shopping in Pink City

…and so we left. We left the house, we left Goa and we are just about ready to leave India.

Our landlord proved to be so indecisive with the whole renovation issue that, in the end, we decided to move all our stuff to the storage space. To say that our last week at home was busy and hectic would be a major understatement, but, in the end, we managed to pack everything and finish all we planned.

Then, there was unforgettable 30-hour train ride with the cats – scared half to death and completely disorientated by the experience. They will be staying with family in Jaipur till our return.

Did I mention that Jaipur is kind of shopping paradise?

I’m not an expert in that matter. I know what I like design-wise, but when it comes to identifying stones, metals or value – I’m lost. All I can say is: go to few shops, compare prices and quality, check every piece carefully and don’t get overexcited! That’s important, because many people, faced with the number of lovely designs and comparatively low prices lose their heads. Buy only what you really like and don’t show your enthusiasm, it will make bargaining close to impossible.

Precious metals usually have set prices per gram, but there is always some space for negotiation, especially if you pick few things from one seller; if you are buying costume jewelry, you can try to go as low as 50% of the offered amount. In the end, I never know if I paid the right price (though I’m probably much closer than few years ago), but in the end that’s the charm of bazaar shopping – you pay as much as the item is worth to you.

We made a trip to the main bazaar – located around Hava Mahal. You can find everything there  – jewelry, clothes, home décor, shoes, bags, sweets…  I could spend the whole day (and probably a lot of money) and still not have enough, but having my husband’s mental well-being in mind, I just concentrated on the jewelry …this time.

After the main bazaar, we check out few concept stores, which are springing up all over Jaipur. Most of them are a bit pricey, but you can buy lovely, well –designed quality pieces.

We started with Anokhi specializing in block printed clothes and accessories. Apart from the shop itself, I definitely recommend their peaceful café with yummy (and quite healthy) food. Prints have a distinctively Rajasthani look, but clothes are quite simple and can be easily mixed with some western pieces. I loved the bedding – quilts, cushion covers and even cosmetic bags. Worth visiting if you are looking for more lasting quality than bazaar finds.

Second on our list was Jaipur Modern – shop curated by an Italian owner - with a choice of clothing, jewelry, luggage, quilts and even some cosmetics. I do love their jewelry - a modern spin on traditional designs and not as big of a splurge as I expected. Few dresses and shawls caught my eye while Anant was looking at some quilts and duffel bags.  Once again – bonus points for nice café. Didn’t try the food, but coffee and lemonade were excellent.

We went to Anantaya next. It’s one big mix of everything. Though the collection lacks a clear focus, you can find some lovely pieces there – mostly home accessories. Apparently everything, apart from mineral cosmetics, is designed in-house.

91 degree was a big disappointment. Italian design in India, furniture, and home accessories – sounds great right? Not really…

Don’t get me wrong, I saw a few pieces I liked, but they weren’t very different from what you can get from some chain stores in India. I have to admit that prices aren’t too bad, comparatively speaking.

Last on the list (ok, not on the list, but last stop we had the strength for) was a trio of shops located in Narain Niwas Palace.

Hot Pink offers clothing, home accessories and a small choice of jewelry – all colorful with funky prints but simple designs. The collection is very coherent and the place is worth visiting even if you are not planning to shop there. Fair warning – you won’t get anything even remotely close to usual “Indian prices” there. Prepare your wallet for more of high fashion street experience.

Neighboring Aashka carries a collection curated by Princess Bhargavi of Udaipur. Everything here is more traditional, classic, with distinctively equestrian feel. Though I didn’t find anything particularly my style, I have to admit that everything is of great quality and very tasteful. Lovely interiors too!

The last one, Idli, is an export line for Hot Pink. Though nothing caught my eye,  the whole collection is undoubtedly chic and fun.

Oh, and the best thing about ALL those shops? They are all located in the same area, not more than 5 minutes from each other!