Srinagar Shopping will be an unusual experience for you, as shopping here doesn't involve roaming around swanky malls or boutiques to buy your coveted item. In fact, Srinagar boasts of a plethora of indigenous products that are Srinagar's own, found nowhere else in the world. Some of the things Srinagar takes pride in are carpets, shawls, wood carved furniture, papier mache and dry fruits. Lal Chowk, Badhshah Chowk, Polo View, Vir Marg, Raghunath Bazaar and Hari Market are some of the best places for shopping.

Carpets

Carpets made in Srinagar are world famous and expensive. There are both machine and hand made carpets available, and depending on the intricacy of the design, the price is fixed. Carpets are woven either in wool or cotton. There are variations in carpets such as single knotted carpets and double knotted carpets. Single knotted ones are comparatively cheaper than the double knotted variety, which is better in quality. You can even place an order for carpets. All you have to do is to select the design and color of the carpet and once it is crafted, it will be shipped to your destination.

The best places to buy carpets from are Badshah Chowk and Polo View. The price of carpets varies between $50 to $800, depending upon the intricacy of the design.

Shawls and Apparels

Kashmiri shawls are sought-after worldwide. Different types of shawls can be purchased, including pashmina shawls, mixed pashmina shawls, silk shawls embroidered in crewel work and simple silk shawls without any embroidery. The pashminas are very soft and subtle wool spun from the fur of one kind of goat found in Tibet, Nepal and in the Himalayas. Shawls woven in pashmina are light and warm, and the cost of a shawl depends upon its softness. Pashmina shawls are very expensive, with prices ranging from $200 to $1,000 and more. Besides shawls, varieties of embroidered clothes, especially Indian salwaar, will draw your admiration. Prices are quite cheap and reasonable. 

Kashmir Shawl Emporium, Kashmir Shawl Factory and Taha Shawl Factory are some of the shops known for the exquisite range of shawls. Embroidered clothes are available everywhere from local street vendors to Badshah Chowk or Lal Chowk.

Wooden Carved Furniture and Showpieces

Furniture and showpieces carved from walnut wood are very popular among tourists in Srinagar. Items made of walnut wood are very costly, because the carving requires a lot of patience and hard work. Ranging from a dining table with chairs to a simple jewelry box, walnut woods are used to make wonders in creation.

Markets in Badhshah Chawk and Polo View are best for wooden carved furniture. However, you may buy varieties of show pieces or bamboo works from the street vendors at a reasonable price, but bargaining is a must while picking an item from street vendors.

Papier Mache, Dry Fruits and Spices

Papier mache products are very popular in Srinagar. Some of the products intricately designed in silver and gold are quite expensive. A large number of papier mache products, including pen stands, trinket boxes, cigarette cases, candles and vases are among the most popular buys of Srinagar.

Srinagar is also famous for its dry fruits and spices. Different kinds of walnuts like kagzi walnuts, wont walnuts, burzil walnuts, and spices like saffron, shah zira and honey are some of the specialties of Srinagar. Hari Market, Raghunath Bazaar and Vir Marg are the places dotted with shops selling papier mache and dry fruits.