Londoners have arrived for these outings with measurements for curtains, linens, even tables and beds since the craftsmen can make anything to specification. The “shopper” who escorted one American couple was an Indian royal who loves to introduce people to her city; after browsing boutiques, she invited them to join her at a friend’s wedding festivities.

For those who want to go on their own, it’s wise to patronize recommended places and be prepared to haggle. The highest quality work is all custom so you may choose to have things sent home. Friends recommend the following sources: Santushi Shopping Complex for clothes. Be sure to visit Ensemble (#36; 91-11-2688-2077), where you can find clothes and table and bed linens made by the women’s collective Qilasaaz. Sundar Nagar Market, which has a variety of jewelry shops. Bharany’s has been compared to the Gem Palace because it’s a bit overpriced but offers excellent selection. La Boutique also has pretty jewelry and lots of silver. Also in this antiques markets is Ladakh House, which has really special regional pieces. For clothing, the store called Haveli seems more like a studio than a boutique. It sells exquisite very sophisticated Indian clothes but with a western sensibility. My friend who designs carpets for ABC loves it. (Haveli, D-17, Maharani Bagh). Another friend has had beautiful bespoke kurta pajamas made at Heritage at Handloom Emporium (South Extension, Part One; 91-11-2462-3208).

For those who want a true bazaar of options, Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place is an underground shopping center with hundreds of arcades. See the Discussion boards for some only-between-members tips.

A tranquil lunch spot is Restaurant 77 in the small Manor Hotel. An old villa surrounded by gardens, the ten-room property is managed by Amanresorts and has been redone in a contemporary style. The restaurant serves Mediterranean food and what it calls modern Indian. Its chocolate soufflé is among the best in the world because it’s prepared in a tandori oven, which makes the outside crispy but the inside meltingly soft. (77 Friends Colony; 91-11-692-5151).