| A Shopper's Paradise Shopping in India can be a totally novel and exhilarating |
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From exclusive hotel shopping arcades to bustling city markets, traditional bazaars functioning from small narrow lanes, India offers a wide and exotic array of shopping options. India has, over the centuries, kept its arts and crafts alive - ivory, brass, silver copper, gold, jewelry, silks and brocades, leather goods, carpets, excellent wood work items, precious and semiprecious stones, blue pottery and an unending list of other good buys. |
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Every part of India offers its own special variety of rich silk and its own individual colours and weaves. From the heavy Kanjeevaram silks of the south, to the soft and the richly brocaded ones of Beneras; the light silks from the east; the golden-hued 'muga' of Assam; "tanchoi" from Surat, the magical tie-and-dye of Rajasthan and Gujarat; and the "ikat" or 'patola' of Orissa. shopping,india's shopping, shopping in india,brass,silver,gold silver,silks,brocades,jewellery,leather,carpets,blue pottery,tye and dye,india's artefacts,rajasthan,goa,india's shoppingarcade,india's handicrafts,india's emporia sarees,delhinas |
The markets are practically loaded with good buys. Artifacts in bronze, brass, ivory, marble or wood: from statues, to lamp shades, to chairs, delicate filigree work on ivory and silver, marble inlaid with precious coloured stones, enamel work; "kundan" or "mina" jewellery of Rajasthan, silver from Orissa and pearls of Hyderabad. iFor the shopper in a hurry, the government runs the Central Cottage Industries Emporium which has branches in each major city. These are well appointed multi-storeyed complexes containing a selection of handicrafts from every corner of the country. Cottage Emporium, as also many other stores in the country, accept all major international credit cards. Each branch has an air freighting section where bulky purchases are delivered right at your doorstep, back home. Likewise, many other stores in India will pack and airfreight your bulky purchases. |
In New Delhi, a whole street-full of state government emporia provide the shopper with virtually everything that is available in the country. They bring to you a wide selection from textiles, to leather goods, to art and artefacts and the best of everything that particular state offers. There are other emporia too like the Handloom House which sells equally good and genuine things. |
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But in case you are looking for bargains try the stalls lining Janpath, which are almost overflowing with goods. On try the historic Chandni Chowk, or the Moonlight Bazaar, where the erst while Mughal kings shopped. Each of the narrow by-lanes and ancient markets have their own distinct flavour and place in history. Each lane specializes in different things - from jewellery, to sarees and from varieties of spiced breads, to Indigo. In India you shall find almost everything to satisfy the discriminating buyer in you. |
We give below the main regions where the various arts and crafts of India are produced : |
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SILKS |
Varanasi, Mysore, Kanchipuram, Assam, Kashmir etc. |
COTTON |
Bengal, Madhya Pradesh |
PAPIER MACHE |
Kashmir |
CARPETS |
Kashmir, Mirzapur, Bardoi, Warangal, Eluru |
POTTERY |
Rajasthan, Bihar, Virandavan (near Mathura), Hamirpur, Agra |
| METAL WORK | Moradabad, Mirzapur |
| JEWELLERY | Rajasthan, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Ferozabad |
| WOODCRAFT | Saharanpur, Mainpur, Kashmir, Rajasthan |
IKAT & PATOLA |
Orissa, Gujarat |
SHAWLS & SCARVES |
Himachal, Kashmir, Uttaranchal |
PHULKARI |
Punjab |
Although, the best bargains would be available in the region producing the specific product, most of these products are available in the major metros like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Apart from dedicated shops dealing in the respective item, for the uninitiated traveller who is not too familiar with the Indian market, we recommend the govt-owned CENTRAL COTTAGE INDUSTRIES EMPORIUM (in the major metros) or the various STATE GOVT. EMPORIA. (located on Baba Kharak Singh Marg in down town New Delhi). |
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