Egyptian Antiquities For Sale

Shopping in Kerala the God’s Own Country

Thanks to the grand promotional work done by Kerala Tourism Corporation and the recent increase in the number of inbound tourists to the place, the excitement of touring the mystical place of Kerala is not an uncommon thing anymore. However, a tour to Kerala would not be complete if you do not take home any souvenirs to cherish the unforgettable moments of this journey. The visitors to the place wish to remember their treasured spree to this outlandish land by buying some unique handicrafts, gorgeous textiles, and famed spices. Shopping in this land of art, culture and ayurveda is not less an exotic experience in itself.

Kerala is very popular for its local arty crafts and you can find a traditional touch in each and every item here. In all major cities of Kerala, one can find not only the flea markets but also glittering malls and showrooms. You can buy mementoes that reflect the essence of the state’s beauty, culture, and historical value and preciousness. Kerala spices, coir and coconut shell craft, sandalwood and rosewood carvings, metalwares, Kathakali masks, Nettoor jewelry boxes and Kottyam silks are some of the must-includes in your list of souvenirs. Other products to shop for are those that are especially available or produced in abundance in Kerala.

Trivandrum and Kochi are the best places to shop considering that there is more variety and the best bargains available here for the takers. Trivandrum’s M. G. Road and Kochi’s Broadway and Marine Drive are the favorite market centers for the shoppers. These are lined with numerous shops for cloths, jewelry, wooden furniture, metal-wares etc.  Tourists flock here in large numbers to lay their hands on the attractive ornaments and the expensive saris.  In this article I am trying to guide you on the items you should shop and places from where to shop so that you should not have much of a problem in deciding what to buy  and where to buy while on a Kerala Tour.

Eatables: Apart from the usual knick-knacks, there are many eatables that you can buy in Kerala. The famous banana chips, traditional Kozhikode halwa, muruk, tapioca items, and jackfruit chips, are available in each and every shop in Kerala.

Jewelry: Kerala is famous for gold and silver and every road in Kerala’s major cities will have a huge jewelry shop. You will be amazed to notice the amount of gold that is bought by people here, especially during the marriage season. Indian gold is pricey so please check the market rate before you decide to buy anything.

Handicrafts: One can shop for small traditional items in Kerala such as ivory carvings, pottery, antiques, postcards, brocade fabrics, earthenware products, and wooden “Kathakali” face as a remembrance of this beautiful place. The best places to buy these items are the Government Handicrafts Emporium, Kerala State Handicraft Apex Society and Kerala State Handicrafts Development Corporation. Great shopping souvenirs are available here at throwaway prices.

Woodcraft: Kerala boasts of the richest wood-carving traditions in the world. Fragments of white wood, rosewood, sandalwood, cedar-wood, teak etc. are cut and shaped into different patterns and pasted on a plywood base. Brass metal pieces are affixed within the various designs to make the finished products. Colossal figures reflecting elegant style and posture are skillfully carved of wood like figures of Dancing Lady, Key Stand, Candle Stand, Kathakali Masks, Butterflies etc. Other carvings include elephants of varied size and shapes, lamp stands, paper weights, and Nettoor jewellery boxes. These artifacts can be shopped from the district of Ernakulum in Kerala.

Coir Products: Coir is a major industry in Kerala. It is drawn from the husk of the coconut. A wide array of coir wares such as Doormats, Floormats, carpets, rugs, etc. are made in varied designs and colors. The main coir products producing centers are Kollam, Calicut and Alleypey.

Metalware- Gleaming bells and tower- like lamps, made from the alloy of tin and brass are very unique to Kerala. ‘Varpu’,  a conventional tumbler used for drinking water, religious idols and other cooking vessels constitute Kerala’s metalware and can be bought from Irinjalakuda, Kasargod and Trivandrum.

Aramula Mirror:  This is a typical Kerala handicraft which is a great hit among the Indian as well as foreign tourists. It is made from alloy of copper and tin and shines like a mirror due to its polished surface. Best place to shop for this souvenir is at Aramala, a village near Chengannur.

Kerala Spices- Your trip to Kerala would be incomplete if you do not take home the superior quality spices that are endemic to Kerala. These sweet-smelling spices have lured the Europeans since the medieval times. One can choose to buy the authentic, straight from the farms, turmeric, pepper, ginger powder and other exotic spices that are grown in the High Ranges of Kerala.

Saris- Kerala is renowned for its silks. You can buy the traditional Indian attire called “Sari” from specialty places like Jayalakshmi, Kalyan Silks, Seemati etc. Kerala is famous for its silks and sari designs and you can find some really good colors and variety here. The great fabrics centers of the state are Trissur, Kottyam and Trivandrum. Besides the traditional wears, you can also shop for western attires.

About the Author

Vineeta Pillai is the content writer for http://www.mykeralatour.in/. MyKeralaTour.in can take care of all your travel needs in Kerala, whether it is hotel reservation or cab services or value added services like houseboat or trekking.

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