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 vast country has so much to offer, 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 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, 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

You cannot visit the land of spices without taking some back home with you. An integral part of Indian cuisine, each region in India produces and uses different spices, all equally flavorful.

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 you can buy 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 like chicken tikka masala or butter chicken masala from any grocery store or supermarket.

Indian spices

Tea

India is one of the largest producers of tea in the world. Different varieties of tea can be found in the country based on the region, such as Assam Tea, Darjeeling Tea, Nilgiri Tea, and Kangra Tea, grown in those respective regions. Assam, Darjeeling, Munnar, Ooty, and Coonoor are the main regions producing tea in India.

If you are a tea lover, you can taste different varieties of tea, such as green tea, masala chai, and kahwa, a Kashmiri specialty. Experience the tea gardens in Assam, Darjeeling, or West Bengal, and 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. Coorg in India is a major exporter of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. The coffee from Coorg is aromatic and mild. 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.

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 scarf or shawl is a popular product of Kashmir, made from wool that comes from cashmere goats in the high altitude region of Changthang in eastern Ladakh. 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 and renowned all over the world. 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 India, the gorgeous saree has found love everywhere in the world. Every part of India has its own unique type of saree.

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

Clothes

Apart from sarees, there are many Indian clothes you can look at, such as kurtas, lehengas, salwar suits, and more. 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.

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.

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. 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. Showcasing the true tradition of India, these make 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 painting styles that are popular all over the world.

Madhubani paintings from Bihar use natural 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. 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, this art was introduced in India by the Mughals. 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.

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.

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. Ayurvedic products are made from natural 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 serums, soaps, cleansers, massage products, and even cosmetics.

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 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 soaps 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 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.
• 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.

We hope this guide has made it easier for you to choose what to buy 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.