Shopping in Sikkim

Shopping in Sikkim is a pleasurable experience as this land has much to impress a traveler being inflicted with too many tribes and invaders since long. Sikkim has become one of India's most visited states, owing to its reputation of cleanliness, scenic beauty and political stability. Shopping has always added new spree to the travel schedules. Besides the places of interest, Sikkim also offers the added attraction of shopping.

Here one finds shops of all kind which offer good range of items to be purchased. For a tourist there are many attractive items to be bought as carved furniture, the dresses, Lepcha weave bags, Carpets & Durries with intricate designs and colorful decorations. One can also buy wooden and bamboo artifacts. For a collector of handmade decorative pieces Gangtok is a paradise. A wide variety of handicrafts is available for the tourist to take back as souvenirs, showpieces and even items of daily use in the Government Institute of Cottage Industry and the many curio shops in Gangtok.

The items from Gangtok leave a long lasting impression on the mind of the visitor. The Hindi speaking Marwaris dominates many of the shops in the Gangtok market.The handicraft and handloom directorate office and the showroom are on crossing of MG Marg and New market. The Gramin Vikas Agency showroom is also located here. In these showrooms you can buy carpets, masks, bright Choktse tables, Thangka hangings.

Tibetan woollen carpets are very expensive and are adorned with intricate designs and patterns reflecting the art and culture of this state. Made of pure sheep wool, these carpets use brilliant vegetable dyes.

Jewellery:

The exquisitely carved Dragon sets of silver and gold inlaid with precious stones are unique to Sikkim. These consist of finely designed dragons on earrings, pendants, finger-rings etc. and can be ordered either in silver or gold.

Food items:

Sikkim tea, which is mainly grown in Temi Tea Estate, is famous the world over and carries a big premium in the world market. The tea is characterized by its exotic taste and flavor and costs about Rs 100/- a kilogram. It sells by the brand name of "Solja" and "Khangchendzonga" and it is a good idea to carry a few packets back home. Cardamom or Elachi grows in abundance in Sikkim and costs about Rs 150/- a kilogram. A few hundred grams should be purchased.

Things to be bought:

• Canvas wall-hangings
• Thangkas or religious scrolls
• Choktsees or small wooden tables
• carved furniture
• Lepcha weave bags
• Carpets & Durries
• Masks
• Bright Choktse tables
• Thangka hangings
• Tibetan woollen carpets

• Old market
• New Market
• Lal market
• Gangtok market
• Government Institute of Cottage Industry
• MG Marg
• Gramin Vikas Agency

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