Palika Bazaar, the underground air-conditioned market located between the inner and outer circles of Cannaught Place in Delhi was built during the Emergency in 1979. On 12 April, the iconic market completed 40 years in business.

Its name inspired from the Palika Bazaar of Mumbai, the market hosts 380-odd shops selling everything under the sun. It is still the country’s only air-conditioned underground shopping plaza.

Established as a retail outlet to cater to neighbouring areas and residents living around central Delhi, the place soon became one of the most famous shopping complexes in the Capital. Built at a cost of Rs 2 crore by the New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC), the market was said to be a brainchild of Sanjay Gandhi.

The market occupies a little less than 4.3 acres, and the space was carved out by demolishing a 34-year-old Theatre Communications building, allegedly without the approval of the Urban Arts Commission and the Delhi Commission.

Built in a circular shape, the architecturally interesting market was an indigenous invention — perhaps a blueprint to what later became the culturally imported shopping malls.

The ceiling is dome shaped with aquamarine glass that filters sunlight and gives a vintage look to the entire complex.

Famous for cheap electronic goods and clothes, from accessories to DVDs and CDs, the place never gets old. Having adapted to the times, the place is abuzz with tourists buying souvenirs or Bob Marley, Jim Morrison, Guevara inspired merchandise, the bazaar also has a reputation for selling what is black in the market.

Infamous for selling illegal products such as pornography, stolen goods, and fake designer labels to unlicensed CDs, software and films, the underground market has regularly seen raids by the police to recover stolen and counterfeit merchandise. But that hasn’t put an end to the popularity of the market.

Palika Bazaar has seen substantial decline over the years with a plethora of options now available to customers. Even then, Palika at any given time is estimated to have some 15,000 people within its confines.

The market that had been the Capital’s shopping nucleus back in the 80s was also the forex hub. At that time, people were allowed to take only a limited amount abroad but if people had plans to stay abroad longer they would find solutions to their problems at Palika.

Being one of the first air-conditioned markets, it was also the place that offered respite to many from the torrid Delhi Heat. However, the place decayed over the years with NDMC revamping it time and again. Sometime around the Commonwealth Games, the place was given a complete makeover and is now the modern-sanitised one that stands today.

Palika Bazaar has seven entrances and is open between 10:30 am and 8:00 pm from Mondays to Saturdays. It remains closed on Sundays.