Must-see shopping in India

  • Khan Market

    Delhi

    Khan Market is Delhi's most-upmarket shopping enclave, the most expensive place to rent a shop in India, and is favoured by the elite and expats. Its…

  • Central Cottage Industries Emporium

    New Delhi

    This government-run multilevel store is a wonderful treasure trove of fixed-price, India-wide handicrafts. Prices are higher than in the state emporiums,…

  • Sabyasachi

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    It's worth popping in to this high-end traditional garment shop to see the space itself, a gorgeous, cavernous, rose-oil-scented stunner chock-full of…

  • Kamala

    New Delhi

    Crafts, curios, textiles and homewares from the Crafts Council of India, designed with flair and using traditional techniques but offering some…

  • Subhash Emporium

    Agra

    Some of the pieces on display at this renowned marble shop are simply stunning (ask to see the 26 masterpieces). While it's more expensive than some shops…

  • Kulture Shop

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Behold Bandra's – and Mumbai's – coolest shop, featuring exclusive graphic art and illustrations sourced from a global army of Indian artists. You'll find…

  • Dakshinapan Shopping Centre

    Kolkata (Calcutta)

    It’s worth facing the soul-crushing 1970s architecture for Dakshinapan’s wide range of government emporia, which brings together a mind-boggling artisanal…

  • Kulture Shop

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Mumbai's coolest design shop has thankfully arrived in South Mumbai! Fittingly, the Pop Art cool kid from Bandra has set up shop in Kala Ghoda, where its…

  • Studio Coppre

    Pune

    This craft revival project cofounded by four women champions the dying Indian art of handcrafted metalware from artisans in Pune, the Konkan Coast and…

  • Byloom

    Kolkata (Calcutta)

    Some of Kolkata's most exquisite handmade saris are sold at this speciality boutique. There's also a fair smattering of semiprecious jewellery, and an…

  • Indian Hippy

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Indian Hippy will put your name in lights, with custom-designed Bollywood posters hand-painted on canvas by the original studio artists (a dying breed…

  • Chor Bazaar

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Chor Bazaar is known for antiques, though be wary of reproductions. The main area of activity is Mutton St, where shops specialise in these ‘antiques’ and…

  • 1469

    Chandigarh

    Named after the birth year of Guru Nanak (the founder of the Sikh faith), this funky independent clothing store sells fabulously colourful scarves, shawls…

  • Mysore Saree Udyog

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    A great choice for top-quality silk saris, blouses, fabrics and men’s shirts, this fine store has been in business for over 70 years and has something to…

  • Play Clan

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Kitschy, design-y goods such as stylish embroidered T-shirts, funky coffee mugs and coasters, and superhip graphic art, including beaded embroidered art…

  • Goobe’s Book Republic

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Great little bookshop selling new and secondhand, cult and mainstream books and comics. Good for titles on southern India and run by informed, helpful…

  • Fabindia

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Ethically sourced cotton and silk fashions and homewares in everybody's favourite modern-meets-traditional Indian shop.

  • Baba Blacksheep

    Varanasi

    If the deluge of traveller enthusiasm is anything to go by, this is one of the most trustworthy, nonpushy shops in India. Indeed it is one of the best…

  • Haji Mohammad Bashir Oil Shop

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Worth a visit as much for the spectacle if not to buy, this near-century-old traditional oil shop still hand-presses its medicinal, cooking and massage…

  • Nathmulls Tea Room

    Darjeeling

    The Darjeeling area produces arguably the world's finest teas and Nathmulls is one of the best retailers, with more than 50 varieties. Expect to pay ₹200…

  • Golden Tips

    Gangtok

    This boutique tea store stocks a fine selection of beautifully packaged teas, notably Temi (Sikkimese) and various flushes of premium Darjeeling. A calm,…

  • Rachna Books

    Gangtok

    The city’s best-stocked bookshop, Rachna doubles as an alternative cultural hub with talks, events, screenings and an excellent cafe (Temi tea ₹50, coffee…

  • Dzomsa

    Leh

    Fill up drinking-water bottles here (₹7 per litre). Dzomsa also offers an environmentally friendly laundry service (₹95 per kg, same day service if given…

  • Paltan Bazaar

    Uttarakhand

    The swarming, congested (but relatively traffic-free area) streets of Paltan Bazaar, running south from the clock tower, is a popular spot for an evening…

  • Nalli Silks

    Chennai (Madras)

    Set up in 1928, the enormous, supercolourful granddaddy of Chennai silk shops sparkles with wedding saris and rainbows of Kanchipuram silks, as well as…

  • Higginbothams

    Chennai (Madras)

    Open since 1844, this grand white building is reckoned to be India's oldest bookshop. It has a brilliant English-language selection, including travel and…

  • Hansiba

    Ahmedabad (Amdavad)

    The retail outlet of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Hansiba sells colourful woven and embroidered shawls, saris, beautifully embroidered…

  • Stack of Rugs

    State Emporiums

    New Delhi

    Handily in a row are these regional treasure-filled emporiums. They may have the air of torpor that often afflicts governmental enterprises, but shopping…

  • Meharchand Market

    Delhi

    Across the road from the government housing of the Lodi Colony, this is a long strip of small boutiques selling homewares and clothes. Quality clothing…

  • Anokhi

    Kolkata (Calcutta)

    This boutique sells tasteful ethno-chic garments made from hand-dyed and hand-printed fabrics. Creations featuring Gujarati block prints seem to be the…

  • Clove

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Under the discerning eye of gourmet entrepreneur Samyukta Nair, this Colaba concept store occupies a late-19th-century art deco building chock-full of…

  • Rajasthali

    Jaipur

    This state-government-run emporium, opposite Ajmer Gate, is packed with quality Rajasthani artefacts and crafts, including enamelwork, embroidery, pottery…

  • M/S KN Ajani

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    One of Mumbai's oldest shops and born of a dying breed, this family-run retailer kicked off in 1918. Today, friendly grandson Paresh still hawks the…

  • MV Spices

    Jodhpur

    The most famous spice shop in Jodhpur (and believe us, there are lots of pretenders), MV Spices has five small branches around town, including one at…

  • No-Mad Fabric Shop

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    One of Mumbai's hottest new brands, this small showroom, overseen by Nandi the Holy Cow in logo, art and design, is an interior-design oasis in Mangaldas…

  • FabIndia

    Kolkata (Calcutta)

    India's top consumer line of ethno-chic dresses and Indo-Western apparel has one of its city stores in this central location. Apart from garments, there's…

  • Sienna Store & Cafe

    Kolkata (Calcutta)

    Very hipster, very chic, yet unbelievably affordable. Housed in a tastefully renovated mansion, this boutique specialises in a delightful collection of…

  • Dolly's Tea Shop

    Kolkata (Calcutta)

    This tiny tea boutique is one of the best places in Kolkata to pick up some delectable Darjeeling leaves. Dolly, a veteran tea taster who owns the place,…

  • Bombay Shirt Company

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    This trendy, bespoke shirt tailor for men and women will outfit you in some seriously cool threads for a fraction of prices back home. You can customise…

  • Anokhi

    Jaipur

    Anokhi is a classy, upmarket boutique selling stunning high-quality textiles such as block-printed fabrics, tablecloths, bed covers, cosmetic bags and…

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