What to Buy in India

Authentic versions are woven from fine mountain goat hair for incredible warmth.

Sogenannte Pashmina-Schals/ Scarf: Gewebe aus 70% Kaschmirwolle/ Cashmere and 30% Seide/ silk; House of Pashmina, Hamburg; own Photography, 05-01-2006 (Copyrighted free use)

The conical back-basket you'll see on every market porter in Shillong.

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These handcrafted leather shoes are durable, slip-on, and often feature subtle embroidery.

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Local artisans carve discarded shells into intricate bowls, ladles, and decorative lamps.

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Raw, thick honey gathered from Nagaland forests with a deep, earthy floral profile.

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Soft, durable mulberry silk with distinct gold zari borders woven in Karnataka.

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Hand-held copper wheels stuffed with printed mantras.

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Dense, fragrant wood worked by artisans into delicate statuettes and intricate floral patterns.

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This dense, dark wood is carved into durable boxes and intricate figurines.

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Traditional essential oil perfumes are distilled from flowers and sandalwood base oils.

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Intricate silver inlay on blackened zinc alloy, a historic metalwork technique from the Deccan region.

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The repetitive botanical patterns on this breathable fabric are stamped by hand.

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The aromatic intensity of market-fresh ground spices beats any supermarket version.

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These hand-knitted caps feature intricate patterns common to the high altitude Himalayan regions.

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Distinctive cobalt blue and turquoise motifs derived from quartz stone paste rather than clay.

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Hand-molded natural resin is decorated with delicate stone and bead work.

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Exposed to humid monsoon winds, these beans develop a unique, bold, and low-acid profile.

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Detailed carvings depicting deities, often crafted by traditional artisans in the region.

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This tart, antioxidant-rich tea is sourced from berries growing at high elevations.

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Master artisans twist thin silver wires into delicate, lace-like patterns using century-old traditional methods.

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