The first thing that comes to mind when you hear about Amritsar must be its Golden Temple.
However, more than its spiritual sites and delicious local food, shopping in Amritsar is a different experience altogether. The city is a paradise for shopaholics, history lovers, and people who can appreciate the beauty of old bazaars, colours, sounds, and multiple bargaining offers.
From the best market of traditional Phulkari dupattas, the most affordable market of basic needs, to the ever-famous market that offers everything, including juttis to handicrafts, you are bound to find it all here.
In this blog, you will get to know the best markets in Amritsar and the top things to purchase that will make your visit unforgettable. Keep your wallet and bargaining power at best. You have finally found your market guide to Amritsar!
8 Places for Shopping in Amritsar
Ready to shop in Amritsar but still confused as to where to go? These 8 best places for shopping in Amritsar will steal your heart.
1. Hall Bazaar
The most famous market in Amritsar is Hall Bazaar, which lies close to one of the most famous attractions in Amritsar, i.e, the Golden Temple. It has received recognition for its Mughal-style entrance gate and colourful streets with marketplaces that sell good Phulkari embroidery, electronic solutions, bangles, books, and souvenirs. The experience of walking here is like going back in history, but with some modern elements. And should you desire the real sense of an Amritsar bazaar, then this should be your first bet.
Famous for: Phulkari, handicrafts, electronics, souvenirs.
Timings: 10:00 AM -9:00 PM (not open on Sundays)
Address: Hall Road, near the Golden Temple, Amritsar.
2. Guru Bazaar
Guru Bazaar is among the oldest malls for shopping in Amritsar. It is renowned for its gold and silver trappings. Here, you can find wedding jewellery, miniature trinkets of silver, and so on. During the wedding season, the shops here remain extremely congested, but you can get everything you want for the perfect wedding preparations. Punjabi jewellers create gorgeous jewels that cannot be compared and look stunning.
Famous For: Jewellery (gold, silver).
Timings: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Address: Between Hall bazaar and Golden temple, Amritsar.
3. Kapda Bazaar
Kapda Bazaar is the place where people seek out fabrics in Amritsar, which are of every price range a customer desires. If you want to buy the real Punjabi outfits, it is the most convenient store of colourful Phulkari suits, Punjabi sets of salwar-kameez, and garments for shopping in Amritsar. The streets are very small yet on fire. In the case of ethnic fashion, Kapda Bazaar is among the best markets in the city.
Famous for: Phulkari suits, salwar-kameez, bride wear, etc.
Timings: 10:30 AM- 8:00 PM
Address: Proximity to the Hall Bazaar, Amritsar.
4. Lahori Gate Market
If you like having something to eat or drink while you shop, you can visit the Lahori Gate Market. It is the lowest-priced market or the cheapest market in Amritsar in terms of spices, papads, and pickles. The smell of fried snacks and roasted spices will be there, which will mesmerise you if you’re a foodie. It is a better place to stock the Punjabi flavours and bring them back with you.
Famous for: Spices, pickles, papads, and dry fruits.
Timings: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Address: Close to the Lahori Gate, Amritsar.
5. Katra Jaimal Singh Bazaar
Katra Jaimal Singh is the best market for the sales of clothes and fabrics. It sells party wear, sarees, as well as casual Punjabi dresses. The market carries a broad range of diversity and variation of prices, from cheap to premium. It is a popular destination for people who like to be trendsetters. SO, if you want a place where you can get your hands on every type of clothing, this local market in Amritsar is your place.
Famous for: Sarees, suits, and ready-made clothes.
Timings: 10:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Address: Close to the Hall Bazaar, Amritsar.
6. Shastri Market
Shastri Market is a small market that is of great popularity among the locals and even tourists. It identifies itself with shoes, bangles, and accessories, including Punjabi juttis. Phulkari suits will be found to match colourful footwear, making it one of the best shopping places in Amritsar. This would be a good place to visit if you want clothes that are trendy and affordable, and give you that authentic Punjabi vibe, and hence it is considered one of the most popular places for shopping in Amritsar.
Famous for: Juttis, bangles, and scarves.
Timings: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Address: Near the Hall Bazaar, Amritsar.
7. Alpha One Mall (Now Mall of Amritsar)
Mall of Amritsar (formerly Alpha One) is a good option if you prefer visiting branded stores as opposed to crowded markets. Large fashion outlets, restaurants, and entertainment environments are available in this new mall. It combines the Amritsar ambience of the past and the new style. It is among the numerous shopping centres in Amritsar suitable for families and friends.
Famous for: Brand fashion, movie theatre, food court.
Timings: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Address: GT Road, Amritsar
8. Lawrence Road
The Lawrence Road does not appear as a market but rather a living style street. It has numerous chain stores, branded showrooms, and restaurants. You may purchase attire, gold jewellery, or you may have Amritsari kulchas as well as lassi. This is a new street that provides a new outlook to the shopping experience, which is excellent for taking evening walks and shopping in Amritsar.
Famous for: Boutiques, branded stores, food outlets.
Timings: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Address: Lawrence road, amritsar.
5 Best Things to Buy in Amritsar
Now that we know the places from where we can shop, it is time we also know what to look for and what is famous in Amritsar that you should buy. Below are the 5 things that are a must-buy if you’re visiting Amritsar for the first time.
1. Phulkari Embroidery
The traditional style of Phulkari is the centre of the Punjab style. Such hand-stitched dupattas and suits are in vibrant colours, surrounded by details of floral patterns. Phulkari is first and foremost in your mind when you consider buying stuff in Amritsar. It is available in nearly all of the Amritsar markets, be it Kapda Bazaar or the Hall Bazaar.
2. Punjabi Juttis
Punjabi juttis are shoes characterised by bright colours made by hand and are very suitable for the ethnic attire. Each of the pairs is typically special and embroidered or mirrored most delicately. The juttis in Shastri Market are particularly popular among the shopping places in Amritsar. They are not only comfortable but also fashionable and are good souvenirs.
3. Amritsari Papad and Wadiyan
In case you would like to know what to buy in Amritsar besides clothes, you would find food items such as papad and wadiyan. These are some dried snacks of lentils, common throughout India, that taste like Punjab. The low-cost local market in Amritsar for these is the Lahori Gate Market.
4. Spices and Pickles
Punjabi spices and pickles are both essential items that should be purchased by any foodie. The aroma of roasting masalas will be intriguing in the first place. By purchasing these, you are connected back to a Punjabi kitchen at home. They are readily available in such areas as the Lahori Gate Market.
5. Handicrafts & Souvenirs
Amritsar has numerous gifts ranging from the miniature Golden Temple to classic Punjabi art. These products are a cheery addition to your house and make nice presents. The perfect shopping spots for souvenirs in Amritsar are Hall Bazaar and Lawrence Road.
Conclusion
And this was the guide to your whole shopping in Amritsar, including the bustling bazaars and the up-to-date Mall. You could not find a place to have a better market of clothes, the cheapest market of spices, and in souvenirs, this city has it all.
It is about making visits to tiny streets full of colours, sniffing fresh spices, embroidered dupattas, and sweet lassi as you take a break. Each market is a fairy tale, and each purchase comes with a memory.
So, the next time you visit Amritsar, don’t just spot yourself after the Golden Temple or heart meals, explore the markets in Amritsar and take back a piece of Punjab with you.
