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Shop till you drop is an apt phrase for this city whose founder rulers took personal pains to lure artists and artisans from places
as far as Persia (Iran). The city has such a plethora of indigenous and unique arts and crafts that
many visitors, from India and abroad, simply
come to Jaipur for an out-of-the-world Shopping Experience. Here are a few things that you may add to your Shopping List:"
- Gemstones
In deference to its master cutters and polishers, gemstone dealers - the world over - refer to Jaipur as The Gem City.
Traditionally famous for cut and polished emeralds, Jaipur is also the world leader in semi-precious stones.
If you know a thing or two about gems, Jaipur's the right place to buy them.
- Kundan-Meena Jewelry
Jaipur is also internationally renowned for its exquisite Kundan (the art of setting precious stones in gold) and
Meena (the art of enameling on gold or silver) jewelry.
- Lac bangles
Choose from a dazzling display at the small roadside workshop-cum-showrooms
on Maniharon ka Rasta in the Walled City. Artisans here have been plying their trade since generations.
- Blue Pottery
Jaipur is the home of glazed blue-pottery, which originated in Persia. Vases, flower pots, bowls, water pots and other objects
are produced in traditional geometrical and floral motifs, as well as hand-painted details of Rajasthani legends.
- Hand block printed textiles
This technique simulates a wooden block on which the required design is first carved. The carved block is then used for
transferring the motif in the desired color on the fabric. This process is most effective on ethnic floral patterns and for printing in mineral, vegetable and/or non-toxic chemical dyes. The nearby towns of
Sanganer
and Bagru are
the most important
centers of hand-block printing in the world.
- Tie and dye fabrics (Bandhana/Bandhej)
"Bandhana" is an Indian word which means "to tie" and it is from this Indian word that the English name for a spotted handkerchief "Bandana" derives. In this intensively
labor-oriented art, the fabric is pinched and tied, before dying. The vivid colors
and pinched motifs have an exotic and oriental mystique attached to them.
- Stone craft
Marble and sandstone articles. Khazanewalon ka Rasta in the Walled
City is choc-a-bloc with idol makers.
- Paintings
Traditional miniatures
paintings can be found at just about every curio shop. For paintings by contemporary
Rajasthani artists, head off to Juneja Art Gallery on M.I.Road.
- Others
Invariably, tourists return from Jaipur
wearing jootis (traditional Rajasthani moccasins) and
clutching on to eye-catching kathputlis (puppets)
Popular places to shop are Johari Bazaar and its lanes, Bapu Bazaar, M.I.Road,
Khazanewalon ka Rasta, and Maniharon ka Rasta.
Several
emporiums and boutiques are spread all over the city. The best way to shop is
to walk, explore and, of course, b-a-r-g-a-i-n.
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