Rajasthan the Shopper's Paradise.

Talking about Travel and shopping - I must now write about my latest experience in Rajasthan. Most people not very unlike me know that Rajasthan is the hub for a shopping maniac, with so many varieties of things on the offer who in the right mind would like to miss it ?

Well let me start with giving you some advice, some you may already know, some you would say "thought so" and some would be the "Whaaaaaat ?" response ... yes Rajasthan is so full of surprises.

First things first - For shopping please go in the off season, but Rajasthan off season means high temperatures, dusty roads and heat waves. That to me is such a no no - shopping would never happen in that weather. So I decided to go in the peak season, with cool and and ultra cool climatic conditions very conducive to shopping and such. December sees a heavy influx of tourists, photographers, travel mania all over in Rajasthan with people pouring down from across the country and abroad .

A smart way to start your shopping would be to start talking to a localite, may be even invite him over for a Lassi [ a cool beverage made of sweet yogurt] and then discuss the best places for shopping . And that is exactly what we did. I realized early on that buying things near the Museum or fort is not only way too expensive but also stupid, they will not let you bargain much as they know well that there are many other bakras who will buy it at their exorbitant rates. 

So lets start with Jodhpur. if you have lived in Bangalore you will know what I am talking about if I say that the "Old City" region in Jodhpur is exactly like Chickpet in Bangalore, a crazy shopping area full of goods, at decent to dirt cheap rates. There are so many shops and things you might feel dizzy. So have some focus, what is it that you MUST HAVE?

I would suggest start with Mojaris - Its like the saying ( which I totally made up)              " Rajasthan Gaye aur Mojaris nahin Kharida tho Kya kharida?" [ You went to Rajasthan and did not buy Mojaris?]

Mojaris Bought in Jodhpur

Mojaris are an absolute must have, there are a good range of them available. Make sure you buy the ones with soft padding inside as the others hurt your feet after walking just a bit. Mojaris are the traditional foot wear in Rajasthan and Punjab. These still carry the old methods of hand embroidery only lacking the ancient ways of using real silver and gold threads. They will cost anywhere between 150 INR to 500 INR.

Then the next focus must be the next obvious choice Bandhani. Bandhani is a beautiful style of cloth dyeing where pieces of cotton and silk cloth is tied and died to make lovely patterns. The entire process is manual and makes each and every piece different and unique from the other.

 

There are many stores and many varieties, make sure you bargain a LOT, a dupatta will cost you anywhere between 50 to 250 INR and Cloth to make a Kameez will range from 150 INR to 800 INr or more depending on material and work.  

The next on MY must have list is the Meenakari  jewelry - You could also read this for further info http://www.aiacaonline.org/pdf/meenakari-extended-documentation.pdf . These Meenakari jewelry pieces are available all over Rajasthan, mainly Jaipur and Udaipur. They range anywhere from a 30 INR a earring to 15,000 INR set. All depending on the intricate detailing and materials used. See many shops and tally and buy.

Apart from these main must haves,  you have a plentiful collection of cotton embroidered bags, shawls, leather goods, handmade paper books, diaries, souvenirs and many such trinkets.  

So over all view - Main places to shop are Jaipur gallis, Jodhpur old city area and some places in Udaipur.

Parinitha Konanur