New Delhi’s Grand Trade Fair Opens To Public, Luring Tourists Nationwide: Here’s What You Need To Know

Published on November 24, 2025

The massive exhibition venue at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, situated within Pragati Maidan, has been opened to the public for the fourteen-day duration of the India International Trade Fair 2025 (IITF). People from all over India are likely to come to the capital by the writer’s travel vision, and the current edition is landscape not only as a commercial show but also as Delhi’s cultural and tourists’ pull.

Business Days, Then Public Entry

Opening for business visitors only from 14 to 18 November, IITF 2025 becomes accessible to the general public from 19 to 27 November. Visitors should note the timing: entries are permitted roughly from 9.30 AM or 10.00 AM until around 7.30 PM, with last entries encouraged earlier in the day. Tickets for adults are priced at ₹80 on weekdays and 150 rupees on weekends; children’s tickets cost 40 rupees and 60 rupees respectively; senior citizens and persons with disabilities enjoy free entry.

Why This Fair Will Attract Tourists

For the travel‑minded, the fair is a compelling reason to visit Delhi. Firstly, the scale is vast, beyond trade stalls the event features state‑pavilions, international exhibitors, and a theme of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat that celebrates India’s diversity. For tourists, that means more than shopping: it means a one‑stop cultural snapshot of India.
Moreover, using Delhi as the base allows for combining the fair with heritage tours, food experiences, and the city’s vast offerings, making it a holiday as well as an excursion. Delhi’s appeal as a tourist destination is reinforced when such large‑scale events bring extra buzz, visitors, and likely extended stays.
Also, practical details help: the nearest metro station is Supreme Court Metro Station on the Blue Line, simplifying arrival for out‑of‑town guests. With traffic diversions expected on key roads around the venue, taking public transport is strongly recommended.

How Delhi Tourism Gets a Boost

For the city of New Delhi itself, the fair’s timing and scale are a strategic plus. As thousands of visitors descend, hotels, local tours, restaurants, transport services and nearby attractions all see increased footfall. The fair acts as a tourism anchor: visitors who come for the exhibition will often extend their stay to explore Delhi’s monuments, markets and culinary scene.
Furthermore, the state‑pavilions draw regional interest, travellers from across India may come to see their home state’s showcase, and in doing so engage with the city’s wider tourism offering. With the theme emphasising unity and nation‑wide representation, the fair essentially becomes a pan‑Indian travel draw targeting domestic visitor flows.
From a city‑marketing perspective, Delhi gets to present itself as a vibrant destination that is not only historic and cultural but also modern, commercial and inclusive. This dual appeal, of trade and tourism, reinforces Delhi’s image as a place worth visiting beyond the usual sightseeing circuit.

What Visitors Can Experience

Inside, the fair promises a rich mix. Handicrafts, textiles, home décor, electronics, health and lifestyle products – all share the exhibition halls alongside pavilions representing Indian states such as Jharkhand (the focus state), as well as partner states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Bihar. There are also international exhibitors bringing in global flavour to a fundamentally Indian showcase.
For the travelling public this means opportunity: a shopping outing, regional‑food trail, live cultural segments, and yes, a chance to witness India’s commercial creativity in one place. The fair thereby becomes both destination and exhibit.
For families arriving from outside Delhi, the fair acts as a convenient anchor: stay in a good hotel in Delhi, spend a day at the fair, then follow up with sightseeing at Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate and more. The city’s tourist infrastructure is ready to support that.

Travel Tips & Practicalities

To make the most of the experience, visitors are advised to arrive early, especially on weekends when crowds swell. Wear comfortable shoes as the venue is expansive; carry water and allow for hours of walking. Digital payments are widely accepted at the stalls.

Driving is an option, but parking is restricted, and the traffic in the vicinity of the venue may delay reaching the place from outside Delhi. It is highly recommended to use the metro or other public transport. The public entrances to the fair with several gates – especially Gates 3, 4, 6 and 10, frequently exhibit long lines later in the day. A person who comes in the early morning has better chances of experiencing the fair in a relaxed manner and getting good pictures to be used in travel content.