Shopping In bhubaneswar
Shopping in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is a good place for tourists who love to splurge on shopping while on holiday. The city
has outlets of all major brands as well those, selling locally made objects. It is known for the abundance of shops,
offering traditional fabrics and other things. Read on to know what to buy in Bhubaneswar and where:
Ethnic Wear – Dress like a Local
A great item to purchase in the city is sarees, weaved and dyed using the ethnic Ikat technique. The cloth is embellished
with images of fish, temple towers, rudraksha beads and seashells. Chandua items, where pieces of cloth of different colours
are stitched on a larger fabric to form vibrant designs, are also worth purchasing in the city. If ethnic wear is what you
are looking for, then Sambalpuri sarees are a must buy. In Sambalpuri technique, the strings of yarn are first tied in the
desired pattern and then dyed. Though these skills are most apparent in sarees, you can also buy handkerchiefs, bed covers
and lungis.
Handicrafts – Adornment for Yourself and Your House
Bhubaneswar is also a great destination to shop for silver filigree jewellery, including those using the tarkasi technique.
Tarkasi uses silver, beaten into thin foils and wires that are joined to make decorative motifs. You can also buy dhokra
sculptures to serve as house ornamentation as well as souvenirs. Dhokra sculptures of horses, humans, deities, owls and
humans are popular. Wooden lampshades, jewellery boxes and fruit baskets, and stone idols of deities are also interesting
buys.
Paintings – Add Colour to your Life
If you ask the people of Bhubaneswar for recommendations on what to shop for, many would mention Patta Chitras. These are
cloth paintings, which you can use as wall hangings to brighten up your home. The vibrant Patta Chitras depict scenes from
the Hindu mythology and can relate to deities like Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna. A peculiar thing to buy that uses this art
is Ganjapas, circular playing cards unique to the state of Odisha. You can also purchase Idital paintings, made by the
tribal people of the state. The simple human figures used to create extremely detailed scenes will definitely amaze you.
Now that you know what to buy in Bhubaneswar if you have picked India tour packages, keep reading for the best places to
shop in the city:
Utkalika – The Home of Everything Odiya
Utkalika, run by Orissa State Co-operative Handicrafts Corporation Limited, is the outlet to shop for ethnic items. Located
in Ashok Nagar, the store sells dhokra, silver filigree, textiles, brassware, bamboo and cane objects, and sabai and golden
grass items. Here, you can also shop for decorative items made from animal horns, engraved palm leaves, papier mache, Patta
Chitras, stone carvings, terracotta figurines, wood carvings and tribal jewellery.
City Markets – Where Bhubaneswar Shops
Those, who want to buy computers and related peripherals, can visit Shahid Nagar Market. Compared to other city markets, it
is known to offer goods at much cheaper rates. It is also a great place for women as it has numerous shops, selling all
kinds of jewellery. Here, you can buy beaded necklaces, headbands and bangles, decorated with unique designs. It is also
renowned for stores, offering wooden carvings and statues of Hindu deities. If you are looking for electronic items, then
you must head straight to Bapuji Nagar Market, where you can make great bargains. The area also has loads of stores,
featuring a large variety of dresses.
Another great site to shop for garments is the market of Unit II and Unit III in the heart of the city. From the latest
launches to ethnic garments like salwar-kurta and sarees, everything is available here and that too at reasonable prices.
The biggest highlight of the Unit II market is its jewellery shops that offer ornaments with intricate designs. If you want
to purchase branded shoes, then the market of the Ashok Nagar area is recommended. It has showrooms of all major footwear
brands like Liberty and Nike, where you can buy latest shoes.
If you need to locate all these areas, then you can look at the map of Bhubaneswar online that will also tell you about how
to reach these. So, the next time you are in the city, don’t forget to stroll through the local markets to buy some
incredible items.
