Souvenirs From India – What To Buy and From Where

Last updated on December 25th, 2021 at 03:48 am

Namaste! Are you planning a vacation to India? You have just made the right decision. India is home to a wide array of historical relics & monuments with 1000 years of history, geographically unique locations and culturally diverse regions. And you would certainly want to bring back memories in the form of souvenirs from India.

In this guide, I take you through a curated list of the best souvenirs from India that you can pick up for yourself and your loved ones.

Disclaimer: All images in this post are from Getty Images, Canva Pro

1) Handicraft Souvenirs From India

1.1 Puppets from Rajasthan

Bring home the traditional Rajasthan puppets also known as Kathputli (“Kath” means wood and “Putli” means Doll) in local lingo. These bright & colorful string puppets are part of Rajasthan’s heritage and the puppet shows are a popular source of entertainment in the state.

These puppets can brighten up any corner of your home and are one of the best handicrafts souvenirs from India.

Get them from:

• Local flea markets in Rajasthan. The price range depends on the size, starting from INR 100 onwards.

• Rajasthan State Emporium across major Indian states.

1.2 Bankura Horse (Terracotta Horse) from West Bengal

Terracotta artifacts are found in India from the earliest times. Bankura Horse  (or “Bankura r Ghora” in local lingo) is one of the famous ones from the Terracotta artifacts family in India.

Bankura Horse is a Terracotta horse easily identifiable by its distinct form – long stout neck, upright ears and barrel-like body and varies in size from 6 Inches to 4 Feet. These are crafted in Panchmura village in Bankura district in West Bengal.

Now-a-days, Bankura Horse is found in other materials also like wood or brass though the original one is the Terracotta version. A pair of Bankura Horse will certainly add that touch of art to your living room.

TRIVIA : Bankura Horse is the logo of Central Cottage Industries Emporium – A Government of India Undertaking.

Get them from:

If you are visiting Kolkata, roadsides shops sell these at very affordable price. Else, pay a quick visit to West Bengal State Emporium and Central Cottage Industries across major states in India.

1.3 Wooden Toys from ChannaPatna

Channapatna is a small town in the South Indian state of Karnataka and is well known for manufacturing colorful wooden toys. These wooden toys come in various sizes and shapes. These are Crafted by skilled men and women artisans of Channapatna town & are made from soft ivory wood, thereafter, quoted with lacquer.

These affordable toys are eco-friendly, non-toxic, colorful and safe for children to play with. A perfect gift for the little one and for your younger self!

Get them from:

• From Toy Stores in Channapatna – a recommended one is Channapatna Toys in Channapatna

• From Cauvery –  Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd in Bangalore and other cities( check this link for Showrooms in India)

• National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

Also Read: 2-Day Hampi Itinerary

1.4 Colorful Decorative storage boxes

The colorful and cute miniature storage boxes are great decorative items to adorn your vanity table. They come in different colors embellished with mirrors and beads.

Get them from:

A great variety of these miniature boxes are available at Meena Bazaar in Red Fort, Delhi. Meena Bazaar dates back to Mughal Dynasty and is a world in itself with an array of Indian artifacts on offer. Check them out while in Delhi.

1.5 Kathakali Mask

Is Kerala on your India Itinerary? In case it is,  then Kathakali Mask is a souvenir to collect from God’s Own Country.

Kathakali is a classical Dance form of India originating from Kerala and convey mythological stories through the dance. Kathakali dancers apply very elaborate colorful facial makeup in addition to the ornate costume. This heavy makeup makes the dancers look like they are wearing masks, though they are not.

Kathakali masks, depicting the facial makeup of the dancers mostly come in Paper-Mache variety.

Get them from :

• Kairali – Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala in Trivandrum. Also check out their other locations across India in the link provided.

• Good Home décor stores across Kerala

Also Read: Things To Do In Kannur, Kerala

1.6 Sandalwood Carvings

If you are visiting Karnataka or Kerala in Southern part of India, Sandalwood artifacts would be a nice souvenir to pick up.

Get them from:

From Cauvery –  Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd in Bangalore and other cities( check this link for showrooms in India)

1.7 Warli Painting from Maharashtra

Warli Painting is a tribal painting form using basic geometrical shapes like circle, triangle and square. It represents the humble life of the people of Warli tribe, an indigenous tribe from the western state of Maharashtra.

The simplicity and the intricacy of this painting form has made it ever popular and now-a-days people adorn their living room accent walls with replicas of this painting.

You will get this painting in the form of paper scrolls or on piece of fabric – both the varieties can be framed as a wall art.

Get them from:

Trimurti: Maharashtra Emporium in New Delhi and Mumbai

2) Fabrics and Accessories Souvenirs From India

2.1 Kashmiri Pashmina Shawl

The delicate and soft Pashmina Shawls are made from a very special variety of wool. This wool comes from the fleece of an indigenous breed of Kashmiri goat found in high altitudes of the Himalayas.  Pashminas require very intricate craftsmanship.

And all these combined make authentic Pashmina an expensive souvenir to carry back home ranging from 15,00 INR and above.

Quick Tip:  Buy Kashmiri Pashmina Shawls with Kashmir Pashmina GI mark – a non-removable label imprinted by Testing and Quality Certification Centre  at Craft Development Centre, Srinagar  certifying the piece is 100% Pashmina and is hand-spun &hand-woven.

Get them from:

Kashmir Emporium stores across major cities in India, from shops in Kashmir and Ladakh.

2.2 Lucknow Chikan  Kurtas

The elegant and resplendent Chikan Kurtas make a stylish addition to the wardrobe of women and men.

“Chikan” refers to a beautiful artsy hand-embroidery on fabrics, mostly hailing from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The art of creation of chikan work is called “Chikankari’.

Usually, Chikan kurtas are most well-known as being embroidered on pastel shaded cotton fabric. However, now-a-days it is available in all colors.

Good news! Lucknow Chikan Kurtas are stylish souvenirs from India for guys as well.

Get them from:

Shops in Lucknow, Dilli Haat in New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh State Emporium across major cities in India, Central Cottage Industries, New Delhi.

2.3 Sari

Oxford Dictionary defines Sari as “a garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women from South Asia”

Sari is considered as the emblem of Indian woman. There are very few Indian women who do not have fetish for a good sari.

And that makes it difficult to recommend just a few varieties because there are so many available!

From a souvenir perspective, you can go for a Kanchipuram Silk Sari.

Kanchipuram Silk Sari

Kanchipuram Sarees hail from Kanchipuram, a small town in Tamil Nadu. If you are visiting South India and want to add a Sari to your wardrobe, then a Kanchipuram Silk is a must addition. These are available in different varieties with plain ones to more ornate ones catering to everyone’s taste and requirement.

Get them from:

Kanchipuram Saris are available across all good sari shops in South India. You can also visit Kanchipuram (45 Minutes from Chennai)  where you get to see the weavers in action and also get the saris at a cheaper price. Along with picking up a souvenir, it will also be a great experience to watch the actual sari in making,

Visit the reputed Nalli store to grab your pick. Nalli stores are present across major cities in India.

2.4 Embroidered and Mirror-work Dupattas

While draping a Sari requires skill, Dupattas are as easy as draping a Stole.

The Dupatta or the shawl-like scarf is actually part of the Salwar-Kameez (Indian wear of women), but doubles up as a stole. Some colorful and vibrant ones have mirror-work adorning them. They are sold separately or as part of Kurta-Pajama set.

Get them from:

Available across India. Some good varieties are available from Rajasthan, Dilli Haat in Delhi

2.5 Juttis

Juttis are ethnic Indian footwear made with a base of leather and then topped with a layer of colorful cloth and embellishments. These are beautiful, comfortable, super stylish and affordable. Certainly a must-have from India!

Get Them from:

Roadside shops in Rajasthan, Dilli Haat in Delhi, major markets in Delhi (like Lajpat Nagar Market, Sarojininagar Market)

2.6 Indian Junk Jewelry

My absolute favorite! You will get an array of earrings, rings, bangles, neckpieces in all imaginable designs – Oxidized jewelry, Silver-finish jewelry, artificial stone jewelry, thread-work & bead jewelry and the list goes on. Affordable and eye-catching, a good piece of junk jewelry can spruce up any outfit.

Get them from:

Some of the best ones are available from roadside shops. Be ready for haggling to get a good bargain! It starts from prices as low as 50 INR.

3) Food Souvenirs From India

3.1 Indian Spices

All those Butter Chicken, Paneer Masalas and variety of Indian curries owe their flavor from the array of Indian spices. The cuisines also vary a lot across India that demands usage of different spices in the local dishes.

While you must be tasting local cuisines, it would be good to grab a few spices if you fancy stirring up an Indian dish once back home.

Some basic Indian Spices to carry back home  would be Garam Masala Powder, Tandoori Masala, Cumin powder, Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder and Curry Powder. Curry Powder specifically has different versions, but any version would be OK to enhance the flavor of a dish.

Get them from:

Any local store across India. If you are visiting South India, ensure to grab whole Cinnamon, Cardamom, Star Anise from there.

3.2 Indian Tea and Coffee

Darjeeling Tea

Darjeeling Tea is famous for its fragrance and soothing flavor and is dearly loved by the tea connoisseurs across the world. Characterized by long leaves, Darjeeling Tea originates from Darjeeling, a hill station in the state of West Bengal.

While there are varieties of good Darjeeling Tea available, get a pack of Makaibari Darjeeling Tea as your Tea souvenir.

Assam Tea:

Assam Tea is another flavorful black tea grown in the northeastern state of Assam.

Get them from:

Kolkata, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Assam

Coffee:

Filter Coffee from South India is my personal favorite. This variety uses freshly roasted and ground coffee beans that retains the coffee flavor.

You will need a small coffee filter to brew that perfect cup of filter coffee.

All breakfast joints across South India serve Filter Coffee and is a great way to freshen yourself while on a road trip.

Get them from:

While filter coffee is available across major stores in South India, some great varieties of coffee can be picked up from Chikmagalur.

Shopping Tips

• If you are planning to explore the Golden Triangle in India, add Dilli Haat to your Delhi itinerary. Dilli Haat is one of the most vibrant flea markets I have ever visited in India. You can soak yourself in cultural events while on an ethnic-India shopping spree here.

• If you are buying something from road-side stalls, be prepared to bargain. This is pretty much the same across all parts of India.

• Central Cottage Industries by Government of India brings you the finest handicraft and fabric items. It is recommended that you visit an outlet of Cottage Industry for authentic handicrafts or fabric items. Outlets of Central Cottage Industries are present across all major cities in India.

• State Emporiums for each Indian State also has great collections of artifacts from that particular state.

Closing Thoughts

Hope this post will help you decide on the souvenirs to get from India.

Let me know in comment section if you already own a few!