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The richness of India's traditional handcrafts is known across the world. The traditions are still alive, not in some purely commercialized and tourist-oriented recreation of lost skills, but in the living traditions handed on through families that have practiced them for generations. The variety and the often outstandingly high quality of the work is still astonishing. Each region has its own specialties.
Fabrics |
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Textiles, especially cottons and silks, range from the simplest of handmade garments to stunningly beautiful and ornate saris. Silk brocades from Varanasi and Kanchipuram, Patna, Murshidabad and Surat, are sought after all over India. Rajasthan specializes in brightly coloured tie and dye cottons, while Kashmir specializes in woolens, especially the finest of goats' wool Pashmina.
Carpets
Kashmir has long had links with Persian carpet makers. Pure wool, woven wool and silk are superbly made in N India. Tibetan rugs are also widely available, many made by Tibetan refugees living in India.
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Wood carving and metalworkSandalwood and rose wood from the south, and walnut in Kashmir, are the raw materials for some beautiful carving and marquetry. Metalwork, especially brass in the North, bidri ware in Andhra, and bronzes in the south, are also famous. Here are some of the selected destinations often visited by the tourists for the shopping purpose. The Bazaars Of Old Delhi |
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The
exploration of Delhi's markets could begin at Chandni Chowk.
There are fascinating lively accounts of this bazaar as it was
during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the shops
here are more than 100 years old, and the lanes are full of
surprises. Leading off Chandni Chowk is "Dariba Kalan", the street of incomparable pearl, Khari Baoli, the spice market and Kinari Bazaar for trimmings and tinsel. In some of these bazaars the items for sale are manufactured at site, which lends a special charm to the shopping experience. |
| Well integrated into the culture of the old city, these bazaars offer the visitor a glimpse of life in Old Delhi. There are some antique stores behind Jama Masjid, where the Meena Bazaar used to be once. These offer items ranging from jewellery to paintings and furniture and cater almost entirely to tourists. | |
The Contemporary Supermarkets
Moving further South are the upmarket shopping centres of South Delhi - South Extension, Greater Kailash I and II, Green Park and Hauz Khas Village. These markets offer a combination of ethnic chic and designer labels, Indian and international. One of the more visible results of the liberalisation of the Indian economy is the burgeoning on international designer-wear outlets has set very interesting trends as a market of the city. Wherein, a few years ago, an association called "Dastakar" - established in the tradition of providing village crafts through an organised marketing system-set up a showroom in the village. It didn't take long for entrepreneurs to capitalize on the distinctly rural setting. Now the village has a plethora of boutiques, galleries and restaurants, which co-exist with buffaloes, cowpats and men smoking 'hookahs' on 'charpaiyees'. Far from being a deterrent, the "rural" ambience is a positive attraction. Other villages like Mehrauli, Khirki and Lado Serai are fast following suit.
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Seeing
the popularity of crafts held periodically in the capital, Delhi
tourism has set up a permanent outlet for craftsperson's at Dilli
Haat, where space and the availability of Indian cuisine's make
the visit to the market a very pleasant experience. A more up market outlet for Indian handicrafts and antiques is the bazaar near the Qutub Minar Foreign tourists frequently visit this place, which is an en route to the nearby complex of monuments. |
| The Santushti Shopping Arcade opposite the Ashoka Hotel has become another popular upmarket haunt. Developed by the air force wives association, it has a selected number of boutiques where apparel, furnishings and accessories are available. A restaurant and patisserie add to the quiet charm of the place, which is a pleasure to work with. | |
Shopping in Rajasthan
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JEWELLERY:Since long back Rajasthan has been famous for its artistic designed jewellery with a variety of precious and semi precious stones such as emerald, garnet, agate, amethyst, topaz and lapiz lazuli which look unique and elegant. |
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Jaipur is internationally renowned for its exquisite Kundan (the
art of setting precious stones in gold) and meena (enamel)
jewellery, meenakari is also done in Nathdwara near Udaipur. Lac
and glass bangles are a special attraction of Rajasthan and are
made in a variety of colours and designs in Jaipur and Jodhpur.
Silver is commonly worn by rural women and one can pick up old Tribal
Silver Jewellery as well.
THE PRINTING:The village craftsman cuts small blocks by hand from hard teak wood, one block for each colour in a design. The printer then dips the wooden block into a custom-mixed tray of fresh dye bath which is placed on top of a small table on casters and moves down the length of the cloth stamping with skilful precision.To print a bedspread of 90"x108" the printers have to stamp approximately 1400 times with different blocks of as many as five or six colors, to cover the entire surface of the fabric. |
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| Print colors are freshly mixed each day by the color master in charge of each print workshop.Printers maintain a complete record of the recopies of various colors. Colour masters often have to amend the recopies to compensate for changes in weather and alterations in the dye lots.The colors may have mineral,vegetable and/or non-toxic chemical origins. Following the production of the printed textiles, garments are stitched on simple treadle sewing machines then buttons and beads are added. All production lots are small.There are no mechanical processes at any stage | |
LEATHER WARE:
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Barmer and Jaisalmer are traditionally known for their footwear. Incredibly comfortable and sturdy, the jootis have artistically embroided uppers. Leather is also used for making musical instruments especially percussion instruments (such as the tabla and dhol) and the stringed instruments (like kamaycha) used by Rajasthani folk musicians. Bikaner is known for its painted lampshades, shields and vases made from camel hide. Designer hand-bags, purses, belts, hats, stools and collapsible chairs with graphic embroideries from Tilonia village near Ajmer also make a good purchase.
CARPETS AND DURRIES:
Rajasthan is famous for its traditional cotton durries and woollen carpets specially made in Bikaner and Jaipur. The durries are cool light rugs, generally found in pastel shades with geometrical motifs which can even liven up the dullest of all floors. The carpets though are a bulky item to carry home are beautifully designed that are generally based on Persian and Caucasian styles.
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Agra is one of the most important centres for handicrafts, made of marble and softstone. The Mughals were great patrons of arts and crafts. Empress Nur Jahan took personal interest and was an accomplished artist herself in zari embroidery work.Agra's major handicraft products besides inlay work are : leatherware, brassware, carpets, jewellery and embroidery work. |
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| Agra is also well known for its sweets 'petha' and 'Gajak' and saltish snack 'Dalmoth.' The main shopping areas of the city are Sadar Bazar, Kinari Bazar, Munro Road, Raja-Ki-Mandi, Sanjay Place and Near Taj Mahal Complex. | |