Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Shopping in Agra

Agra is known not only for its monumental wonders but also for its handicrafts and fine arts traditions. You can shop to your hearts content in the markets of Agra. Shopping in Agra is something you're sure to enjoy on your tour to Agra India.

Agra was previously the center of power of the Mughal Empire. The lavish Mughal court was held in Agra. The many wives of the emperors, the noblemen and their consorts and the great artists and scholars of Mughal times lived in Agra. The markets of Agra were full of the wares of the many craftsmen who came to Agra to offer their best products to the court and who hoped to receive the patronage of the Emperor. Shopping in Agra and its markets was a favorite past time even then.

Sculptors, painters, artisans, jewelers, weavers, embroiderers, carpet makers, musicians and metal workers, all came to Agra to offer their talents to the royal family and the courtiers of the Mughal empire. The Empress Noor Jahan is believed to have had a keen interest in embroidery and textiles and employed a large number of women seamstresses who embroidered the grand robes of the Emperor and his courtiers. Even today many of the hereditary craftsmen remain, passing on their skill from generation to generation. Shopping in Agra India, is a pleasure, for the fine crafts once offered only to royalty are now available to discerning travelers.

Some of the fine wok for which Agra is famous includes marblework, such as inlaywork of the kind seen within the Taj Mahal; leatherwork covering a wide range of products such as shoes, bags, belts and more; rugs and carpets, woven by master craftsmen who retain the secrets of carpet weaving taught generations ago by Persian rug makers, and brassware which includes artifacts such as hookah bases, for those who wish to acquire an oriental souvenir. Agra is also famous for its Mughlai cuisine, a sweet called petha and a snack called dalmoth. You can enjoy trying the culinary delights of Agra, while shopping in Agra India.
Shopping in Agra

The main markets for shopping in Agra are near the Taj Mahal complex. These areas include Sadar Bazaar, Kinari Bazaar and Munro Road. The U.P State Emporium called Gangotri at the Taj Mahal Complex, offers a choice of handicrafts under one roof. Don't miss this venue while shopping in Agra for it has a great variety of marble, brassware, rugs, leather items and textiles at reasonable prices. The Shilpagram crafts village is another venue with a wide range of handicrafts on sale, directly by the artisans themselves. U.P Handlooms and UPICA at Sanjay Place on M.G. Road are other good venues to shop for souvenirs, while shopping in Agra India.

Some of the artifacts and craft items that Agra is famous for and which you can buy while shopping in Agra India, are :

Agra Marble

Agra is famous for its fine marble work. Hereditary craftsmen who are descendants of the marble carvers who worked on the 'Wonder in Marble' the Taj Mahal, offer their wares in the crafts emporia and marble showrooms in Agra India. The skilled craftsmen and marble carvers of Agra make a variety of beautiful decorative items from marble. A miniature marble replica of the Taj Mahal, is a very popular souvenir. The Marble replica of the Taj Mahal reproduces the design of the Taj Mahal with great accuracy and minute detail. While shopping for marble in Agra do be careful about the quality of the stone. Genuine marble is opaque and does not allow light to pass through.

Agra Rugs
Agra is an important hub of the rug and carpet weaving industry in India. You can shop for rugs and carpets items at reasonable prices with an incredible range of patterns and motifs, while shopping in Agra. The rug and carpet weavers of Agra offer a wide choice of rugs, prayer mats, wall hangings and carpets, in various shapes and sizes, in the markets of Agra India. The rugs and carpets woven in Agra are woven by descendants of weavers who worked during Mughal times and learnt the craft of carpet weaving from Persian master weavers. The floral motifs and geometric designs woven into the rugs and carpets of Agra are similar to the designs of Persian carpets. You're sure to be amazed by the choice of rugs and carpets on offer while shopping for rugs in Agra India.

Agra Leather

Agra is an important center of the leather industry in India. You can shop for leather items at affordable prices and with a wide choice of designs and styles. The leather workers of Agra offer shoes, slippers, sandals, purses, wallets, bags, belts, clothing, lampshades, furniture, beanbags and many more items made of leather in the markets of Agra India. Decorative items such as animals made of leather, folding chairs and footballs, you'll find all this and more in the markets of Agra, while shopping for leather in Agra. Agra is a leading center of the footwear industry, with more than 400,000 thousand pairs of shoes being produced everyday in both modern factories and cottage enterprises. You can find leather gloves, coats, jackets and dresses, tanned in various colors and fashions to suit designer tastes. You're sure to be surprised by the variety of leather items on offer in the markets of Agra, when you go shopping for leather in Agra India.

Agra Brassware
Agra is renowned for its fine brassware. Hereditary craftsmen offer their brassware in the crafts emporia and brassware showrooms in Agra India. The skilled craftsmen and metalworkers of Agra make a wide variety of beautiful ornamental and utility items in brass, which you can see while shopping in Agra India. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and is cast and moulded into many beautiful and useful items. The brassware of Agra combines functionality with aesthetic beauty.

No comments: