With high population of skilled artisans, and craftsman, India has always been a shopping paradise. Over centuries it has attracted traders and businessmen who buy stuff from Indian markets for their native lands. Nothing has changed, India still remains to be one the best shopping arenas in the world. If you think shopping is just about wandering in malls then you are missing out the real action. Yes the traditional bazaars of India are one place where must head to experience the real retail therapy.
So brush up your negotiation skills, and revisit your cherry picking skills, because here we have listed some of the best destinations in India where you can go on shopping binge.
Kolkata, West Bengal
It is the largest shopping destination in India. You can spoil yourself with handicrafts from North East. Some of the popular shopping arenas here are Assam Craft Emporium and Nagaland Emporium, and the must visit is New Market and Park Street.
New Market is estimated to have around 2500 stores. It is here you can the popular Bengali cotton sari with red borders, terracotta sculptures, Bankura clay horses, eat sweet dishes like Sandesh, and can stumble upon some rare books in the College Street.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
The pink city of India is popular for ethnic shopping. If you are a fan of Rajasthani bandhanis, batik, and lehariyas prints, then you are at the right place. Markets of Jaipur are also popular for handicraft work, lac bangles, ultra thin yet warm quilts, bed sheets, and traditional puppets.
The Johari bazaar of Jaipur is a must visit where you can find gold, silver, diamond jewelry, along with kundan studded jewel pieces, and precious stones too. The markets of Jaipur and the items sold here make it a perfect spot for wedding shopping.
Delhi
Delhi is known for its contemporary and budget friendly shopping. If you are here you cannot just miss Connaught Place and Janpath Market. At the same place they offer diverse shopping experience. Lajpat Nagar, and Sarojini Nagar are two other hotspots where you can buy latest fashion clothes at throwaway prices.
Daryaganj is another great place for book lovers where youi can find journals, novels, rare books at cheapest prices. Nehru place is another IT market where you can find tech gadgets and much more.
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Pashmina Shawls, Silk carpets, saffron are the must buy items when in Srinagar. They might be costly but they are something you will not get in any other part of India. It is advisable to buy carpets and shawls from the authorized outlets. Paper mache handicrafts are also popular here and must buy.
The best places to shop in Srinagar are Lal Chowk, Main Srinagar Market, Polo Market, Main Mughal Road. The place is also popular for its handicrafts sourced from remote locations of Jammu and Kashmir, walnut wood work, Kashmiri Tea, Kashmiri suits and dresses.
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Flea markets, boutiques, shopping arenas, malls are abundant in Mumbai. Fashion street and Linking Road are two places where you can find fancy clothing, accessories. Colaba causeway, Zaveri market, are two other hotspots for youngsters and everything chic and trendy.
Chor Bazaar which is believed to have a history of 150 years is another great place to buy second hand items and also old movie posters. If you want to experience old style shopping head to Crawford market for buying fresh veggies and kitchen supplies.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Historical places and the great non vegetarian Mughal food are not the only things you will find in Lucknow. This place is also popular for its chikankari fabric work, itr (perfume), and the jadau jewelry. People from all around the world come here to buy these items.
The most popular markets of Lucknow are aminabad where you can go for budget shopping, Hazratganj which is a high end market area where you will find flashy showrooms, and chowk if you want to buy some genuine straight out from the hands of artisan chikankari work.
Hyderabad, Telangana
Chaarminar is unarguably the most iconic place of Hyderabad when it comes to historical significance, but it also has a shopping significance because of the markets surrounding it. The region is best for pearl shopping, glass and stone studded bangles, and semi precious jewelry.
The most popular market of Hyderabad is Laad Bazaar. Here you can also find bridal clothes, hand woven silk, gold embroidered fabrics, and much more. Hyderabad is also known to be a great wedding shopping destination. You can also buy antiques from Abids and Begum Bazaar.
Mysore, Karnataka
Beautiful gardens, ornamental palaces, delicious cuisines are some of the highlights of Mysore. But when it comes to shopping, this place is a surprise. Zari and gild silks, and silk saris of Mysore are popular all across the world. The place where you would get them best is Devaraja market.
The city is also popular for its sandalwood handicrafts, rosewood handicrafts, Mysore paintings, sculptures and home décor items. If you ar4e visiting this city then you should definitely buy some Mysore Pak which is a sweet popular here for your loved ones.
Let’s go shopping!
