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Each is a sanctuary where collectors can unearth stories, history, and ideas that transcend time.
Faqir-Chand bookstore located in New Delhi’s posh market Khan Market has over a lakh Instagram followers. (Faqir-Chand Bookstore / Instagram)
Delhi has been a bibliophile’s dreamland right from the start, where the murmurs of yesterday and books come together in the city’s ageless roads. Book lovers and collectors seeking the enchantment of rare, out-of-print, and antiquarian books owe the capital some stunningly gorgeous safe houses that are a mix of heritage, scholarship, and exploration. Five bookstores that no book lover can ever live without are given below.
1. Memoirs of India (South Extension-II)
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Memoirs of India, Delhi’s number one destination for antiquarian and rare books, antique maps, and engravings, is a third-generation family business that has been celebrated for its tailored service and expertly curated collections. Step into the store and be embraced by the rich scent of antique pages, a fragrance that instantly stirs joy and nostalgia. With its state-of-the-art e-commerce platform, the shop stretches India’s literary history to global collectors. It brings treasure long buried behind closed bookshelves to the rest of the world’s enthusiasts. It includes first editions through stunning bindings and antique prints.
2. Faqir Chand & Sons (Khan Market)
A tradition started in 1951, Faqir Chand & Sons is a tradition today among collectors and scholars. There are shelves of books on top of shelves of rare and out-of-print books that occupy its space. The vintage atmosphere of its locality and advice of its personnel make stepping in there a pleasurable and satisfying experience.
3. Bahrisons Booksellers (Khan Market)
A name familiar to so many Delhi homes, Bahrisons Booksellers has a staggering and truly eclectic collection of books ranging from bestsellers translated into the world to signed first editions and specialist imports. Its quality and service have made it a mecca for collectors and readers alike on the hunt for the rare.
4. Chapter 101 (Gurugram)
Technically outside of Delhi, Chapter 101 merits a spot on this list for the ferocity of its curation of book-science, good editions, and rare books. It’s a stunningly gorgeous room that manages to combine the silence of a library with the show space of a collector, and it’s a flat necessity for anyone who has any gravity to their bookshelf.
5. May Day Bookstore & Café (Shadipur)
Not simply a bookstore, May Day is a lively cultural hub blending antiquarian books with alternative literature and community activities. It’s limited, niche inventory of out-of-print and alternative literature makes it attractive to collectors, with an opportunity to hear voices and viewpoints that might not be heard anywhere else.
Together, these five stores represent Delhi’s enduring love affair with books. Each is a sanctuary where collectors can unearth stories, history, and ideas that transcend time.
About the Author
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
September 25, 2025, 08:07 IST
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