Do you want to leave a fond memory of your journey through a fairyland? We tell you what to bring from India. How much do popular souvenirs cost? What cannot be exported from the country. Travel tips - where to buy gifts for family and friends.
Exchange rate: 10,000 Indonesian rupiah (IDR) ≈ 52 RUB.
Henna
What can you bring from India as a gift for a woman? Souvenir number 1 is considered a wonderful natural paint. Henna gives hair a pleasant color, well-groomed look and healthy shine. The paint is different - from light red to dark brown and black.
Intricate drawing is popular in India mehendi on female hands and feet. For decoration, use black or red henna, which is sold in tubes. A hand-drawn tattoo is temporary and lasts about two weeks.
Price... A large package of henna costs 50 INR, a tube of mehendi paint costs 10 INR.
Advice... If you've never tried henna dye, go for the more familiar henna hair dye.
Coconut oil
Tourists often bring coconut oil from India. The Indian coconut nut has the status of a sacred fruit. Coconut oil is used not only by the inhabitants of this country, but throughout Southeast Asia.
Oil for cooking and beauty treatments is sold in India. It differs in the degree of purification and shelf life. Food oil comes in simple plastic bottles. It is not refined, therefore it is not stored for long. This oil can be used for body care within the shelf life indicated on the label - usually about a month.
Cosmetic oil is produced in special bottles and stored for one to one and a half years. It is an excellent treatment for the body, hands, face, hair and nails. Tourists love the blue packages of Parachute coconut oil.
Price... A 0.5L bottle of cooking oil costs INR 10-30. Oil for cosmetics 100 ml - 30 INR.
Advice... For transportation, buy oil in plastic containers, not glass.
Ayurvedic cosmetics
Indian natural cosmetics are known in the country and far beyond its borders. It is made according to the recipes described in the ancient Ayurveda treatise. What kind of cosmetics to bring from India? Hair oils, flavored talc, mineral deodorant, creams with tropical fruit extracts and herbal toothpastes.
Price... A jar of cream costs from 50 to 150 INR.
Advice... Choose products from popular brands - Himalaya, Shahnaz herbal, Biotique, AASHA, Raj rasayana, Vedicline.
What to bring from India
Gold
Indian gold differs from ours in bright yellow color. The reason is the amount of silver added. There is more of it in European gold, and less in Indian gold. Asian gold is softer and less durable. Some tourists don't like Indian gold. Others, on the contrary, try to buy gold jewelry as a symbol of Indian culture.
Price... A set of earrings and a ring with stones costs $ 100, that is, almost 7000 INR.
Advice... Gold jewelry is dangerous to buy on the beaches and in questionable shops. There are always a lot of fakes here. Get quality items from official jewelry stores.
Silver
What to bring jewelry connoisseurs from India? The Indians love silver. It is much cheaper than gold. Local craftsmen know how to craft elegant silver ring frames, earrings, pendants and chains. In India, they sell unusual bracelets for shoulders and legs, earrings and piercing rings.
Price... A simple silver ring without a stone costs INR 500.
Advice... The main in the hierarchy of Indian silver sellers are people from Nepal. Their stores have the largest selection of jewelry and the lowest prices.
Clothing and textiles
Many beautiful, practical clothes are sold in the markets and in the ruins of shops. These are wide and comfortable ali-baba pants for men and women, colorful sundresses and dresses. Indian clothing is decorated with embroidered ornaments, sequins and beads. Foreigners willingly take Indian tapestries, tablecloths and bedspreads.
Tourists leave positive reviews about clothes, hats and handbags made from hempa... A beautiful lightweight fabric is made from hemp. Like linen, it wrinkles and shrinks when washed.
Slightly higher are things made of dressed yak wool, which is called here nepali wool. From it in India they sell hats, blouses, stoles and sweatshirts. The most expensive clothing is cashmere.
What to bring from Goa
Price... Cotton trousers and sundresses cost INR 100, a hem hat - INR 200-500, a Nepalese wool hat - INR 200, cashmere clothes - from INR 500. The famous pashmina or high quality cashmere shawls start at INR 3500.
Advice... Cashmere is one of the country's brands. However, it can be easily faked. If a salesperson praises an item and wants a little for it, chances are it's not real cashmere.
Indian rum
What to bring from India for a lover of spirits? Take rum - one of the few alcoholic drinks that are consumed in this country. It is made from sugar cane. One of the most popular brands - OldMonk - produced in Goa.
Price... Indian rum is very cheap - about INR 180 for a 0.7 liter bottle.
Find out what to try in India.
Advice... In Goa, rum prices are noticeably lower than in the rest of India.
Indian spices and spices
Local spices can be brought from India as a gift to those who love to cook. Almost no one leaves here without spices. Fragrant goods are sold everywhere. The counters display different types of peppers, cinnamon, cumin, dried garlic, turmeric, saffron, cardamom, cloves and almonds.
Price... A small bag in the store costs from 20 INR.
Advice... Buy spices and herbs in Indian markets. The seller will certainly offer to smell the product and give it a taste.
What else can you bring from India
- Handmade carpet - from 1500 INR.
- Bronze figurines of Indian deities - 200-400 INR.
- Sandalwood carved figurines - 650 INR.
- Bronze musical instrument "singing bowl" - 690-3500 INR.
- Bamboo flute bansuri - 50-350 INR.
- Fabric lamp - 70-350 INR.
- Embroidered slippers jutty - 1000 INR.
- Essential oils from spices, herbs and bark - from 100 INR.
- Incense sticks - INR 10-15.
- Indian perfume - from 70 INR.
- Shampoo Himalaya, 400 ml - 220 INR.
- Vivid paintings on paper and fabric in Madhubani style - from 1400 INR.
- Tea in a gift box - 400-500 INR.
- Indian sweets, 1 kg - from 350 INR.
What cannot be exported from India
It is forbidden to export Indian rupees, edged weapons, rare plants, shells of live mollusks, bird feathers, skins and skeletons of animals from the country. When buying rum, keep in mind that it is allowed to export no more than 2 liters of strong alcohol from India.
Precious metal products must be purchased in a store and have certificates. The total cost of jewelry is not more than 2000 INR.
Travel Tips
- In Asia, it is customary to bargain. Indians are real bargainers. Listen carefully to the seller, smile and put forward your arguments. Effort will certainly be rewarded. Sometimes it is possible to reduce the price by 2 or even 3 times.
- Do not rush to take souvenirs at the first shop you come across. Walk around the market. You will surely see cheaper or more interesting products.
- If you are not well versed in spices, use ready-made masala spice mixes. They are useful for preparing traditional Indian recipes.
- Take spices in their original packaging. Regular sachets may raise suspicion at customs.
- When shopping for clothing, look at the quality of the seams. Carelessly sewn, handicraft things will quickly fall into disrepair.
- If you decide to go for organic cosmetics, do a skin test. The composition of Indian products includes plant materials, and they can cause allergies.
What to bring from clothes and decor from India
