Shopping Tips in India Travel

A land of cultural exuberance and varying customs and traditions, India attracts millions of tourists from all over the globe. Indian travel industry has blossomed greatly in the recent years. Besides the rich cultural heritage and exuberant art and architecture that India possess, another attraction for tourists are the Indian bazaars. Indian markets excel in heart-warming creations of craft and other items of fashion and style.

Shopping in India can be fun. There are huge shopping arcades in India that are stuffed with bright and beautiful items like handicrafts, miniature paintings, semi precious stones, marbles, ethnic jewelry, enameled utensils, silk, showpieces, etc. There's no end to it. You can shop till your heart desires and your wallet permits you. No doubt, India has been called a shopper's paradise. India travel would be incomplete if you don't pick Indian specialties from the shopping markets.

When you travel to India you will be loused with innumerable choices that the markets offer you. An excellent place for shopping in India is the Bandra Linking Road, Mumbai. Mumbai is a city where travelers for around the world flock for latest clothes and accessories after a deadly bargaining process. The place houses almost everything you can think of. From international brands of clothing to local goods to cheap Chinese items. Other cities best known for shopping are Delhi, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Kolkata, etc.

If this is your first travel to India, you need to know what to buy and from where. Besides, there are certain rules to shop wisely. If you aren't aware, there are fair chances of draining your money. You need to be a smart shopper even in an unknown country like India. Read on.

Bargain right. Bargaining is an important aspect of shopping in India. Varieties of goods are widely available in Indian markets and the price can vary at different markets. Hence you need to get the right bargain. For first time shoppers bargaining can be a tricky affair. You can bargain for all items that do not carry MRP (Maximum Retail Price) on them. Such items include clothes, leather goods, carpets, jewelry, etc. The thumb rule to bargain right is to not pay more than half of the initial price offered by the shopkeeper. This rule does not apply for fixed stores.

Another India shopping tip is to look around for the same good at different stores. Do not be attracted by the looks of the items. The sparkling jewelry and beautiful fabrics may seem very attractive but most of them are imitations not real. So it's advised that you buy only after comparing the prices.

India is world famous for its production of tea. Travelers should not forget this item to add to their goodie bag. The best tea is available in Assam. The tea comes in a variety of flavors and fragrances.

For bookworms, India offers a great collection of all types of books- fictional, non-fictional, religious, etc. What's more you can get these books at a price much less than the actual price. Off the roads of Victoria Terminus in Mumbai you can get books of your choice.

Try not to buy antiques that are more than 100 years old. Selling and buying of certain items like ‘shahtoosh' shawls are illegal.

If you need your goods to be delivered, ask the shopkeeper if the price includes delivery charges. If it does not, you might be required to pay customs and handling charges.

A small suggestion for while buying carpet when you travel to India is to get the carpet with a Smiling Carpet label in it. Such carpets are manufactured at factories that do not employ children.