Shops, Jaipur

This shop sells every type of fabric you can think of by the yard. It also has ready made duvets, bedspreads, wall-hangings, soft furnishings and clothes. The merchandise is spread over 2 floors.

You can take any style of outfit to the shop, choose which fabric you would like and have it made up in the shop and get it delivered to your hotel the next day.

Fantastic display and choice. You can haggle.

What to buy: I was specifically looking for a wall-hanging in the Zardozi tradition, and luckily they had one. Mine was 1075 x 2000 meters and has 130 embroidered panels. I will treasure it for ever.

What to pay: Haggle with the price, its expected

What to buy: For very light quilts, the type you would like to cover yourself with when the air-conditioner or the fan is going on at full blast, try the .5 or 1 kg Jaipur quilt. You may like the pure cotton covers rather than their silken variety. The preferred brand is ‘SML’ and the one shop is No. 52-53, Chaura Rasta.

Try out Shop # 172-A in Bapu Bazar for their wide variety of churidar-kurta suits and dress material. Besides other ladies’ garments, they also keep plenty of linen material, like bedsheets, bedcovers and pillow covers. The best part is their competitive prices as well as their excellent cotton material.

What to buy: Wide variety of churidar-kurta suits, dress material and linen

We went to Jaipur and stayed at Krishna Palace.The registered taxi driver of Krishna Palace drove us to this place when we wished to shop.At the entrance,they tried to impress the visitors with their block printing workshop.They asked what we wanted to buy and then sent us to the corresponding counter.The sales man was somewhat arrogant and unfriendly and opened a number of items even if we did not asked him to.I bought three suits and then he started showing sarees.I did not like any of them and he was forcing us to buy.Then he started talking with the other guy in their local language probably abusing us which was clear from his gestures.Also driven by guilt that I have wasted his time as he had opened a number of bundles,I bought 2 sarees one of which was of 4500 and other of 6500.Also we bought a kurta payjama for Rs. 2500.Next day we went to the local shop and saw a similar suit which I had bought from this shop for 2500.Just for curiosity I asked the price and they said Rs.700.I saw that the stuff was similar but just tried to convince myself that what I bought form 'Neelkanth' was good.Then I found an exact kurta payjama which I bought from Neelkanth for Rs.2500,just for 500 in the local market.I was about to break into tears.Later I discovered that they charged atleast 2,3 for all the items I bought from there.I felt very bad for our hard earned money and never recommend them for anybody.Always buy from govt. emporium (if not good in bargaining) or local shops (if having good knowledge of textile stuff and good in bargaining)

You may buy in Bapu Bazar, Jaipur. One of the shops I could recommend is Harish Cloth Store, 56 Bapu Bazar, Jaipur 302003, Mr. Harish Salwani is the propeietor Tel: +91-141-2570645; Cell: 9828130645 (Salwar Suit clothes)

Do not waste time in searching shops for buying sarees at Jaipur

I visited Jaipur in Oct 2011 and purchased several sarees at the following shops. You can expect only 10% discount in these shops

(1) Rana’s, 1, Ganpati Plaza, M.I.Road, Jaipur, Ph: +91-141-4010100, 4010200, E-mail :ranasarees@hotmail.com

(2) Jaipur Saree Kendra, 53, Ganpati Plaza, M.I. Road, jaipur, +91 141 2388662

(3) Jain Saree Centre, 90, Bapu Bazar

What to pay: Rs.1500-Rs.3500 per saree

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This is a street market on the edge of the old city. It sells everything from shoes (I bought hand embroidered flip flops for under £2) saris, materials, clothes, food, bedlinen and tablecloths. It was extremely colourful and great to wander

What to buy: Anything whatever takes your eye but you need to barter

What to pay: Locals were buying alongside you and they picked up the seller when he tried to overcharge us

I liked Anokhi and bought two skirts and two white blouses here, but it would not have been difficult to find many more things to purchase. In the shop you can find high quality textiles, many of the clothes and fabrics are block printed, a speciality for Anokhi. It is not cheap, but the prices are lower than at home.
The clothes are produced outside Jaipur, in the fabric on an organic farm.

Anokhi is open between 9.30 - 20.00 on Monday - Saturday, and between 11.00 - 19.00 on Sundays.

Next to the shop there is an Anokhi café.

In Amber there is an Anokhi Museum about block printing.

And there are Anokhi shops in several other Indian cities than Jaipur.

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Jaipur's bazaars are full of intriguing arts, crafts and other items to buy. Prices are typically far lower than New Delhi and Bombay, which tend to sell Jaipur-made arts and crafts for multiples of the price. So save your shopping for Jaipur when travelling through India. A wide range of interesting items are available, including marionettes, pashminas, colourful umbrellas, pottery, spices, flowers, fabrics, etc. Attached are photos containing examples of such items.

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When I first enter the shop, it did not feel like the shop. Actually it was a art school, it is run by a family headed by the father Mr. Jugal Kishore. Who have won several Award of excellence from the government. When his son Mr. Vijay was giving the demonstration I was very amazed to see that he can right a full name of a small grain of rice. They have a very nice collection of paintings on silk, paper, marble and wood. A must watch for everyone who is going to Jaipur.
I am very amazed to see that someone can do such a beautiful art.

What to buy: You can buy from some most common paintings to some of the most exclusive painting. They have a very nice collection of some of the collection pieces.

What to pay: Depending upon the art work

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A lot of shoppers visit India in a quandry. They're more than interested in jewelry, gold, silver, gems and such.... but they're also aware that not all shops and merchants are scrupulous and honest. I'm the first one to tell you that the fears are not without merit - you really need to find a reputable shop for more substantial purchases. ESPECIALLY, if you wish to have something shipped home, you have to have a merchant with a reputation beyond reproach.

In Jaipur, Antiquariat is such an outfit. They have excellent quality gems, jeweltry, paintings, and even some antique items. Lots of local crafts, carving and such as well. And, these are all well-made and designed items, you're getting the real deal. If you get a stone that's supposed to be a ruby of such and such a weight, it will be an honest sale.

The staff is quite helpful, and of course - they do want to make sales. It's what they do, after all. But, I didn't find them to be overbearing or annoying.... they're just, shall we say, "ready to help". :)

If shopping for jewelry, gems, gold, silver, etc. is on your agenda in Jaipur, ask to be taken to Antiquariat, and plan on spending a couple of hours. This is a huge, multi-storied, shop and there is much to see and consider.

What to buy: All of the above... but for me, I especially liked the small, historic icon paintings and such. So very delicate and moving. Not cheap, of course.... but a good value.

As for the jewelry, gems and gold/silver, there was a huge selection. Looked to be excellent quality and the prices were fair. Again, not giveaway, but fair.

This is a store where you could literally spend anywhere from 500 Rs (about $10) to well over 500,000 Rs ($10,000). It just depends on what you're buying. And again, you can trust the merchant... if you're having it shipped home, it will be properly packed, shipped and insured. These folks have been in business in Jaipur since 1975, and have an outstanding reputation.

What to pay: A fair price. Not a giveway price, but a fair price for fine quality.