City146;s warm corner

The market, started by Tibetan refugees in 1987 on land allotted by the government, stocks corduroy and leather jackets and fabric. Priced between Rs 250 and 350, the stuff sourced from Ludhiana, Pathankot, and Gandhinagar, has found many takers in Delhi. What8217;s really popular here are reversible corduroy jackets Rs 350 and woolen and leather jackets for children. For women, there are bright pullovers, cardigans, shawls and stoles. And after shopping, you could head to Zamso restaurant for a momos, tingmo Tibetan bread and thukpa soup.

Customers include people from all over Delhi as well as monks visiting the monastery inside the market. Says Sanjay, a monk on his way to Dharmashala, 8220;It8217;s heartening to see how people away from their homes are working together like a family.8221;

The shops don8217;t sell any Chinese products on principle but shopkeepers are miffed that some people refer to the market as Chinese Market. The funky sweatshirts in Dorje Gyaso8217;s shop at about Rs 250 are a rage in winters. Gyaso, who was a soldier with the Indian Army and is now one year into the business, feels a sense of belonging to this home away from home in this close-knit community.

Sonam Dorje displays a variety of reversible woolen jackets of leather, corduroy and fabric priced between Rs 150 and Rs 350. That8217;s not the only thing that gets him excited. Dorje enthusiastically recounts how the colony celebrates the birth anniversary of Dalai Lama on July 6. Dorje also tries to sensitise regular customers to the Tibetan cause through informal chats in between his sales pitch.