Jaisalmer- the word evokes the imagery of scenic desert, sand dunes, traditional Rajasthani music, dance, and desert safaris. It surely is all this and much more. Established on the great Thar desert, Jaisalmer has its carnivals, its camelback rides, its camps, fun, food and tradition. A trip to Rajasthan is incomplete without a few days spent in Jaisalmer. Yet, for those who don’t know it, is much more than just the desert. Whenever you get the chance to discover it or even if you have already been there, one of the best things is its markets.
The souvenirs for the friends and family and some of you make the trip memorable. Malls and big brands are the same everywhere; what makes shopping really fun is if the place you are visiting has a vernacular market that sells things that would mean something to you. And luckily for everyone, visiting Jaisalmer, this place has plenty of it. So without further ado, here is the list of best shopping places in Jaisalmer.
6 Best Shopping Places in Jaisalmer
1. Sadar Bazaar
Sadar Bazaar is one of the most popular shopping places in Jaisalmer. More so because it is a wholesale and retail market and you can find almost everything that you look for in Jaisalmer. It has got everything from Dupattas to mirror work. shawls, gem jewellery, wooden stuff, leather items. It is a wholesome market, and a different world altogether.
- Location: Sadar Bazaar, Jaisalmer
- Timings: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- What to buy in Sadar Bazaar: shawls, chunky jewellery, things made of wood and leather
2. Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan – Seema Gram
When in Jaisalmer, you reach this beautiful place called Seema Gram. The best place to visit here is the Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan, an artefact and handicraft centre. The major attraction of this place is clothing and other items of the traditional hand-woven material Khadi. This material can be seen worn by many locals who look beautiful in their bright, colourful dresses, which makes you want to buy some. It is a government-run emporium; hence, the rates are very reasonable. You can also buy beautiful handicrafts and artefacts from here which carry the distinctive feel of the place.
- Location: Near Town Centre Seemagram Campus, Jaisalmer
- Timings: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- What to buy in Khadi Gramodyog, Seema Gram: shawls, dupattas
3. Sonaron Ka Baas
The name sonaron ka baas translates to “abode of the goldsmiths”, but this place isn’t just restricted to the goldsmiths. It embraces all the kind of lapidaries. You will find some of the best street-jewellery ever in this place, which is totally unique to Jaisalmer. It definitely is one of the best shopping places in Jaisalmer, especially for women who love their ornaments.
There is a variety of range on offer here, from specially designed Gold and Silver jewellery to precious and semi-precious ornaments. You just need to have an eye for the quality, and you are good to go here.
- Location: Sadar Bazaar, Jaisalmer
- Timings: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- What to buy in Sonaron ka Baas: elegant gold and silver jewellery
4. Manak Chowk
One thing that makes this bazaar special is that it is one of the oldest markets in the whole state of Rajasthan. It is a part of the heritage, and that reflects in this market. Situated at the entrance of Jaisalmer fort, this market is relevant since medieval times. The most famous items here are its antiques and artefacts that come at reasonable prices. Among other things, there are leather goods, jewellery and traditional Rajasthani dresses.
One of the special features of this place is that it has small niche shops as well as the big stores with high priced items; this provides you with a choice as per your budget. Wandering in this bazaar, you will feel yourself immersed in the royal tradition and bazaars of an era gone by, which is why this considered one of the best shopping places in Jaisalmer.
- Location: Manak Chowk, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer
- Timings: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- What to buy in Manak Chowk: Handicrafts and textile
5. Pansari Bazaar
This one is the “oldest” market of the beautiful city of Jaisalmer. So consider a walk down this market as a walk down the history lane. It is enriched with tradition and culture. Also known as Villager’s market; this market is famous for its knick-knacks, textiles and small souvenirs to get for your loved ones and for yourself, especially one of those cute puppets and who knows, back at home you might able to pull off a puppet show of your own. The things you will get here are as charming and beautiful as the city of Jaisalmer itself.
- Location: Pansari Bazaar, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer
- Timings: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- What to buy in Sadar Bazaar: shawls, chunky jewellery, things made of wood and leather
6. Bhatia Bazaar
One of the factors that make this bazaar special is that it is pretty much located in the centre of the city. Like the other bazaars, it offers you a variety of shops as per your budget and specialises in gift items like souvenirs and traditional knick-knacks. You can also find a lot of shops offering colourful silk clothing, famous Jaisalmeri mirror work and leather items. Plus there are also many shops where you can find old-school oil lamp, designer wooden boxes, carpets and much more.
- Location: Bhatia Bazaar, Jaisalmer
- Timings: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- What to buy in Bhatia Bazaar: wood carvings, handicrafts, textiles with mirror works
By the end of the list, you might have come to know that best shopping places of Jaisalmer unlike those malls of big cities are in fact bazaars of the city, the best quality that they possess over the others is a novelty for the buyer which is wrapped with a glorious history and a rich tradition. If you want to take a part of Rajasthan back to your hometowns with you, come and shop in these beautiful bazaars of Jaisalmer and do share your experience with us.