New Delhi, Friday, June 03, 2011
16 my city
htcity
We take a walk through the State Emporia Complex — where you can get the best that Indian states have to offer Pragiyotika, ASSAM
PHOTOS: ZABEEH AFAQUE
As soon as you enter the emporium, you will be greeted by the strong aroma of tea. The emporium has an exclusive range of tea leaves to choose from. Try from the green tea (R300), strong tea (R147) and Assam full leaf (R192). The emporium also has to offer a range of seasonal tea — first flash tea and second flash tea (R180). Another section that is bound to catch your eye is the cane furniture. A three piece sofa set is available for R28,000. You could also go for the cane seats, available in three sizes (R325, R400 and R500). Moga silk sari (R14,000 onwards) is also a hit here. Our pick: Assam full leaf tea (R192) Tel: 011- 23344784, B-1 Discount time: Durga Puja and Moga Bihu
Nagaland EMPORIUM Popular for woolen wear with tribal prints, this emporium has most of the products coloured as red, black and white. You can go for a stole priced at R250 and shawls starting from the range of R1,950. One could also go for the cane hanging and table lamps, priced at R315. A bestseller here is the traditional spear set, available in five different sizes and priced at R80 onwards. Our Pick: Lauj Shawl Tel: 011- 23343161, C-2 Discount time: No specific sale time
Ambapali,BIHAR Art lovers must visit this emporium for its Madhubani paintings and saris. Starting from the range of R1,000 till R35,000, the paintings are exotic and usually depict Indian mythological tales. Go for the Bhagalpuri silk saris here, starting from R2,000. A hit here is the Madhubani silk sari, available in the range of R3,900 to R6,300. If shopping for kids is on your mind, then visit the first level of the emporium and buy traditional Bihari costumes for kids starting from R75. Our pick: Madhubani sari (R3,900 onwards) Tel: 011-23363081, A-5 Discount time: October-November (Diwali)
Gurjari, GUJARAT
If ethnic wear is your pick, then come to this emporium to find traditional Bandhani and Bandhej dupattas and saris. Popular with the youngsters, the range of these dupattas starts from R400. The bestseller here is the Sankheda furniture. The wooden furniture is painted in bright colours and gold with metallic hangings. A four piece sofa set costs R8,000. Also check out colourful and sequined wall hangings and bandhanwars starting from R105. The basement of the emporium has Bandhani, Patola, Ghadchola and Lehriya saris. Our pick: Bandhani dupatta Tel: 011-23341682, A-6 Discount time: March second week
Lepakshi, ANDHRA PRADESH The highlight of this emporium is the range of Kondapally toys, which are made from wood. Available in shapes of birds and transport items, the toys are available from R29 to R1,000. The emporium also offers Ponchampally, Gadwale and Venkatagiri saris and cloth materials. A hit with most tourists coming here is the wood-lined painting available for R2,363. Our Pick: Kondapally toys Tel: 011-23363892, B-6 Discount time: Annual sale in April
SHOP @ MINI INDIA
Mrignayani, MADHYA PRADESH
■
htcity
This emporium has a number of options in silk materials. From Chanderi to Maheshwari silk saris and dress materials, the emporium is known for the rich variety and quality of the materials, which are priced from R2,000 onwards. Handicrafts and hand woven wall hangings are the next most sought after items on sale here. Priced between R300 to R1,500, the emporium is abuzz with shoppers. Our pick: Silk saris and materials Tel: 011-23363320, B-8 Discount time: October (Diwali)
This emporium has an exclusive collection of marble stone decorative pieces, replicas of the Taj Mahal, jewellery boxes and cases. Authentic marble stoneware is available here at R1,000 onwards. Gangotri is frequented by visitors for the fine quality of chikan cloth material available here. Other attractions are the patri work handicrafts (R2,000 upwards), terracotta items (R1,000 upwards) and the semi-precious stones jewellery (R1,500 to R3,500). Our Pick: Marble stone boxes Tel: 011 - 23343559, B-5 Discount time: October - November
Special
feature
W
ant wooden toys from Kondapally, banana fibre bags made in Kerala or phulkari dupattas from Punjab? Head to the State Emporia Complex in CP where state-specific shops offer handicrafts, clothes, jewellery and other authentic stuff. We take you through this lane where the best of India comes together.
Where: Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place Nearest Metro Station: Rajiv Chowk on the Yellow Line
Utkalika, ORISSA This colourful emporium has a variety of designs in appliqué work from Pipli. You can find tents, bedsheets, rugs, and umbrellas here. Available for R1,000 to R2,000. The emporium is flooded with sandstone artifacts and statues, which are the best selling items here. Available in different sizes and forms, the range of these stone pieces range from R2,000 to R1,00,000. Another attraction here is the Gandhari wood Konark field art piece for R3,183. We leave the rest to you to discover. Our Pick: Sandstone art pieces Tel: 011 - 23340763, B-4 Discount time: June (Rajju festival)
On lines with the hybrid culture of the Capital, is the Delhi State Emporium that is spread across three floors. We found the basement of the emporium most interesting. Go for the ethnic juttis here. The price range starts from R200. An all-time attraction with foreign tourists is the bangle corner that offers colourful glass and metallic bangles, with the price R75 onwards. The emporium has saris, other jewellery items, handicrafts, carpets and home linen to offer. Out of all the products available here, the most expensive is the marble ware. The exotic hand carved pots and decorative pieces have real gold polish on it. The price can go as high as R65,000. Our pick: Glass and metallic bangles Tel: 011-23340343, A-3/4 Discount time: October - November
Trimourti, MAHARASHTRA You can find authentic Kolhapuri chappals here, available from R400 onwards. The emporium is also a haven for the artsy kinds, with 3D paintings available here from R700 to R2,400, as well as Warli and Dabolkar paintings. You can also find Paithani saris (R10,000 - R50,000) and Poona cotton saris (R800 -R2,400) among others. The basement of the emporium has art pieces and handicrafts made of beetel and copper. Our Pick: Kolhapuri chappals Tel: 011-23363888, A-8 Discount time: September (Ganesh Chatturthi)
The bestseller at this emporium is the traditional hand embroidery of Punjab — Phulkari. From dupattas, suit materials to bed linens, the colourful craft of Phulkari offers much more here. The bed linen is priced at R16,500. The emporium is also frequented by visitors for authentic Punjabi Patiala salwars, which start from R800 onwards. Very unique to this emporium is the Hoshiarpur furniture, which ranges from R200 - R3,000. When here, don’t miss the maharaja royal chair priced at R11,000. Also on display for sale are statues and figurines made of clay and wood. Our Pick: Phulkari and the maharaja royal chair Tel: 011-23363027, C-6 Discount time: Baisakhi and Lohri
As soon as you enter the emporium, an exotic range of saris will surely catch your eye. The Dhakai Jamdani sari, which costs about R15,000, is a bestseller here. Other varieties of saris include cotton and tussar saris (R600 R10,000). You will also like the sholapith idols here, available from R150 - R1,000. You can also check out authentic Bengali jute bags (R100 - R500), curtains (R300 onwards) and floor rugs (R150 onwards). The main attraction here is the Tea Hut — an entire corner dedicated to tea from Darjeeling. It houses tea leaves, as well as tea sticks in four flavours that cost R98 for 10 sticks. Our pick: Darjeeling tea sticks Tel: 011-23344745, A-2 Discount time: October (Durga Puja)
Gangotri, UTTAR PRADESH
vaishali.bhambri@hindustantimes.com
Delhi EMPORIUM
Manjusha, WEST BENGAL
Eco-friendly enthusiasts can visit this emporium for the banana fibre bags, which are made from this material available only in South India. Starting from the price range of R200, the bags come in different shapes and designs. Go for the mobile covers and table coaster, which are priced at R50 onwards. Don’t miss the sandalwood incense sticks from Mysore available here. Priced at R40 for small and R80 for large pack, these are a hit here. One could also go for the wood-carved handicrafts offered here. Our Pick: Banana fibre bags Tel: 011-23343266, B-7 Discount time: August - September (Onam)
Vaishali Bhambri
Cauvery, KARNATAKA
Purbasha, TRIPURA
Come here for some authentic sandal wood fragrances, which according to the salesman, lasts even after the cloth is washed. Available for an affordable price range of R44 to R200, the bestseller perfume here is the Cauvery Sandal Oriental Spray. The most expensive product on sale here is the range of the Kinhar wood statues. A statue of a Goddess, priced at R43,875 is quite appealing. The range of the artifacts go up to R7,00,000. Also available here are various specialities of cloth materials and saris. Our pick: The sandalwood perfume Tel: 011-23363202, C-24 Discount time: Currently on
Known for the Kantha work saris and suit pieces, this emporium has hand embroidered cloth materials from artistes all across the North East. Go for the stoles available here at the price range of R1,500 to R3,000. One could also go for the cane furniture available here. The handy cane baskets, priced at R300 onwards, can be used for multiple purposes. The emporium is also frequented by visitors for the semi-precious stone studded jewellery available here. Our Pick: Kantha work stoles Tel: 011- 23364610, B-3 Discount time: Diwali
Himachal PradeshEMPORIUM Phulkari, PUNJAB One must visit this emporium for original Himachali shawls and suit pieces, available all around the year, starting from R1,000. An interesting item here is the Pullan, a winter mojri made of jute. Priced at R250, this footwear is commonly worn by natives of the state during winters. Also check out the jackets, coats and caps here. Our Pick: Pullan Tel: 011-23363087, C-3 Discount time: October
Kairali, KERALA
Haryana STATE EMPORIUM This emporium is famous for hand embroidered and hand woven bedsheets, cushion and sofa covers. The range of the bedsheet starts from R10,000 onwards. Apart from various types of handicrafts, an entire range of hand woven home linen by Shrijan, a nongovernmental organisation that works in the state, are also available here. A set of six cushion covers costs R24,750. Our Pick: Hand woven home linen Tel: 011-23347681, C-8 Discount time: October (Diwali)
Rajasthali, RAJASTHAN
Poompuhar,
Come here to give an ethnic twist to your jewellery collection with lac earrings, bangles and sets. Go for the authentic lac earrings priced at R150 to R500 or the necklace sets for R500 to R1,500. The emporium also has an exotic collection of bangles. Executives at Rajasthali say that this is the only place in the city to find these designs. The emporium is known for the 12 masha (12 months), a set of paintings that show Lord Krishna and Radha in the 12 different weather transformations. The set is available for R50,000. Other famous varieties of artwork include the Bani Thani and the Kishangarh saheli paintings. Our pick: Lac jewellery (R50 - R1,500) Tel: 011-23343140, B-2 Discount time: Navaratri and Diwali
TAMIL NADU Manipur STATE EMPORIUM
This emporium sells traditional Kanjivaram silk saris in the price range of R6,000 to R50,000. One thing that will sure catch your eye is the panchtatva statue. The most expensive item in the emporium, priced at R1,70,000, the statue is made of five metals — brass, copper, silver, gold and zinc. Smaller statues are available starting from R10,000. The statues are usually of Indian mythological characters. Our pick: Kanjivaram silk sari Tel: 011-23363913, C-1 Discount time: Pongal and Dussehra
You can find the eco-friendly water reed mattress, which is ideal for use in summer time, here. Prescribed by doctors to people suffering from backache, they are priced at R1,400 for the thick mattress, R1,100 for the single layer and R400 for a chair seat. Very typical to the state are the art pieces made by the tribes. The most sought after ones are by the Tankhuri and Kooki tribe. A special mention here would be an art piece that is priced at R2,500, the design and formation of which highlights the history of the Kooki tribe in the state. Our pick: Water reed mattress Tel: 011- 23746359, C-7 Discount Time: December (Handicrafts Week)