Last Updated on March 11, 2023 by admin
Wondering where to shop in Jaipur or What to buy in Jaipur? If shopping in Jaipur is on your mind, then I have the most ideal compilation for Must buy easy to pack souvenirs from Jaipur.
Jaipur is a shopaholic’s paradise. But shopping in Jaipur can be overwhelming if you do not know what to shop.
However, shopping is one of the popular things to do in Jaipur. This post has Jaipur shopping suggestions for first-time visitors to Jaipur. It is best to carry an extra bag, otherwise, you will certainly regret running out of space for shopping in Jaipur.
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Shopping in Jaipur guide
While other states in India have very specific craftwork or fabric dominant to the region, that is not the case in the vibrant state of Rajasthan. It could be a really difficult decision to finalize what to buy in Jaipur from the many hundreds of prints, fabrics, craftwork, jewellery and edible souvenirs! There is no specific Jaipur city market but small bazaars all over the city which are dedicated as the leather market in Jaipur, the jewellery market in Jaipur, the handicraft market in Jaipur and so on.
Jewellery shopping in Jaipur
I could probably write an entire blog on jewellery from Jaipur because there are just that many types available here. There are entire markets in Jaipur selling silver jewellery, precious stones, gems and semi-precious stones. Johari Bazaar translated as Jewellery Marker is one of the best places to buy jewellery souvenirs in Jaipur. Other bazaars include Haldion ka Rasta, Gopalji ka Rasta, M.I. Road, Maniharon Ka Rasta, Tripolia Bazar and Surajpol Bazaar. The plethora of options will leave you spellbound and keep you confused. Here are types of jewellery in Jaipur.
Silver Jewellery
Silver Jewellery is one of the most intimate and elegant types of jewellery which is popular in Jaipur. It is one of the oldest categories of precious metalwork and has many shops and markets dedicated to this piece of metal.
Kundan Jewellery
Kundan is uncut stone jewellery that has been in fashion since royal times. Kundan work consists of large uncut polished gemstones set in metal with a gold leaf around them. Generally found in the colours of green and red, these royal sets make for a bold look on any woman. White and gold look good on most skin tones and can make anyone feel royal.
These are found in precious, semi-precious and even simple stones which gives a wide range for all people to buy this.
Thewa Jewellery
Reigning back to the Mughal age, Thewa involves a unique making process wherein intricately worked-on sheet gold is embossed in the molten glass. Events from the Rajasthani tradition are also depicted.
Meenakari Jewellery
Meenakari work is a very famous Rajasthani traditional jewellery type. The Meenakari is a type of enamel work on metal traditionally done in red and green colour. These are then crafted to form earrings or pendants in the jewellery set. Meenakari jewellery designs are extremely lightweight but very attractive which makes it a must-buy souvenir from Jaipur.
While it is not limited to only jewellery, Meenakari work is done on showpieces, gift articles and Indian god idols. Look for reversible jewellery on the streets of Jaipur which feature Kundan work on one side and Meenakari on the other. This gives the best of both worlds and is priced at INR 750 onwards.
Jaipur Blue pottery
If you love eye-striking artefacts and the colour blue, Jaipur Blue Pottery is something to take back home. The blue pottery which does not use clay comes from the strikingly attractive blue dye that is used to colour the pottery. The pottery is painted with designs inspired by nature – animal/bird motifs and geometric patterns which makes it extremely attractive and pleasing.
The handcrafted art is said to have originated in Middle East Asia, and travelled to India in the 17th century. Jaipur’s collection and designs in the artwork of blue pottery are highly recommended and thus are one of the must buy things in Jaipur. Jaipur Blue Pottery products range from tiles, vases, coasters and beads to kitchen cutlery, stationery items and home decoration items which are the perfect souvenirs from Jaipur. The pottery tiles are sometimes added to Sabai Grass Handicrafts to give them a new look.
Jaipuri Rajai (Quilts)
Shopping in Jaipur is incomplete without carrying a Jaipuri Rajai and it can easily pass off as one of the best souvenirs of Jaipur. I live in Ahmedabad and do not face harsh winters but whatever few days of winter I experience are looked forward to only and only because of sleeping under the soft, lightweight Jaipur Rajai. Yes, seriously! I have been sleeping in my Jaipuri Rajai for over 15 years now which is later neatly folded and tucked away!
So Jaipuri Rajai or Quilts from Jaipur is one of the popular things to buy in Jaipur and my personal favourite. They have traditional block prints or Sanganeri prints on them and come in various colours. It may take up a bit of volume in your luggage but you will not regret buying them. The best part of this is, in case you don’t want to lug around these for your rest of the trip, the shopkeepers can courier them to any part of the world!
Carpets
If you love carpets, Jaipur has its share of the carpets market. Jaipur is famous for its hand-knotted carpets which are available in wool and silk. They are so famous that Jaipur Rugs are one of the biggest exported handmade products from India.
Cotton dress materials
The entire state breathes in cotton because it is impossible to wear any other fabric in over 45 degrees of summer. Cotton dress materials are extremely comfortable as they are made of breathable cotton fabric. A dress material consists of 3 fabrics in a set. The set can then be custom stitched as kurta, pants and dupatta. The must-buy cotton dress from Jaipur is Kota Doriya and Sanganeri print.
Also Read : Shopping Places in Delhi
Kota Doriya
Although manufactured in a city called Kota, Kota Doriya is the name of a lightweight fabric in which the threads are finely interweaved to make khat-like patterns. These tiny woven squares are handwoven on traditional pit looms.
Sanganeri print
Sanganeri is a hand-block printing technique originating from a small village near Jaipur called Sanganer. Sanganer has more than 150 printing units employing over 20,000 workers.
Sanganer block prints are primarily done on an off-white or pure white background with the use of wooden blocks. There is a dedicated museum to know about this craft at Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. Delicate yet intricate patterns and lines with vibrant coloured designs are the defining factors for this kind of printing technique. The borders of the fabric also showcase a variety of different floral patterns in stylish designs. Some common flower prints used in Sanganer block printing are roses, lotuses, sunflowers, lilies, marigolds, rosettes and lotus buds.
Also Read: Chendamangalam Handlooms, Kerala
Leheriya sarees
Lehariya sarees are one of the best things to buy in Jaipur. Leheriya can be translated as ‘Waves’. It is very much Rajasthani style wherein the fabric has a pattern of waves in two colours – one is a base colour and the other makes the diagonal lines on it giving an impression of waves. The brightly coloured Leheriya sarees are extremely tempting to buy as they are reasonably priced and can be styled in different ways to look amazing.
If sarees are not your cup of tea, dupattas or stoles are also available in Leheriya print designs which look amazing on western outfits. Visitors can get a variety of these souvenirs from Jaipur at Jauhari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar.
Lac Bangles
Bangles are an integral part of Rajasthani traditional outfit. In many cases, married women wear bangles on day to day basis as well. Lac Bangles are Jaipur’s traditional style of bangle making. While there are plain yet simple designed lac bangles, some bangles have detailed kundan work which enhanced the beauty of these bangles.
If you love bangles and love collecting different types from various parts of India, I suggest you buy these for yourself or as souvenirs from Jaipur. If you want to match them to your outfit, be sure to take it to get the exact match. They are easily available in Tripolia Bazaar.
Rajasthani Mojris
Shopping in Jaipur is incomplete without buying the colourful Mojris or Jootis. Rajasthani Mojris are the popular handcrafted footwear made by artisans using tanned leather or textiles which are embellished with shells, mirrors, and beads and come with multi-coloured designs. They look super vibrant with traditional Indian wear and must-haves in your footwear compartment.
Nehru Bazaar is the best market to shop for Rajasthani Mojris as there are ample options from many shops.
Handcrafted bags
Handcrafted bags from Jaipur is another must-have souvenirs from Jaipur. These bags are made in textile or leather and have colourful embroidery as well as embellishments. Each clutch, purse and bag is unique and a statement piece in itself. The different designs and styles in which these handbags are available, give the buyers a good amount of options to choose from. The embroidery on the bags certainly reminded me of Crafts of Kutch.
It is the perfect accessory to complement your look.
Puppets
Puppets are popular in Rajasthan due to the ancient form of theatre – Puppetry. Rajasthan, Orissa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are some of the regions where puppetry flourished in the yesteryears. The traditional marionettes of Rajasthan are known as Kathputli and there are special Kathputli shows in Jaipur as a form of entertainment for tourists.
Puppets are a beautiful addition to your showcase or room or can be tied to the curtain for unique vibes. You cannot avoid sellers trying to sell you puppets in Jaipur or anywhere in Rajasthan because it is the most bought, easily available and cheap souvenir from Jaipur. These colourful puppets can be one of the lovely gift items from Jaipur.
Good quality puppets with ample design options are best found in Sireh Deori Bazaar. The starting range for a pair of puppets is as low as INR 100.
Block print and Hand Embroidered bed-sheets
Hand embroidered bedsheets and block print bedsheets are also one of the best things to buy in Jaipur. The number of designs in a variety of colours will baffle you and leave you in a spell. The Block prints from Sanganer and Bagru are famous for their exquisite patterns.
As the bed sheets are also available at an affordable price range and can be a perfect and useful addition to your home linens.
Sustainable tips for Shopping in Jaipur
- Avoid buying leather bags and artefacts. Try to buy textile-based local products.
- Carry a bag while shopping and avoid plastic bags.
- Encourage shopkeepers to pack fragile items in a newspaper instead of bubble wrap.
Read more articles on Rajasthan here
Instagram worthy places to visit in Jaipur
I hope this guide on Shopping in Jaipur is helpful to pick the perfect souvenirs from Jaipur.
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7 comments
Omg so many amazing souvenirs. I absolutely loved my time in Jaipur when I visited in 2013!
I love all of these special items and all of the colors! Thanks for this helpful guide 🙂
Lovely ideas. I remember when I had visited Jaipur, I was crazy looking at so many colorful beautiful things and bought most of the things mentioned on your list. Visiting the Bada bazaar was a fun experience.
Lovely post! Those quilts and hand-knotted carpets really stand out to me. Absolutely beautiful!
I’m loving all of the colourful patterns on everything! Thanks for sharing what to buy as a souvenir here!
I wish I had this guide to what souvenirs to buy when I was in Jaipur. I was travelling with a 40l backpack and didn’t have much space. But I have my tips for my next trip.
Exhaustive list!