• What to buy: Budithi brassware
Budithi Village, in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, is where the art of Budithi brassware originated. Famous for making beautiful metal handicrafts from alloys, in both traditional and modern styles, Budithi Village in increasingly gaining popularity for creating wonderful brassware.
Where to find:
– Kalanjali Arts & Crafts, Nampally, Hyderabad.
– Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium, Gun Foundry, Hyderabad & Minerva Complex, S.D.Road, Secunderabad.
• What to buy: Handcrafted wood and bamboo products
With more than half the total surface area of Arunachal Pradesh covered with thick forests, and bamboo being a major constituent of the forest vegetation, the state is the best place to shop for handcrafted wood and bamboo products. You can buy baskets, hats, wooden ornaments, cane photo-frames and carved bamboo mugs.
Where to find:
– Handicrafts centre, main town, Tawang
– Ganga Market, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
• What to buy: Assam tea
They say you haven't truly woken up if you haven't sipped Assam tea! The tea produced in Assam is renowned world over for its strong, brisk, malty flavours, making it an ideal souvenir to cherish for a long time.
Where to find:
– Amalgamated Plantations, Guwahati - Shillong Rd, Ananda Nagar, Christian Basti, Guwahati.
– Baruanagar Tea Estates, E.T.B. House, 191 G.N.B. Road, Chandmari, Guwahati.
•What to buy: Madhubani painting (also known as Mithila painting)
Painted with fingers, brushes, twigs and nib-pens, the art of Madhubani painting is practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar. Madhubani art has five different styles, namely Bharni, Katchni, Tantrik, Godna and Kohbar.
Where to find:
– Khetan market, Birla Mandir Road, Bakarganj, Patna
– Patna market, near Gandhi Maidan, Ashok Rajpath, Patna
• What to buy: Terracotta pottery and sculptures
Terracotta pottery in the state of Chhattisgarh reflects the rituals and customs of tribal life and symbolises human emotions such as happiness, anger, sadness etc. Votive terracotta figures found in the Bastar districts Chhattisgarh are very popular!
Where to find:
– Bastar Tribal Art, Balaji Bhawan Cinema Line, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh
– Sahaj Impex, Mig-1303, C.g. Housing Board, Kurud (Jamul), Bhilai, Dist- Durg, Chhattisgarh
• What to buy: Coconut art
From funky coconut shells, coir bottles, artistic beer mugs, storage pouches and ashtrays, you can easily choose your favourite form of coconut art from the streets of Goa and take it home with you.
Where to find:
– Anjuna's Wednesday Flea Market
– Calangute Market Square
• What to buy: Glasswork door hanging
In the glass work art form, glass pellets are used to embellish items such as pillows, bedcovers and a range of accessories. If you are not a fan of door hangings, you can choose from the other available options such as bags or a jewellery box as your souvenir from Gujarat.
Where to find:
– Law Garden Market, Netaji Road, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad
– Sindhi Market, Revdi Bazar, Kalupur, Ahmedabad
• What to buy: Wooden handicrafts
Haryana is known for wooden crafts with fine carvings and brass inlay work done by skilled craftsman using quality raw material. You can pick from a range of animal figurines, candle holders, jewellery boxes, photo frames, etc.
Where to find:
– MohanJodero, B-120, Super Mart 1, DLF Phase IV, Gurugram
– Mora Taara, 101, Galaxy Hotel, Sector 15, Part 2. Near 32nd Milestone, Gurugram
• What to buy: Kullu topi
Kullu topi is a part of the traditional costume of various ethnic groups of Himachal Pradesh. Nearly every dweller in the Kullu Valley is involved in the craft of making these caps and has refined the skill of handloom weaving to safeguard the ancestral customs and traditions.
Where to find:
– Mall Road, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
–Khadi Gramodyog Emporium, Akhara Bazaar, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
• What to buy: Carpets and pashmina shawls
Pashmina shawls and Kashmiri carpets are the most relevant souvenirs you should collect from the state of Jammu and Kashmiri. The wool of Pashmina comes from four distinct breeds of the Cashmere goat; namely the Changthangi or Kashmir Pashmina goat from the Changthang plateau in Kashmir region, the Malra from Kargil area in Kashmir region, the Chegu from Himachal Pradesh in northern India and Pakistan, and Chyangara or Nepalese Pashmina goat from Nepal. Showpieces made of papier mache are also quite a rage among tourists from all over the world.
Where to find:
– Raghunath Bazaar, Hari Market and Vir Marg in Jammu.
– Lal Chowk and Residency Road in Srinagar, Kashmir.
• What to buy: Brass idols
Jharkhand is very famous for its brass metal work. Brass metal was first liquified and moulded into different figures of gods and goddesses in the state.
Where to find:
– Pustak Path, located near Upper Bazaar, Ranchi
• What to buy: Mysore Silk
The state of Karnataka produces about 9,000 metric tons of mulberry silk, out of the total 14,000 metric tons produced in the country! Among the countless styles of silk sarees, ‘Mysore Silk’ from Karnataka is known for its minimalist design, unique weave, and smooth texture.
Where to find:
– Mysore Silk Udyog, 2nd Floor, Kalidasa Road, Vani Vilas Mohalla, Mysuru
– Mysore Saree Udyog, 33/3, Jumma Masjid Road Avenue Road, Bengaluru
• What to buy: Kathakali mask
One of the most popular traditional dance forms of India, Kathakali is intricately linked with the history and traditions of Kerala. Apart from the dance, Kathakali is also recognised for its unique make-up, costumes and masks.
Where to find:
– Chalai Bazaar, Chalai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
– Sarwaa, SRL A 47, Sankar Road, Sasthamangalam Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
• What to buy: Dhurrie
Dhurrie is a heavy floor rug that is made of thick cotton in India. Dhurries from Madhya Pradesh are popularly known for their sturdy nature and vibrant colours.
– Chowk Bazaar, Ibrahimpura, Peer Gate Area, Bhopal
– Panchwati Market, DRM Rd, Sector 3 Shakti Nagar, Saket Nagar, Habib Ganj, Bhopal,
• What to buy: Kolhapuri chappals
Known for their traditional flat design, Kolhapuri chappals are the best souvenirs to collect from the state of Maharashtra. They are available for both women and men and come in a variety of styles and colours.
Where to find:
– State emporiums, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai
– Shetkari Bazar, Kolhapur, Maharashtra
•What to buy: Mekhla-Chader
Mekhla-Chader is traditional outfit for Manipuri women, which can be your best pick from this state.
Where to find:
– Khwairamband Bazaar, Thangal Bazar, Imphal, Manipur
– Khumbong Market, Silchar Rd, Khumbong, Manipur
• What to buy: Cane mats
Cane mats known as Tlieng are a popular item to pick up from Meghalaya. They are highly appreciated for their durability.
Where to find:
– Lewduh, also known as Bara Bazar, Shillong, Meghalaya
• What to buy: Puan fabric
‘Puan’ is the name given to the fabrics weaved and manufactured by the Mizo Kukis of the new Kuki tribes of Manipur. They are categorised into multiple designs such as Puanndum, Tawlhloh Puan, and Puanchei.
Where to find:
– Bara Bazaar, Aizawl, Mizoram
• What to buy: Naga shawls
Next to its widely-loved pork, Nagaland is also known for its exquisite range of woollen shawls.
Where to find:
– Mao Market, Kohima, Nagaland
– Jasokie Market, G.S.Road, Marwari Patti, Dimapur, Nagaland
•What to buy: Pattachitra painting
The history of Pattachitra art can be traced back from the 5th Century BC. It is a traditional, cloth-based scroll painting done in the state of Odisha and its historical importance is one of the reasons that makes Pattachitra painting one of the most sought after souvenirs from Odisha.
Where to find:
– Shahid Nagar Market, Bhubaneswar
– Bapuji Nagar Market, Bhubaneswar
• What to buy: Phulkari dupatta
A part of Punjab's culture and tradition, phulkari literally means “flower-embroidery”. The embroidery is simple, crafted on vibrant, eye-catching colours, which makes the pattern stand out and look surreal. Suits, shawls, dupatta, jackets and sarees with intricate phulkari design can be the best souvenir to take back from the land of five rivers.
Where to find:
– Rainak Bazaar, Jalandhar
– Shastri Market, Sector 22, Chandigarh
•What to buy: Meenakari jewellery
A delicate art involving the decorating of metal with enamelling or meenakari, this kind of jewellery is beautiful and comes in exquisite designs.
Where to find:
– Johari Bazar Road, Ramganj Bazar, Jaipur
– Bapu Bazar, Jaipur
• What to buy: Thangka
Thangka, also spelt spelt as tangka, thanka or tanka, is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton or silk fabric, which usually depicts a Buddhist deity, scene or mandala.
Where to find:
– Kanchanjunga Shopping Complex (Old Lal Bazar), MG Marg, Vishal Gaon, Gangtok, Sikkim
• What to buy: Tanjore paintings
Characterised by a dense composition, surface richness and vibrant colours, Tanjore Paintings are one of the most celebrated forms of art in south India.
Where to find:
– Parry’s Corner, Meenambal Salai, Kannadasan Nagar, Kodungaiyur, Chennai
– T Nagar, Ranganathan Street, Chennai, India
• What to buy: Pearls
The newest state in India is famous for its pearls and your trip to Telengana will remain incomplete without bringing home the best quality of Hyderabadi pearls.
Where to find:
– Punjagutta Cross Road, Road no.2, Banjara Hills
– Shangrila Plaza, Opp. KBR Park, Hyderabad
• What to buy: Bamboo sculpture
Bamboo handicrafts of Tripura are renowned world over for their elegance, beauty and exquisite designs. You can pick from a vast range of items such as showpieces, furniture, panels, lamp shades, table mats and other mat products!
Where to find:
– Usha Market, Hari Ganga Basak Rd, Battala, Agartala
– Bamutia Market, Bamutia, Tripura
• What to buy: Taj Mahal
The best gift to buy from Uttar Pradesh is undoubtedly a miniature replica of the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most recognised tourist attractions in India.
Where to find:
– Kinari Bazaar, near Jama Masjid, Agra
– Sadar Bazaar, Near Agra Cantt Railway station, Agra
• What to buy: Nath
While the nose ring is an accessory most Indian women love, the Kumouni or Garhwali nath gets considerable attention from all around the work for its sheer size. This gorgeous mammoth size nose ring has minimal work done on it and is the best souvenir you can pick from the land of gods.
Where to find:
– Paltan Bazaar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
– Mall Road, Nainital, Uttarakhand
• What to buy: Lal paar saree
The laal paar saree is a simple white saree with a red border. You will find most married women wearing the laal paar saree during Durga Puja or any other festival in Bengal.
Where to find:
– New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata
– Gariahat Market, 212 Rash Behari Avenue, Gariahat Crossing, Kolkata
Did you know the top contributors on Tripoto for the month of March are going to win trips to Sri Lanka & Bhutan? Read about it here.