Shopping in India

There is no country in the world that offers the range of shopping experience and the number of local shopping stops that India has to offer. India is basically a shopping paradise for anyone. When you start strolling through the markets of India, where every corner is a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds and smells of this incredible and diverse country. Shopping in India is not just an activity, it’s an experience that goes into the soul of India’s culture, crafts and everyday life. This is your ultimate guide to India’s shopping hotspots, how and where to look for the markets and malls and what to buy to make your trip truly memorable.

With its many cultures and traditions, you will nowhere get the shopping experience that you will get in India. From the jewellery markets of Jaipur to Asia's largest spice market of Delhi, every place has its own thing. Did you know India has the maximum number of artisans in the world making everything from textiles to pottery? This will help you find those and get the most for your money if you planning to enjoy your vacation in India Book the India Tour Packages online at the best price on traveltoindia.org. Enjoy exclusive deals and save more.

Top Iconic Places in India to do Shopping

India’s markets are a sensory overload, with everything from handcrafted to contemporary fashion. Here are some of the must-visit markets across the country:

Delhi

Whatever you want to shop and if you have not found anywhere in India, there is almost a 99% chance that you can find it in Delhi. It is the biggest hub of shopping in India.

• Chandni Chowk: Enter one of Delhi’s oldest and busiest markets, a maze of tiny lanes where you can find everything from wedding sarees to silver jewellery. Don’t miss the Paranthe Wali Gali for some traditional Indian street foods. Enjoy Delhi Private Tour by booking car on rent with driver.
• Dilli Haat: This open air market is a showcase of India’s handicrafts, with artisans from different states selling their wares. Great place to pick up souvenirs like traditional paintings, wooden toys and handwoven textiles.
• Sarojini Nagar: Trendy fashion at dirt cheap prices. This place is always crowded with locals as well as foreign tourists, here you can find the latest styles of clothing, accessories and footwear.
• Khari Baoli: This place is well known for its wholesale groceries and Asia's largest spices market selling a variety of spices, nuts, herbs and food products like rice and tea.

Mumbai

• Colaba Causeway: It is a busy street market and it has gained its fame through the mix of clothes, jewellery, and antiques of different kinds. It is a favorite place to choose between the most unusual souvenirs and the most stylish accessories.
• Bandra Linking Road: Linking road in Bandra has grown in popularity by mixing street stalls and designer shops. From the latest trends to the affordable knock-offs, it is a perfect place for every trend follower.
• Crawford Market: This historical market that has been located in South Mumbai since the British era and is famous for its fresh produce, spices, and imported goods. This market gives you the chance to learn the locals' way of living and what they eat in that place.

Jaipur

• Johari Bazaar: This is famous for its traditional Indian jewellery especially Kundan and Polki. You will find a dazzling display of necklaces, earrings, bangles and more showcasing the local artisans’ skills. It is a treasure if you are looking for the best of India’s jewellery heritage and best experience for shopping in India.
• Bapu Bazaar: Bapu bazaar has a vibrant collection of textiles, handicrafts and Mojari shoes. You can just walk through the stalls and get immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of this bustling market. From embroidered fabrics to handmade products, this is the place where you can see the unique and authentic India.
• Tripolia Bazaar: The artisans of this market have mastered the art of lac bangle-making and produce a dazzling display of colourful and intricate designs. Along with lac bangles, Tripolia Bazaar also has a beautiful collection of decorative and functional brassware.

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Kolkata

• New Market: This colonial era market was established in 1874 is a mix of old and new. There you will find more than 2000 stalls and shops and has everything from garments, electronics to sea foods.The market’s architecture with its Victorian era design has survived two massive fires. But before going there you must learn bargaining as it is required there.
• Gariahat Market: A bustling market with a lively atmosphere and plenty of shopping options. This place is famously known for its beautiful bengali sarees. But it is not limited to the sarees where you can find stalls of ceramics, beaded and silver jewellery and even pets. This is one of the busiest markets in south kolkata.
• Burrabazar: It is also known as the “Bara Bazar” and it is also one of the oldest and busiest places for shopping in India. This wholesale market of India is divided into around 25 segments with a group selling similar items. There you can buy raw materials at the lowest prices along with the stationary items, Crockery, Tamchini plates, Sarees, Lehengas and even hardware items.

Bangalore

• Commercial Street: This is the most famous market in Bangalore and a one stop destination for purchasing garments, imitation jewellery, sports goods, and footwear. From home decorators to antique items, you can find everything at the most affordable prices.
• Brigade Road: The whole area is filled with stalls selling export surplus clothes, affordable shoes, and trendy jewellery. There you can find many quick eating places such as KFC and Starbucks as well as pubs like Pecos and Guzzlers' Inn, also the dubai plaza is located in the middle that offer great deals on chic shoes, bags, and dresses.
• Chickpet Market: The market has a history of 400 years and is popular for quality and variety of Sarees and wholesale dress materials. It is also a popular spot for gold and silver jewellery that you can find in Raja Market. You can also visit Balepet to buy beautiful bangles and Nagarathpet for handmade musical instruments

Best Places to Buy Art and Handicrafts in India

India’s rich tradition of handicrafts is a shopper’s delight. While you are shopping in India, each region of this place specializes in unique crafts, reflecting its cultural heritage. Here’s a guide to some of the best handicrafts you can find:

• Rajasthan: Known for its blue pottery, block-printed textiles, and intricate jewellery. The state’s vibrant art forms are a reflection of its royal heritage. Shopping in Jaipur jems market is one of the best things to do in Rajasthan.
• Kashmir: Famous for its Pashmina shawls, carpets, and paper craft products. These crafts are a testament to the region’s rich cultural legacy.
• Gujarat: Renowned for its vibrant Bandhani textiles, mirror work, and embroidery. Gujarat’s handicrafts are colorful and intricately designed.
• Tamil Nadu: Celebrated for its bronze statues, Tanjore paintings, and silk sarees from Kanchipuram. The state’s art forms are steeped in tradition and spirituality.

Best Textiles and Clothing Shopping in India

India has one of the oldest textile industries globally with a range of fabrics and designs for every taste. This post lists a few of the best textiles and clothing you should definitely pick up:

• Sarees: They are traditionally Indian clothes worn by a large group of Indian women in day to day life. Each part of India has its own styles and weaving methods with examples being Varanasi’s Banarasi sarees which are made from silk or Kanjeevaram from Tamilnadu.
• Salwar Kameez and Kurtas: These are well-known in the whole of India for being very chic attire that is also very comfortable. This makes them quite useful in day to day life because they come in many different kinds of fabrics and styles.
• Western Wear: Indian designers are combining traditional and modern styles in order to thrive in this fast growing sector of business. Everything from high-end couture garments down to streetwear is available at your footsteps.

Types of Jewellery Shopping in India

Indian jewelry is renowned for its intricate designs and craftsmanship. Here’s a guide to some of the best jewelry you can find:

• Gold Jewelry: A symbol of wealth and tradition, available in various styles across the country. From delicate chains to elaborate bridal sets, gold jewelry is an integral part of Indian culture.
• Silver Jewelry: Often adorned with semi-precious stones and intricate designs. Silver jewelry is popular for its elegance and affordability.
• Ethnic and Tribal Jewelry: Unique pieces that reflect the heritage of India’s diverse tribes. These jewelry items are often handmade and feature traditional motifs.

Types of Spices Shopping in India

India is the spice capital of the world, where it is impossible to finish your shopping without buying some flavoursome spices from famous markets as Mattancherry Spice Market Kerala and Delhi Khari Baoli. Kerala, Karnataka, tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are famous states in India for spice production. You can have a spice trail in India with South India Tour. These are some of the spices that cannot be missed:

• Turmeric: Well known for its therapeutic qualities and vibrant yellow colour. This is the essential used species in every household in India.
• Cardamom: It is a spice that is well used in both the sweet or savory dishes and it helps in enhancing the aroma of food. It is also a significant addition in chai beverages.
• Saffron: This is the world’s most expensive spice in the world which is favored for its distinct flavor and color. The one that tops the list is Kashmiri saffron.
• Cumin: This is also a very common yet versatile spice that is usually used in curries to add warmths and earthy flavour to the dishes . It is a commonly used flavour in Indian Cuisine.

Bargaining tips for Shopping in india

Bargaining is only applicable when you are doing the street shoppings or in local bazaars Once you hit the road you should have at least a common understanding to do the bargaining with local vendors. Here are some tips to help you get the best deals:

• Do Your Research: The first thing is you have to make some good local friends, they will give you an approx value of the products that you are going to buy.
• Start Low: Offer a price lower than what you are willing to pay and gradually increase it. This gives you room to negotiate.
• Stay Polite: Bargaining should be friendly and respectful. A smile and a positive attitude can go a long way.
• Walk Away: If the price is too high, don’t hesitate to walk away. Often, sellers will call you back with a better offer.

Some Unique Souvenirs to Buy in India

India is actually a land of souvenirs. These are some of the special things that you can bring home as a perfect memento of your journey:

• Handicrafts: Like ceramic, wood, and metal arts, painting souvenirs are best. They show the cultural value of different arts of India.
• Textiles: The fabrics made in the Indian market are both attractive and price-accessible. Besides the sweaters, scarves, etc., these sarees would make great gifts for your relatives back home.
• Spices: India’s spices are, in fact, famous worldwide. You can check out the local markets for buying some of the most popular, fresh and aromatic spices.
• Tea: The best of Darjeeling and Assam teas can not be found anywhere else in the world. They represent a good gift which can be offered to the fans of tea.

Top 10 Shopping Apps in India

As India is growing with the faster pace, every day a new entrepreneur is coming up with new and revolutionary ideas which is supporting and increasing the expenditure capacity of Indians and to fulfill their need there are some of the very popular online shopping apps in india:

1. Amazon
2. Flipkart
3. Myntra
4. Ajio
5. Nykaa
6. Meesho
7. Blinkit
8. Bigbasket
9. Firstcry
10. Tata CLIQ

Biggest Shopping Mall in India

In India you will find countless shopping malls, these malls are a junction for all the branded items from luxury to budget friendly brands. These are the places for various other activities as well like indoor games, cinema halls, food courts and many other entertainment things. Here is the list of some of the biggest shopping malls in India:

1. Lulu International Shopping Mall, Kochi
2. DLF Mall of India, Noida
3. Ambience Mall, Gurugram
4. Mantri Square Mall, Bengaluru
5. VR Bengaluru
6. Inorbit Mall, Hyderabad
7. Elante Mall, Chandigarh
8. High Street Phoenix, Mumbai
9. Select Citywalk, New Delhi
10. Phoenix Market City, Pune

Practical Tips to Consider While Shopping in India

• Payment Methods: Most of the shops and malls do accept credit cards, debit cards, UPI, or any online payment gateway. It is advisable that you should always carry some cash with yourself to do some of the small purchases.
• Timings: The usual timing of openings and closing of Indian markets is 10 am to 9 pm but it can vary depending on the location.
• Safety: Keep an eye on your belongings and be cautious of pickpockets, especially in crowded markets.