Jaipur in 5 Shops: block-print silks, home linens and bargain books by the kilo

29.03.2024 - 21:37 / lonelyplanet.com

In our 5 Shops series, we'll point you in the direction of our favorite independent shops across some of the world's best cities. From food markets and bookshops to vintage and homegrown design stores, we've found a diverse and exciting mix of local retailers where you can pick up one-of-a-kind pieces.

The roads of the Pink City, as Jaipur is known owing to its rose- and rust-colored buildings, are jam-packed with hundreds of shops. This is a city where bazaars serve as landmarks and stores are so niche that if you know exactly what you're looking for, there's at least a handful of stores to find whatever it is. Don't just think "shoes, jewelry, clothes, art" — think jutti (traditional leather shoes), colorful handmade glass bangles, block-printed salwar kameez (traditional dresslike tunic and trouser combination for women), and Rajasthani miniature paintings (among other things).

I'm not much of a shopper, but I love the combination of art, history, and culture on sale in Jaipur. In all my trips to Jaipur (I've been visiting since I was a child), I find I always wish I'd packed a bigger bag – something to fit the absurdly big terracotta salad bowl that won't fit in tiny kitchen cabinets or the bulky brass statuettes I inevitably fall in love with. From its iconic blue pottery and historic textile traditions to specialty sweet shops, there's no end to must-visit shopping spots in the city. Still, I've done what I believe is impossible (if not controversial) and picked 5 must-visit shops in Jaipur in both the Old City and beyond.

Rajasthan accounts for a large proportion of India's cultural tourism, so if there's one thing Jaipur has no shortage of, it's souvenir shops. For a change from the usual carved elephant and inlaid marble trinket boxes (there's no shortage of shops in and around major tourist landmarks and the bylanes of the Old City selling these), head to Tapri: The Tea House in the Civil Lines part of town. 

A popular local cafe, which derives its name from the tarped chai stalls on Indian street corners, Tapri has a well-curated but uncluttered retail space where Jaipuris shop: Ladu. Warmly lit shelves boast an impressive selection of handmade and responsibly sourced local products, ranging from tea blends and spices to contemporary art and homeware. Essentially, these are the sorts of souvenirs that'll fit a range of tastes — from muted tones to the occasional pop of color. 

Keep an eye out for its home linens, stoneware (a pair of kulhad/chai tumblers is roughly ₹600), and brass work (if you're a tea drinker, a swing-style brass strainer will run you about the same price-wise).

In India, Jaipur is renowned for its textiles — bandhani (tie-dye), which gave rise to bandanas, originated in