Jaipur is one of the most popular shopping destinations in India. Traditional Jewelry, Ethnic Handlooms & textiles, leather goods, handicrafts, souvenirs and other exotic artifacts draw tourists from all over the world to Jaipur.
A “Bazar” (sometimes spelt bazaar) is a bustling marketplace consisting of streets lined with small shops and stalls, where a variety of goods are sold. The term bazaar originates from Persian and it refers to a town’s public market district. To a casual observer, a bazar might seem chaotic and unorganized but there is a method to the madness. 🙂 In days gone by, Bazar’s were the lifeblood of a city’s economy. Even today, Bazars play a vital role in the business ecosystem of small towns and villages.
Here are some of the most renown bazars in Jaipur:
Johari Bazar:
Address:
Gangori Bazar, Johari Bazar Rd, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302007, India.
Location:
Johari bazar is located near Hawa Mahal. The driving distance by road from Hawa Mahal to Johari Bazar is only about 1 km/0.6 miles.
Shopping in Johari bazar:
Johari bazar is famous for its Jewelry shops. The Jewelry sold here is made predominantly with beads and a wide variety of assorted gems. In fact, the name “Johari” originated from the Arabic word for “gemstones”.
At Johari Bazar you can even custom order jewelry by specifying the color of both the gems and beads that you desire. Johari bazar has more than 400 shops and stores comprising of high-end and lower cost Jewelry. In addition to Jewelry, the Bazar also has shops that peddle handcrafted clothes, furniture and souvenirs.
Bapu Bazar:
Address:
Biseswarji, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302007, India.
Location:
Bapu bazar is located within the old city area between the Sanganeri Gate and New Gate. It is 4 km/2.4mi away from Jaipur Junction Railway Station.
Shopping in Bapu bazar:
Bapu bazar is famous for Jaipur shoes which are called “Jaipur Juttis” or “Mojari Footwear”. These shoes are made from camel skin and are exotically hand-crafted with vibrant colors and traditional designs and they are made for both men and women. Bapu bazar is also famous for leather bags and wallets, with colorful artistic embroidery.
Tripolia Bazar:
Address:
Kanwar Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Location:
Tripolia bazar is located near the Tripolia gate.
Shopping in Tripolia bazar:
Tripolia bazar is one of the oldest markets in Jaipur. It is located near the Tripolia gate. This gate was built in 1734 and is a humongous structure that marks the entry to the city of Jaipur. Tripolia bazar is most famous for its traditional lac bangles.
This market also has wooden handicrafts, furniture, marble statues and other artifacts. The bustling bazaar is a sight to behold and organised in such a way that shops are lined in separate lanes, each divided on the basis of the predominant craft being sold.
How are lac bangles made?
Lac is found in trees and is a natural resin secreted by a tiny insects called laccifer lacca or kerria lacca. The word Lac is derived from the Sanskrit word lākshā’ representing the number 100,000, which was used for both the Lac insect (because of their huge number) and the scarlet resinous secretion it produces.
The skilled artisans who make lac bangles, collect this lac, transform it into lac coils and mix natural colors to prepare more than 10000 different hues which are used to make the final product. Lac bangles are typically made with non-toxic resins which are safe for the skin. Traditionally, Lac bangles are worn by new brides and are used as a status symbol signifying prosperity.
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