Antiques
India is an antique dealer's paradise. It's possible to unearth unique, antique pieces at attractive prices. But beware of counterfeits. Mumbai's Chor Bazaar - literally thieves' market - is the temple of second-hand dealers of all kinds. Here you'll find old Bollywood movie posters. The Mattancherry district in Cochin and the Karaikudi market in Chettinad are two other popular spots for South Indian antiques.
Bidri
Bidri is the art of working metal. It is produced for major clients (emirs, art dealers, luxury hotels...) as well as for bazaars. Black metal objects are often inlaid with gold or silver, and their price can be very high, notably due to the cost of raw materials. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) is a renowned bidri production center.
Jewelry
Indian tradition demands that both men and women adorn themselves with jewelry. Women's jewelry, in particular, is very elaborate, in gold or silver. Indians give jewelry to their wives to embellish them, but also to invest their money. In case of hard times, it's always possible to resell one. Every city in the country has a goldsmith's market.
Jaipur is the gem capital of India. This is where stones are traded for setting by the world's leading jewellers. The national diamond exchange is located in Surat, Gujarat. The vast majority come from Russia, to be cut and polished in Surat. Hyderabad, though far from the sea, is the pearl capital. They are traded in the Charminar district. But beware: fake stones, fake metals and fake pearls are legion. Unless you're a serious connoisseur, you should insist on a certificate of authenticity or have your stones authenticated before buying. The safest thing to do is to visit an established boutique and avoid tourist stores, at least for valuable jewelry.
Tribal or ancient jewelry is highly sought-after by Indians and tourists alike. They can be found in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and a few remote markets in Odisha.
Much less expensive, but still a highly prized Indian ornament, is the bindi. It's the little circle or teardrop that women stick between their eyebrows. You'll find stickers in small bazaars selling make-up and beauty products for women.
Wood and lacquered wood
Meticulously turned, carved, inlaid or inlaid, wooden objects play an important role in Indian craftsmanship. The most precious are forged from sandalwood or rosewood. Anguri, takai and jali carvings, bronze, copper and ivory inlays adorn large and small pieces of furniture. Wedding chests and antique doors are highly sought-after. The towns of Saharanpur and Mainpur (Uttar Pradesh) are among India's conservatories of this craft. Here too, you need to be careful what you buy. Fake antiques are widespread, as are teak and sandalwood objects carved from cheaper wood.
Embroidery and printing
The northern tribal areas are important centers of traditional embroidery. The colorful designs vary from tribe to tribe and are part of the clothing adornment. Women continue to embroider their trousseaus, even though the wearing of folkloric outfits is becoming increasingly rare. The motifs, sometimes with mirror inlays, are repeated on blankets and cushion covers. You can stock up on beads, ribbons, braids, sequins, thread and buttons at Kinari Bazar in Old Delhi, or Bhuleshwar Market in Mumbai, both of which are very well stocked.
Jaipur is the national capital of pad printing. There are two variants, with very different styles: sanganeri and bagru. Fabrics are printed by hand, using wooden stamps dipped in dyes.
Shoes
Rajasthan is famous for its juti, handmade slippers made of leather (for men) or fabric (for women). They are sometimes embroidered on top. A little stiff at first, they become increasingly comfortable the longer you wear them. Every major city in Rajasthan has its own juti store. And if you look in traditional villages like Bundi or Chauth ka Barwara, you're sure to come across a shoemaker at work.
Incense
Incense is an essential part of Hindu religious rites. It's available everywhere, including the famous nag champa made famous by hippies. Called agarbatti in Hindi, sandalwood incense from Mysore is particularly famous, as are those from Aurothika in Pondicherry.
Spices
Kerala is India's leading producer of spices. You'll find them in every market in the country: black pepper (MG1 or Tellichery), cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, turmeric, saffron, cloves, vanilla... You can also find ready-made spice blends, called masala. These mixtures vary according to the dish to be prepared. The stores and warehouses of Mattancherry in Cochin are the best places to stock up if you're not visiting a spice garden.
Miniature painting
This art, inherited from the Mughal period, is still very much alive, particularly in Rajasthan. These wonderfully detailed paintings evoke the life of Mughal princes in their sumptuous palaces. The style is sometimes hijacked for meticulous naturalistic representations. Bikaner, Bundi and Udaipur are all home to renowned artists. Prices vary according to the size of the work and the number of years the artist has been practicing. The apprenticeship is long.
Stone and inlay
Religious statuary is often crafted in stone: marble, sandstone, granite. The infinite Hindu pantheon provides a livelihood for many stone carvers, and some villages, such as Gola ka Bas in Rajasthan, specialize almost entirely in this craft. Agra perpetuates the art of marble cutting and inlaying, of which the Taj Mahal is the most beautiful emblem. In the old town, many craftsmen offer tourists miniatures of the mausoleum. Some lineages of craftsmen are so old that they date back to the Mughal period and the construction of the Taj Mahal. Vrindavan's reputation is based on the production of alabaster objects inlaid with... synthetic stones.
Pottery
Almost every village still has a potter. Matkas are large, curved containers used to store fresh water. Every household has one, and they are often seen at the entrance to dhabas, the roadside restaurants. Some potters are specialized and produce religious figurines, bowls for drinking tea or burning oil for Diwali, pipes, etc., in series. Some are painted or glazed after firing. Khurja (Uttar Pradesh) is a center renowned for its colorful pottery. The state of Uttar Pradesh is also known for its production of black pottery. Jaipur perpetuates the tradition of blue-glazed pottery, an art that originated in Asia Minor. The Bastar region (Chhattisgarh) produces highly sought-after animal figurines in clay.
Ayurvedic products
Ayurveda is a traditional ancestral medicine based on the use of natural products. Beyond the medical aspect, which requires a real science, you can bring back and use elements of ayurveda in beauty products. These include aloe vera, with its soothing, moisturizing and restorative properties; turmeric, with its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant properties; mustard oil, mixed with another vegetable oil, for its moisturizing, toning and firming action, and so on. You'll find shampoos, creams, soaps and toothpastes in specialized stores. The Himalaya brand, widely distributed, is a safe bet.
Carpets
Kashmir is the only region in India where carpets are handcrafted. Made of silk, wool or a mixture of both, they come in a wide variety of patterns and shimmering colors. Prices vary according to the number of knots. The more knots, the more expensive the carpet, but the more resistant it is.
South of Jodhpur, durry craftsmanship is hard to resist. These colorful carpets are woven on handlooms and not knotted. Both sides are therefore identical. Most often made of cotton, they are also available in coir, wool or camel wool. For the latter, sizes are small, as camel wool is very heavy. You can visit the Pukhraj Durry Udyog cooperative in the village of Salawas, which guarantees hand-made pieces.
Tea
Is it still necessary to promote Darjeeling tea? This locality in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal produces 10,000 tonnes of tea a year from its 17,500 hectares of plantations. The black tea from this region is sometimes referred to as the "champagne of teas", due to its delicate taste tinged with characteristic floral and spicy notes. Assam also produces a delicious black tea, with a full-bodied, spicy aroma. The plantations are located along the Brahmaputra River, around the town of Johrat. The tea leaves are picked by hand, exclusively by women.
Fabrics
Hand weaving is still very much alive in rural India. From silks to cottons, many regions have their own specialties. Varanasi is the silk capital. Its reputation is such that every bride in the country who can afford it dreams of buying her ceremonial sari here. Odisha is also a center of silk production. Ikat is the specialty of many villages in the Cuttack district. Assam is also renowned for its wild silk. Chettinad has exported its expertise in weaving silk and cotton saris throughout the country. West Bengal's cotton supplies the textile industry worldwide. In Bihar, Bhagalpur has earned the nickname "Handloom City", with 25,000 looms weaving linen and cotton. In Madhya Pradesh, Maheshwar's saris are unrivalled for their finesse and lightness. Chanderi is a production center that has given its name to a style of silk.
Wool weaving is practiced in the mountainous Himalayas. This is where you'll find beautiful stoles and scarves made from pashmina, a Kashmiri goat.
