The name of Rajasthan brings in our mind the rich culture, the vibrant and colorful attires, the magnificent and graceful handicrafts and so on. With time, a lot has changed; the land of culture has slightly moved towards westernization. But to keep the very soul of the Lands of Maharajas alive, we have its markets which never fail to slake our thirst for the true essence of Rajasthan.
Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar are two such markets of the Pink City, Jaipur. These markets (located within the walled city) are a perfect amalgamation of typical Rajasthani products and a slight touch of Indo-western. They are swathed in a cultural charm, and also offer numerous souvenirs to take for your kith and kin. These vibrant markets are always filled with shopaholics and are famous for offering you everything quintessentially Rajasthani.
We are giving you a list of things to check out at Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar.
- Mojaris
Walking down the corridors of either of the markets, you will often stumble upon craftsmen with their dye covered hands, with somewhat eclectic and vintage footwear lined up by their side. There are several shops offering Rajasthani Mojari or Jutis, in these markets. The vibrant colors and traditional patterns often tempt people to buy a few pairs rather than just one. Among these, the shops that stand above the rest are Tourist Shoes and Famous Nagra Shoes.
- Artificial jewellery
The bustling markets have an immense collection of artificial jewelry. Innumerable shops of both, Bapu Bazar and Nehru Bazar are lined up with ethnic neck pieces, jhumkis, lac bangles, anklets, sequined necklaces and what not. The finish of these pieces is so good that you can’t differentiate from the real. So, grab the best trinkets and accessories ASAP!
- Clothes
Whatever you buy or leave behind, we believe picking a dress is essential if you are here. Highly alluring Rajasthani Bandhej or tie and die, Leheriya, Sanganeri Prints and Batik Prints with radiant mirror work, dazzling gota-patti work and intricate embroidery patterns are all enticingly displayed here. These shops are literally overflowing with breathtakingly beautiful prints of Jaipur, and chances are you will end up with your hands full of shopping bags by the time you decide to head home.
- Jaipuri Razaiyan (quilts)
The Jaipuri quilts are made up of cotton fabric and are sown with a light thread. These razaiyan are exquisite with hand block prints and are light weight, comfortable and extremely efficient in keeping you warm on a cold winter night. Nowadays though, there are polyfibre razaiyans also, so better ask the shopkeeper so you know what you are getting. These quilts are amongst most popular choices that people take back as gifts for their loved ones.
- Showpieces, decorative items and other handicrafts
Then there are these vendors throughout the markets who sell wares on the covered pavement. As you walk down, these small merchants call out and try to sell you mini- artefacts, baubles, hair accessories, artificial jewellery, lac pens, mirror worked pen stands, keychains, etc. And before you know it , you buy a few pieces, saying just because….
- Puppets on a string
These are traditional Rajasthani art. There are a number of people selling puppets while simply strolling in the markets. These vibrantly colored puppets are also great takeaways for some people.
- Flavors of food
The seemingly casual bazaar trip becomes a tad tiring what with all your shopping bags and gentle rumble in your stomach. There aren’t many eateries here, but there is mouth water-watering chat available at almost the end of the entire Bazar. You could dig into Faluda Kulfi at Indian Ice Cream and the super famous Guddu Ki Softy. On the other hand, if you are close to Link Road, the Cholle Wala Samosa is a must have treat.
One very pertinent tip about shopping in these markets is that you must bargain about the prices. Shopping here without bargaining is truly letting them fleece you completely.
The next time you are in Jaipur, we strongly recommend you to pay these markets a visit for some authentic Rajasthani stuff to take back home and flaunt.
Happy Shopping 🙂
Content and pictures by interns at Jaipur Beat.
Edited by team Jaipur Beat.
Jaipur Beat 