Shopping in Mysore is an absolute delight. From palaces to pulao, everything here has a royal flavour and a long history. The old city has managed to stay in touch with modern times, yet it hasn’t lost its old-world charm. So the old and the new blend seamlessly in this historic city. While the swanky new malls offer you all the modern brands, the old world bazaars still teem with life and nostalgia. For shopaholics, the historic city is paradise. From pure silk sarees with pure gold zari (border), exquisite jewellery to Mysore Pak, the royal dessert, shopping in Mysore is a delight.
The city of palaces offers a royal treat for those looking to indulge your shopaholic tendencies. Come satisfy the shopaholic in you on this shopping trip in Mysore. Here is a list of what you should buy and where you should buy it when you’re shopping in Mysore.
Also Read: Where to get the most authentic silk sarees and sandalwood products in Mysore
The 5 Best Places To Go Shopping In Mysore
1. The 100 Year Old Marvel: Devaraja Market
No visit to Mysore is complete without a visit to the century-old Devaraja Market in Sayyaji Rao road. The market, which is spread over three acres of land, is believed to have existed even during Tipu Sultan’s reign. But the structure of the building was started in the 1900s, during the reign of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. The market was then named after the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, Dodda Devaraja Wadiyar.
The market is so designed that there are individual sections for different kinds of products. The vegetable section is different from the fruit section and the flower section is different from the section where sweets are sold and so on. The market has everything from fresh produce to locally made trinkets and toys. It can get crowded, but it’s a lively and lovely place you shouldn’t miss. If you’re looking for freshly ground spices, locally grown fruits and vegetables or traditional toys and trinkets, there’s no place better than Devaraja Market. The market is on Sayyaji Rao Road, Shivarampet and is open from 10 AM to 9 PM on all days of the week.
Also Read: 11 traditional markets in India you must explore
2. A Celebration Of Everything Sandalwood: Sandalwood Oil Factory
For those with a penchant for the finer things in life, a visit to the Sandalwood Oil Factory in Mysore is a must. One of the things that Mysore is famous for is Mysore Sandalwood. The factory was established over a century ago when World War I put a stop to sandalwood exports. The then Maharaja of Mysore established the Sandalwood Oil Factory to ensure that the large reserves of sandalwood wouldn’t go to waste. Today, the factory makes and sells premium sandalwood products like the famous Mysore Sandal Soap and various other cosmetics.
KSDL (Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited), the company which owns the Sandalwood Factory, owns a geographical indication tag on the soap. This ensures that KSDL is the only company that can produce and sell the Sandalwood soap.
All of the products are made with pure sandalwood extract. Take home the healing properties of sandalwood in the form of fragrances, sandalwood oil, talcum powder and other cosmetics. The factory located on Mananthavady road is open from 9.30 AM to 6.30 PM.
3. Home Of One Of The Most Expensive Silks In The Country: KSIC Factory
Mysore Silk saree is eponymous with the city of Mysore. The silk is woven with utmost care using traditional practices and woven with gold and silver threads at the KSIC factory in Ashokapuram. The pure gold and silver threads used in the weave of the saree’s border gives them their exquisite look and feel. This also makes the Mysore Silk fabric one of the most expensive silk fabrics in the country.
The silk fabric was originally only woven for the use of the royal family, but now it is sold commercially. Visit the factory to load up on silk scarves, Mysore silk sarees and shirts among other things. The factory outlet is open from 10.30 AM to 8 PM.
4. An Authentic Local Store: The Heritage
The Heritage is an unassuming little shop near Malabar Gold Showroom in Mysore. The store is full of wonderful clothes, shawls, stoles, rugs and sarees. The store also sells a lot of beautiful knick-knacks for home decor. All the clothes and other things available here are authentic. The staff in the store are courteous, helpful and knowledgeable. You only need to ask and they’ll let you in on all details of the products in the store. For those looking for small knick-knacks or souvenirs to take back home, The Heritage is the perfect place for you. The store is open from 10 AM till 7 PM.
5. For Traditional Handicrafts: Cauvery Arts And Crafts
If you’re looking for the traditional handicrafts of Mysore, the best place to buy them is at Cauvery Arts and Crafts Emporium. The government-owned store sells authentic handicrafts made by traditional artisans of Karnataka at fair prices. The store has everything from sandalwood figurines and keychains to rosewood inlay, traditional Mysore paintings to rosewood furniture. It also sells intricately carved wooden swing sets, chairs and tables along with small souvenirs. The store in Sayyaji Rao Road is open from 10.30 AM to 8 PM and is one of the best places for shopping in Mysore.
Shopping In Mysore For Modern Trends
If you’ve had your fill of shopping in Mysore for traditional things and want some modern trends, it’s time to head to the malls. Like any other city in the country, the heritage city Mysore has also adopted modern trends. The city is now home to several malls that sell both Indian and international brands of clothing and lifestyle products. Almost all the malls have multiplex cinemas and food courts. The food courts offer an array of both local and international restaurants and fast-food chains. The Mall of Mysore, BM Habitat Mall and Garuda Mall are popular for shopping in Mysore.
If you don’t want the crowded atmosphere of a mall, you can go shopping on Devaraja Urs Road. The length of the road is dotted with several standalone stores of the same modern brands in the malls. If you’re a big fan of gold and silver jewellery, there are several traditional jewellery showrooms on Devaraja Urs Road that make beautiful traditional jewellery. Pay a visit to Kamadhenu Jewellery if you’re looking for some exquisitely crafted temple jewellery. Bhima Jewellery on the same road is famous for their gold and silver jewellery. If you’re looking for traditional jewellery, Sharada Jewellers has a wonderful collection of traditional gold and diamond jewellery.
Devaraja Urs Road is also home to several silk and saree showrooms that sell everything from Mysore Silk to Benaras and Kanjivaram silks. This road in the centre of the city is a one-stop-shop for all your shopping in Mysore.
