“Resplendent in the hues of its noble and magnificent past, the historic city of Jaipur stands out as one of the most spectacular and culturally vibrant destinations in the world.”
Kate Smith
The bright and vibrant colors that people in Rajasthan has always charmed me.
Renowned globally for its magnificent palaces, royal forts, temples, and the giant astronomical observatory Jantar Mantar, the pink city of Jaipur, is also famous for its colored gems, vibrant handloom items, and brilliant crafts. And obviously, shopping!
What is Jaipur famous for?
Jaipur is famous for jewelry, textile, gemstones, lac bangles, and many other handicrafts. Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall Museum, Birla Mandir, Galtaji Mandir, Gaitore, Nahargarh Fort, Amer Fort, Jal Mahal, Abhaneri are few places that you shouldn’t miss to visit when in Jaipur. Jaipur is one of the three cities of the golden triangle circuit with the other two being Delhi and Agra.
The famous shopping places in Jaipur are Nehru Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Johari Bazaar, MI road, Rajasthali (the Rajasthan Government showroom on MI Road), and stalls at Bari and Choti Chaupurs. The markets are generally closed on Sundays.
Women in bright orange and yellow saris, men in red turbans, camels pulling carts, a whiff of royalty with historic forts and palaces, traveling to Rajasthan is a sensory experience that you have to experience at least once in your lifetime (or so I would recommend).
Do you also find Rajasthan as charming as I do? Click here to read the detailed 2800 words guide on Rajasthan Travel Tips: Everything You Need To Know.
Here is a list of my favorite 17 souvenirs that I would recommend you should explore to buy in Jaipur.
Jaipur rugs and carpets
The image of traditional Rajasthani royal home or haveli is incomplete without the lush carpets and rugs. The royal families and affluent families could afford heavy and expensive carpets.
The common people used to weave rugs and dhurries using old cloth pieces. Jaipur’s rugs and carpets made up of cotton, wool and silk are very high in demand in India and for export.
The quality of these carpets and rugs is measured in terms of knots per centimeter. The better quality would have a number of knots and thus higher price.
The price for these may range anywhere between a few thousand to lakhs of rupees. These are of course expensive but many people love to buy these for the warmth, color, and character these hand-woven carpets add to a place.
One such piece is definitely a souvenir that you must take from Jaipur.
Where to Buy: Saurashtra Impex Amer Road, Vimla International Amer Road, and Achrol House Subhash Chowk are popular places to buy these.
2 and half hours from Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh is a World Heritage Site in Mewar in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, India. The Great Wall of the fort is 36km long and is second largest wall after the Great Wall of China.
Read to know more about History of the Fort, how to reach, what to do, where to stay and eat in this awesome detailed Guide: The Great Wall of India – Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan.
Gemstones
I came to know about Jaipur being a hub for sale and purchase of gemstones when I met a couple traveling in a train to Jaipur looking for a particular stone for a ring.
Buying semi-precious or precious stones is not easy as one has to have some prior knowledge and clarity about what you want to buy.
Visit only reputable sellers if you do not know much about stones. It is very easy to be fooled in this matter if you don’t choose the right seller and have insufficient knowledge about this.
Do your homework, search for reliable and reputable sellers, check for reviews online or contact some local person if you know someone here. Garnet, Chalcedony, Lapis Lazuli, moonstone are some of the popular gemstones found in Jaipur.
Where to Buy: The Gem Palace in Jaipur is preferred by many locals and tourists for buying gemstones.
Precious Jewelry
Under the patronage of its rulers, art flourished in Jaipur. Precious jewelry made up of gold and silver is as much in demand as it used to be decades ago.
Kundan jewelry of Jaipur is famous everywhere.
The process involves beating the precious metals into thin sheets which are given leaf-like shape to hold uncut stones. These are filled with lac to set the stones.
Jewelry is a very important part of Indian culture and heritage. The family heirlooms are passed on from elders to the next generation and then to their next. It holds a much more emotional value than a financial one.
Designs have of course changed along with the change in trends and tastes but the significance of jewels and jewelry remains the same.
Many people choose to visit Jaipur to buy jewelry for wedding and other such occasions.
Where to Buy: MI road and Johari Bazar are good places to buy precious jewelry.
Though with the passing time Jaipur has evolved as a modern city it has still managed to retain its old-world charm due to its well-preserved monuments, art, architecture, culture, and traditions.
There are many tourist attractions and experiences which Jaipur is famous for. Click here to read the detailed 3300 words Blog Post on Jaipur Travel Guide: 15 iconic attractions and places to visit in Jaipur.
Imitation Jewelry
Precious jewelry and stones are not something that everyone would like to splurge on. Sometimes it is too heavy on the pocket. But you need not get disheartened.
Jaipur has a lot to offer to you too. I have personally bought loads of imitation or artificial jewelry from Jaipur at very cheap prices.
You can find imitation pieces of Jadau, meenakari, Kundan, pearls, all that you can think of. Heavy bridal jewelry sets, bangles, earrings, pendant sets, anklets, Maang-Teeka, hair- accessories, all that you want is available here.
Where to Buy: Gourav Tower market is flooded with all sorts of jewelry at cheap prices that you can definitely buy for yourself as a souvenir.
Meenakari items
Meenakari is an art of coating the grooves and engravings with colored enamel on metal pieces.
Different kinds of metals are used for Meenakari work including gold, silver, brass, and copper. Use of colors beautifully brings out the designs engraved on the pieces such as flowers, petals, birds, etc.
Sometimes Meenakari work is used along with Kundan work for heavy pieces such as bridal jewelry.
Meenakari items may include precious jewelry, artificial jewelry, and decorative pieces.
Where to Buy: You can watch the Jewelers doing enamel work in the area of ‘Jadiyon ka rasta’ in Jaipur. Chandpole Bazar, Trimurti circle, Johri bazar, and MI road are famous for a variety of jewelry.
With a whiff of royalty, the opulence of the palaces, the magnificence of the forts, the charm of vernacular songs and folk dances, and breathtaking sand dunes makes Rajasthan in India a sort after tourist destination for both Indians as well as international travelers.
Click here to read awesome information on Tourist & Offbeat Places in Rajasthan India.
Lac Bangles
Lac bangles are equally popular among young girls and the elderly ladies in Rajasthan.
Lac is a natural resin of animal origin. The process of obtaining lac involves culturing these insects, taking care of host plants, collecting and processing lac.
It is considered auspicious for brides and married women to wear lac bangles. They make the best gift or souvenir to take from Jaipur due to its variety and price range.
You can get a pair of lac bangles starting from INR 100. These are available in various colors, designs and work on them. Colorful beads, stones, mirrors, and decorative wires are used to make these look more exquisite.
At some places, you can even see local artisans making or altering the size of the lac bangles.
Where to Buy: These bangles are easily available in all the markets of Jaipur. For a wider range of variety, a visit to the Tripolia Bazar is highly recommended.
Lehriya
Jaipur is a hub for various forms of textile arts involving beautiful intricate patterns. One can easily spot women clad in this wavy print sarees running errands in Jaipur.
Lehriya is one pattern that is widely used in sarees and dupattas in Jaipur. ‘Lehriya’ word is derived from the Hindi word ‘Leher’ which means waves. Lehriya is a simple wavy pattern which is made using two or more bright colors.
Lehriya printed sarees are especially worn by local women on occasions like ‘Teej’, a monsoon festival in northern India.
Where to Buy: Bapu Bazar and Johri Bazar are the best places to shop for Lehriya sarees and Odhni at fair prices. Georgette and chiffon sarees in Lehriya print look very elegant and are a must-buy if you like sarees.
Visiting the “Golden City” of Jaisalmer? Read about yellow sandstone architecture, places to visit, things to eat, what to wear, how to stay safe & more in this blog post – Jaisalmer: Things to know before you go.
Bandhej/Bandhni
Bandhani is another print which Jaipur and Rajasthan are famous for.
Bandhani or Bandhej or Tie n Dye is an art of dying cloth in some particular ways that result in different pattern formation. A number of knots are made with thread on the piece of cloth to be dyed.
These knots when opened after dying result in beautiful designs.
A variety of patterns of circles, squares, dots, stripes, waves are achieved by tying threads in different ways on the fabric.
Art of bandhani dates back to the 12th century and is popular in Gujrat and Rajasthan. You would find Bandhni print on sarees, dupatta, scarves, kurta, top, palazzo, turban and on almost every type of clothing.
Bright colorful Bandhani sarees in red, green and yellow color usually make a part of the trousseau of Rajasthani brides.
Where to Buy: Kishanpole bazar, Bapu Bazar, Johri Bazar are good places to shop for bandhani printed outfits and fabrics.
Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’, Udaipur is a popular tourist attraction in Rajasthan, India. If you are heading from Udaipur (the city of lakes) to Jodhpur (the Blue City) or vice versa there are many points worth visiting en route! Here’s an itinerary to explore places around Udaipur: 7 Awesome places near Udaipur for tourists that not many tell you about!
Block print textile
Bagru and Sanganer area of Jaipur is the hub of the art of block printing. In the process of block printing, wooden blocks with different designs engraved on them are dipped in dye and impressed upon the cloth to make a design or interlinking pattern.
Earlier only natural colors and pigments were used for dying and printing but now synthetic colors are also being used as they are cheaper. You can find block printing on outfits, bed-sheets, duvets, cushion covers, fabrics, etc.
Where to Buy: Bapu Bazar offers a good variety at reasonable prices. Anokhi at Prithviraj Marg offers an upscale collection of block printed clothing and accessories.
Jaipur quilts
Jaipur quilts are most famous for being lightweight and durable without making any compromise on warmth. Unlike the usual Indian quilts, these are far from boring and are available in fancy bright colors, patterns, block print, patchwork, etc.
The traditional techniques of cotton-carding, cotton voile making and quilting are used in the process of making Jaipur quilts.
These are quite convenient to carry as they are lightweight. Price for single-bed quilt starts around INR 600 which is not heavy on the pocket either. Thus making it a must buy a thing from Jaipur.
Where to Buy: You can buy these quilts at Badi Chaupar market, Anokhi and Ridhi Sidhi textiles Amer Road.
Mojris
The markets of Jaipur are full of colorful, embroidered Mojris (traditional footwear).
These are traditional footwear that is used by both men and women. They are very comfortable and affordable.
A very interesting thing about Mojris is that they can be worn in either foot interchangeably. There is no right or left foot for these.
These are still very popular among the young and old people and are mostly worn with traditional outfits. Earlier these used to be made up of leather only. Now fabric and synthetic material are also used for making them.
Threadwork, mirror work, zari work, applique, beads, and patchwork is used to add color and variety to Mojris.
Where to Buy: You can find the right pair of Mojris for you in Bapu Bazar, MI Road, and Gaurav Tower. The price for the Mojris start at around 200 rupees.
Udaipur is famous as the city of lakes and Venice of the east. Many people visit it for its old world charm, romanticism, history, art and culture. Read more to know why Udaipur deserves a place on your travel bucket list.
Handmade bags/ purse
The best thing about these bags is that they go as well with western outfits as with traditional ones.
If you want, you can find a different one for each of your outfits. Such is the variety available here.
There are big shopping bags, shoulder bags, small purses, and wallets. Beautiful embroidery, applique work, Gota-Patti, sequins, patchwork, mirror work adorns these pieces.
Price of these start as low as INR 200 each. These can serve as good souvenirs or return gifts.
Where to Buy: Bapu Bazar and Nehru Bazar are filled with handmade bags and purses made up of leather and fabric.
Blue pottery
The art of blue pottery reached Jaipur from Kashmir which was first used by Mongol artisans.
Blue glaze is used in pottery made up of Multani Mitti or Fuller’s earth.
It got its name from the blue dye that gives it the bright blue color. It was extensively used by Mughals and Kashmiri potters to make pottery items and tiles.
Under the royal patronage, this art traveled and flourished in northern Indian and Rajasthan.
Besides the usual plates, jars, tiles, etc, cups, pen-stands, jewelry items, tea-light holders, candle stands, bathroom accessories are also being made in blue pottery.
Experiments are also being made with colors like yellow, green, etc in addition to the regular blue shades. Depending upon the size of the item, price of a piece of blue pottery may range from a few hundred to thousands of rupees.
Where to Buy: Kripal Kumbh in Kanti Nagar, Neerja on Jacob Road and Jaipur Blue Pottery Art Centre on Amer Road offer a large variety of stuff that you can choose from.
Mehrangarh means ‘Fort of the sun’. The fort is perched on a rocky cliff called ‘Bhakur-chiria’ which means ‘mountain of birds’. The construction of the fort was started by Rao Jodha in the mid-fifteenth century. Read more about Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur.
Paintings
Rajasthani or Rajput paintings is an art that flourished in the royal courts of Rajasthan.
These paintings depict different themes like scenes and characters from Ramayana, Mahabharata, folk-lore, mythological tales, Hindu deities, etc.
These paintings have been adorning the walls of many palaces and Havelis. The art is still alive in many parts of Rajasthan.
You can find beautiful paintings waiting to be sold that can add to the beauty of your homes. If these seem too big for you to carry back home with you, you can have a look at the miniature paintings. Though smaller in magnitude, these require as much hard work and precision as others.
Where to Buy: Art Bank on M.I Road deals in traditional art based paintings and artifacts.
Train travel in India can be confusing and intimidating. In this detailed 3401 words guide, you will find the answer to frequently asked questions about booking train tickets and the class of compartments. Click here to read “Everything You Need to Know about Traveling India By Train”.
Puppets
Rajasthani puppets or Kathputli is a very old native art.
‘Kath’ means wood and ‘Putli’ means doll.
Tribes of Rajasthan have been involved in making puppets and performing this art since ages that have become a part of the Rajasthani culture. ‘Kathputili Natak’ or Puppet shows used to be an important medium to convey a social message or folk tales to the masses.
These puppets are handcrafted using cloth, wood, clay, etc. These are painted for creating facial features and dressed in colorful traditional attires. These puppets form a part of the decor of many Rajasthani homes.
You can also bring the charm of traditionally decorated home to your place with these puppets.
Where to Buy: Make a trip to Aravali Bazar and Sireh Deori Bazar to find a few puppets to add to your home decor or to gift someone. They would just cost a few hundred rupees.
A whiff of royalty, folk dance, breathtaking sand dunes, and most importantly a bright yellow sun makes Rajasthan in India a sort after winter Destination. So cozy up in a blanket, sip hot chocolate and read on: Awesome tourist places to visit in Rajasthan, India.
Wall hangings
The list of items that you can buy in Jaipur to adorn the walls of your home is endless. This includes paintings made on fabric pieces, large pieces of fabric with embroidery, applique, patchwork, mirror work, wall-hangings made up of tassels, strings with beads, metalwork and terracotta art.
Peacocks, elephants, camels, flowers, bells, mirrors, etc make a part of these wall hangings.
Where to Buy: Price for these start at a few hundred and can be bought in Bapu Bazar. It is a must-buy-souvenir to keep you reminding of your Jaipur trip even when home.
Stone carvings
Jaipur is one of the important centers for stone carving in India.
Artisans create images of deities and other decorative items in marble. Jaipur’s Jali or latticework in white marble is very famous.
You can find a wide variety of white marble products like figurines, candle stands, miniatures of famous structures, vases, jewelry box, etc.
Where to Buy: The area of Khazanchion ki Gali in Jaipur is lined with shops and workshops of marble sculptors. The marble used for this art is mined from quarries situated around Jaipur. The whole process comprises drawing, hammering, chiseling, the finer engraving, and painting.
Frequently asked questions
In Jaipur, you can shop for a huge variety of fabrics, sarees, jewelry, gemstones, lac bangles, rugs, pottery items, mojri, leather goods and more.
Jaipur is quite a safe place for tourists and even for solo travelers as it is a very popular tourist destination frequented by tourists from all over the world. One should avoid staying out alone late at night and have emergency numbers with you all the time. If you are a foreigner, you may often find yourself hassled by the vendors but most of the time just a stern look and ‘no’ would do if not interested.
If Rajasthan is your choice for an international vacation getaway, then you couldn’t have picked a better destination. This ‘royal state’ is a beautiful representation of India’s rich architectural heritage, cultural diversity, and hospitality. For more on Visa, click here.
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