Must-see shopping in India

  • 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.

  • Desert Handicrafts Emporium

    Jaisalmer

    With some unusual jewellery, paintings and all sorts of textiles, this is one of the most original of numerous craft shops around 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.

  • Re Shop

    Kodaikanal (Kodai)

    Stylish jewellery, fabrics, cards and more, at reasonable prices, made by and benefiting marginalised village women around Tamil Nadu.

  • Green Shop

    Coonoor

    Beautiful fair-trade local tribal crafts, clothes, fabrics and notebooks, plus organic wild honey, nuts, chocolates, soaps and teas.

  • Modern Book Depot

    Guwahati

    Check out this shop or United Publishers next door for a good selection of books in English, especially titles on Northeast India.

  • Cottonworld

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    A great shop for stylish Indian-Western-hybrid goods made from cotton, linen and natural materials. Think Indian Gap, but cooler.

  • La Boutique d’Auroville

    Puducherry (Pondicherry)

    Perfect for browsing through Auroville-made crafts: jewellery, pottery, clothing, shawls, handmade cards and herbal toiletries.

  • Shashtri Bazaar

    Amritsar

    Shashtri Bazaar, located deep within Amritsar's bustling old city, is home to shops selling dupattas and fancy woollen shawls.

  • Gangarams Book Bureau

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Excellent selection of Indian titles, guidebooks and Penguin classics. Has a knowledgeable staff and author-signing sessions.

  • Rikhi Ram

    New Delhi

    A tiny, but beautiful, old shop selling professional classic and electric sitars, tablas and more. Tablas start at ₹50,000.

  • Green Shop

    The Western Ghats

    The ecofriendly Keystone Foundation's shop has goodies for picnics (local chocolates, wild honey) plus lovely tribal crafts.

  • Patel Market

    Hyderabad

    The Patel Market, selling fabric, cranks into action from around 11am in the back lanes between Patthargatti and Rikab Gunj.

  • Creaticity Mall

    Pune

    Huge mall that’s richly endowed with interior design and fashion stores. Shop till you drop then head to the food court.

  • Arambol Hammocks

    North Goa

    Now in Mandrem, Arambol Hammocks designs and sells hammocks, including their ‘flying carpets’ and ‘flying chairs'.

  • Bookworm

    Manali

    Excellent selection of books including many on the Himalaya. Also stocks strings of authentic prayer flags (from ₹70).

  • Auroshikha

    Puducherry (Pondicherry)

    An endless array of incense, perfumed candles, essential oils and other scented trinkets, made by Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

  • Tahali Sahib Bazaar

    Amritsar

    Tahali Sahib Bazaar is piled high with glittering satin dupattas. It's one of the main markets in Amritsar's old city.

  • M Ram & Sons

    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.

  • Nalli Silk Sarees

    Delhi

    This small, but multi-level emporium, originating from Chennai in 1928, is a kaleidoscope of shimmering silk saris.

  • Fabindia

    Hyderabad

    Stylish women's and some men's clothes in artisanal fabrics with contemporary prints and colours. Prices are fair.

  • AEF

    Karnataka

    At the rear of a family home, this little shop sells lovely handmade paper products such as notebooks and cards.

  • Fabindia

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Offers a range of stylish traditional clothing, homewares and accessories, as well as quality skincare products.

  • K Mahaveer Chand

    Ooty (Udhagamandalam)

    K Mahaveer Chand has been selling particularly beautiful Toda tribal and silver jewellery for nearly 50 years.

  • Nalli Silk Sarees

    New Delhi

    Founded in Southern India in 1928, this venerable sari shop offers a rainbow palette of silk and cotton saris.

  • C Lal & Sons

    Delhi

    Mr Lal’s ‘curiosity shop’ is full of charming Christmas-tree decorations, papier mâché and carvings.

  • Vinod Kumar

    Mussoorie

    Perhaps the most interesting shop in Mussoorie, this antique shop is chock-full of pieces from the Raj era.

  • Modern Book Depot

    Agra

    Great selection of novels and books on Agra and the Mughals at this friendly, 60-year-old establishment.

  • Harmony Book Shop

    Varanasi

    The best bookshop in Varanasi, with a particularly good selection of titles on Varanasi and the Mughals.

  • Garuda Mall

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Modern mall in central Bengaluru with a wide selection of clothing chains and an Inox multiplex cinema.

  • Best Book Centre

    Hyderabad

    Has the largest selection of used books in the city, including Indian literature and western classics.

  • Forum

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Shiny mall complex in the happening district of Koramangala with lots of fashion stores and a cinema.

  • Subhash Bazaar

    Agra

    Skirts the northern edge of Agra’s Jama Masjid and is particularly good for silks and saris.

  • Mehra Bros

    Delhi

    Mehra Bros at Khan Market has some pretty papier mâché ornaments and Christmas decorations.

  • Asia Tea House

    Delhi

    Fine tea specialists, with organic Darjeeling strains and top-notch Silver Tips Imperial tea.

  • Mélange

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    High-fashion ladies garments from over 100 Indian designers in a chic exposed-brick space.

  • Indiana Crockery

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Good spot to buy thali trays, brass utensils and chai cups for that dinner party back home.

  • Adventure Axis

    Rishikesh

    Stocks everything from sleeping bags and carabiners to drysuits and trekking boots.

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