Shopping in Jaipur, India

8/13/2019 Shopping in Jaipur, India

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/shopping-in-jaipur-india 1/7

Wedding shopping in India

A cl iché go es , “A pe rs on who th ou ght happ iness canno t be boug ht …didn ’t know

the right place to shop.” As a shopping destination the USP of India is that, here you will find good value for money and the

variety available would never cease to surprise you. Don’t be apprehensive, no compromise with

quality, it is because of the cheap labour force in India that Indian merchandise comes at

unbelievably low prices. The excellent value for money products are sure to have visitors looking for

an extra suitcase to carry home. India is a potpourri of different cultures all of which have

contributed their bit to flavour the Indian markets. India is also home to the latest in designer wear.

The omnipresent boutique culture has pervaded the Indian cities also. Some of India’s designers nowrub shoulders with the best names of Paris catwalks and are preparing to give them a run for their

money. To put it straight the Indian markets are today all geared up to furnish to the demands of the

admirers of, both, the trends and traditions alike….

If you are living in India and are among the ones who love shopping and is about to get married,

then it is likely that you must be planning a shopping trip to Jaipur or Kolkata.

But if you live overseas, one of the big decisions that brides struggle with is whether one should go

to India to shop for the wedding or not. Brides like to go to India because they get much more

variety and also get it for a better price. However, the air tickets can get expensive, especially if

going with other friends or members of family, and it can be hard to take off from work. So how do

you make the trip worth your while and rationalize your decision to go for shopping in India? I think

a trip to India, if planned well, can not only save a lot of money, but can also help find the exact

things you are looking for.

If you talk about wedding shopping, there is an immense choice and the pink city of Jaipur and

Kolkata leads the charts.

Next you are likely to be choosing between the two biggest wedding markets in India- Jaipur or

Kolkata? Which one should you go for if you want a great wedding trousseau and bridal lehenga??

We can actually advice about where to shop depending on your style, taste and budget. But you

need to book your tickets as early as possible, and figure out which is better for you. This small guide

about Jaipur may help as a starter. I will be coming up with Kolkata in my next article.

http://www.ashokaholidays.com/jaipur.html



http://www.ashokaholidays.com/










Shopping in Jaipur

It is one of my favourite cities in India not only because I live here or because it is famed to be the

land of Forts and Palaces, the land of riches, colour and unparalleled heritage but because this is thecity where you can find India at its colourful best!

In Jaipur, shopping is irresistible, a wide range of Ethnic Bridal wear Saris and Bridal Lehangas are

available in the market; most of items are produced in the centres in and around Jaipur city. The city

is one of the most important centres in the world for cutting and polishing precious and semi

precious stone, diamonds. The city has, for long, been a traditional centre of the finest of jewellery

bedecked with both precious and semi precious stones, enamelling of gold in green, red and white,

the favourite colours of the Mughals, which was introduced Raja Man Singh. The city is known the

world over for diamond and emerald cutting.

Other popular items are textiles, goods made of marble, Designer marble products, wood, stone,

clay, metal, leather, Invitation cards, Bags, Home furnishing, Home décor stuff, Silverware,

Trousseau packing, Gifts, Authentic arts, Handicrafts, Exquisite gems, Kundan jewellery, Traditional

print, block Print garments and textiles, Blue pottery, Rajais (blankets/ quilts), Trinkets, Lak ki chudi

(ethnic bangles), Mojdis (special Rajashtani footwear), Bandhani work (Traditional Rajasthani Tie &

Dye), Miniature paintings, Marble figures, Gold filigree and inlay work, and the list seems endless...

Wedding Trousseau:

TV and Bollywood industry is overwhelmed and fascinated by the ‘jaipuri lehenga chunri’, one of the

most famous and most worn costumes of Jaipur. Jaipuri lehenga are always well embroidered and

stitched and often called ‘Gotedaar Lehenga ‘. Jaipur Jewels and costumes are used in many Indian

Movies like ‘Jodhaa Akhbar’ and television’s daily soaps in a very beautiful manner. The famous

actress and model Aishwarya Rai Bacchan wore Kundan Jewelry of Jaipur at her wedding in 2007 and

her films ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and ‘Umrao Jaan’. Many exhibitions of gems and jewellery of Jaipur are

held in different countries like Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore and they always get a great and

overwhelming response from there.

Where to buy?

WEDDING LEHENGA (For Women):



For picking your Wedding Lehenga - first stop

should be SARAOGI MANSION at MI Road. Here

you can look at ‘Nikhaar Creations’ and ‘Nikhaar

Fashions’,’ Pratapsons’ and ‘Utsav’. From here

you can go to RANA’s at GANPATI PLAZA. Then

check out ‘Zari’ & ‘Sattva’ at Narayan Singh Circle

and ‘Vasansi’ at Takht E Shahi Road. Most of them

remain closed on Sundays. Now if you want

something absolutely exclusive then there are

many wonderful designers like Pallavi Jaipur,

Nidhi Tholia, Monish Tharyamal, Namita Jaipuria

and boutiques like Chrisalis in Country Inn,

Miraangi many more… Residents of Jaipur also

pick ethnic wear from several Exhibitions that are

held twice in a year during Feb- March and

August- September and sometimes October just

before Diwali.

SHERWANI(For Men):

For picking sherwani you can go to RAM NARAYAN SAFEWALE at walled city, RAJA SAHEB at Raja

Park, Visit Munnu Khan the oldest masterji of sherwani in Jaipur for a custom made one or Manyavar

at Crytal Palm Mall, Sardar Patel Marg ‘C’ Scheme. Well again there are some good designers that

you may visit like Rohit Abhishek, Kirti Rathore, Himmat Singh to name a few.. My groom got one of

his outfits stitched in ‘Villa’ in Ganpati Plaza and one from Rohit and Abhishek ;)

CHOODA(Bangles):

Go to BAPU BAZAAR or one of the many bangle stores at the basement of SARAOGI MANSION and

find yourself the most gorgeous chooda.

EXCLUSIVE BANGLES:

There is no place like the MANIHARON KA RAASTA in the old city to go bangle shopping. There are

over 50/60 stores stocking up very exclusive bangles. Try the ones made of LAAC.

WEDDING CARDS:



The most sought place for wedding cards is JOHRI BAZAAR. I also like Readiprint (you might find it

little expensive, but trust me, it is totally worth it); My wedding invitation card from both the bride

and the groom’s side was printed here.

JEWELLERY:

There are plenty of prominent showrooms and very good vendors to go to. There is Birdhichand,

Suranas, Motisons, Tatiwala, Gem Palace, Amrapali to name a few however there are many

designers who can do custom made jewellery depending on your budgets and specific requirements.

Custom made Jadaau set made of Gold- Precious stones and uncut Diamonds are a big hit and highly

demanded. Anyone searching for lac jewellery should visit ‘Maniharon Ka Rasta’ where lac jewellery

is made and sold. The variety in ‘Johri Bazaar’ is marvellous and is a place where jewellery is crafted

and sold. Gopalji ka Rasta and Haldiyon ka Rasta have a number of shops selling jewellery and on the

main road one can see silversmiths. It is closed for some time on Sunday and Tuesday. The cutting,

polishing and selling of precious and semi precious stones is centred on the Muslim dominated area

of Pahar Ganj in the Surajpol Bazaar area.

Also if you can plan your trip in December, look forward for this annual event of glimmer and

glamour – Jaipur Jewellery Show. This year, Jaipur Jewellery Show (JJS) is scheduled for 20-23

December 2013. It is the largest B2B & B2C jewellery exhibition of India. This jewellery show is also

http://www.indianweddingcard.com/



http://www.jaipurjewelleryshow.org/







known as the “DECEMBER SHOW”. JJS has already been listed in the renowned jewellery exhibitions

of the world. This jewellery fair is very special for retailers, whole sellers and buyers.

Important Tips:

Every English as well as local newspaper has the gold and silver rates published on the front page.

Look for it to be sure of the recent rates.

If you are buying silver it is mostly sold on a per gram basis and not per piece basis (as in many

countries abroad). So generally it is today's silver rate + some labour* multiplied by the weight of the

piece. Do not get carried away that the piece you are buying has a 92.5 stamp. Ask and make sure

that the silver content is pure. Research the net and look at the city guide and make a pick.

A genuine jeweller will always give a certification if asked for. He may ask you for a day's time but it

is better to buy high-end stuff only if it is certified. All gemstones are easily certifiable and just takes

a few hours to get validated.

FOOTWEAR:

Traditional Rajasthani Footwear called ‘Jutis’ can be found in Ramganj Bazar. There is Metro and

Mochi in M.I. Road. Then there are many stores in the basement of SARAOGI MANSION where you

get beautiful glitzy non branded bridal footwear (worth a visit). There is also LIFESTYLE at 22 GodamCircle and Central at PINK SQUARE MALL, Adarsh Nagar RAJA PARK. Branded footwear can be found

in World Trade Park in JLN Marg.

TROUSSEAU PACKING:

Trousseau packing for a wedding in the family can be a very tedious thing. All the gifts and giveaways

aren’t any good till they are packaged well. So if you come trousseau shopping in Jaipur or come for

hosting a wedding in Jaipur or are interested in hassle free and gorgeous trousseau packing there are

2 places that are great. There is Vandana Fancy & Craft Centre in BAPU BAZAAR and there is The

Modern Paper House opposite SARGA SOOLI in Old Jaipur. For wonderful trousseau packing visit

Ratan textile and a few tiny shops next to Ratan Textiles.

SAFA(turban, Traditional Headgear for Men)



This should not cost you more than 200 to 500 INR

and about 45 minutes of your time. Right in the

heart of Old CITY- Just as you are at the end of JOHRI

BAZAAR, look up on the roofs of both right and left

and what you have there are assorted turbans in allhues and colours! Turbans known as safa in

Rajasthan is a traditional headgear- still worn in the rural parts of the state and worn during

weddings by grooms. Get a safa (turban/ Headgear) made for you. You can choose from the many

fabrics that are available or take your own cloth.

JAIPURI RAJAAI( Jaipuri Quilts and blankets):

Some shops opposite Hawa Mahal stock the famous Jaipuri

quilts, weighing from a few hundred grams to a kilogram.

Ratan Textiles and Anokhi are few renowned places which

keep some really good stuff.

ARTEFACTS AND ANTIQUE WORK:

Near the Hawa Mahal are large numbers of shops dealing in antiques and pseudo-antiques. Jaipur

brass work is of immaculate quality. The Jaipur brass worker is successful in infusing life like charm

into the dull metal. Two kinds of work is done in Jaipur on brass viz., lacquered brass and carved

brass. Jaipur enamel or Minakari, mostly done on gold and silver has always been a class of its own.

The Jaipur artist is renowned not only for the purity of the colours, but also for its evenness.

The stone and marble carving industry is also a famous art of Jaipur. The stone used is either

procured from within Jaipur or from the marble mines of Makrana, the famous quarry that provided

all the marble stone for one of the wonders of the world The Taj Mahal at Agra.

http://www.ratantextiles.com/


http://www.anokhi.com/


http://www.indiaimagegallery.com/rajasthan/jaipur








At Tripolia Bazar and Chaura Rasta - Here you can shop here for textiles, utensils, ironware

and trinkets. If you want to see the artisans at work, step into the side lanes and see for

yourself.

At Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar - You can purchase textiles, local perfumes and shoes

made of camel skin. When in bapu Bazar do not miss the golgappas and kulfi faluda.

For block printed specialities, Kilol, Soma Shop, cottons, chhipa, Cotton curio, Gulabchand,

Suruchi and Anokhi are great places to visit. Rajasthali, the official store of Rajasthan

tourism, is a must try to find a galore of products under one roof.

Jaipur is also famous for its textiles. Sanganeri and Bagru block prints are the fashion

designer’s craze these days.

The Bandhej (tie and dye) print is very typical of the region and can be found in abundance

in Johri Bazaar, Nikhaar in Sarawgi mansion and Vasansi .

For wonderful and cheap home furnishings do take out some time and visit Seekar House.

Bedspreads, bedsheets, Table mats, Table runners, Tablecloth, curtains, Quilts, name it and

you get it all squeezed in the small seeker house market. You must bargain a lot to strike a

great deal.

Achrol House, Subhash Chowk for carpets.

Khajano Walano Ka Rasta for marble carving.

For handicrafts like puppets, bandahwars, wall hangings.

For white metal artifacts go to linking road next to saraogi mansion- Bapu Bazar.

Take some time out and discover for yourself, and you will not regret choosing Jaipur as a shopping

destination. Here’s wishing you Happy Shopping

Documents

Shopping in Jaipur, India