Udaipur is celebrated for the amazing handicrafts that have made Rajasthan unique. Something is enchanting and unique to offer to everyone. Rajasthan’s best-selling items range from precious stones jewelry, bright colorful textiles, meenakari items, gemstone paintings, oxidized silver & copper items, Pichwai & miniature paintings, sculptures, panels, paintings, and other items in marble stone. As you saunter through the market of Udaipur you will find many articles, textiles, and handicrafts that interest might not only you but can be quite useful too. The markets in this city cover a variety of items like silverware, jewelry, textile, clothing, handicrafts, wooden toys, paintings, and a lot more items.
Here are a variety of handicrafts in store for the tourists such as handmade papers, toys, cloth lanterns, wall hangings, and puppets. Udaipur is also famous for pottery and you will find a variety of items like vessels, plates, pots and other containers. Pichwai paintings, batik prints, tie and dye, bandhani sarees are some other items that will interest you. These paintings are exclusive to Mewar culture and make for a perfect souvenir. Rajasthan is extremely famous for textiles and handicrafts. The marble and terracotta sculptures, tie and dye, bandhani, mirror work are some of the highlights of the region and are available at the fair. Camel leatherwork, embroideries, handwoven clothing items are some other items that you can look forward to.
The ‘City of Lakes’ is a delight for shopping enthusiasts coming over from around the world. The local markets here have an alluring atmosphere and as soon as you enter a market, there’s absolutely nothing you would not want to buy. Udaipur is full of boutiques, shopping malls, and almost everything is available at a stone’s throw but the real charm lies in its dazzling local markets with beguiling handicraft items, ethnic jewelry, and authentic leather products. With a little bargaining acumen, and proper knowledge you could tick off every item from your shopping list and that too without burning a hole in your pocket. You cannot just deny the fact that shopping in these markets is a lot more fun and lighter on the pocket than actually paying retail for similar items in big shopping malls and designer shops.
‘Shopping’, the word enlightens everyone’s mood, that makes us welcome new members to our respective homes, and that must be practiced in delight or vain. Udaipur is extremely rich in its royal heritage artifacts including textiles, sculptures and much more, also the sellers are hospitable and friendly that makes it a smooth shopping experience. Here you will know about the list of special and famous things to buy in Udaipur. This article is dedicated to all the shopping lovers, the ones that crave shopping whenever they gaze new stuff. But apart from its glorifying past, Udaipur has another point-of-attraction for hordes of tourists who grace this city every year and i.e. the enticing shopping items. But before hitting this city, you need to do a little bit of research about the famous shopping items that are intrinsic parts of Udaipur. While passing through the markets of Udaipur, you would trace many articles that can make part of your wardrobe and lifestyle too. These markets present an assortment of items covering handicrafts, pottery, jewelry, wooden toys, antique items, and paintings. Udaipur is particularly famous for its miniature paintings inspired by the style of Rajputs & Mughals.
Ethnic Sarees
In Udaipur’s local market you can easily find silk/georgette sarees in silver/golden work and several color options. There are also sarees with delicate handwork available on various stores that might interest you. Tang it with a crop top or ethnic blouse and flaunt the Rajasthani sarees in events.
Price: starting from Rs500 depending upon the creation of the fabric and work. (Machine-made sarees will be cheaper than the hand-made sarees.)
Jackets
Try to sizzle up your style quotient by adding traditionally crafted Jackets to your attire! Cut sleeves, full sleeves, and half sleeves variants are available and embroidered or silk/cotton jackets can be chosen as per taste. You can also buy a matching pair of trousers to team it up with the jacket or can stick with denim for an indo-western look.
Price: depending upon the embroidery and fabric.
Diaries
Ones, who love to maintain journals or keep small handy diaries for writing their hearts out, should buy a diary with varicolored options and with rose petals merged in the pages emitting a floral scent. Options of leather coverings in diaries can also be found in the market.
Price: Rs100 to Rs800 depending upon there sizes.
Pagdis (Turbans)
The Rajasthani Pagdis is a symbol of ‘Pride’ that is usually worn by locals in family functions or weddings. Take a Pagdi home as a souvenir from Udaipur as per your interest, several color options along with various decorated work can be chosen from.
Price: May vary from Rs200 to Rs1000 as per the quality and work.
Paintings and Sculptures
Paintings and Sculptures are one of the best things to buy in Udaipur. Enliven your house’s interior with an antique touch by decorating paintings and statues of Lord Krishna or other Hindu Gods/Goddess or ancient royal families. You can also gift small bronze statues that are renowned to your loved ones.
Price: The cost will depend upon the antiqueness and size of these classic pieces.
Cushion Covers
There are various options in cushion covers available in the Udaipur’s market including mirror-work, silk, embroidered, hand-loomed, etc. that will surely enhance your respective couch. These cushions can also be used as show-pieces and showcased in any rack.
Price: Starting from Rs200, the prices increase with the size and quality of the product.
Authentic Jewellery
Looking for ravishing jewelry pieces with indo-western touch? You’ll find them all in Udaipur’s market. Bangles, Earrings, Neck-pieces, Rings, Anklets, and other accessories are available in abundance in the local market. Also, there are variants in silver, gold, and bronze that can be chosen from.
Price: The price range is starting from Rs100 and will vary from jewelry to jewelry and the metal it is made of.
Wall Hangings
It’s an interior decorating element that can be added to your homes to acquire a royal look. These pieces are available in various sizes, embroideries, and fabrics. The wall hangings in the picture below may be expensive because of their size and work.
Price: Starting from Rs1000 (the wall hangings in the picture below will cost more).
Mojadis (Footwear)
Take a pair of Mojadi from Udaipur and flaunt it with your Indian or western outfit. These mojadis surely give a royal and ethnic look and also are extremely comfortable to walk in. Mojadis for men, women, and kids in leather and other textures are available in several color options in the market easily.
Price: Rs150 to Rs800
Wall Clocks
The pieces with a tinge of royalty interest you? If yes, then you’ll be joyous to see these exquisite clocks available in the market. These can serve as an ideal gift that can be presented on various occasions to friends and family or can be decorated on one of your house’s walls that will remind you of the beauty of Udaipur.
Price: Rs1000 to Rs1500 depending upon their size and quality.
Traditional Rajasthani Attires
A trip to Rajasthan remains incomplete without buying a pair of traditional attire that you can embrace as a souvenir from Rajasthan. The market is full of these attires and these are available in various color options and work. On various stores, you’ll be able to find dupattas, ghagras, blouses, kurtas, sherwanis and other dresses in silver and golden work that may be expensive but are worth buying. If you’re planning to get married anytime soon, wear one of these Rajasthani attire in a wedding function, we assure you you’ll be loaded with tons of compliments.
Price: Depend upon the fabric and embroidery on the attire.
Bags
Handbags, Slings, Wallets, Clutches, Backpacks, Travel Bags and Potlis can be easily found in any store near City Palace. These bags are generally categorized in leather and textile. Replace your Prada, Gucci and Baggit bags with these handcrafted ethnic bags.
Price: Rs100 to Rs1000 depending upon their size and quality.
Shawls and Stoles
Pashmina, Silk, Pure Yak wool, Silk-Cotton you name it and you’ll find it in the Udaipur’s local market. The colorful stoles can be the best summer partner and the warm shawls shall help in fighting the winter breeze well. Numerous designs with reversible shawls are also available; you just need to dig in the stocks present in various stores.
Price: Stoles will be comparatively cheaper than shawls and will be available at Rs150 easily, on the other hand, the shawl prices are starting from Rs300 and increase depending upon the fabric and quality.
Borders
If you love experimenting with your apparel, you must purchase these borders that can be added to your trousers, tops, shirts, skirts, sarees, lehengas, suits, sherwanis and also can be treated as a designer belt around your waist. These vibrant borders are available in silk, mirror-work and embroidery options.
Price: the silk/cotton borders will start from Rs150 and the embroidered and mirror-work borders will be comparatively costly.
Boxes
These antique boxes are a retreat for the people who love to store their valuable belongings in separate boxes. These boxes can be bought in metal and stones including marble/granite. All sizes are available in the local market.
Price: Rs600 to Rs1200
Handicrafts from Chetak Circle
In places like Haathi Pol, Bada Bazaar, Chetak Circle of Udaipur, you can buy beautifully carved wooden toys, finely made clothes lantern, hand-made papers and recycled greetings cards, wall-hangings and the distinguished hanging puppets or kaath putlis that became synonymous with Rajasthan. There are two types of shops in Udaipur where you can buy the handicrafts from – If exploring the local markets and bargaining with the vendors in a new place kick you, they do hit the road. On the other hand, even just the thought of you negotiating and arguing over prices with hard-core sellers seems too much of a work, and then there are few shopping emporiums set by Rajasthan Government for the sake of buyers who wish to purchase items with fixed price-tags.
Jewelry from Palace Road
For Polki, Kundan and Meenakari jewelry design of Rajasthan Udaipur is the place where you can collect them at your heart’s content and after lots of bargaining. From Polki jhumkas to Kundan naulakha necklace or meenakari maang tikka- whichever jewelry item you lay your hands upon, will stun you with its perfect finishing touches, hand-picked stones, and flawless aesthetic appeal. Palace Road, Bada Bazar is some of the popular arcades in Udaipur for purchasing this kind of jewelry.
Paintings from Haathi Pol Bazaar
Traditional paintings of Rajasthan like the Pichwai paintings, the Phad paintings, and Rajasthan miniature paintings are sold at negotiable prices; especially in Haathi Pol Bazaar in Udaipur. Pichwai means ‘at the back’. This traditional art form had originated in Nathdwara and then spread across the whole state. A colorful Pichwai painting depicting the ras Leela of Lord Krishna or a royal procession can bring an ethnic touch to your drawing room. Apart from that, Phad paintings of Rajasthan which mainly focus on portraying religious motifs- can entice you with their vibrant colors. Lastly, miniature paintings of Rajasthan which had been an amalgamation of Mughal art and Rajputana’s own home-grown Mewar School of Art, also make for a collector’s item.
Antique Pieces from Jagdish Chowk
Antique furniture has a growing market in Udaipur. Jagdish Chowk and the popular near art galleries are the best places to buy these items. It’s another thing that most of us relate antique pieces with truckloads of money, but if the lady luck is by your side and if you have persistence, then definitely you shall land up at places that sell antique articles at cheaper prices and allow bargaining also. If you are an interior designer, then it could be all the more interesting for you, as in Udaipur, you can pick up lots of interesting antique stuff that can catch the fancy of your clients back home- thus leading to a boom in your profession.
Leather Items from Manek Chowk
If pure leathers don’t repulse you, then indulge yourself with camel leather items- the famous offerings of Rajasthan and which are highly visible in any local market of Udaipur. As one can relate Udaipur with splashes of colors, you can expect that the pure leather items that are available there, also emulating bright tints and sequins. Whether its purses, wallets, jootis or jackets- splurge at your heart’s content while exploring the local markets of Udaipur. It’s always advisable to purchase the camel leather products from street vendors, as they leave some scope for bargaining. Otherwise, from fixed-price shops, you run a chance of getting cheated on when it comes to price. In general, Hathi Pol bazaar and Manek chowk are the best places to buy these items.
Clothes from Bapu Bazaar
When it comes to clothes, Rajasthan comes out as a winner’s hands down, in terms of color and vividness, among all the states in India. Udaipur is laden with shops that sell the customary Rajasthani Bandhni print in forms of- sari, Kurti, lehenga, chunri or bags. Again, Bara Bazaar and Baapu Bazaar are the famous local markets to buy these specialties. Apart from Bandhni, you can also go for blouses or stoles embroidered with mirror-works. If you are a man, then don’t feel disappointed either, as you can choose from colorful turbans, bandhgala, jackets, and sherwanis that once were the official costumes of kings and princes of Royal courts.
Mojadis
Mojadis is the most famous traditional footwear of Rajasthan. Buy a pair of Mojadis from Udaipur for Indo-Western outfits and give yourself an ethnic Rajasthani look. Persons from localities show their keen interest in shopping Mojadis. Mojadis give a royal look on the traditional slate.
Vintage Collection
Udaipur is also famous for its Vintage collection of antiques like wall clock, flower vase, wooden objects, lamps, and some old vintage stuff. You will love shopping in Udaipur.
A trip to Udaipur remains incomplete without shopping for some locally made products and traditional Rajasthani fabrics and handicrafts. The main thing to remember while shopping in Udaipur at the local marketplace is that a lot of items are bargainable and you shouldn’t shy away from hassling over the price.
