Shopping in India tips
New! Tips on buying gold in jewellery in India - How do you know its real gold and not fake jewellery! MORE INFORMATION
INDIA
SHOPPING
GUIDE
Where else in the world can you get a custom suit
tailor made or a pair of shoes custom made cheaper than what you pay at
a bargain store in London or New York?
India
is a shoppers paradise
Welcome to shopping in India. What can you buy in India? Just about everything
Leather Goods, Jewellery, Clothes, Carpets, Handicrafts, Computer Books, Eye glass frames, Silk, Spices, Musical Instruments etc
Many tourists are also using India now for cheaper cosmetic surgery.
Some people I know have even had laser eye surgery done in India at a fraction of what they would pay in USA.
So if you don’t have insurance and want your teeth clean at a fraction of the cost, and then
you may consider having dental work also done when visiting India.
Products or services, India may be the place to shop to get the most for
your money.
TIPS FOR SHOPPING IN INDIA
LEATHER GOODS
There are two places where leather goods such as leather jackets, purses, shoes etc are available in India at ridiculously cheap prices.
Agra is not only famous for its Taj Mahal but also is the major center in India for leather shoes. In Agra you also have the option of getting custom shoes made at unheard of prices.
Mumbai has an area called Dharavi that is also called a leather goods
market by local people in Mumbai.
Here you can pick up leather jackets, purses, belts and shoes at very
reasonable prices. Lots of bargaining here. Compared to store prices
abroad for similar items, you can save almost 80% but you need to
bargain.
I found just about every store in this area with some kind of sign in the store saying 'fixed price' or 'no bargaining' and yet every store did negotiate the price.
This area was a slum area a
few years ago but I found during my last visit to the area in May 2006 and the
main shopping area in Dharavi is changing rapidly. The slum shops are
being torn down and replaced with modern shops. You can actually drive right up in your taxi to the market area.
COSTUME JEWELLERY
Some of the worlds best jewelry is made in India. Tourists visiting India can buy one of a kind jewellery pieces at super bargain prices when shopping in India.
Costume Jewellery is called artificial Jewellery in India.
Jewelry made in India comes various styles depending on the region in India where the jewellery has been made.
While jewelry from China is gaining popularity due to mass machine production and cheap prices, Jewelry made in India, has a touch of craftsmanship attached to it.
In India the art of making jewelry is passed
on from generations to generations.
Each region in India has its own specialty
and uniqueness when it comes to jewelry making. For instance, the most
popular jewelry style made in Jaipur is called ‘Kundan’ and craftsmen
who make Kundan jewelry sets have learnt the trade from their ancestors.
Kundan jewelry is the art of gem setting and decoration using gold foil.
Jaipur is located in the Indian state of Rajasthan and a favorite
destination for tourists. If you get a chance to visit then do check out
their Kundan work.
The city of Jaipur is famous for its markets in Jewellery and semi precious stones. Shoppers can also get costume Jewellery made as per their own designs. The price in such cases is quoted usually per gram weight of the material, plus per gram added for the labor in making the Jewellery.
The main shopping markets in Jaipur are Jauhari Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Chaura Rasta, Mirza Ismail Road and Tripolia Bazaar.
COPPER STYLE JEWELLERY FROM INDIA
Baroda, a city in the state of Gujarat in India is famous for its 'Gheru' style Jewellery. Gheru is the art of finishing jewellery with a dull copper type finish.
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If you do visit Jaipur take a look some of the
famous Jaipur shoes called 'Jutti'
GOLD JEWELLERY
Gold jewelry is available in India in both yellow or white gold. However the majority of Indians seem to prefer yellow gold. White gold jewelry is gradually gaining acceptance amongst the younger generation.
Indians prefer gold ornaments made of 22 karats. As pure gold is said to be 24 karats there is a certain amount of metal used in all gold Jewellery that is said to be of 22 karats.
When buying gold jewelry always insist on a receipt. Gold jewelry bought in India is 22 karats.
All gold jewelry has a certain amount of metal in it that is not gold.
Reputable stores in their receipts for gold purchases always clearly indicate the amount of real gold and the amount of other metal used in the jewelry purchased. Reputable stores will buy back the item anytime based on their receipt and pay you according to the rate of gold that applies on the day you return the item. Insist on a proper government approved receipt for all gold purchases.
One of the reputable dealers for gold Jewellery in India is a Jewellery shop called Tribhovandas in the Cannaught Place area. I have bought Jewellery form their store in New Delhi. This store however offers no seating to customers buying jewellery. Their sales staff also I found were not overly friendly.
I found another jewelry store during my visit to India in April
2007.
The store is called Meharson Jewelry and is also in the Cannaught Place area in Delhi.
I found their variety and customer service to be excellent.
Infact we had a better shopping experience at Meharson than at Tribhovandas.
Meharsons sales staff were very informative and helpful and even when I did not buy anything during my first visit they showed their sales skill by telling us where else we could shop for similar items. My wife and I eventually went back and bought from Meharson's the next day. They also sell jewellery that is 'Hallmarked'.
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PURCHASING CLOTHING ITEMS
Ready made clothing is available all over India. However you also have the chance of getting a made to measure suit made at a very reasonable cost. Raymond’s fabric shops are one example where one can select the cloth and then have their tailors make the suit, trousers or shirts. I had a suit made a from Raymond’s in Delhi a few months back, they had it ready in 24 hours and the tailoring was excellent. There are several other great places so do shop around.
For clothing you can choose from an unmatchable range of; silks, cottons, brocades, chiffons, chignons, touched with streaks of silver and gold thread, set with sequins or semi-precious gems
Cotton is India’s specialty also and if you use cotton undergarments then stock up while in India at great savings on items like silk ties, shirts etc, just about everything that you fancy is available.
Embroidery work called Zari work in India is also popular in Agra.
WOODWORK ITEMS
Sandalwood carvings from Karnataka, rosewood from Kerala and Chennai, walnut from Kashmir are famous.
These are often exquisite and make excellent presents for friends and relatives.
Some vendors try and claim their handicrafts are made from rosewood or sandalwood when they are actually made of cheaper wood.
Shop
owners try and convince customers that the handicrafts they are selling
are real sandalwood by asking them to smell the product.
Even though the item being purchased may smell like sandalwood. Be warned that some shopkeepers spray sandalwood perfume on the handicrafts to sell cheaper wood items as sandalwood.
East Indian sandalwood, sandalwood has two major
uses: extraction of an essential oil (sandal oil), and as a source of
wood for carving.
India accounts for approximately 90% of sandal oil production in the
world. The state of Mysore in India is the centre of supply. Here 75% of
the best quality, most aromatic sandalwood is obtained.
Unless you are shopping for sandalwood items in Mysore, be careful and check what you buy to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. Remember not everywhere do we get a money back guarantee.
METAL WORK ITEMS
You can buy virtually anything when it comes to metal work in India. People buy things like, statues, hookah pipes, Jewellery boxes, lamp vases and many other metallic. Even items such as cow-bells are sold as works of Art.
The Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are the main centers for brass work. However metal items can be bought in all over India in abundance.
SHOPPING AREAS - INFORMATION
Shopping Areas in Jaipur: The city of Jaipur is well-known for its lacquer jewelry, painted with enamel, coated with ‘Kundan’ work.
Jaipur is the main center of Kundan work.
Jauhari (also known as Johri) bazaar in Jaipur is the nerve center of
Kundan work.
You can find precious and semi-precious stones of many varieties. Garnets, emeralds, rubies, topaz and amethyst are very popular with tourists.
Another specialty of Jaipur is called ‘Tie-and-dye work on silk and crepe’ and the ‘Sanganer block prints’. Large and small units of block and screen printers at Sanganer village (on Tonk road which is near the airport) produce some of the finest hand-printed textiles.
While in Sanganer, don't forget to check out Jaipur blue pottery. You can purchase Sanganer bed linen, table linen and dress material on a variety of fabrics in the village or at any outlet in the Jaipur City. Shops on MI Road sell many varieties of Ethnic block prints and traditional crafts of Rajasthan. While in Sanganer, don't forget to check out Jaipur blue pottery.
The Jaipur razai (used in place of a blanket, like a comforter) is also very popular and many Indian tourists also from other parts of India make it a point to buy Jaipur razais as they are well known for their light weight and warmth
Shopping Areas in Agra: Taj Mahal complex, Kinari Bazaar, Raja Mandi, Sadar Bazaar, Gangotri at Taj Mahal Complex, UP Handlooms, At Sanjay place there are two UP Government emporiums.
Shopping Areas in Delhi: Janpath, Cannaught Place, Palika bazaar, Chandni chowk, South Extension, Sarojini nagar market, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar market, Kamala nagar market.
For Delhi, I would recommend Cannaught Place. Of all the shopping places South Extension was the most expensive. Chandni chowk is near the Red Fort in Delhi and very congested.
Taxis park several blocks away and one need’s to take a bicycle rickshaw into the shopping areas or walk. Chandni Chowk is one of the cheapest areas for shopping in Delhi but be warned the area is very congested.
Cannaught Place Delhi
Palika Bazaar is full of smaller shops but would not recommend it as the quality is not that great and bargaining here is quite common.
Many stores here have signs saying ‘FIXED PRICE’ yet accept
bargains. Infact most stores expect the customers to bargain and quote
their prices higher in the beginning. However when in the Cannaught
place area you can checkout Palika bazaar if you have the time. The majority of the price conscious local people shop at Karol Bagh
instead of Palika bazaar. Karol Bagh market is only about a 15 minute taxi ride from Cannaught Place.
Hand painting with mehendi a natural color derived from leaves is popular and many beauty parlor's all over India offer this service for women .
Hand painting is usually done during the festive
season or for special occasions like weddings and some religious
occasions.
Shopping Areas in Ooty: Kairali of Kerala Handicrafts and Poompuhar of Tamil Nadu Handicrafts have their shopping stores near the Super Market Buildings on Charing Cross (across from the Nahar Tourist Home).
Shopping Areas in Ahmedabad: The Law Garden area is a good place to buy art works in Ahmedabad. In the evening the area transforms into an open market selling all kinds of handicrafts and other items. The prices initially quoted are usually high so to get the best price one needs to bargain. The shop keepers expect you to anyway and quote inflated prices accordingly.
SHOPPING FOR THE BEST PRICE
One way to avoid being overcharged for merchandise is to know the value of what you are buying by checking other nearby stores for the same type of item. This will give you the idea of what the real price is like. Most vendors offer you a lower price as you start to walk away from the store without buying. Remember most purchases in India do not come with money back guarantees like they do in the west. So with a little bit of patience and homework you will not only save money but also not feel foolish if you find the same item you bought at half the price in the next store you visit.
Shopping for Rugs
Some very good quality rugs are available in India at bargain prices.
Rugs come in several different materials. One way to tell the material and quality of a rug is to inspect the back of the rug.
When buying gold jewelry always insist on a receipt. Insist on a proper government approved receipt for all gold purchases.
In most tourist cities there are taxi drivers who get paid to take customers to certain stores for shopping. They get a commission not only when you buy but some places also pay them for just bring costumers in whether they buy or not. These stores just add the commission to the sale price of the goods you buy.
If possible go to stores independently and not with a commission agent
s.
Don’t buy items from strangers who approach you as are walking through some tourist areas.
Why would anyone buy an expensive looking watch, camera or for that matter anything from someone who approaches you out of nowhere and wants to sell you something that seems to be incredibly low priced to entice you into buying.
Some of these people give you all sorts of stories as to why they need to sell the item cheap as they need the money to fly back home etc. Regardless of how well these people are dressed or converse in English do not take a chance of buying these items. It is always safer to buy at a proper store and with a receipt where ever possible.
CHOR BAZAAR in Mumbai. I'm sure many have heard about the great bargains here and the antiques available at bargain prices. I visited this market twice last year and would strongly advise to stay away from this place.
There is actually no organized market here but just narrow lanes where shops and homes exist. Vendors sell form the roadside also. The streets are filthy and cars do not have space to drive by. People must walk around these narrow streets and look for bargains they keep hearing about is very remote.
Some of the things you find here that are claimed to be antique wood work but are usually just imitations of cheap wood that has been dulled to look old with chemicals. I had a local guide show me the entire area and was very disappointed and wonder where all the publicity for this place comes from.
I strongly advise foreign tourists not to visit 'Chor Bazar' in Mumbai. If however you are curious and do want to visit, then play it safe and arrange for a local contact to be your guide and escort.
ANTIQUE ? Shopping for antique items: Tourists in India are usually tempted to buy goods that they are made to believe are antiques. Indian shop keepers are not that naive as some of them may pretend to be when trying to sell you so called antique items.
Exporting antique items from India may also be illegal and permission is required from the authorities. Don't get conned into buying something that may turn out not to be an antique or a stolen item.
Note: The sale of Shahtoosh shawls is banned by the Indian Government. These shawls can fetch up to US$ 15000. Some unscrupulous merchants try and entice foreign tourists with Shahtoosh shawls that are usually fake. It is illegal to buy or sell Shahtoosh shawls.
Pashmina shawls are also becoming popular with travelers. Lots of fake Pashmina shawls are available all over India and also on the web. If you wish to buy Pashmina shawls then buy them at reputable stores, several hawkers on the streets also walk around tourist areas with shawls and try to sell them to unsuspecting tourists as genuine Pashmina.
For complete details and information on genuine pashmina shawls please see our fashion-shawls page.
Be alert when someone tries to sell you something that sounds really cheap compared to stores. I have been approached by people to buy all sorts of stuff
When paying with credit cards I normally always write the words ‘Indian Rupees’ next to the amount. Keep your credit card invoices also to check later when balancing your accounts.
PLEASE NOTE: Export of certain items such as ivory, fur and skins, antiques is banned and hence it is mandatory to obtain a certificate of legitimate sale and permission for export.
