If you’re done with gazing upon the many palaces, temples, forts, shrines, churches, mosques, and heritage buildings that India offers, you might want to check out the other treasures that this country offers – the material ones, that is. With a history dating back 5000 years, India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and as you would expect, has a rich tradition of art and culture. The best part about shopping in this country is the sheer variety of goods to choose from, each of them changing in form, style and fashion as one moves through the different regions in the country. Silk for example, a staple in every shopping bag headed out of the country includes the light silks of Mysore, the sumptuous brocades of Benares and the heavy temple town silks of Kanjeevaram.

Government emporia are the safest bet if you’re looking to purchase heavy fabrics and artifacts. Prices are reasonable and are fixed, so there’s no risk of being duped. The by lanes and markets of Rajasthan offer more such treasures, but be prepared to engage in loud and stubborn haggling. A tip: Ask the shopkeeper to name his price, slash it by 50 percent and begin your haggling from there. Don’t be embarrassed - bargaining is part of the street shopping experience in India.

Mumbai offers some of the best street shopping experiences in the country. From fake leather goods, cheap cotton clothes, and costume jewelry to footwear, there’s nothing that hasn’t been marked down on Mumbai’s streets. The city’s Chor Bazaar literally translated as Thieves Market, is great if you have the patience to sift through old lithographs and paintings, antique cookware and even ornate ceiling fans from the days of the British Raj. Tucked away among the junk, you’re likely to find fine colonial period porcelain, paintings and furniture salvaged from the country’s heritage homes. Goa’s weekly flea markets are popular haunts for beaded jewelry, CDs, cotton apparel, handicrafts, jute and leather footwear and embroidered bags, most of it made by the hippies who’ve made the beach paradise their home.

For art and artifacts, visit the galleries of Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai. You’re assured of genuine goods, although prices might be on the heavier side. Make sure that you have the required permission to take the artifacts abroad.

The Indian fascination with gold is well documented – India is the world’s largest consumer of gold - and the shops of Mumbai offer contemporary and traditional designs in 22 carat gold.