Find Yourself Wondering What to Buy in Jodhpur? 6 Souvenirs You Must Buy and the Four Best Markets of This Opulent Blue City (2019)

Being the second-largest city in Rajasthan, Jodhpur has a lot to offer its visitors from a tourism standpoint. With an abundance of temples, forts & palaces, Jodhpur’s one of the most popular destinations in the country and October through March is the best time to enjoy being here, given the pleasant winter climate during this time with a variety of outdoor desert activities, sightseeing and romantic escapades to indulge in. The winter temperatures vary between 7°C to 25°C in Jodhpur. Summer months of April through July witness oscillating temperatures of 32°C-43°C with pleasant evenings, while July through August marks the monsoon season with chances of moderate rainfall. Jodhpur is quite comfortable during the monsoons and ideal for those who hate being caught in the crowd.

With an assortment of places to see and tourist attractions to visit, Jodhpur is a beautiful city to explore. For instance, Umaid Bhawan Palace also known as Chittar Palace is a royal residence, museum and heritage hotel, all in one! An architectural feat and equipped with all the modern facilities, the site offers its visitors quite a royal experience, with marbled squash courts, a billiards room, a private museum and more. abundant with royal armour and artifacts, glassware, miniatures and old clocks on display, a white marble monument called the Jaswant Thada, you will witness the most beautiful example of Rajputana architecture. The complex also includes gloriously carved gazebos, a small lake and an exquisite multi-level garden. The Umed Garden Zoo is a must-visit for Kids and Adults alike, with residents that included exotic bird species from Australia & Africa, ducks, rabbits and a walk-in aviary.

You’ll also enjoy being at the Balsamand Lake, a prominent picnic spot, about 8km from the main city, encompassed by hills and stretching about a kilometre. This artificial lake was constructed as a reservoir in 1159 to supply water to the Mandore region and includes a scenic garden with groves of mango, guava and pomegranate and beautiful rose beds, with a cascading waterfall as well. With a variety of birds and animals roaming the area, the lake has the Balsamand Palace right next to it with a grand architecture, where visitors can enjoy the cool breeze blowing through the garden and enjoy the serenity by the lake too. The rays of the sun reflecting in the calm waters make for a beautiful moment to capture on camera!

Given its rich heritage and a calendar full of cultural activities to enjoy, you’ll have enough and more to do in Jodhpur, right from the Marwar Festival, where every year the epic heroes of Rajasthan are honoured in the month of September/October, with celebratory folk dances that exhibit the royal lifestyle and true stories of the warrior Kings who once ruled, with a variety of other entertaining activities as well. The Rajasthan International Folk Festival is yet another 5 day festival with over 200 artists and musicians, who come together to celebrate Rajasthan’s history and folk music – from a comforting morning raga to a hippy jazz night, experience different genres of art & music under one roof. The Jodhpur International Desert Kite Festival is organized in January each year with 3 days of a colorful melee of kites in the sky and competitive activities.

There’s also Nagaur, India’s second-largest fair – a cattle fair, where every January/February, nearly 70,000 decorated cattle is traded at the fair with other enjoyable activities like camel & bullock race, puppet shows, tug-of-war and more. You can also explore the Machiya Safari Park, home to a variety of wildlife and an exclusive bird point with exotic bird species.

The markets in Jodhpur have a tendency to spoil its visitors rotten for choices and boost their shopping spree! With some amazing offerings, there’s something or the other always unique to buy in Jodhpur. Popular for some really unique creations in the realm of jewelry and gems, the experienced craftsmen of Jodhpur create wondrous designs straight from their hearts. Marked with traditional silver jewelry shops, Sarafa Bazar is among the most preferred places in Jodhpur to buy silver jewelry. With a variety of traditional jewelry and a wide range of accessories, the market has a vast selection of Jodhpur specials. While some of the most renowned names in the industry include Amrapali Jewels, Gems & Jewels Palace, Dwarika Jewelers and Kabras Jewelers.

Also known as Piliya or Bandhej, Bandhani is one of the oldest and most popular textiles in the fashion realm, which is also considered auspicious by Rajasthani women. Crafted out of a long process, the fabric is designed into different styles that result in Kurtis, lehengas or sarees and are usually worn on special occasions, festivities and also used by the Men folk for turbans. Available in a variety of colours, patterns and styles, Bandhani fabrics can be found in any markets in Jodhpur. Anandaram Bhobaria Industries is popular here for a wide range of rugs/durries in addition to intricately designed embroidered tents, while Maharani Textiles and Handicrafts are known for their smoother than silk stoles and feather-light pashminas as well as vibrantly coloured brocade cushions with heaps of colourful shawls and carpets. Malani Impex is the largest exporter of handicrafts and fabrics and you’ll find an excellent group of scarves, rugs and more here. Another popular name in the realm of colourful Rajasthani fabrics or saris is that of Mohammed Tayeb Khan, who made the leheriya fabric popular, as it is now, by crafting colourful turbans for Rajasthani Royalty.

Aside from the usual brown and black loafers, Jodhpur has a variety of hand-painted and embroidered Jodhpuri jootis or mojaris to add that touch of royalty to any outfit. Adorned with beads, sequins and mirror work, these shoes are no less a fine display of craftsmanship and artwork that complement any ethnic wear. From amongst the best places to shop for these Rajputana beauties, the shoemaker’s bazar has colourful & bejewelled offerings, while Jodhpur Juttis is your one-stop shop for all classic Rajasthani Footwear. Krafto Jodhpur has an exotic handcrafted collection of ethnic juttis and mojaris.

Miniature Paintings is an art that was introduced to the country by the Mughals and skilled artisans were brought from Persia in ancient times who specialized in ethnic paintings, inspired by the royalty and romantic lives of the Mughals. These miniatures have come to be known as Rajput/Rajasthani Miniatures. With minute attention to detail, bold colours & strong lines, these paintings are made using ivory panels, paper, wooden tablets, cloth, marble, leather or walls, crafted out of vegetables, minerals, precious gems as well as metals like gold and silver. JG Arts & Crafts in Jodhpur at Clock Tower for its ethnic paintings & handicrafts with a huge variety at reasonable prices. A lovely place to pick souvenirs and keepsakes from. A prominent name in the city, it boasts of specialized work in block prints, embroidery, textiles and patchwork. You can also explore Rajasthan Arts & Crafts House, Ganesh Handicrafts and Baba Art Emporium.

Jodhpur is also known for its vast and excellent variety of spices and tea. Spice Paradise is a perfect place to know why. Renowned for their cooking knowledge, the place has a vast variety of spices & condiments; while Mohanlal Verhomal Spices reflects the typical Rajasthani flavour in its assortment of spices with medicinal properties as well as cooking guides of Indiana and Rajasthani cuisine. With ready to use spice blends that include fruit spices, tea spices, saffron, chillies, cardamom, ginger, and black pepper, the store has gained its repute all over the world. Maharana Spices is yet another brand popular for its spice variety ranging from premium quality saffron to tea to natural perfumes. In Jodhpur, you’ll also find an interesting blend of spices in addition to whole spices for varied vegetarian and non-vegetarian fares.

Jodhpur’s handicrafts market is a flourishing sector that gives a much appreciated and huge scope of employment to its residents. The local artisans of the city are skilled and have had training for ages in the art of wood and metal sculpting, handicrafts & embroidery, specializing in polish work and antiques, marble & metal carvings, lac art and more. As much as the city is known for its rich cultural & architectural heritage, it is also known for this ethnic treasures with a large variety of wooden artistic furniture, exquisite handicrafts, decoratives and giftwares, unparalleled craftsmanship on display. Among the popular names in the realm of handicrafts are Ganesh Handicrafts, Lalji Handicrafts in Jodhpur. The Ganpati Art Emporium is an ideal place for handicraft fans with a beautiful collection of handmade, home décor and antique products with authentic traditional designs.

One of the city’s most popular landmarks, the age-old Clock Tower is encompassed by the cheerful sounds, smells and sights of Sardar Market, bordered by triple-arched gateways at its Northern & Southern Ends, with narrow & winding lanes. A bustling market place that offers an exciting experience to visitors from all walks of life, the market has items ranging from the finest variety of spices like Mathaniya’s red chilis to hand-embroidered fabrics to antiques, flavoured tea and handicrafts, visit the Clock Tower market for an authentic Rajasthani experience. Also, be aware, that haggling for shopping is a huge ask here, to get the best price for the best products! The marketplace is operational typically from 10 am to 9 pm.

Another street market, Nai Sarak has a combination of restaurants, cafes and movie theatres with offerings of the traditional bandhej fabric, Jodhpuri coats & turbans with intricate patterns & bright colours, saris and more. The street earned its name owing to its construct by the British post the war of 1857 and is popular for its bandhej collection primarily. It is also one of Jodhpur’s busiest market places with the value of money and a fine collection of books for the readers as well. In addition, leather items are a specialty here, both as souvenirs and gifts. The operating hours for this market are 10 am to 10 pm &&, with the exception of Sunday, when the places are closed.

Each market in Jodhpur is significant in its own way and is worth a visit at least once. From among them is Sojati Gate, one of the most sought after markets, frequented a lot by tourists and is renowned for a variety if shops and stalls with Rajasthani Handicrafts, souvenirs, jewelry & tie and dye fabrics, not to forget skilled Henna designers to make beautiful henna tattoos. Typically operational between 7 am and 11 pm, Sojati Gate is also shut on Sundays. It truly is a shopper’s paradise.

Mochi Bazaar is your one-stop-shop for the popular Jodhpuri Juttis, from a wide variety of footwear in unique & distinct patterns, colours, and artworks like sequins, embroidery, etc. You will also find an assortment of junk jewelry here with charming & authentic Rajasthani wares. You’re bound to get lured by the amazing collection of footwear you’d find here, as are your chances of selecting typical Rajasthani attires here that include as much of the less decorated and simple clothes, ethnic Rajasthani achkans, sherwani & other garments. Play crazy with your choice of colours at the Bhistiyon ka Bas, Korna House Road.

Shopping in Jodhpur is all about getting good deals on authentic Rajasthani fares with luxurious and royal features evident in all. The Student Stop in Jodhpur is a high-end luxury exporting service that supplies textiles to designer companies like Versace, Gucci, Armani, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, etc. From designer bedsheets to silk scarves to pashminas and ethnic wall art, you’ll find enough to buy and enjoy here. Stepwell Square is a swanky area, located around a stepwell, where you can climb around the well and visit several high chain retail stores, boutiques and art galleries with opulent Indian offerings. Yet another popular place in Jodhpur is the Mehrangarh Museum Shop, a restored space nestled in the 15th-century fort, with cool and utilitarian souvenirs like t-shirts, coffee table books, quirky tote bags and other charming trinkets.