Delhi
Attractive printed-cotton clothing with reasonable fixed prices – shirts, kurtas, dresses etc, plus tablecloths, napkins and more.
Must-see shopping in India
Amritsar
The frenetic Katra Jaimal Singh Bazaar is crammed with tailors and fashion stores selling saris, suits and garments for both men and women.
Hyderabad
A fine selection of English-language fiction and nonfiction by Indian and international authors. They have several other branches in town.
Kashmir Government Arts Emporium
Srinagar
This usefully located branch offers papier mâché boxes, embroideries, shawls, carpets and saffron, with no hassle and at fixed prices.
Sri Sharada Grand Musical Works
Mysuru (Mysore)
Specialist store selling a variety of traditional musical instruments, including tabla (drum) sets and assorted percussion instruments.
Jaisalmer
With some unusual jewellery, paintings and all sorts of textiles, this is one of the most original of numerous craft shops around town.
Kodaikanal (Kodai)
Stylish jewellery, fabrics, cards and more, at reasonable prices, made by and benefiting marginalised village women around Tamil Nadu.
Coonoor
Beautiful fair-trade local tribal crafts, clothes, fabrics and notebooks, plus organic wild honey, nuts, chocolates, soaps and teas.
Guwahati
Check out this shop or United Publishers next door for a good selection of books in English, especially titles on Northeast India.
Mumbai (Bombay)
A great shop for stylish Indian-Western-hybrid goods made from cotton, linen and natural materials. Think Indian Gap, but cooler.
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Perfect for browsing through Auroville-made crafts: jewellery, pottery, clothing, shawls, handmade cards and herbal toiletries.
Amritsar
Shashtri Bazaar, located deep within Amritsar's bustling old city, is home to shops selling dupattas and fancy woollen shawls.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Excellent selection of Indian titles, guidebooks and Penguin classics. Has a knowledgeable staff and author-signing sessions.
New Delhi
A tiny, but beautiful, old shop selling professional classic and electric sitars, tablas and more. Tablas start at ₹50,000.
The Western Ghats
The ecofriendly Keystone Foundation's shop has goodies for picnics (local chocolates, wild honey) plus lovely tribal crafts.
Hyderabad
The Patel Market, selling fabric, cranks into action from around 11am in the back lanes between Patthargatti and Rikab Gunj.
Pune
Huge mall that’s richly endowed with interior design and fashion stores. Shop till you drop then head to the food court.
North Goa
Now in Mandrem, Arambol Hammocks designs and sells hammocks, including their ‘flying carpets’ and ‘flying chairs'.
Manali
Excellent selection of books including many on the Himalaya. Also stocks strings of authentic prayer flags (from ₹70).
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
An endless array of incense, perfumed candles, essential oils and other scented trinkets, made by Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Amritsar
Tahali Sahib Bazaar is piled high with glittering satin dupattas. It's one of the main markets in Amritsar's old city.
New Delhi
A popular Delhi tailor, offering suits from ₹8000. Tailoring typically takes one week, though 24 hours is possible.
Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium
Mysuru (Mysore)
Not the cheapest place, but the selection at this government emporium is extensive and there’s no pressure to buy.
Delhi
This small, but multi-level emporium, originating from Chennai in 1928, is a kaleidoscope of shimmering silk saris.
Hyderabad
Stylish women's and some men's clothes in artisanal fabrics with contemporary prints and colours. Prices are fair.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Offers a range of stylish traditional clothing, homewares and accessories, as well as quality skincare products.
Karnataka
At the rear of a family home, this little shop sells lovely handmade paper products such as notebooks and cards.
New Delhi
Founded in Southern India in 1928, this venerable sari shop offers a rainbow palette of silk and cotton saris.
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
K Mahaveer Chand has been selling particularly beautiful Toda tribal and silver jewellery for nearly 50 years.
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
For steel cooking pots and cheap-as-chapatis paper kites, head to decidedly non-touristy Lal Kuan Main Bazaar.
Delhi
Mr Lal’s ‘curiosity shop’ is full of charming Christmas-tree decorations, papier mâché and carvings.
Mussoorie
Perhaps the most interesting shop in Mussoorie, this antique shop is chock-full of pieces from the Raj era.
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
For competitively priced instruments, inspect the instrument shops along Netaji Subhash Marg in Daryaganj.
Agra
Great selection of novels and books on Agra and the Mughals at this friendly, 60-year-old establishment.
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
For gorgeous wrapping paper and wedding cards, head to Chawri Bazaar, leading west from the Jama Masjid.
Varanasi
The best bookshop in Varanasi, with a particularly good selection of titles on Varanasi and the Mughals.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Modern mall in central Bengaluru with a wide selection of clothing chains and an Inox multiplex cinema.
Oxford Book & Stationery Company
Darjeeling
The best bookshop east of Kathmandu, selling a good selection of novels and Himalaya and India titles.
Hyderabad
Has the largest selection of used books in the city, including Indian literature and western classics.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Shiny mall complex in the happening district of Koramangala with lots of fashion stores and a cinema.
