Most of the tourists and travelers visiting the city have listed shopping in Jaipur as a big attraction of the pink city. Old Jaipur markets in the Walled City and Bazaar like Johari Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar, etc all rate high on their list. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II founded Jaipur in 1727 AD with the idea of establishing it as a major trading hub in North India. City planners ensured wide roads and symmetric facades in the markets of the walled city of Jaipur. The adherence to the layout is evident in this picture of the famous Johari Bazar Jaipur at the end of the 19th century.
This is how the current Johari Bazaar compares with the old picture above.
Always buzzing! picture of Johari Bazaar, Jaipur
old Jaipur market | Why Should Travelers Visit and Explore?
Jaipur markets in the walled city are buzzing with activity. Channa Jor Garam seller, old coin vendor, handicraft seller, and bookseller are a few examples. It’s difficult to list them all here. Walking down the street amid the chaos, traffic snarls, dust and noise in the old Jaipur market might be painful for many, but this is a real treat for those interested in exploring and experiencing. A true local experience. Additionally, you can check out Jaipur by night.
Here are a few pictures from the old Jaipur markets that are famous for shopping in Jaipur.
Read-Milk Seller/ Jaipur Market/ Murli Gurjar where this picture first appeared.
Read-Doodh Mandi – Milk Market of Jaipur! where this picture first appeared.
Read Mochadis & Jutis where this picture first appeared.
What is unique about the Old Jaipur Market?
Malls across the world are similar be it Mantri Mall in Bangalore, Siam Paragon in Bangkok, or Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur! You are more likely to gain more by walking through the local markets like Chatuchak market in Bangkok, Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and Greenwich market in London than malls. Each bazaar has its own flavor & character which one must experience. This holds true for Jaipur as well. Every time I walk through these streets I get to see and experience something new! I highly recommend walking through the Johari Bazaar of all the places in Jaipur.
Old Jaipur Market Vs New Markets in Jaipur
The old Jaipur market cannot be replaced by modern shopping complexes, malls, and hypermarkets. Most malls like World Trade Park in Jaipur primarily offer lifestyle products and popular brands in clothing and shoes. You’ll find the same brands and similar assortments across all malls in the city; offering very little variety to choose from. In comparison, there is so much variety in these old Jaipur markets and the Bazaars of the walled city of Jaipur. You can practically buy everything you need. Fruits, vegetables, shoes, hardware, daily needs; everything is available except lifestyle brands. There are many sellers selling their goods with unique assortment, quality, and prices.
Which is the most famous Bazaar for shopping in Jaipur?
Among all the bazaars in Jaipur, Bapu Bazaar and Johari Bazaar are the most famous among travelers for shopping.
What is Johari Bazaar famous for?
Johari Bazaar is famous for jewelry, Sari, and wedding-related shopping among all things.
What can I buy in Bapu Bazaar?
Among the things you can buy in Bapu Bazaar are Sanganeri block-printed bed sheets and fabrics, traditional Rajasthani Jutis and Mojadis, Salwaar suits, and cosmetics.
Issues & problems in Old Jaipur Bazaars
The situation has changed completely in the last decade. Traffic, congestion, chaos, noise, and parking problems started surfacing in the old markets in the walled city of Jaipur. The congestion & traffic pressure compounded due to the high density of the population living in the old markets of the walled city of Jaipur. A large number of tourists also visit the old bazaars of Jaipur to shop & explore.
Traffic congestion in Johari Bazaar, Jaipur
Tourist sites like Hawa Mahal, City Palace, etc are in close vicinity. These markets are still dominant in trades like jewelry, handicrafts, wholesale flower markets, etc. This creates huge pressure on the existing infrastructure inside the traditional heritage markets of the walled cities like Johari Bazaar, Tripolia Bazaar, and Sirehdyodi Bazaar.
Jaipur Markets | New Trends
1980s onwards, new markets started developing in localities across Jaipur, reducing the dependence on the old markets of the walled city of Jaipur. In the last 10-15 years, malls and modern shopping complexes have started springing up across Jaipur luring shoppers. Some made a switch to the swanky malls to avoid the traffic, chaos, and noise one confronts in the old Bazaars. After all, Malls offered convenience, ease, and escape from the heat & dust. You don’t have to go bazaar hopping anymore!
A large number of shoppers remain loyal to these old bazars and markets in Jaipur. Some sections of shoppers made the switch only to revert back to the old ways of shopping after experimenting with the modern shopping experience
One of the biggest issues facing old Jaipur markets is increased commercialization during the last few years. The old Havelis are being razed down and replaced with modern buildings. Many of the old Jaipur bazaars are hubs for B2B businesses. This puts immense pressure on infrastructure. The demand for godowns in the walled city has increased manifold.
Even though the walled city of Jaipur was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2019, the government has not done much and in reality, there is no stopping when it comes to the destruction of heritage.
Heritage Walking Tour of Jaipur Markets
You can undertake a walking tour in Jaipur to understand the old Jaipur market. A walking tour is a great way to get a good orientation about the city and its history as well as heritage. To learn more about walking tours, read the Heritage Walking Tour in Jaipur. With a guided walking tour, one can gain a more enhanced experience of the city, its evolution, heritage, and history.
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Ooh, so much going on, looks like a great place to be…
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It’s a buzzing market… too much to see and capture! 🙂
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A very colorful and unique place! It shows its culture, mentality, traditions! Great work, Arv!
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You are right Ann! Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
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I am sure glad to hear that people are coming back to the old bazaars of Jaipur realizing that it is part of their culture. The shopping malls have nothing unique and are all the same world wide. Great photos too, my friend!
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Malls haven’t done too well out here. Of course, the reason is not that people don’t like them; there are different reasons for that. But for a traveler and tourist old bazaar offers quite a bit. It’s a glimpse into a local life and culture. 🙂
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Absolutely agree with you, Bazaar’s are full of life and colors. I haven’t been at any mall in Jaipur neither in entire Rajasthan.
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These bazaars should be on every explorer’s list! hank you for sharing your views! 🙂
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Love the Black and Whites and the one with Jutis. Cheers
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Me too 🙂
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Lovely blog. I HATE Pavilion Mall in KL. Its totally antiseptic and what are Italian restaurants doing there. F F S? I see from your pictures that it hasn’t changed so much apart from the congestion of the traffic. Who would want to trade the vibe and atmosphere of a traditional ( street) market for one of those Malls which, as you rightly say, could be anywhere in the world. I love those pictures and I love the Vendors. Long may they last…
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Jackie I have seen malls in other countries as well, except for brand and size of mall it’s quite similar. Thank you for sharing your views here. 🙂
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The old bazaars have a unique charm, no doubt.
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True. Have you ever been to jaipur?
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These old markets of Jaipur are so much more full of character and charm than the new malls. Wish we could have more of such wonderful colourful markets…
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You said it well. They have a unique character. There are so many things happening in these bazaars! Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. 🙂
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You can’t beat those old markets, Arv. I can (and do!) spend hours just wandering around them.
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I guess we have a similar liking then! 🙂
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Nice pictures arv! I am sure nobody would be interested in the Malls except the local richies. All visitors would like to explore the real culture and flavor of Jaipur and this can only be done if we visit the old hubs and narrow lanes…memories are made there!
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I’ll agree with you here. Thanks for sharing your views! 🙂
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Old bazaars have their charm. Old bazaars are cheaper and give competitive price. Unlike malls, they have less overhead. Sarojini Nagar and Karol Bagh markets will give any Mall a run for money any day. My only grouse, I wish they were more organised, they should ban car or provide convenient parking, they should accept electronic payment etc. Many sabzi bazaars are unkempt and dirty. These can easily be organised and made cleaner.
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You summed it well! I have generally found that prices of goods are cheaper in markets than malls. Same for the online as well. You are right sabzi bazaar has litter all around. And it’s because the orientation of the sellers need to change.
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Colorful and beautiful….!
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🙂
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts Sunaina!
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The traditional markets still hold a irreplaceable charm of their own.
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You are so right! They have their own character! 🙂
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aww I love Jaipur and feel there is a unique feeling while shopping from traditional market. Nice post..Totally loved it.
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Its great to hear what you love about Jaipur. I may be biased towards the city where I live, but coming from a non resident, it just reaffirms how popular Jaipur is. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here! 🙂
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I’d choose old bazaars any day! So much life, vigour and colour!! Especially in a place like Jaipur. Great post! 🙂
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Thank you Geetanjali! I guess we both share the same views on old bazaars 🙂
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Life is in the chaos, the sights and smells of the real city as it exists. Jaipur is about culture, about heritage, about finding the present through the past. A walk down the streets is where stories reveal themselves. The photos tell a story of their own 🙂
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You summed it well. 🙂
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Could not agree more with the sentiments – the old bazaars are full of character, life and colour. MM 🍀
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🙂 right Mick!
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Loved reading the post Arv, the photographs are superb. The mojdis and the jaipuri clothes-chania/long skirts have already been added to my Jaipur shopping list :)!!
I feel the Bazaars are the soul of the city, and always prefer visiting the old bazaars too whenever I am visiting homeland. Malls do not offer the personal interaction or connection that one forms with the locals while browsing through or shopping in the bazaars. They offer numerous choices of the goods sold, one often ends up buying something unique. Also, it is amusing when the shopkeepers inflate the prices assuming one to be a visitor and the haggling that goes when bargaining for the right price with them :). This fun is deprived in the Malls, and also the yum street food, right!
Eating chaat or gol guppa is more enjoyable when eaten on the street from the thelewala!!
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You have given ample reason to visit local bazaar! These bazaars are guaranteed to delight any tourist or shoppers. 🙂
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I just love shopping in Jaipur! You’ve just made a tourist’s job so much easier with this post! And you’re right, local markets are more culturally enriching when compared to malls…
Great pics! So much colour 🙂
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I guess when we travel we look for differentiated experiences. Local bazaar fits perfectly. Thank You for sharing your views Divya! 🙂
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