It is guaranteed on your travels that you will come across a wealth of unique, handmade, scented and colourful potential souvenirs in India.
India offers a dazzling array of souvenirs seemingly at every turn that are ideal mementoes for your trip. It is a beautifully diverse and colourful culture that makes it such a bucketlist experience!
Here are some of our favourites including tips for where to find the most memorable souvenirs and thoughtful, unique gifts from India.
- Wearable souvenirs from India
– Pashmina
– Sari / Saree
– Clothes
– Jewellery
– Shoes - Edible souvenirs from India
– Teas
– Spices
– Sweets - Scented souvenirs from India
– Perfume
– Incense
– Oil lamps
– Ayurvedic - Cultural Souvenirs from India
– Textiles and fabrics
– Marblework
– Puppets
– Copperware
– Carpets - Tips for shopping in India
- More about India
Wearable souvenirs from India
India is abuzz with bright wearable fashion and clothing that makes it so famously colourful. The different regions in India produce fabrics with unique designs, styles and textures, allowing you to choose something that suits your taste.
- Read more about what to wear in India as a traveller.
1. Pashmina
A Pashmina is a beautiful woven soft shawl that is popular especially in north India. The word ‘pashmina’ is derived from the ancient Persian word ‘Pashm’ which is a term used for any fibre that can be woven.
The wool for Pashmina comes from a specific breed of goats that is reared especially in the Kashmir region of the north.
For this reason, Pashmina are not a cheap buy. Albeit there are many knock offs and shops selling what they claim to be Pashmina. But the real deal usually comes with a bill of Pashmina purity to prove it is genuine.
A Pashmina is a delicate and beautiful souvenir from India.
- Find Pashmina in Kashmir and Ladakh or at any Kashmeri Emporiums in the cities. (And look out for the genuine certification!).
2. Indian Sari / Saree
A sari (also spelled saree) is a great choice for a souvenir from India as it represents the rich cultural heritage of Indian clothing. Not to mention that it is also a colourfully fabulous way to embrace the culture of India while you are there!
- Find beautiful sari in clothing markets at Chadni Chowk or Sarojini Market in Delhi and in the shopping malls of the cities.
- Read where to go shopping for Indian sari and kurta (tunics) in Delhi.
3. Clothes – Souvenirs from India
I love the colourful clothes in India! It really makes us realise how dark and monotone we dress at home (especially by comparison).
The markets of India are always a buzz to explore. Whether you intended on shopping for clothes or not they do make a beautifully, colourful souvenir from India that represents the culture utterly.
- Tip: Shopping for clothes in the markets is a great colourful and local experience in India.
- Read about the best markets in Delhi.
4. Turbans and headwear
A Pagri is the term for turban used in the Indian subcontinent. It is usually a long plain unstitched cloth. The length may vary according to the type. But the cloth indicates the region and the community of the wearer.
In Rajasthan there are colourfully brilliant Pagri that differ in style according to the environment of the wearer. In Jaisalmer and Jodhpur near the desert, turbans are looser and larger.
While in Punjab, turbans are typically worn by people of the Sikh faith.
These are a unique souvenir from India that depicts the colour and culture of the places you have visited.
- Find Rajasthani turbans at Rajwadi Safa House near the Post Office. In Amritsar try Lal Pagri on Heritage Street near the Golden Temple.
- Read how to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
5. Jewellery and Gemstones – Souvenirs from India
India is a treasure trove of traditional jewellery. Kundan, Meenakari, and Thewa jewellery are known for their elaborate designs and intricate craftsmanship.
Silver jewellery and lac bangles are also popular, offering a unique blend of traditional and contemporary styles. While Rajasthan is famously known as one of the world’s largest centres for the hand-cutting of gems.
- Find jewellery and gemstones from the world-famous gemstone market of Johari Bazaar in Jaipur.
- Read more about things to do in Jaipur.
6. Bangles – Souvenirs from India
Traditionally Indian bangles come in many styles, including glass, lac (resin), and kadas, each reflecting the cultural heritage of its region and catering to different occasions and preferences.
Bangles are an iconic addition to Indian women’s dress and you will see a range of styles worn in the different regions.
You will see delicate glass bangles for everyday wear and ornate gold bangles for special occasions. The variety is vast.
In Jaisalmer, there is an entire bangles market that caters in particular to brides and sells many bangles in red and gold. Or in the villagers market you will see women’s bracelets that are designed to go right up the arm on the wearer – all the way to the armpit!
- Find bangles on sale in many small shops and kiosks at tourist hotspots as well as in the busy markets all over India.
7. Traditional Shoes
Rajasthan in particular is famous for quality and craftmanship with leather goods. The traditional Jodhpuri shoes (Mojaris) are finished with beautiful embroidery and beading making them not only stylish but durable and practical as a souvenir from India.
- Find Mojaris in most Rajasthani marketplaces and bazars.
- Read about (blue) things to do in Jodhpur.
Edible souvenirs from India
8. Tea – Souvenirs from India
No trip to India is complete without sampling its world-famous tea.
The Hindi word ‘Chai’ literally translates in English as ‘tea’. Which from the moment you arrive, can’t help but notice that chai is a seriously massive part of everyday culture in India.
India’s tea growing regions including Assam, Darjeeling, Munnar, and the Western Ghats produce distinct varieties of black, green and white tea.
You can buy beautifully packaged tea from plantation shops or specialty tea boutiques in cities like Delhi and Kolkata, ensuring freshness and authenticity.
- Find tea leaves and packaged tea on sale through the local markets as well as in shops in the cities specialising in all kinds of Indian chai.
- Read our detailed 1-, 2- or 3-day Delhi itinerary.
9. Spices
Indian cuisine is one of the most iconic and renowned culinary styles of the world. Traders have been journeying to India for literally centuries to collect the famous spices of Indian cuisine.
Spices are a light to carry and non-perishable souvenir from India that means you can share your newfound love of the cuisine with friends once home.
Khari Baoli is an epic street market and spice bazaar in Chandni Chowk in Delhi. This market is known as Asia’s largest wholesale spice market! You will find a variety of spices, nuts, herbs and food products like rice and tea.
- Find spices on sale at the markets and bazars in every Indian city. You will have no trouble finding spices as a souvenir from India!
10. Indian sweets
Sweets are a popular and traditional gift in Indian culture. If you are ever invited to a family home or event, sweets are always a safe bet for a gift.
As a gift within India, sweets are usually homemade and filled with melt-in-your-mouth amounts of Ghee. But in modern times there are many packaged options that are suitable to take home.
- Find packaged sweets at Haldiram’s in the city to take home as a souvenir from India.
11. Pickles
Pickles are an integral part of Indian cuisine. One of our favourite street foods and breakfast foods in India is Aloo Paratha with Achaar, a catch-all term for Indian pickle.
Pickles in the north of the country are typically made with mustard oil, while in South India they contain sesame oil.
Achaar is essentially India’s equivalent to Korean kimchi!
There are many bottled types of Achaar that makes a good edible souvenir from India to continue enjoying at home.
- Find bottled Achaar at large chain food stores like Haldiram’s and franchise supermarkets.
12. Copper and brass kitchenware and serving dishes
Copper vessels and serving dishes are traditionally used in Indian kitchens and restaurants for serving lentils, curries and drinks. Indian copper serving dishes are popular for their style and believed to be good for health.
In Punjab, the traditional ‘Handi’ is a multipurpose vessel used to cook dals, curries and biryanis. There is even an entire copper vessel market in Amritsar!
We have bought lots over our years of travel in South Asia. It makes a unique and useful souvenir from India.
- Find copper dishes galore at Guru Bazar, the oldest and main market in Amritsar selling copper dining ware. Or you can find cool copper dishes on Main Bazar in Paharganj, Delhi.
Scented souvenirs from India
In India, scented gifts and souvenirs often include attars (traditional Indian perfumes), incense sticks, scented candles and fragrant spices. Each of these are deeply rooted in the cultural practice of using scent as a way to connect with the divine and create a sense of spirituality and well-being.
Different regions and communities having their own unique fragrance blends.
13. Attar (perfume)
Attar is an Indian perfume. I would describe it as one of the most traditional scented souvenirs from India (along with incense).
Attars are concentrated, natural perfumes often derived from flower petals and essential oils, with a rich history in Ayurvedic practices. Though these days you can find scented Attar to mimic the scents of famous international perfume brands!
- Find Attar in the bazars and markets as well as at shops and kiosks in the cities and shopping malls.
14. Incense
Incense sticks and burning incense is often used in religious ceremonies in India. It is a fragrant way to create a meditative atmosphere.
In Hinduism, the sense of smell is considered a pathway to connect with the divine, making fragrant offerings an important part of worship.
All around the country, and from five-star accommodation to family-run guesthouses, it’s likely during your stay you will get a waft of scented incense burning.
Incense sticks come in various scents like sandalwood, rose, lavender and saffron. It is a unique souvenir from India that will remind you of your adventure long after you get home!
- Find boxes of packaged incense at stalls in the markets and at souvenir shops in India.
15. Candles and oil lamps
Candles and oil lamps in India are symbolically lit during prayers, rituals, and ceremonies. As well they are permanent fixtures in homes and temples and make a cool souvenir from India to decorate your home with.
- Find oil lamps made from clay or mud and tea lights at any of the markets or for sale outside temples.
16. Ayurvedic Products – Souvenirs from India
Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that originated in India. It is based on the idea that the body, mind, and spirit are connected. Ayurvedia uses a variety of treatments to promote well-being, health and balance.
When looking for Ayurvedic souvenirs in India, popular options include herbal oils, skincare products, wellness supplements, traditional medicinal pastes, and handcrafted soaps.
Each of these are based on the principles of Ayurveda, which represent the rich tradition of Indian holistic medicine and making them a thoughtful and culturally significant gift to bring back home.
- Find Ayurvedic souvenirs at markets and bazars, wellness spas or check Dili Haat Market in Delhi.
Cultural Souvenirs from India
India is known for its colourful fabrics, eye-catching designs and varied traditional styles of textiles, handicrafts and art.
17. Traditional Indian Textiles
India is renowned for beautifully intricate, colourful and handstitched textiles. For much of South Asia’s history, textiles were an important part of currency with the reach of the Silk Road connecting Asia and Europe.
When thinking of textile souvenirs from India, popular options include hand-woven saree materials, intricate embroidered fabrics, hand-stitched textiles, silk scarves and repurposed textiles made into fabric wall-hangings.
- Find beautiful hand-stitched and repurposed traditional textiles in Jaisalmer at Desert Art Gallery.
- Read more about Jaisalmer and things to see inside Jaisalmer Fort.
18. Marblework – Souvenirs from India
The beautiful white marble of India is world famous (thanks to the Taj Mahal). Marblework is a centuries old trade in India but these days there are more and more (of differing qualities and prices) souvenirs from India made of marble.
If you want to buy marble souvenirs in India, the best place to go is Agra or Rajasthan. Rajasthan is the primary source of high-quality marble in the country.
Rajasthani cities like Jaipur and Udaipur offer a wide variety of marble items like small statues, inlay work, decorative pieces, and even jewellery, all made from locally quarried marble.
The range of marble work is truly fabulous. Often you can see some of the workmen working at the shop entrance making souvenirs and marble items.
- Find marble work in Agra which is now the unofficial home of marble souvenirs in India.
- Read tips for visiting the Taj Mahal and detailed itinerary for 2-days in Agra.
19. Puppets
In India, puppets have been a major form of folk entertainment throughout history. There are commonly puppet shows and displays in Rajasthan especially. (It’s almost a guarantee you won’t escape Hawa Mahal in Jaipur without seeing a puppet show!).
There are mainly 4 types of puppets used in India – glove puppets, rod puppets, string puppets and shadow puppets. These puppets have been a part of the tradition and culture of India for centuries. Even if today the puppets are sold for decoration mostly and make a unique souvenir from India.
- Find puppets in Jaipur at all the main sites. In Jaisalmer the havelis have stalls set up making and selling traditional puppets.
20. Art and traditional paintings
Originally, Indian paintings generally existed as wall paintings and murals. You can see these on visiting the various heritage sites of India.
However today there are many arts and craft centres. Some markets have dedicated stalls and shops selling beautiful hand painted (traditional and otherwise) artwork.
- Find many types of painting, art and craft souvenirs from India at Dilli Haat Market in Delhi.
21. Leather bags and products
India is known for its leather industry, and there are many places to buy handcrafted leather goods. Leather products from Rajasthan are known for their quality and craftsmanship and make beautiful gifts or souvenirs from India.
I personally love the amazing handbags with bulky stitching that you can absolutely see is hand done. The finished leather bags are stylish and durable making them practical items as souvenirs.
- Find the largest concentration of leatherwork in Rajasthan. In Jaisalmer, there is a row of leather shops below the fort.
22. Buddhist Tokens
Buddhism is an important religion in India. It is especially prominent in the northern states.
Many Buddhist items on sale in the markets have religious or spiritual sentiments. They make a nice gift or souvenir from India to take home with you.
The most popular Buddhist item by far is the singing bowl, which is used for meditation and stress relief.
This is a type of bell that comes with a mallet, and when played, the bowl produces vibrations and a deep ringing sound.
- Find these for sale in the north of India (Darjeeling). Or you can find Buddhist stalls in the markets in Delhi.
23. Indian carpets and rugs
In India carpet weaving was first introduced in Kashmir in the late 15th Century. There was historically weaving and spinning before then, but carpet weavers from Persia were brought to Kashmir to share their expertise.
The genuine hand-woven carpets from Kashmir are of exceptional quality. They aren’t cheap to buy but purchase is considered a lifetime investment.
Personally, I’m a sucker for brightly coloured and beautiful rugs and carpets. We are currently home in New Zealand and right now within my view I can see a bright woven rug from Morocco, a small mat from India (Dilli Haat Market) and a Persian rug from Iran!
They are an amazing – and long lasting – souvenir from India.
- Find carpets and rugs at Kashermi emporiums. Or again, try Dilli Haat Market in Delhi for a range of carpet stalls and shops.
Where to buy souvenirs in India
Most of the souvenirs from India listed above can be found at the marketplaces and bazars in all the main cities and towns.
In Delhi there are specialist markets for souvenirs. These touristic shopping markets that have a small fee to enter. But it does mean you won’t be hassled by hawkers and touts while you shop.
- Read about shopping in the markets in Delhi.
Tips for shopping and buying souvenirs in India
Shopping in India is all part and parcel of the adventure. There often aren’t fixed prices in the markets so it does require a bit of bargaining and negotiation.
Here are some tips for buying souvenirs in India:
- It’s ok to haggle; but be fair. Make sure both parties are happy with the final price. Don’t begrudge a few rupees from someone who might need it more than you.
- Be aware of commission sales. Often drivers and tour guides get a cut for taking you somewhere in particular. Don’t be shy to stand firm and ask to go elsewhere.
- Check when purchasing Pashmina that it is a genuine article.
- Shop around before you buy as prices will vary.
And – just as an added tip; you can buy large duffle bags in Main Bazar, Paharganj in Delhi to take all these amazing souvenirs home with you!
Arriving in India
Most travellers begin and end their India trip in Delhi because of the large, international airport there.
It is easy to find flights to Delhi from all over the world. There are daily connections in the Middle East and South Asia.
- Read our travel guide to India including all about arriving at New Delhi International Airport. Getting a SIM card for India and managing, exchanging and withdrawing money in India.
Read more about travel in North India
- Epic 10 Day Rajasthan Itinerary
- Things to do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
- What to see in Jaisalmer Fort
- Local desert cuisine and the food to try in Jaisalmer
- Getting the bus from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur or Bikaner
- Overnight train Delhi to Jaisalmer
- Taking the train Jaipur to Jaisalmer
- Leaving Jaisalmer to Jaipur (and Jodhpur too) by overnight train
- Choosing the best camel safari in Jaisalmer
More about planning for travel in India and beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in India.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Find everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have insurance – this is the top of tips before shopping for any souvenirs from India!