New Delhi: At any given time of day, the cobbled street outside shop no. 15/A in Khan Market has a steady stream of youngsters, giggling and clicking pictures. Seasons do not matter — the mercury doesn’t deter them.
Often armed with a single sunflower, or a full bouquet, they pose against the rear entrance of Faqir Chand Books. It has become Delhi’s most fashionable selfie point. A quick Instagram search throws many such images, carefully curated by creators and casual users alike.
“One of my friends told me that a photo clicked outside the shop earns them brownie points on dating apps,” said Abhinav Bamhi, the fourth-generation proprietor of the family-run shop in Khan Market. With the holiday season underway, Faqir Chand Books has set up a Christmas tree and pots of red anthurium now frame the shop’s famous entrance. Winter sees an uptick in visitors, drawn by the cooler weather for coffee dates nearby and browsing for books to read in the upcoming year.
Seasonal decorations at the entrance of Faqir Chand | Photo: Neera Majumdar | ThePrint While this photogenic entrance gets the attention of book bubs, it’s the interior of Faqir Chand’s neighbour in the next lane, Bahrisons Booksellers, that keeps readers coming back. Inside the cool, organised space, silence reigns as visitors browse through classics, new releases, and bestsellers. Some land on a friend’s recommendation about its collection; others, weighed down with shopping bags, pop in to window shop o.