Shopping in India
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A
Baba Blacksheep
Another reasonable option for silk shopping, with similar prices to Mehrotra Silk Factory.
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Mehrotra Silk Facto
Tucked away down a tiny alleyway near the Varanasi Junction train station, this pocket-sized, fixed-priced shop is a fun place to buy good-quality silk scarves (from Rs250), saris (from Rs1500) and bedspread sets (from Rs5000). Turn right out of the station, take the first major left turn, then turn left just before the iway Internet cafe and it’s down a small alleyway on your left.
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C
Navjyoti Tailors
Pushkar is a good place to get clothes made and a reliable option is Navjyoti Tailors.
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D
JG Art & Crafts
Abhay Kumar is the proprietor of this excellent store, which has a cheap and reliable international courier service, and all kinds of handicrafts and fabrics.
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E
Subhash Emporium
This expensive but honest marble-carving shop has been knocking up quality pieces for more than 35 years. Watch artisans at work in the entranceway before delving into the stock out the back.
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F
Fabindia
Founded as a means to get traditional fabric artisans’ wares to market, Fabindia has all the vibrant colours of the country in its cotton and silk fashions, materials and homewares, all in a modern-meets-traditional Indian shop. The Santa Cruz outpost is also good.
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G
Hari Om Jewellers
Following the famous footsteps of Hari Om, Roop Kishore Soni is a silversmith who makes delicate silver rings and bracelets. Visitors have commissioned personalised wedding rings here. There’s also a shop inside the fort, or visit this home address.
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H
Handloom House
This is a huge department store thronged with locals. Alongside some questionable clothes are mountains of fixed-price bandhani, silk saris and woollen shawls.
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I
Cinnamon
Cinnamon sells gorgeous Indian-designed clothing, jewellery and homewares in an ultrachic white retail space.
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J
Maharani Art Exporters
Maharani Art Exporters is one of the better bets for quality replica antiques.
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K
Ladakh Art Palace
Leh is packed with souvenir shops. There are some wonderful things on offer - from thangkas (Buddhist cloth paintings) and Ladakhi hats to heavy turquoise jewellery and wooden choktse (Tibetan tables) - but be aware that many souvenirs are trucked in from China, Kashmir and Nepal, providing little benefit to local people.
Probably the best selection in town is at Ladakh Art Palace, but prices are somewhat inflated.
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Tibetan Handicrafts Cooperative Centre
Tibetan Handicrafts Cooperative Centre employs newly arrived refugees in the weaving of Tibetan carpets. You’ll pay around Rs6000 for a 0.9m by 1.8m wool carpet in traditional Tibetan colours and you can watch the weavers in action. For made-to-order clothing, head over the road to the Tailoring Section.
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Hauz Khas Village
This arty little enclave is packed with designer Indian-clothing boutiques, art galleries and furniture shops. It’s a great place to find superb old Bollywood posters. Try Country Collection for antique and new furniture (they’ll post overseas), and Cotton Curios for handprinted kameez, and soft furnishings.
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L
Shrujan
Selling the intricate embroidery work of women in 114 villages in Kutch, Gujarat, the nonprofit Shrujan aims to help women earn a livelihood while preserving the spectacular embroidery traditions of the area. The sophisticated clothing, wall hangings and purses make great gifts.
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M
Janpath Market
Aka the Tibetan Market, this touristy strip sells the usual trinkets: shimmering mirrorwork textiles, colourful shawls, brass oms, and dangly earrings and trinkets galore. It has some good finds if you rummage through the junk. Haggle hard.
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N
Chandni Chowk
Pure pandemonium, this is the old city’s famed shopping strip. Some stores open from around 10am to 7pm, others from noon to 9pm. Winding your way through the jumble of frenzied bazaars is a veritable assault on the senses.
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Sadhna
This is the outlet for Seva Mandir, an NGO set up in 1969 to help rural women. The small shop sells attractive fixed-price textiles; profits go to the artisans and towards community development work.
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People Tree
This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shop sells cool, etching-style T-shirts, many featuring Indian gods, as well as skirts, dresses, shirts (for men and women), shoulder bags, costume jewellery and books.
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Q
Crawford Market
Also known as Mahatma Jyobita Phule, Crawford Market is the largest municipal market in Mumbai. From the outside it looks more like a medieval fortress than a place to buy household goods.
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R
Fashion Street Market
Snap up a bargain backpacking wardrobe at Fashion Street Market, the cheap stalls lining MG Rd between Cross and Azad maidans (fields.) Hone your bargaining skills.
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State Emporiums
These neighbouring state government emporiums showcase products from different states, from Rajasthan to Kashmir. Set aside several hours for these fabulous shops.
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Classic Books/Earthcare Books
Charming family publisher-bookshop with strengths in development, environmentalism, politics, spirituality and women’s issues. Located behind Drive-Inn.
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U
Oxford Book & Stationery Company
The best bookshop in Darjeeling, selling a vast selection of books and maps on Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and the Himalaya. They will mail worldwide.
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V
Baiju Ayurvedic Beauty Parlour
Baiju Ayurvedic Beauty Parlour offers facials and Ayurvedic massages, as well as manicures, pedicures and waxings. It's near the maharaja's palace.
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W
Green Shop
The Keystone Foundation runs the Green Shop, which sells honey and organic produce harvested by local and indigenous farmers.
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