India "Like Marmite. Love it or loathe it."

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Shopping Holiday in India

Each region has its own specialties, each town its own local craftspeople and its own particular skills, often passed down the generations. For fabrics, silverware, carpets, leatherwork, gems and antiques, India is a shopper's paradise. Bargaining is the norm at most bazaars, and the visitor can check for reasonable prices at fixed-price, state-run emporia.

Fabrics: One of India's main industries is textiles. Of the silks, the brocades from Varanasi are among the most famous. Rajasthan cotton with its distinctive ‘tie and dye' design is usually brilliantly colourful, while Chennai (Madras) cotton is known for its attractive ‘bleeding' effect after a few washes. The himroo cloth, a mixture of silk and cotton, often decorated with patterns, may be found throughout the country. Kashmir sells beautiful woollens, particularly shawls, which can be easily sourced at shops in most major Indian cities.
Carpets: India has one of the world's largest carpet industries. Each region has its own speciality, such as the distinctive, brightly coloured Tibetan rugs, available in Darjeeling and elsewhere. Exquisite Persian rugs can be found nationally.
Clothes: Clothes are relatively inexpensive, and can be quickly tailor-made in some shops. Cloth includes silks, cottons, georgettes, brocades and chiffons. Larger cities such as Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi and Bengaluru (Bangalore) have fancy boutiques selling domestic and foreign designer labels.
Jewellery: This is traditionally heavy and elaborate although fine, simpler pieces are also in abundance. Indian silverwork is especially world-famous. Gems include diamonds, lapis lazuli, Indian star rubies, star sapphires, emeralds, moonstones and aquamarines. Hyderabad is a leading pearl centre.
Handicrafts and leatherwork: Each area has its specialty; the range includes bronzes, brass-work (sometimes inlaid with silver), cane-work and pottery. Woven rugs and papier mâché (some decorated in gold leaf) are a characteristic Kashmir product. Inlaid marble and alabaster are specialties of Agra. Rajasthan is particularly known for its colourful fabrics and paintings. Leatherwork includes open Indian sandals and slippers, handbags and wallets.
Woodwork: Found nationally, with especially beautiful sandalwood carvings from Karnataka, walnut wood from Kashmir, and rosewood from Kerala and Chennai.
Other goods: Pickles, spices, Indian tea, perfumes, soap, handmade paper, incense, puppets and musical instruments.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat around 0930-1700 in most large stores; variable hours in bazaars.