Coonoor
Beautiful fair-trade local tribal crafts, clothes, fabrics and notebooks, plus organic wild honey, nuts, chocolates, soaps and teas.
Must-see shopping in South 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.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Excellent selection of Indian titles, guidebooks and Penguin classics. Has a knowledgeable staff and author-signing sessions.
Hyderabad
The Patel Market, selling fabric, cranks into action from around 11am in the back lanes between Patthargatti and Rikab Gunj.
The Western Ghats
The ecofriendly Keystone Foundation's shop has goodies for picnics (local chocolates, wild honey) plus lovely tribal crafts.
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'.
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
An endless array of incense, perfumed candles, essential oils and other scented trinkets, made by Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
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.
Hyderabad
Stylish women's and some men's clothes in artisanal fabrics with contemporary prints and colours. Prices are fair.
Karnataka
At the rear of a family home, this little shop sells lovely handmade paper products such as notebooks and cards.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Offers a range of stylish traditional clothing, homewares and accessories, as well as quality skincare products.
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
K Mahaveer Chand has been selling particularly beautiful Toda tribal and silver jewellery for nearly 50 years.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Modern mall in central Bengaluru with a wide selection of clothing chains and an Inox multiplex cinema.
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.
Mumbai (Bombay)
High-fashion ladies garments from over 100 Indian designers in a chic exposed-brick space.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Good spot to buy thali trays, brass utensils and chai cups for that dinner party back home.
Mumbai (Bombay)
Handwoven saris (from ₹300) and dhotis (from ₹250) from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Sells traditional clothing, homewares and accessories in cotton prints and silks.
Telangana & Andhra Pradesh
Landmark mall with good range of clothes stores, food outlets and a cinema.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Has a range of stylish traditional clothing, homewares and accessories.
North Goa
Popular nationwide chain selling fair-trade bed and table linens, home furnishings, clothes, jewellery and toiletries. Fabindia makes for a great,…
Kochi (Cochin)
An elegant fixed-price shopping gallery stocking books, breezy scarves and dresses, incense and handmade paper from Auroville (near Puducherry), and a…
Calangute & Baga
Beautiful home furnishings, textiles, ornaments, bags and other enticing stuff – some of it antique – has been sourced from across India, Pakistan and…
Chennai (Madras)
For the ultimate in India-chic interior design, glitzy Good Earth has everything from scented candles, gorgeously embroidered bedspreads and floral…
Kochi (Cochin)
Following the traditional idea of ayurvastra (healthy fabrics), this boutique crafts its calming-toned dresses, shirts, bedding, yoga mats and other…
Panaji
One of several places in town specialising in azueljos (glazed coloured tiles), this gallery and shop is next door to Panjim Inn and offers tiles, vases…
Kochi (Cochin)
This Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (Trifed) enterprise sells artefacts, paintings, shawls, figurines and jewellery produced…
Chennai (Madras)
Attached to the Isha Yoga Center and its healthy Yogi's Belly Cafe, this bohemian little boutique is full of wonderful handmade jewellery, organic soaps,…
Calangute & Baga
The original Saturday Night Market is in Arpora at the end of the Baga River Rd. It's grown into quite a huge affair with live bands, food stalls and a…
Periyar Tiger Reserve
Handicrafts, clothes and fashion accessories from the Blue Mango line, which empowers and employs disadvantaged women in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are…
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Sprawling across an old Tamil house, Holi is a delightful, eclectic jumble of spruced-up vintage furniture, local artwork and Banjara embroidery. The…
Chennai (Madras)
Reliable modern bookshop stocking English-, Indian- and Tamil-language fiction and nonfiction, kids' books, magazines, Lonely Planet guides and other…
