WEDDING SHOPPING in JAIPUR

So your wedding is scheduled for November / December/ January and you want to buy the best for your Trousseau. Then You must be planning a shopping excursion to Jaipur and wondering when to go, what to buy and from where?

Sensibly just before Rakhi, sometime in August is a great time. All the stores have great SALE on at that point of time and you can get KILLER DEALS!!

If August is not Possible and you still have about a year to your Wedding then February to March is also a great time and there are plenty of SALE.

LEHENGA: For picking your wedding Lehenga- first stop should be SARAOGI MANSION. Here you can look at Nikhar Fashions, Pratapsons, Utsav, Parineeta, Roopmilan. From here you can go to RANA's at Ganpati Plaza. Then check out ZARI & SATTVA at Narayan Singh Circle and VASANSI at Takht E Shahi Road.Now if you want something absolutely exclusive then there are many wonderful designers like Pallavi Jaipur, Nidhi Tholia, Monish Tharyamal and many many more...

SHERWANI: For picking a sherwani you can go to RAM NARAYAN SAFEWALE at walled city, RAJA SAHEB at Raja Park, Visit Munnu Khan the oldest masterji of sherwani in Jiapur for a custom made one. Or Manyavar at Crytal Plam Mall, Sardar Patel Marg 'C' Scheme. Well again there are some good designers that you may visit like Rohit Abhishek, Kirti Rathore, Himmat Singh to name a few.

CHOORA & BANGLES: Go to BAPU BAZAAR or one of the many bangle stores at the basement of SARAOGI MANSION and find yourself the most gorgeous choora.

FOOTWEAR: There is Metro in M.I. Road. Reliance Footprint at Sardar Patel Marg. Then there are  many many stores in the basement of SARAOGI MANSION where you get beautiful glitzy non branded bridal footwear. There is also LIFESTYLE at 22 Godam Circle and Central at PINK SQUARE MALL, Adarsh Nagar RAJA PARK.

TROUSSEAU PACKING: Trousseau packing for a wedding in the family can be a very tedious thing. All the gifts and giveaways aren’t any good till they are packaged well. So if you come trousseau shopping in jaipur or come for hosting a wedding in jaipur or are interested in hassle free and gorgeous trousseau packing there are 2 places that are great. There is Vandana Fancy & Craft Centre in BAPU BAZAAR and there is The Modern Paper House opp SARGA SOOLI in Old Jaipur.

SAFA: This should not cost you more than 200 to 500 INR and about 45 minutes of your time. Right in the heart of Old CITY- Just as you are at the end of JOHRI BAZAAR, look up on the roofs of both right and left and what you have there are assorted turbans in all hues and colors! Turbans known as safa in Rajasthan is a traditional headgear- still worn in the rural parts of the state and worn during weddings by grooms.Get a safa (turban/ Headgear) made for you. You can choose from the many fabrics that are available or take your own cloth.
 
EXCLUSIVE BANGLES: There is no place like the MANIHARON KA RAASTA in the old city to go bangle shopping. There are over 50/60 stores stocking up very very exclusive bangles. Try the ones made of LAAC.

WEDDING CARDS: The most sought after is JOHRI BAZAAR. I also like DHARTI DHAN near shaheed circle, just after you turn towards Narayan Singh Circle look on the side where there are loads of diagnostic centers and you will find dharti dhan. They specialize in Handmade paper.

JEWELLERY: There are no dearth of showrooms to go to. There is Birdhichand, Motisons, Tatiwala, Gem Palace, Amrapali to name a few.

For more about shopping in Jaipur, read: http://visitingjaipur.com/shopping-places-jaipur

SANGANER DAY TRIP- A GREAT EXPERIENCE

SANGANER, lies 16 Kms south of the Jaipur on National Highway No. 12, Kota - Jaipur Road. It is a centre of hand block-printed textiles and handmade paper. One enters Sanganer through the ruins of two massive Tripolias (Triple Gateways).

Hand Dyed Bedsheets being dried before printing

Preparing Fabrics for block Printing

Preparing Fabrics for block Printing

Preparing Fabrics for block Printing

The town is an important centre for handicraft industry and produces some of the finest hand printed textiles from numerous units of block and screen printers. Sanganer prints are one of its kind. Traditional small floral prints form the specialty of Sanganer block printers and these patterns in bright colors are always printed on white backgrounds.

Intricate designs of flowers and animals are used to make the blocks

Wooden Blocks that are used for Hand Block Printing

Traditional small floral prints form the specialty of Sanganer block printing

Finished Bed sheets drying

 

Its fun to explore the Kagazi Mohalla of Sanganer, which is prominent for expert artisans. These artisans are known as 'Kagazis' and one can watch the artisans make lovely patterns on fabrics with block-prints.

Artisan making a Bed-sheet using blocks & vegetable dyes

Semi Finished Block Printed Bed Sheet

The Blocks & a Semi Finished Bed sheet

Sanganer also boasts ruined palaces and Jain Temples, which are hand carved. Shri Digambar Jain Temple of Sanganer attracts the visitors for its fine carvings. This temple is often compared to the Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu. The temple constructed in old architectural style, comprises beautiful 'shikhars' (Spires). The inner chamber has a stone shrine with three pinnacles, which shelters the idol of Parshwanath with seven serpent hoods. The Sanganer Fort (in ruins) too forms part of tourist attraction and if you have extra time in hand then can see.

All in all, touring the Sanganer can be a great experience and let you see craftsmanship of Rajasthan closely. If you have 3 days in Jaipur then this is a must do.

Hand Screen Printing

Hand Screen Printing

WHEN & WHY TO VISIT JAIPUR

This is a question travellers from all over the world, often ask or mail me about. The problem is, there’s no straight answer to that. It’s all a matter of preference & opportunity. Some people love the winters, some like it hot and dry. Many prefer the mild conditions of spring and autumn.

This is how weather works in Jaipur and you can pick the season that suits you the most.

JAIPUR SEASONS/ WEATHER

Dec-Jan-Feb: This is when we have Winters and the temperature varies between 2 Degrees Celsius to 25 Degrees.

Mar-Apr-May-June: That’s our Summers and it can get cruel. The temperature varies from 27 Degrees to 47 Degrees.

July-Aug-Sept: Summers & little bit of Rain. Since Rajasthan is the desert state & Jaipur the capital, we don’t get that much of rain. Medium rainfall is observed in this period. Temperatures varies from 27 Degrees to 38 Degrees.

Oct-Nov: This is actually my favourite time of the year. Its neither that hot nor that cold. Temperatures vary from 20 Degrees to 30 Degrees.

Besides the weather, there are of course also other variables to consider. Like the top tourist season – which you of course some people want to avoid if possible. The peak time to visit is October to Mid April.

Or are there exceptional years that will attract an extra amount of tourists? Maybe you would like to be around when a certain exhibition or festival takes place?

OFFICIAL, NATIONAL & RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS in JAIPUR:

• JAN: 26 Jan- Republic Day

•  Feb/Mar: Holi (The Festival of colours) The date varies every year as per the Hindu Calendar  

•  Apr: 5 Apr- Mahaveer Jayanti. 14 Apr- Ambedkar Jayanti

• Aug:15 Aug-Independence day, Janamashtami- The birthday of Lord Krishna (Date varies every Year as per Hindu Calander), Rakshabandhan/ Rakhi- A festival of Siblings, Every sister ties a Rakhi to the brother (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhan), Ramjan Id (Id-Ul-Fitar)- date varies every year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan)

• Sept: Ganesh Chaturthi

• Oct: Oct 2- Gandhi Jayanti, Dushera – Date varies every year as per the Hindu Calendar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayadashami), Idul Zuha (Bakrid), Diwali- The festival of lights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali)

• Nov: Guru Nanak Jayanti

• Dec: Christmas