5 Best Places to Shop in Udaipur, Rajasthan

Housed in a restored 17th-century haveli hidden in the labyrinthine lanes of the Old City, this long-standing shop is a treasure trove of handicrafts and home decor spread across 32 galleries over eight floors. You will find everything from vintage pichwais and carpets to Pashmina shawls and Kashmiri rugs as well as bedcovers, cushion covers, silver jewelry, and clothes. It also houses Vipul Shah Bags, a luxury label that gives a new spin to antique Indian handicrafts through a range of eclectic (if somewhat eccentric) purses, clutches, and totes—these have even adorned the arms of many a Hollywood and Bollywood celebrity. If you're looking for high-quality souvenirs to take home, this is the place in Udaipur.

A suburb of Udaipur on the road exiting the city towards Jaipur (15–20 minutes away from the city center), Bhuwana is the place to buy something carved in marble, be it an elephant almost as large as your car or a small knickknack like a soap tray or serving dish. There are rows and rows of shops here, where, with a little bargaining (never take the first price), you will get a good deal. Marble workshops are attached to many of the stores and you may be able to see artisans at work. Check with your hotel or local guide to arrange a car.

If your time is limited, head straight to the area around the Jagdish Temple, where you'll find an array of shops stocking an almost overwhelming variety of leather-bound journals, deity statues, and knickknacks; if bargaining isn't your thing, though, head to an emporium instead. The government-run Rajasthali emporium (there's also a larger branch in Jaipur) sells high-quality Rajasthani arts and handicrafts, and is a good place to pick up a wool-stuffed washable quilt with a Rajasthani motif. The showroom near Jagdish temple is a bit run-down and looks dusty, but the prices here are fixed.

One of the oldest NGOs in India, working for the advancement of the village poor, Sadhna works with rural women in the Udaipur district and trains them to produce traditional appliqué work on cushion covers, bedspreads, silk stoles, bags, kurtas, light quilts, and jackets. Sadhna has gained popularity over the years, and the women also tour around the country to exhibitions in major cities during festivals. There's another branch near the Jagdish Temple in the Old City.

While you're in the Jagdish Temple area, make sure you check out the collection of more than 500 handmade wooden puppets in varying shapes and sizes at this small shop. Ask the folk artist proprietor, Rajesh Gurjargour, an excellent puppeteer, for a private demonstration. Miniature paintings, embroidered jackets, handcrafted soft toys, and knickknacks are also for sale.