Souvenir Shopping in India: What Should You Buy?

When you think about souvenir shopping in India, there is always the persistent confusion of what you should buy. This diverse country with its vast culture has so much to offer that you cannot resist shopping, and it is not feasible to take everything back home with you.

To make it easier for you, we have tried our best to make a comprehensive guide about the best souvenirs and what you should buy while shopping in India.

Indian Jewelry

Indian jewelry ranges from necklaces, bracelets, and rings to anklets, nose rings, and bangles, to name a few. The traditional Indian jewelry comes in many types based on the region, and most Indian women wear some sort of jewelry daily.

You will be able to buy Indian jewelry in most parts of the country in the local markets, and each region will have its distinct style of jewelry. It is often uniquely designed with intricate patterns, gemstones, and carvings.

You can get some excellent silver jewelry in Jaipur, like nose rings, bracelets, and bangles. Jharkhand is famous for its tribal jewelry, lesser known and quite inexpensive.

If you are buying gold or silver jewelry, make sure it is hallmarked. There is a good chance that it is fake gold or silver. If the price seems too low, it is probably too good to be true.

Indian jewelry

Food items

Very few countries in the world have a taste palette as diverse as India. With different cuisines, tastes, and food in every region of this country, you will be spoilt for choice over the food choices.

Spices

Spices are one of the most popular Indian souvenirs. You cannot leave India, the land of spices, without taking some back home with you. An integral part of Indian local cuisine and Indian lifestyle, each region in India produces and uses different spices, all equally flavorful. Spices are the most important part of Indian cooking.

The Indian spice trade dates back to ancient times, when traders from all over the world traveled to India for spices. With their flavors and exotic aromas, spices found high demand in Europe especially during the medieval period. They were used not just for cooking, but also in perfumes and medicines. Muslim traders were some of the leading and oldest spice merchants towards the end of the 15th century.

You can buy spices from anywhere across the country. Khari Baoli in Delhi is Asia’s largest spice market. You can visit spice merchants in Cochin in Kerala to learn more about Indian spices.

Turmeric, pepper, cloves, cardamom, star anise, and cumin are some spices grown and available in India. Make sure you check the quality of spices before buying.

If you aren’t sure how you would use the spices back home, you can also buy ready-made masalas which are made with these spices and can be added directly to your food to add the distinct flavor. Get some ready-made masalas or spice mixtures like garam masala, chicken tikka masala or butter chicken masala from any grocery store or supermarket.

Indian spices

Tea

You might have heard of Indian tea – India is one of the largest producers of tea in the world. Tea found in different countries has different tastes, and there are many varieties of Indian tea, such as Assam Tea, Darjeeling Tea, Nilgiri Tea, and Kangra Tea, grown in those respective tea growing regions. Indian tea plantation grows mainly in the regions of Assam, Darjeeling, Munnar, Ooty, and Coonoor.

Tea lovers can try out different varieties of tea, such as green tea, masala chai, flavored teas, and kahwa, a Kashmiri specialty. Experience the tea gardens in Assam, Darjeeling, or West Bengal, where you can drink tea made with freshly plucked tea leaves. The Darjeeling tea has a delicate muscatel flavor. Be sure to take some tea leaves back with you! Always buy tea leaves or packed tea instead of tea bags, since the quality of tea bags is subpar.

Tea

Coffee

India is home to many coffee plantations. The South Indian city of Coorg in Karnataka is a major exporter of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. The coffee from Coorg is aromatic and mild, with rich flavors. The world’s most expensive coffee, civet coffee, is also produced in this region. If you love coffee, this is surely something you need to try and take back home with you.

Coffee

Dry Fruits

Goa, along with its beaches, is known for its cashew nuts. The freshness and superior quality of these cashews set them apart from others. You can also buy cashews from the coastal regions of Karnataka.

Walnuts are found abundantly in India and last for a very long time. Not just that, they have many health benefits as well. Kashmir is especially well-known for walnuts, so if you are in the region, this is a good souvenir to buy.

Indian Sweets

Indian sweets are rich and delicious, making for the perfect souvenir to take back home. Usually made in ghee, these unique delicacies are sometimes so soft that they melt in your mouth! Every region you visit will have its own special and unique range of desserts, so make sure you try something everywhere and if you like it, don’t forget to get some for yourself or your friends back home. Try sweets like kaju katli, petha, laddoos, and gulab jamuns when in India. Don’t forget to check the shelf life of these sweets before buying.

Saffron

Saffron has been used in India for thousands of years, and Kashmir is the main producer of this spice. While expensive, saffron is a very versatile spice, rich in flavors and color. It is also beneficial for health and a part of many beauty products as well. Saffron is one of the best Indian souvenirs to take home.

Instant foods

You will find a huge variety when it comes to Indian snacks. There are many instant snacks, which you can simply pop in your mouth, such as different types of sev, khakra, gathiya, banana chips, jackfruit chips, and more, also known as namkeens. You will find the best namkeens in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

There are also a range of snacks which you have to fry and serve. Papads, potato chips, tapioca pearl chips, and fryums can be found in local grocery stores. They have a high shelf life and you can simply fry them in oil when you feel like having a snack.

Namkeen

Clothing and textiles

Pashmina shawls and scarves

The Pashmina shawls or scarves are a popular product of Kashmir, made from wool that comes from cashmere goats in the high altitude region of Changthang in eastern Ladakh. Pashmina literally means “soft gold” in the local language. A lot of workmanship goes into making the Pashmina, and they are expensive. These shawls and scarves are light, soft, and warm. You may find replicas that are a blend of materials or completely fake, so make sure you check the quality of the cloth before buying.

Textiles

Every region of India has different textiles, all equally beautiful, renowned all over the world, and made of the finest quality. Rajasthan has a range of textiles, like batik, bandhej, leheriya, hand-block printing, indigo dyeing, and Bagru patterns. The Kutch region in Gujarat has colorful textiles with intricate glasswork. Kashmir Silk, or cashmere silk, is made from the fleece of sheep and hair of goats raised in Kashmir, and is one of the best in the world. This light and thin fabric provides a lot of warmth. Khadi, a fabric handwoven by people in rural India, is very versatile – from clothes to bags and curtains, it has many uses.

Sarees

The authentic ethnic wear of an Indian woman, the gorgeous saree has found love everywhere in the world. Every part of India has its own unique type of this great Indian attire, with unique Indian patterns on them.

The Banarasi silk saree, made with gold and silver brocade, from Varanasi, the vibrant Kanjeevaram sarees from Tamil Nadu, Assamese fine silk sarees, and Paithani silk sarees from Maharashtra are considered luxury clothing items and are quite expensive.

Clothes

Apart from sarees, there are many traditional clothes of India you can look at, such as kurtas, lehengas, salwar suits, and more, along with western wear. While clothing styles vary according to the region and geography, they are all vibrant and beautiful. You will surely find something that suits your taste. Colaba Causeway in Mumbai, Linking Road and Hill Road in Bandra West, and Sarojini Nagar market in Delhi are some of the best places to shop for clothes at a low rate.

Kutch Embroidery

Originated in Kutch in the 16th century, Kutch embroidery has bright stitches with silk or woollen threads on cotton or silk fabrics, along with tiny mirrors and beads. Kutch embroidery items include clothes, purses, pillow covers, and wall hangings, all handmade with opulent embroidery. These products are a great example of authentic Indian souvenirs.

Carpets and Rugs

Kashmiri carpets are known worldwide for their rich quality and intricate designs. These carpets are made in small batches by skilled artisans and it reflects in the final product.

Another popular place for carpet weaving is Jaipur. In India, carpets are made not just from silk and wool, but also from cotton, jute, grass, bamboo, and coir!

Handloom carpets are sold in a number of shops across India. If you feel that carpets would be too heavy to carry back, you can opt for thin, foldable mats, which are easy to carry.

Indian Footwear

India has a wide variety of footwear in different parts of the country. Since India is a major producer of leather, the footwear in India is not very expensive. While you get a diverse range of sandals, shoes, and slippers all across India, there are some local footwear you can try, such as Kolhapuri chappals in Maharashtra, Juttis (slippers made from camel leather) from Rajasthan, padukas (ancient sandals), and Mojaris from Punjab.

Make sure you try out some local footwear if you are in the region!

Arts and Handicrafts

India has many kinds of arts and crafts that have been practiced since centuries, , such as miniature paintings, tribal art, terracotta pottery, etc. Showcasing the true tradition of India, local handicraft makes for some beautiful souvenirs to take back home with you!

Paintings

Different regions in India are popular for different types of art. When it comes to paintings too, there are many different regional painting styles that are popular all over the world. Various Hindu themes, beautiful village landscapes, royal scenes from history, royal rulers, local culture, and daily life are depicted in most of the paintings.

Madhubani paintings from Bihar use natural dyes and pigments to showcase ancient folklores and rituals. Warli paintings from Maharashtra depict the social life of the Adivasi tribal community near Mumbai. Tanjore paintings from Tamil Nadu are made using gold foil and sometimes even gemstones and pearls!

Rajasthani miniature paintings depict historical royal scenes in vibrant colors, perfect for art collectors. You will find shops with painters recreating old miniature paintings in many major cities of Rajasthan.

Some other traditional artwork includes Kalamkari paintings from Andhra Pradesh, Kalighat paintings from West Bengal, Thangka from Sikkim, and Pattachitra from Orissa.

Pottery

Unglazed brownish earthenware, known as terracotta, is quite famous in India. Bishnupur in West Bengal has terracotta temples with figurines and sculptures made of terracotta. The tribes of Chhattisgarh are known for terracotta pottery items, which are great as souvenirs to take back home.

Another kind of pottery is Blue Pottery, distinctive to Jaipur in Rajasthan. Tracing back to Persian, Mongol and Chinese origins, blue pottery was introduced in India by the Mughals. The dough for the pottery is made by mixing quartz stone powder, extremely fine powdered glass, multani mitti, borax, gum, and water. Blue dye is used to color the pottery.

Khavda pottery from Gujarat, Longpi pottery from Manipur, and Black Clay pottery from Uttar Pradesh are also popular. You might find street stalls on highways selling pottery items such as pots, cups, and oil lamps.

Toys

Kondapalli toys from Andhra Pradesh and Channapatna toys from a tiny village in Karnataka are the perfect souvenir to take back home. These toys are more than just playthings – they are a part of a local Indian culture going back a long way. Puppets are also famous in India, and it is not a children’s toy – the art of puppeteering goes back a long way, and you can even catch a show of the same in Rajasthan.

Metal Handicrafts

There are many brass, copper, and bronze artifacts you can get in India, especially in South India. Statues of Hindu deities, oil lamps, intricately carved figures can be a good souvenir to take back from India.

Marble ware

You can enhance your home aesthetics by adding some beautiful marble ware in the house. Agra, known for the Taj Mahal, made entirely of marble, is well-known for marble products.

Pietra Dura is a marble with inlay work of semi-precious stones in floral patterns. You will find products like marble tabletops and wine glasses made with this work.

Intricately carved marble products such as statues of deities, elephants, are also great souvenirs to take home. Marble ware will be expensive, based on the size of the products you buy. You can find a huge collection of marble ware in India.

Bamboo handicrafts

The northeastern states of Assam and Meghalaya offer a variety of bamboo artifacts like baskets, boxes, and other decorative items made by skilled local artisans.

Ayurvedic Products

The homeland of Ayurveda, India has many ayurvedic clinics and services almost everywhere in the country. It is a form of ancient therapy, Ayurvedic products are made from natural herbs and ingredients like aloe vera, ginger, turmeric, basil, sandalwood, coconut oil, and more.

There are many Ayurvedic products sold locally which you can take back home, such as cosmetic and medicinal serums, soaps, cleansers, and massage oils. Some big brands also work with local forest communities and small-scale farmers to ensure the best quality of products.

Leather goods

India is the fourth-largest producer of leather in the world, so you can find plenty of leather goods in this country at a reasonable price. Leather journals, bags, wallets, and footwear are some leather products you can get in India. You will also find handcrafted camel leather bags in many markets of Rajasthan and northern India.

Incense and Essential Oils

Incense sticks are a part of the daily spiritual rituals and prayers in India, and can be found in almost any local market across the country. You will be spoilt for choice with the variety of fragrances, so make sure you buy some as a souvenir or for personal use.

Attar is a type of natural, concentrated perfume with an intense fragrance, extracted from various flowers, herbs, spices, and barks, used extensively in India.

Some essential oils produced in India majorly are mint oil, peppermint oil, sweet basil oil, lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil, and rose oil.

Sandalwood

After African Blackwood, sandalwood is the most expensive wood in the world. This fragrant wood has many medicinal and healing properties. Once used only by royals, this precious wood is used to make furniture, carved handicrafts, bracelets, perfumes, and more. In cosmetics, sandalwood is used in talcum powder and soaps. Mysore has been making sandalwood soap since 1916. Kerala has some gorgeous sandalwood carvings that you can take home as souvenirs.

Buddhist Items

Buddhism is an important religion in India, prominent in the northern states. Many Buddhist items that have religious or spiritual sentiments are a nice souvenir to take home with you. The singing bowl is a type of bell that comes with a mallet. When played, these bowls produce vibrations and a deep sound. The Tibetan Bowls are used for meditation and stress relief.

Prayer beads and prayer wheels, that you can often find in Buddhist monasteries, can also be taken home. Buddha statues are popular souvenirs. You can also buy the popular, vibrant prayer flags that you will see in many regions in the North.

You can buy these items in the northern parts of India like Ladakh and Dharamshala, Darjeeling, and around Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Tips while shopping in India

• Do your research about the regional specialities. It is best to buy authentic products from the local bazaars of their place of origin. You are usually assured of the quality, you get better variety and a better price.
• Learn how to bargain. Most street stores will expect you to haggle for a better price, unless they have a board specifically stating otherwise.
• Look around before buying the first thing you see, as many shops sell similar items at different rates.
• Crawford Market in Mumbai in Western India is a shopper’s paradise. It has almost everything under the sun available, although all the products may not be authentic. Still, if you are confused about what to take home with you and are near Mumbai, you should definitely check out Crawford Market – you will surely find something you like!
• If you are visiting the village or artist where the local products are made, then always make sure to buy directly from them and bargain less for the product. The original artisans of the craft usually get a very small margin of profit from their art.
• If you are buying an expensive product, get it from a well-known shop.
• You can ask your driver for suggestions. Usually, they get a commission from certain shops, but you can always check other shops as well if you do not like their suggestions.

So, these are some of the best souvenirs you can buy in India. We hope this guide has made it easier for you to buy souvenirs on your next trip to India! Contact us to plan a customized trip to India based on your requirements. We will be happy to assist you every step of the way on your trip.

FAQs

What are the best souvenirs to buy in India?
Assam tea, Madhubani paintings, Bollywood posters, Pashmina shawls, and Kashmiri carpets are the best souvenirs to buy while on a trip to the Indian subcontinent.

What are the most famous textiles to buy while souvenir hunting?
Pashmina shawls and cashmere silk fabrics from Kashmir, block-printed fabrics with eye-catching geometric patterns from Rajasthan, bandhani fabrics from Gujarat, and paithani sarees with distinct color combination from Maharashtra are some famous textiles you should get from India.

Where can you learn more about the spice trade in India?
Cochin in Kerala is home to some of the oldest spice merchants in India. you can learn about the rich flavors of spices and their natural healing properties. You can also try some spice mixtures like tea blends and fruit blends.