Mumbai (Bombay)
The piano-and-keyboard showroom of Mumbai's top musical instrument shop, whose guitar and stringed instruments are found around the corner at BX Furtado &…
Must-see shopping in South India
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Run by Kotagiri's Keystone Foundation, this fair-trade, organic-oriented shop sells gorgeous tribal crafts and clothes (including Toda embroidery), and…
Chennai (Madras)
Founded in support of traditional village crafts, the nationwide Fabindia chain stocks elegant textiles, fabrics, linens and clothes in all kinds of…
Panaji
Goa’s only outpost of the government’s Khadi & Village Industries Commission has a fine range of hand-woven cottons, oils, soaps, spices and other…
North Goa
Homesick for good cheese? Artisanal Swiss and French cheeses, including brie and feta, are made on-site here by a Swiss cheesemaker using local cow,…
Mumbai (Bombay)
The place in town for musical instruments: sitars, tablas, accordions, and local and imported guitars. Pianos and keyboards at LM Furtado & Co.
Sri Vijayalakshmi Fine Kalamkari Arts
Telangana & Andhra Pradesh
You can see artists at work in the Agraharam neighbourhood of Sri Kalahasti. Sri Vijayalakshmi Fine Kalamkari Arts is an old family business with over 60…
Chennai (Madras)
In a beautiful old building, this popular outpost of the fair-trade, India-wide Fabindia chain sells all the usual attractively contemporary, village-made…
Aurangabad
One of the best places to come and watch weavers at work is the Paithani Silk Weaving Centre where you’ll find good-quality products for sale. It’s about…
Kochi (Cochin)
Originally just a pushcart selling books on Kochi's beaches, Idiom has a huge range of quality new and used tomes, including India-focused literature…
Mysuru (Mysore)
Exceptionally popular with Indian women, and usually very crowded, this multilevel store sells fine silk saris, with quality of varying degrees depending…
Hyderabad
Bidri is a metal craft (originating in Iran) that involves intricate inlay work. The famous family-run business sells top-quality plates, vases, bowls,…
Khadi & Village Industries Emporium
Mumbai (Bombay)
A dusty, 1940s' time warp full of traditional Indian clothing, silk, khadi (homespun cloth) and shoes, plus very popular Khadi natural soaps and shampoos…
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
A sophisticated Jaipur-born boutique popular for its beautiful, bold block-printed garments with a traditional-turns-modern twist, and gorgeous colourful…
Mumbai (Bombay)
This great spirituality bookshop has lots of books on Hinduism, yoga and philosophy, and the attached restaurant does excellent Gujarati and Rajasthani…
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Breezy, boho-chic, block-printed dresses, skirts, trousers and crop-tops in fun-but-fashionable geometric patterns (all handmade at Auroville) sit side-by…
Mysuru (Mysore)
A quality-assured place for sandalwood products including incense, soap, cosmetics and the prohibitively expensive pure sandalwood oil (if in stock)…
Chennai (Madras)
Tucked inside the ever-popular Chamiers shopping-and-coffee complex, Anokhi deals in gorgeous, well-priced, East-meets-West, hand-block-printed clothes…
Mumbai (Bombay)
This bookstore has a brilliantly curated selection of books, the majority of which are 20% off all the time. Food for Thought is a great little cafe in…
Auroville
This branch of Puducherry's much-loved Kalki brand sells gorgeous, kaleidoscopic clothing, along with oils, incense, soaps, jewellery and handmade paper…
Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Government-run store famous for its expansive collection of quality sandalwood and rosewood products as well as handmade weavings, silks and bidriware …
Mumbai (Bombay)
Original, high-end, artisanal clothing, jewellery, home decor and other objects of beauty under the bleachers of the cricket stadium. Enter via the Vinoo…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Global haute couture (Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Burberry) and Indian high fashion come to roost at this towering mall in the central district. Also…
Panaji
On the corner opposite Panaji’s main church, Singbal’s is a local landmark with an excellent selection of international magazines and newspapers, and lots…
Chennai (Madras)
Elegant Amethyst Room brings a colourful upmarket twist to the Chamiers-complex shopping scene with its beautiful Indian-design couture.
Mysuru (Mysore)
When you need a dose of air-con and some retail time, this mall fits the bill. Offers a wide range of clothing stores (including H&M and Levi's), cafes…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Friendly Abdul Razzak's brilliant street stall showcases his 5000-stong vintage vinyl collection, which leans heavily to Bollywood, classical and…
Chennai (Madras)
Colourful handicrafts and home-decor trinkets, including bedspreads, cushions, incense, scented candles and handmade-paper notebooks, all from Auroville,…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Stock up on colourful, handmade Dhabu block-printed and Chanderi-weaved cotton kurtas (shirts) and various pants – salwar, churidar, patiala – for the…
Pune
Stocks quality handicrafts, souvenirs, quirky bags, cool accessories and contemporary furnishings, including Khadi cosmetics and kitschy Elephant Company…
Panaji
Goa’s biggest mall is four levels of air-conditioned family shopping heaven with brand-name stores, food court, kids’ toys, bowling alley and arcade games.
Chennai (Madras)
One of Chennai's bigger branches of this much-loved fair-trade fashion, accessories and homewares brand, a bit out of the way in the southeast of the city.
Hyderabad
Big selection of Telangana and Andhra (and other Indian) crafts including brassware, leatherware, embroidery, paintings, carvings, furniture and textiles.
Mumbai (Bombay)
Fans of India's iconic motorcycle brand should make a beeline for its lifestyle store: cool T-shirts, helmets, boots, belts and other paraphernalia.
Mumbai (Bombay)
Even if you’re not the type to have your clothes tailored, drop by DD Dupattawala for pretty scarves and dupattas at fixed prices (from ₹110).
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
A beach-chic 'island lifestyle' boutique filled with breezy dresses, kaftans and pants, plus beachwear, tribal-inspired jewellery and a few books.
Telangana & Andhra Pradesh
Located between the Coffee House and bus station, it has a good selection of tribal jewellery, jute bags and wrought-iron and brass ornaments.
Hyderabad
A fine selection of English-language fiction and nonfiction by Indian and international authors. They have several other branches in town.
Sri Sharada Grand Musical Works
Mysuru (Mysore)
Specialist store selling a variety of traditional musical instruments, including tabla (drum) sets and assorted percussion instruments.
Kodaikanal (Kodai)
Stylish jewellery, fabrics, cards and more, at reasonable prices, made by and benefiting marginalised village women around Tamil Nadu.
