India is one of the best shopping destinations of the world. What makes India unique from other destination is the wide variety of the options catering to all kinds of tourists and their differing tastes and interests.
Markets are in almost all the nick and corner of India, selling much more than food and groceries. All the places of the country have something unique to take home representing the culture or tradition of that particular land. India is nothing less than a paradise for shopping lovers.
What to shop in Kashmir?
One of the best creations of nature Kashmir is not just for sightseeing and relaxation but also for one of the most important destinations for shopping in India.
Kashmiri Handicrafts attracts hordes of tourists every year because of their high quality and excellence of work which is equally attractive and beautiful. For instance, Pashmina and Shahtoosh shawls are something which are worth-buying and taking your home.
Other handicrafts such as carpets, woodcrafts, pherans, papier-mache items, shawls, silk and tweeds, brass, copper and silverware, wall hangings with naqqashi work, saris, cricket bats, wicker baskets, etc. will also captivate you for sure.
Tourists can buy all attractive and intricately created handicrafts from the various private and government emporiums. If you are particularly looking for Walnut Wood Carved Articles, Paper Mache, and Kashmiri Handicrafts, Lal Chowk, Badshah Chowk in Srinagar are quite good for the same.
For traditional Dongra Jewelry, one can go to Vir Marg, Raghunath Bazaar and Hari Market in Jammu. Jammu & Kashmir Arts Emporium can be visited in you are interested in buying Pashmina Shawls, Shahtoosh Shawls and Carpets.
What to shop in Jaipur?
Rightly called crafts capital of India, Jaipur presents amazing shopping opportunities especially with folk art, gems and jewellery.
One of the famous spot for shopping is the Jauhari Bazaar where you can find tie-and-dye fabrics along with beautiful saris as well as handcrafted jewellery. In you want you can also buy loose precious and semi-precious stones from here.
For handmade paper and blue pottery, visit the village of Sanganer. If you have enough space, Jaipuri quilts in bright colours and dye make for an interesting buy. Being the largest gem-cutting center in the world, Jaipur is a good place to buy few garnets, amethysts, or quartz.
What to shop in Delhi?
A one stop for all kinds of shopping, Delhi is a major shopping hub of India. The city has wide range of markets presenting varied kinds of shopping opportunities. For handicrafts, paintings and ethnic clothes and an overall wonderful shopping experience Dilli Haat is the place for you.
For creations in women’s wear, jewellery, ceramics, rugs, furniture, and other small items, one can visit Santushti complex. For indian handicrafts you can visit Central Cottage Industries Emporium and Pragati Maidan.
For traditional Indian wear, gift items in terracotta, and antiques in metal and ceramic ware, tourists can pay a visit to the Hauz Khas Village and take home some exquisite souvenirs from India.
Meena Bazar & Chandni Chowk also make for an interesting visit along with good shopping experience. Lajpat Nagar, Khan Market, Shankar Market and Palika Bazaar are good for day to day garments and others basic stuff but require some amount of bargaining skills.
What to shop in Tamil Nadu?
Looking for some ethnic Indian cotton saris and silk saris? If yes, the state of Tamil Nadu is the perfect place for you. Not just these, in Chennai tourists can buy amazing, bronze sculptures, rosewood inlay work with ivory or famous Thanjavur paintings as well.
Kanjivaram silks are something which makes for an amazing keep. For cane mats, wood elephants, and other kinds of woodcarvings, one can visit Poompuhar. Other places good for shopping are Mount Road and Mahabalipuram. Miniatures and mythological images in brass and copperware are also found in the state of Tamil Nadu and are worth buying.
Some of other the places to shop in Chennai are Kairali, Purbashree Emporium, Central Cottage Industry, Grand Sweets & Snacks, Pushpa Shoppe, Sharaz, Sarala’s, Firdusi, Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, Prince Jewellers, Nalli Chinnasami Chetty, Rasi Silk Emporium, Kumaran Silks,etc.
What to shop in Kolkata?
Kolkata is also quite popular as a shopping destination. Wide range of products including from leather goods, plastic toys, ethnic jewellery, garments, fabric, confectionery, clothing, poultry products, meat, flowers, etc. can be found here.
For wooden furniture and musical instruments, one can visit Bowbazar. And if you are not high on money and want some reasonable buying, you can visit Chandni Market.
For authentic and traditional buy such as handlooms, textiles, handicrafts, cosmetic jewellery, etc. it is better to visit Government emporiums. Most of these emporiums are located in Dakshinapan Market.
Some popular shopping spots in Kolkata are Central cottage industries emporium at Chowringhee, Shreeram arcade, Shops on the arcade near Oberoi Grand, Treasure island, etc. and if you are ready to try your bargaining skills, try visiting places such as New Market, AC Market, College Street and Dakshinapan Shopping Complex.
Apart from these places, one can also go to to Lucknow and Moradabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh for shopping of gold and silver jewellery and metal ornamentation. For wooden handicrafts the state of Karnataka is quite popular.
The city of Mysore in Karnataka is especially known for sandalwood handicrafts. For stone and marble work, states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan are quite famous.
Buying a Madhubani painting of Bihar or Folk and Phad painting of Rajasthan or Cane and Moonj artifacts of North-East states can be one of the best decisions of your life!