Shopping Reccomendations

caccon

Never been to India, going to Delhi and Rajasthan....what would be the unique and local products to buy ? Like to get a big jewellry box, any shops to reccomend for that sort of thing. Rugs or wall hangings ? What can I get there that you don't see elsewhere. Love to get some ideas, thanks.

ddevadatta

Too much to list here cacoon. The best advice is to just visit India, since this is your first trip. Allow teh sites, locations, regional differences, including items to purchase just grab you. No recommendations can do justice to going through the unique Indian experience when it comes to shopping.
Just my thoughts on yoru question.

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PeakXV

In Delhi, check out central Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath (Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan). You'll get a very good idea of the range of art & handicrafts that are available (at fair prices).

You should also peruse the many state emporiums located on Baba Kharak Singh Marg. This will enhance your knowlegde & get your juices flowing for the great Indian shopping experience.

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

robotvoice

in rajastan you can find some very beautiful embroidery representing tribes from all over india.
however, i very much agree with what ddevadatta said, just wait and you'll see...

Nick-H

You're going shopping in India?

Your only worry will be not what to buy, but the baggage allowance to get it home again.

...and paying the bills, of course!

Have Fun!

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yatri13

You will find lots of places to shop in delhi and rajasthan. The kind of stuff you are looking for...you must visit Delhi Haat. You will find nearly everything under one roof. However, you should also have good bargaining skills.

Marte

India is a shopper’s paradise! Go to all of the above places plus The National Crafts Museum in Delhi and Silverline. A very interesting jewelry store with great prices. Not only can you get modern jewelry in this store (India has great gems) but also old traditional jewelry.

Malkers

Absolutely avoid shopping anywhere with the words Central, Cottage, Industry and most definitely Emporium unless of course you want to see how much something is if you were to times it by ten. These places have nice stuff laid out very well and they are great at talking you into parting with cash. They pay nothing more to the villagers than anybody else and just line their big fat pockets.

In Janpath there is a little street that shoots off about half way down with lots of women from various villages around the country selling their own stuff, you'd be doing them a favour buying off them but don't be too mean with your haggling although they will accept low prices. Dilli Haat as someone said is also a fab place to get just about anything, prices are reasonable but they have to pay big rents to be there so you can't haggle quite so much.

In Jaipur, just walk down the main street near City palace and browse around, you'll get everything you are looking for, offer a third of their first price and both of you will get a good deal!

Cheers
Malc

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PeakXV

In New Delhi, Central Cottage Industries Emporium is a government-run handicrafts emporium on Janpath. Nobody will bat an eye at you much less corner you for a high pressure sale. All items are at a fixed & fair price. They will also ship for you and it is an excellent, air-conditioned, well laid out shop ideal for initiation into the Indian arts/handicrafts world. Some emporiums(especially Kashmiri) are only recommended for those with deep pockets or for the professional higgler but the following one is well recommended:

Central Cottage Industries Emporium
Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan
Janpath, New Delhi
Tel. : 23725035(Direct)
Fax : 91-11-3328354

Enjoy!

Malkers

Oh and I forgot to add.

Drive miles out of your way to avoid anything that says government run too. There is enough coruption without a foreigner adding to it.

They are absolutely not a fair price at all, any fool knows this!

Well , some clearly dont!

ronago

After 8 times in India, i'll suggest u to do all the shopping in the main bazzar road.
You can find there everything from all over India in the besr prices.
A great bed cover that was in 4000RP in Jaipur, was on 1000RP, in this street.
Lot of bags, scarfes, jewlery and more.

ronago

At Delhi

chintu chahat

Shopping....? Wel the best place in jaipur that i think of is the national handloom... it has branches al over jaipur & is a one stop shop for all....reasonable..no bargaining and good stuff... i discovered that i cud be a shopoholic when i visited this place..

PeakXV

The Government run emporiums have a very good cross section of items that you may well not see in other shops & bazaars. You can basically take a shopping trip around India without leaving the building - bidri, white metal, glazed ceramics,wood work, carpets (andhra, UP, kashmir) etc. Since the original poster requested ideas for unique items and the Government/state run emporiums offer the widest cross-section of handicrafts/art/attars and addresses/contacts of manufactures/suppliers/artisans of items from all over India - anybody would be extremely remiss not to go for at least a learning excursion cum reconnaissance mission.

For instance a beautiful Jaipur blue double-gourd ceramic glazed vase, I purchased at CCIE at a very reasonable price has been the center piece of our home for a long time now:



The only real fools are those who fail to unturn every stone in their research and quest for what turns them on!

davey

what m,alkar says is correct shop around and keep away from the emporiums I went three times last year twice specifically for shopping and do your homework and dont trust anyone that tells you theyu have a cousin or relation with a factory or showroom.