Agra Shopping and Districts

(Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India)

Agra is a good part of India for shopping and finding souvenirs. Many visitors staying in Agra find the whole shopping experience a memorable part of their overall holiday and enjoy the chance to haggle over the price. Prices tend to reflect the craftsmanship of the item, rather than its actual size, meaning that many of the highly detailed gifts can be much more expensive than larger, less elaborate items.

Known for its coloured gem stones and beautiful items inlaid with shiny marble, similar in appearance to the 'pietradura' works on the Taj Mahal itself, other shopping highlights include rugs, a range of leather goods, textiles and jewellery. When shopping for marble souvenirs in Agra, do be wary of possible fakes, which are made of soapstone and are much easier to scratch.

Where to Shop

Those shopping in Agra will find that the sights, sounds and even smells create quite an exciting atmosphere. Many of the most popular shops in Agra lie close to the Taj Mahal and include all kinds of shopping emporiums. However, the shops here target the lucrative tourist market, meaning that prices tend to be rather more expensive than other areas of Agra, such as the plentiful bazaars around the Old Town district.

For some serious shopping consider paying a visit to the Kinari Bazaar in the very heart of Old Town Agra and close to the Fort Train Station. The market stalls sell an enormous selection of goods, ranging from colourful spices to exotic fruits, although the traffic can be a little unruly at times. Nearby and to the south of the Taj Ganj is a much calmer shopping district, where you will be able to pick up quality handmade clothes at bargain prices.

Worth searching out is the shopping in the Shilpgram area, which is located just past the Taj East Gate. Market traders gather here between October and March, selling a huge range of handicrafts, paintings, other art works and welcomed refreshments, such as chaat. If you are lucky enough to be shopping in this part of Agra during February, you may be able to experience the week-long cultural food festival, which is always a crowd-puller.

Modern shopping malls have arrived in Agra in recent years and make for a good day out, with a number being sited close to each other, such as both the TDI Shopping Mall and Pacific Taj. New shopping malls are arriving all the time in Agra, and recent additions include the Ashok Cosmos, RAP Adlabs and Pacific Mall, where you can also enjoy a multi-screen cinema.