Shopping in Himachal

Nov 8 2023

Shop till you drop! That’s the right phrase for the people, who love to do shopping at hill stations. Buying world class handicrafts, woolens and wooden items, while holding the hands of the nature, is a lifetime experience. The scent of freshness mingles with the essence of tranquility and makes the entire shopping experience memorable. Buying favorite handicraft in Himachal Pradesh would leave you with a day to cherish those romantic moments spent with your beloved or sweet time spent with children and family.

Himachal Pradesh is famous for its renowned handicrafts starting with attractive woolens, such as jackets, Himachali caps, shawl with Himachali designs in attfgractive colors, sweaters and wall hangings too.

Apart from this, you can pick certain wooden handicrafts designed to add style to your home and office. The shopping in Himachal does not end here; rather it takes you further to state specific handicrafts that will not be available elsewhere. These include traditional clothes, wooden show pieces, mats and carpets too.

Well Known Markets in Himachal Pradesh

Various markets in Himachal Pradesh have their own distinctiveness and taste. The tourists will get to experience something different in every region of this state.

After all, shopping in the lap of Himalayas has an altogether different essence.

Chaughan Market

Tourist Attractions : Colorful Minjar Mela

Chaughan, a large grassy meadow forms the heart of the town and the center of all its cultural activities. Each year, the colorful Minjar Mela celebrating the harvest is held here.

Tibetan Market

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Tibetan Market

Tourist Attractions : Artistic Beauty of the Little Tibet, Metal Work, Woolen Items

Tibetan Market is a cluster of shops in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. The market is located behind the Hotel Ibex. The market features shops which sell shawls, woolen clothes, handicrafts, imported goods and souvenirs. Some of the Himalayan handicrafts sold include prayer wheels, amulets, masks, musical instruments, rosaries and thangha. The famous designed shawls of Kullu Valley are sold here. The Bodh Shawl Factory Shop situated here helps tourists to familiarize with the prices of goods. Some of the good restaurants of Manali can also be found here. Buses, taxis and autos are easily available from the Mall in Manali to the market.

Himachal Handloom

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Himachal Handloom

Tourist Attractions : Bhuttico Handlooms & Handicrafts

The handlooms and handicrafts are integral part of Himachal’s cultural tradition. Each area has its own distinct dialect and crafts. The primary occupations with rural Himachal is agriculture, horticulture, handloom & handcraft activities but over the years some of the fine crafts have been on the verge of decline due to infiltration of fake counterparts from the neighboring states, thus diminishing the revenue for Himachal’s entrepreneurs, artisans engaged with handloom & handicraft sector.Himachal is a land with unique traditions and contrasts. There are number of cooperative societies working in Manali, Kullu and adjoining areas for the welfare of artisans and languishing crafts of Himachal. There are few young enterprising people in Kullu valley who dared & took challenge in highly competitive market to introduce handlooms and handicrafts of Himachal Pradesh on global scale. Mr. Baldev Gharsangi’s innovative vision and strategic planning has brought respect to the Handlooms & Handicrafts of region.The BHUTTICO handlooms & handicrafts cooperative society is one of the prominent organization in the entire valley setting standards and excellence towards this end. It has been credited with class A status for its unprecedented growth and welfare of its artisans members.

Kotwali Bazaar

Tourist Attractions : Miniatures, Arts, Crafts

When you are in himachal you enjoy shopping in kotwali bazaar. While here you cannot miss checking the Kangra Art Museum that has wonderful collection of miniatures, arts, crafts, and rich past, displays artifacts that date back to the 5th century.This joint along with array of shops, little cafes and eating outlets makes it an attraction in its own. This treasure trove also displays collection of sculptures, pottery, and anthropological items

Mcleodganj Market

Tourist Attractions : Budha temple,Tibetan handicraft centre

The Tibetan Institute of performing Arts(TIPA) is 1km. walk from McLeod Ganj and preserves a number of musical dance and theatrical traditions of Tibet. It holds an annual 10-day folk opera commencing on the second Saturday of April. There is also a Tibetan handicraft centre situated at McLeod Ganj and a Sunday market is organized at about 10 minutes walk from here. A number of residential buildings, restaurants, antique and curio shops, together with famous Tibetan institutions have lent importance to McLeod Ganj. The Budha temple is situated opposite to the present abode of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and is worth a visit.

Mcleodganj Market

Khadi Gram Udyog

The first person who bought khadi into recognisation is Mahatma Gandhi and he urged the people of India to wear khadi garments. Gandhiji thought that we have to made something ourself which shows the unity of India.Gandhi wrote. Swaraj (self-rule) without swadeshi (country made goods) is a lifeless corpse and if Swadeshi is the soul of Swaraj, khadi is the essence of swadeshi. In fact, khadi (which means any cloth that is hand spun and hand woven) had a most religious role in marriages when brides in India were presented with a khada charkha in their wedding trousseau to encourage spinning of the yarn.Therefore khadi became not only a symbol of revolution and resistance but part of an Indian identity.Gandhi confessed though, When I first discovered the spinning wheel it was purely through intuition. It was not backed by knowledge so much so that I confused charkha with kargha (handloom).These two forms of fabrics have always confused people. While khadi is hand made, handloom yarn is processed at the mills.

Tibetan Bazaar

Tourist Attractions :Kullu shawls, Himachal caps,Tibetan Carpets

Tibetan Bazaar in Himachal Pradesh has also many good stuff in handicrafts and handlooms. In any destination of the state you can go shopping in Himachal Pradesh.The Tibetan traders have unique variety of handicrafts and handlooms. Tibetan bazaars are also good place for shopping in Himachal Pradesh. Street-side stalls spring up in the evening offering variety and good bargain. The soft wool products sold by them are all time hits with those who are interested in shopping in Himachal Pradesh.Kullu shawls, Himachal caps,Tibetan Carpets,Woolen pullovers, jackets, cardigans, gloves,Apples, pickles, jams and juices Buddhist paintings on cloth,Metalware, Silver and turquoise jewellery.

Bhuttico

Tourist Attractions : Loi or Chaddar, Bhuttico Shawls

When winters came in india.Its shopping bazaar is all set for the year’s most demanding season.Shopping in Himachal Pradesh is altogether a different experience for tourists.Whether indians or outsiders, people go crazy to buy the handloom products of Himachal Pradesh and its woolen items.With this what clicks us first is Bhuttico Shawls.The Proud Product of Kullu,Himachal Pradesh.Reasonable in rate but extraordinary in quality. Made from Merino wool, Angora wool, Pashmina wool, local sheep wool or a combination of any of these kullu shawls are gaining popularity day by day.They are stylish and warm.The Bhuttico society has taken all measures to keep their products in pace with the ever changing fashion in today’s world.Hey, if you think they are limited to women only, then think again.Even men are liking their shawls known as Loi or Chaddar.The designs are Traditional as well as Modern with a wide range of patterns to choose from.The specialities include Angora shawls and Pashmina shawls.

The Mall

Tourist Attractions : Loi or Chaddar, Bhuttico Shawls

The Mall, is a place seen by every visitor who visited himachal. It is called the lifeline of himachal. It is a fairly level meandering esplanade that runs along the ridge. Mall road is the main street in Shimla. Most of the major hotels, restaurants, recreation centres are situated on The Mall. The Mall was constructed by the British, and precautions were taken to make sure that the road does not gets adversely affected. All the colonial structures are situated on The Mall.

Indira Market Square

Tourist Attractions : The main attraction of shopping in Mandi is Indira Market Square.

The bus station is located across the river in the newer east side of the town. It is about a 15-minute walk from the square.There are several hotels and places to eat in or near the square.

Kangra Tea Factory

Tourist Attractions :

In 1849 Dr. Jameson researches on the valley of Kangra in HP and found it suitable for tea cultivation. He brought chinese tea plants from the nurseries at Almora and Dehradun and planted them in Government gardens at Kangra, Nagrota and Bhawarna. Despite having suffered Kangra Valley – An areal view a good deal during transit the plants performed excellent in growth. This encouraged the government to go ahead for the establishment of tea industry in the valley. In Himachal Pradesh tea is grown in the Mandi and the Kangra districts over 2063 hectare area. Kangra renowned ads “the valley of gods” is famous for its distinct flavoured tea. Below the towering and exquisitely beautiful snow clad Dhauladhar Mountain, tea has been grown on the gentle slopes of the outer Himalayas since 1949.Tea in Himachal Pradesh is grown at an elevation ranging from 3500- 5500 meters above mean sea level, having a temperature range of 13- 35 degree Celsius during march through October, the cropping season, and yearly precipitation around 250 – 230 cms of well distributed rains.Both black and green teas are manufactured in the kangra valley. Earlier black teas were manufactured by the Britishers only while the green tea by the native proprietors because the green tea manufacturing required very less machinery and also the market for green tea trade was available at Amritsar.

Lakkad Bazaar

The Lakkad bazaar is situated in just the nearby corner of the Ridge. The bazaar becomes heavily crowded during the tourist seasons of Shimla. The shops in the Lakkad bazaar overflow with variety of items including the wondrous wood made articles like the wooden boxes, jewelry, images, fruit bowls and many more.The Lakkad bazaar always looks colorful and in a merry mood because of the colorful items and garments that stuffs the market shops. Tourists have a high attraction to this place.

Lakkad Bazaar also has got hotels for the tourists and guests like the White hotel and Hotel Diplomat. This place also stocks a number of cheap restaurants. The price of the good is cheap in the bazaar. Also fresh vegetables are available from the market of Lakkad bazaar. The bazaar also houses a roller skating ring where during the winter carnivals, skating and other ice sports are organized.

Shopping in Himachal

Nov 8 2023