Eclectic, colourful, busy, and so on, it&rsquos easy to fall short of adjectives trying to describe Varanasi. If you think devotion is the only takeaway from your visit here, the colourful and buzzing street markets will make you worried about meeting your allowed baggage weight. From luxurious Banarasi silk sarees to brightly painted wooden toys, brace yourself for a long list of must-buys from the holy city
Banarasi Silk Sarees
If you&rsquove come to Banaras, do not commit the mistake of travelling without getting your hands on at least one silk saree. The famed handloom has many admirers all over the world, but spotting an authentic one takes a good eye. They are woven from the finest silk yarn by weavers, featuring intricate patterns and motifs in zari. The best way to know if it&rsquos an authentic weave crafted on a loom is to check the reverse side, as it would have floats within the warp and weft grids. Thateri Bazaar is where you would lay your eyes on some of the finest designs.
Ganga Jal
If Banaras is known by anything, it is this grand holy river running through and the riverfront ghats where devotees and tourists gather to witness the grand evening aartis. Since the river is worshipped by many, in it rests immense opportunity for more than just spiritual gain. So much so that the Ganga Jal is deemed Varanasi&rsquos biggest export.
Many sellers line the ghats with various shapes and sizes of copper cans on offer. If you think what they&rsquore selling is no different from just filling it up on your own, then you&rsquore wrong. The sellers claim to swim to the middle of the river to fill these large, small, and medium-sized cans.
Gulabi Minakari
Although Minakari is equally well-known in Rajasthan and Gujarat, Varanasi too finds a mention on the list. The city is primarily known for Gulabi Minakari or Mina work in pink. From necklaces to home accents, you will find many objects adorning the intricate work around the bylanes of Gai Ghat.
Lal Pedha
Varanasi is a haven for street-food lovers&ndashfrom piping-hot and perfectly golden Kachoris to delicate and creamy mithais, you may run out of appetite, but not of things to eat. If you want a bite of something uniquely Banarasiya, try lal pedha and even pack some to-go. It&rsquos slightly roasted more than the usual pedhas, giving it its deep-red colour and name. The best place to pick some from is near the Hanuman Temple, Sankat Mochan or at one of the sweet shops in Kachori Gali near Gadauliya.
Pickles And Aloo Ke Papad
If you find yourself roaming around Kachori Gali long after grabbing a box of lal pedha, pick some unique pickles and aloo ke papad. The shops tucked in these streets house an extensive collection of pickles&ndashmore than 30 kinds Sardar ji Papadwale is best known in the area.
Shivlingas
Considered the land of Lord Shiva, the Shivalinga&ndashusually found carved out of stone or crystal&ndashis a quintessential souvenir in Varanasi. These are generally really tiny and considered to bring good luck. The best place to buy these is near the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple, although you would find almost every other shop in the city selling them.
