Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
It feels as if little has changed for centuries in Delhi's fabulously atmospheric, labyrinthine spice market, as labourers hustle through the narrow lanes…
Must-see shopping in India
Delhi
Khan Market is Delhi's most-upmarket shopping enclave, the most expensive place to rent a shop in India, and is favoured by the elite and expats. Its…
Central Cottage Industries Emporium
New Delhi
This government-run multilevel store is a wonderful treasure trove of fixed-price, India-wide handicrafts. Prices are higher than in the state emporiums,…
Mumbai (Bombay)
It's worth popping in to this high-end traditional garment shop to see the space itself, a gorgeous, cavernous, rose-oil-scented stunner chock-full of…
New Delhi
Crafts, curios, textiles and homewares from the Crafts Council of India, designed with flair and using traditional techniques but offering some…
South Delhi
This arty little enclave has narrow lanes crammed with boutiques selling designer Indian clothing, handicrafts, contemporary ceramics, handmade furniture…
Agra
Some of the pieces on display at this renowned marble shop are simply stunning (ask to see the 26 masterpieces). While it's more expensive than some shops…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Behold Bandra's – and Mumbai's – coolest shop, featuring exclusive graphic art and illustrations sourced from a global army of Indian artists. You'll find…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
It’s worth facing the soul-crushing 1970s architecture for Dakshinapan’s wide range of government emporia, which brings together a mind-boggling artisanal…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Mumbai's coolest design shop has thankfully arrived in South Mumbai! Fittingly, the Pop Art cool kid from Bandra has set up shop in Kala Ghoda, where its…
Pune
This craft revival project cofounded by four women champions the dying Indian art of handcrafted metalware from artisans in Pune, the Konkan Coast and…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some of Kolkata's most exquisite handmade saris are sold at this speciality boutique. There's also a fair smattering of semiprecious jewellery, and an…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Indian Hippy will put your name in lights, with custom-designed Bollywood posters hand-painted on canvas by the original studio artists (a dying breed…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chor Bazaar is known for antiques, though be wary of reproductions. The main area of activity is Mutton St, where shops specialise in these ‘antiques’ and…
Chandigarh
Named after the birth year of Guru Nanak (the founder of the Sikh faith), this funky independent clothing store sells fabulously colourful scarves, shawls…
Bundi
Many art shops will offer you Rajasthani miniatures, but Yug Art offers to put you into one. Provide a photo and you can be pictured on elephant-back or…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
A great choice for top-quality silk saris, blouses, fabrics and men’s shirts, this fine store has been in business for over 70 years and has something to…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kitschy, design-y goods such as stylish embroidered T-shirts, funky coffee mugs and coasters, and superhip graphic art, including beaded embroidered art…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Great little bookshop selling new and secondhand, cult and mainstream books and comics. Good for titles on southern India and run by informed, helpful…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Ethically sourced cotton and silk fashions and homewares in everybody's favourite modern-meets-traditional Indian shop.
Varanasi
If the deluge of traveller enthusiasm is anything to go by, this is one of the most trustworthy, nonpushy shops in India. Indeed it is one of the best…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Worth a visit as much for the spectacle if not to buy, this near-century-old traditional oil shop still hand-presses its medicinal, cooking and massage…
Darjeeling
The Darjeeling area produces arguably the world's finest teas and Nathmulls is one of the best retailers, with more than 50 varieties. Expect to pay ₹200…
Gangtok
This boutique tea store stocks a fine selection of beautifully packaged teas, notably Temi (Sikkimese) and various flushes of premium Darjeeling. A calm,…
Gangtok
The city’s best-stocked bookshop, Rachna doubles as an alternative cultural hub with talks, events, screenings and an excellent cafe (Temi tea ₹50, coffee…
Leh
Fill up drinking-water bottles here (₹7 per litre). Dzomsa also offers an environmentally friendly laundry service (₹95 per kg, same day service if given…
Uttarakhand
The swarming, congested (but relatively traffic-free area) streets of Paltan Bazaar, running south from the clock tower, is a popular spot for an evening…
Chennai (Madras)
Set up in 1928, the enormous, supercolourful granddaddy of Chennai silk shops sparkles with wedding saris and rainbows of Kanchipuram silks, as well as…
Chennai (Madras)
Open since 1844, this grand white building is reckoned to be India's oldest bookshop. It has a brilliant English-language selection, including travel and…
Ahmedabad (Amdavad)
The retail outlet of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Hansiba sells colourful woven and embroidered shawls, saris, beautifully embroidered…
Anjuna
Anjuna’s weekly Wednesday flea market is as much part of the Goan experience as a day on the beach. More than three decades ago, it was conceived and…
New Delhi
Handily in a row are these regional treasure-filled emporiums. They may have the air of torpor that often afflicts governmental enterprises, but shopping…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
Backpacker Central, this crazy-busy bazaar that runs through Paharganj sells almost everything you want, and a whole lot more. It's great for buying…
South Delhi
Located within the boundaries of the ruined walls of Siri Fort (the second of Delhi's seven historic cities), this urban village contains an artsy…
Delhi
Across the road from the government housing of the Lodi Colony, this is a long strip of small boutiques selling homewares and clothes. Quality clothing…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
This boutique sells tasteful ethno-chic garments made from hand-dyed and hand-printed fabrics. Creations featuring Gujarati block prints seem to be the…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Under the discerning eye of gourmet entrepreneur Samyukta Nair, this Colaba concept store occupies a late-19th-century art deco building chock-full of…
Jaipur
This state-government-run emporium, opposite Ajmer Gate, is packed with quality Rajasthani artefacts and crafts, including enamelwork, embroidery, pottery…
Mumbai (Bombay)
One of Mumbai's oldest shops and born of a dying breed, this family-run retailer kicked off in 1918. Today, friendly grandson Paresh still hawks the…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
Delhi's Tibetan enclave, Majnu-ka-Tilla, is a fascinating tangle of tiny alleys – too narrow for vehicles – that are dotted with cheap guesthouses,…
