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Bangalore - India's Software Capital and Land of Silk |
Bangalore's sophisticated shopping malls cater to its expatriate and
local residents. Since silk, handloom fabrics, garments, gold and
silver jewellery and incense are produced here, it is cheaper
compared to other cities. Bangalore is a great place to shop with
major shopping areas close to each other. Bangalore has also become
the nation's first city to open Super Markets / Super Bazaars. They
are all over the city. Also there are interesting shopping zones in
the various popular residential zones of the city.
The Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation's Priyadarshini
Handloom House is located at various places. Here one can find fine
Mysore silk and sandalwood items. Inlay work in brass and rosewood,
ivory artefacts and the Lambani jewellery make good decorative as
well as gift items.
Bridge Road
This is a popular shopping place and hangout for young people.
It has many clubs, Rex (the best movie theatre in town), cyber cafes
(offering coffee and Internet access), a bowling alley, a
discotheque, a video game parlour and numerous restaurants. Down
Brigade Street, the other major shopping avenue, is the more
expensive cantonment area.
Commercial Street -
Available here are clothes, dress materials, jewellery and food
from foreign designer wear outlets like Levis, Pierre Cardin to the
casual wear teenager trendy stores like Wearhouse and Weekender and
formal menswear like Allen Solly, Louis Phillipe and Van Heusen,
this is the place for serious shopping.
Mahatma Gandhi Road (M.G. Road) -
A commercial area, there are a large number of sari stores, like
'Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation' (off M. G. Road), 'Deepam
Silks' and 'Prasiddhi'. There are also two established book stores,
'Gangaram' and 'Higgin Botham'.
Residency Road (now renamed Field Marshal C. M. Cariappa Road) -
Numerous state emporia are located here each selling their state
specific handicrafts. The prices are fixed. Check out the Majestic
Area, close to the city railway terminus. Though clogged with
traffic, this neighbourhood is popular with local residents.
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Jodhpur - Land of Colour |
Located on the edge of the great Indian Thar desert, Jodhpur is
especially known for designer furniture and metal work products that
are geared to Western tastes. The central market, or Ghasmandi
Bazaar, is popular with visitors. But the really good shopping is
found outside the city walls and along the main roads of the new
city.
The handicraft emporiums in Jodhpur stock textiles, silver,
jewellery, instruments, pottery, boxes, carved ducks, metalwork,
marble figures, paintings, copper, brass, antique reproductions,
ivory, bed covers, wall hangings, puppets, clothes, old doors and
lots of furniture. Try the Rajasthan Art Emporium for a good
overview and Rajasthan Arts and Crafts House and Sun City Art
Exporters. Some of the best selections in furniture can be found in
shops and warehouses along Umaid Bhawan Palace Road and High Court
Road.
Jodhpur's famous Bandhani and Ldhariya (tie and dye textiles) as
well as block screens and prints are excellent buys in Kapra Bazaar.
Carpets can be found in several shops along High Court Road. Camel
shoes are available in Mochi Bazaar and along Station Road.
Great designs in silver can be bought in Sarafa Bazaar and in shops
along Station Road.
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Varanasi - Shopping Exotica |
Varanasi is home to India's famous musical instrument, the sitar and
also its most internationally famous musician, Ravi Shankar. It
follows then, that the sitar is one of its most prized shopping
treasures. Local craftsmen such as Radhey Shyam Sharma string the
instrument to your choice.
››Some other shopping highlights: -
The city, formerly called Banaras, is known for its beautiful silk
brocades and Banaras saris, many of which are works of art. The
Government Weaving Centre offers extensive choices.
Thatheri Bazaar is well stocked with ornamental brass work. Varanasi
is known for its expensive Bhadohi silk carpets. Check out the
Cottage Industries Exposition. Many small stalls in the bazaars and
lanes, such as Vishwanath Lane, sell personal and religious items to
the pilgrims. Drinking cups, lingas, chalk makeup, Vishnu figures,
clothes, and sashes are interesting to see and perhaps buy. |
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Agra - City of Marbles |
Agra has its share of interesting shopping. Marble - Agra is all about
the Taj and white inlaid marble. There is a wide variety of marble
items, inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones, such as table
tops, coasters, plates, boxes, and elephants. Subhash Emporium,
Oswal Emporium and Akbar International are some of the recommended
shops. Jewellery - While Jaipur is reputed to be the centre for
jewellery, don't overlook Agra. Agra Jewellery shops are famous for
their attractive Mughal designs.
Arts and Crafts - Shops in Agra are packed with a wide range of arts
and crafts. Agra is especially noted for its carpets, durries.
leather footwear, embroidery, stone-inlay work, textiles, sandalwood
and bed covers. Most of these items are available in the Uttar
Pradesh Handicraft Palace and Uttar Pradesh Handicraft Development
Centre. |
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Shopping in Ahmedabad |
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Meander through dozens of boutiques and gift shops on C.G. Road.
During the day take your time browsing through the range of Patola
silks, ethnic fabrics, silver jewellery, furniture and handicrafts.
Visit the Law Garden (an evening market) for ethnic and traditional
clothes and white metal jewellery. Be there by 5 p.m. to have an
early start. The Teen Darwajain the old city is a great place for
antique shopping if you have the time and inclination for bargaining
and don't mind the heat and dust of the crowded old city. For
handicrafts shopping, there is Gurjari, the state emporium. |
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Delhi - Abrakadabra |
Delhi is a melting pot of many peoples and cultures. Some of India's
best shopping is found in Delhi, a relatively easy place to shop as
long as you know what to buy and where to go. Visitors find a wide
choice of items such as carpets, silks, jewellery, leather and
silver ware, handicrafts and hand printed cottons. Each item is
available in a range of prices, depending on the quality and the
outlet. Each of its markets has a distinctive ambience adding a
special flavour to the experience of shopping.
In the old city is Chandni Chowk close to the largest mosque in
Asia, the Jama Masjid. Many of the shops here are over a hundred
years old and the mesh of lanes and by lanes are full of treasures
to be found. Among the bylanes are Dariba, the silver market, Khari
Baoli, the spice market and Kinan Bazar for trimmings and tinsel.
Connaught Place, New Delhi's original shopping arcade was planned as
part of the Imperial capital in 1911. One can find up-market
products here from designer stores to Chinese shoemakers.
On Baba Kharak Smgh Marg, are Government State Emporia that offer a
glimpse of handicrafts of each state. As does the Central Cottage
Industries Emporium on Janpath. Across the road are a string of
Tibetan shops selling accessories. Sundernagar Market, across The
Oberoi, is the place to shop for antiques and silver jewellery. The
stores keep a choice selection, especially of silver jewellery from
Ladakh, semi-precious stones, copper and silver object d'art. Not
far from Sundernagar is the Crafts Museum Shop, attached to the
museum in Pragati Maidan.
In south Delhi are the up-market shopping centres, South Extension,
Greater Kailash I and II, Green Park and New Friends Colony. Hauz
Khas Village and Shahpur Jat are traditional villages turned into
shopping bazaars. The village has a plethora of boutiques, galleries
and restaurants in a "rural" ambience. Other villages like Mehrauli,
Khirkee and Lado Sarai have similar markets. A crafts bazaar set up
by Delhi Tourism is Dilli Haat. Here one can buy crafts from
craftspersons. The Santushti Shopping Arcade opposite Ashok Hotel
has become another popular haunt. Developed by the Air Force Wives
Association, it has a select number of boutiques where apparel,
furnishings and accessories are available.
The DLF Ansal Plaza shopping plaza near South Extension is Delhi's
largest covered shopping mall. A popular haunt for the young people,
it has lots of designer and music stores. For export surplus
garments including t-shirts, skirts, shirts, jackets and swim wear,
Sarojini Nagar market in South Delhi, is the ideal place - where
bargaining is the norm. Delhi is the ideal place if you are looking
for sports wear. Reebok gear is available at factory prices at
Lajpat Nagar. Adidas and Nike too have factory outlets near Radisson
hotel. Levis, Arrow, Alen Solly, Laco'ste showrooms are found all
over the city. |
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Kolkatta - Shopping Delights |
The real pleasure of shopping here is on the road side shops which
have good quality products. However, the big names and showrooms
provide the customer with the latest fashion wear and dress
material. Kolkata's markets are full of items which can be taken
home as decorative pieces or gift items. The 'Tant' saris are the
speciality of West Bengal as are the famed Baluchari silks.
Tantuja is the retail outlet for the West Bengal State Handloom
Weavers Co-operative Society, which offers a variety of handwoven
classics. Kolkata has good leather wear and shoes and is also known
for its Jewellery. The China Town is famous for the Chinese
(imported) goods and Chinese food. At the crowded New Market, one
can pick up a variety of interesting items from saris to jewellery.
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