For tourists from overseas, shopping in India is absolutely fascinating. While here, one should check out the local markets patronised by local residents, rather than the shopping malls. The city of Agra is often viewed by many travellers as a bargain hunter's paradise. Must buys in Agra include miniature sculptures of the Taj Mahal, splendid carpets and rich embroidery works. Take your pick, the items are surely worth every rupee. It is best to shop at government emporiums and souvenir shops approved by the Uttar Pradesh State Government. You can look for leather goods, rugs, brassware, carpets, jewellery, embroidery work and marble work in the shops of Sadar Bazaar, Raja-ki-Mandi, Kinari Bazar, Taj Mahal Complex and the Sanjay Place. There is an open-air emporium in Shilpgram, the crafts village, which showcases a wide range of Indian art and artefacts.
Carpet weaving in Agra is a legacy of the Mughal period and both traditional and new designs are found here. The traditional oriental designs such as the Indo-Ispahan and Indo- Kashan differ a little in their weave patterns. The tradition of weaving followed here is the “calling out” system, where the master weaver calls out the colours that other weavers have to use for each knot in the design. |
