RAJASTHAN STATE SHOPPING

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       The colorful state of Rajasthan offers much more than a visitors paradise to the tourist. Shopping in Rajasthan is a must. And one musn't miss the Bandhani and pottery and also the variety of articles in stone, clay, leather, wood, ivory, lac, glass, brass, silver, gold and also textiles found in various regions.       

     Carpets and Durries - Woollen carpets made in Persian style and cotton dhurries made in geometrical motifs can be bought from Bikaner and Jaipur.
     Textiles - Rajasthani textiles are not to be missed and they come in fascinating range of dyed and block-printed fabric which are further embellished by embroidery. Each region has its own special colour scheme, design and technique.
Hand-block printed textiles are best bought from townships of Sanganer and Bagru near Jaipur .
Bandhej - A type of textile famous from rajasthan,the best bandhej comes from Sikar and Jodhpur
Tie-and-dye textiles, called bandhani are an important Rajasthani craft. Different methods are used to tie the fabric into small points and produce various patterns like lehariya, mothda, ekdali and shikari. Best places from where Bandhani can be bought are Jaipur, Barmer, Pali, Udaipur and Nathdwara.
Zari work is also a speciality of Rajasthan and one should not forget to buy a saree or material having Zari embroidery on it.

     Paintings - Anyone who is found of paintings sholud not miss out Rajasthani paintings which can broadly be classified as Wall, Cloth and Miniature Paintings.
Wall Painting - Walls and ceilings embellished with colourful paintings are a common sight in Rajasthan. Even huts have intricate mandanas on them. Some of the finest frescos adorn the havelis of the Shekhawati region and the ancient towns of Bundi and Kota. And some of the most humorous on the walls of houses tucked away in the lanes of Jaisalmer.

Cloth Paintings - They include the phad (scroll paintings illustrated with episodes of folk legends that the Bhopas narrate) and the pichwai (cloth hangings used behind the deity in Vaishnava temples such as the temple of Shrinathji at Nathdwara). Done in bright colours with bold outlines, these paintings have strong religious traditions.

Miniature Paintings - Different schools of this fascinating art have flourished here since the 16th century, each with its own distinctive style. The Kishangarh school is best known for its Bani Thani paintings. A totally different style with highly exaggerated features - long necks, large almond-shaped eyes, long fingers and the use of subdued colours.The verdant greenery of the Kota-Bundi region is reflected in the paintings of that region. The rulers of Amer-Jaipur were the closest to the Mughals and a strong Mughal influence crept into their paintings.

     Jewellery - Rajasthan became famous for its jewellery industry from very early times, being an important source of precious and semi-precious stones such as emerald, garnet, agate, amethyst, topaz and lapiz lazuli. Though Jaipur is internationally renowned for its exquisite Kundan (the art of setting precious stones in gold) and meena (enamel) jewellery, meenakari is also done in Nathdwara near Udaipur. Lac and glass bangles are a special attraction of Rajasthan and are made in a variety of colours and designs in Jaipur and Jodhpur. Silver is commonly worn by rural women and one can pick up old tribal silver jewellery as well.

     Pottery - Clay is extensively used for making pots, dolls and other objects. Brush-painted images of folk divinities are sold in village fairs during festive times such as Gangaur, Teej and Diwali. Jaipur is the home of glazed blue-pottery, which has its origin 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.

     Leather Articles - Jaipur, Jodhpur, Barmer and Jaisalmer are traditionally known for their footwear. Incredibly comfortable and sturdy, the jootis have artistically embroidered uppers. Leather is also an essential raw material for making musical instruments, especially percussion instruments (such as the tabla and dhol) and the stringed instruments (like kamaycha) used by Rajasthani folk musicians. Bikaner is known for its painted lampshades, shields and vases made from camel hide. Designer hand-bags, purses, belts, hats, stools and collapsible chairs with graphic emroideries from Tilonia village near Ajmer also make a good buy.

     Wood Articles - Small carved wooden chests and boxes with brass inlay and laquer work are the some of the most popular items, together with sandalwood statues. For those who don't mind the extra bulk, there also is a wide range of grand furniture, reminiscent of the royal era. Tilonia (near Ajmer) furniture also stands out for its fine emroidery work done on leather. As also the extravagantly carved furniture from Barmer region.

     Puppets - Puppets or kathputlis is a lovely thing that can be bought from Rajasthan. It can add a lively charm to a dull room.