South India is a wonderful land for the best shopping experience with an unlimited number of options. Theland’s rich heritage, culture, and craftsmanship make you wonderful things to buy. Whether it may be handicrafts, silk saris, jewellery, sculptures, paintings, etc many things of South India will make you feel every buy worthy to take to your home. Whenever you are on a trip to South India never miss buying the best souvenirs of South India. Let’s catch up on the best and most important things to buy in South India.
Top 15 Things to Buy in South India & Where to Buy Them
1. Tanjore Paintings:
Tanjore Paintings are exquisite works of showcasing art with intricate detailing using glass, precious stones, and gold leaf. In this type of art, you can see different traditional paintings of gods, goddesses, mythological depictions, birds, flowers, animals, etc. This painting style comes from the 16th century and is very authentic to look at. Paintings like these adorning your walls look beautiful and authentic.
Where to buy: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
2. Coir Handicrafts:
In South India, we can see rich coconut plantations in many parts, especially in the backwaters of Kerala favours a lot. Being home to rich coconut resources, in South India you can see varied coir handicrafts made with coconut shells, jute, etc. With beautifully designed patterns, the coir handicrafts look beautiful in your showcase almirahs.
Where to buy: Kerala.
3. Wooden Artifacts:
Wooden artifacts of South India are wonderful to shop for their unique and beautiful carvings. They are exquisitely carved out from the wood and dyed with vegetable colours by using tamarind seed paste to fix them. You can have varied types of wooden articles from miniature to big ones. The beauty of these articles is they portray mostly village lifestyle with beautiful carvings.
Where to buy: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Kondapalli is quite famous for its wooden articles.
4. Spices:
Whenever you try South Indian food, you can feel the aromatic sense and spicy feeling for the most of time. The reason behind the spiciness of south Indian food is the use of rich spices. That’s why South Indian food tastes delicious and spicy. The best-buy spices here are cloves, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, and pepper. You can have them in dried or fresh states. So, never miss to fill your kitchens with South Indian spices.
Where to buy: Kochi, Kerala.
5. Ayurvedic Products:
For ayurvedic products, South India is a well-known place. Especially, Kerala is the best-known place for Ayurvedic products and treatments in entire India. Here you can have Ayurvedic oils, herbal soaps, medicinal powders, and other products.
Where to buy: Kerala.
6. Tea and Coffee:
South India is like heaven for tea and coffee lovers, many hill stations in South India are quite famous for tea and coffee plantations. Here you can explore the tea plantations and know the best variety of aromas. You can enjoy the best time exploring how the tea or coffee is processed and come to your kitchen.
Where to buy: Karnataka and Kerala.
7. Pearls:
Hyderabad is like an abode for Pearls in South India. Here you can see an array of shops displaying beautiful pearls. Being once ruled by the Nizams and Sultans, this place is quite famous for its precious pearls. But you have to check wisely which is real or fake and also must have good bargaining skills.
Where to buy: Charminar region of Hyderabad.
8. Local Delicacies:
Entire South India is quite famous for its local food and its different variety of sweets. Here you can enjoy different savours of different regions. Each region is known for its best in making. For example Andhra Pradesh for pongal, Chennai for sambar, Kerala for appam, etc. When it comes to sweets, the must-try here are Mysore Pak, Maa Ladoo, Rava Kesari, etc. So never forget to pack some sweets for the people at your home to make them taste South Indian sweets.
Where to buy: Entire South India.
9. Traditional Clothes:
South India is rich in promoting culture and heritage. Especially, the festivals of South India will look grandeur with classic traditional attires from children to elders. Many places in South India are quite famous for their traditional clothing. Kerala’s Mundu, Andhra & Tamil Nadu’s Dhoti, Sarees, Pavada, and Davani for women, like different traditional attires are the best to try in South India.
Where to buy: Entire South India.
10. Rosewood Carvings:
Karnataka region is quite famous for rosewood carvings. Being home to many rosewood forests, here you can see the best rosewood carvings works. The intricate designs in crafting articles show the exquisite craftsmanship of the local artisans. You can pick various rosewood carvings of gods, animals, birds, etc.
Where to buy: Mysore, Karnataka.
11. Sandalwood Products:
For Sandalwood products, the southern states are well-known for their number of products. Especially Karnataka region is the best place to find the best quality sandalwood. You can shop for various kinds of sandalwood products like furniture, statues, toys, pendants, soaps, etc a lot.
Where to buy: Mysore and Bangalore, Karnataka.
12. Seashell articles:
Seashell articles of South India have great popularity in India. Being home to long coastal areas, here you can catch numerous kinds of seashell articles from decors to jewellery. You can buy home decor, crafts, jewellery, etc. The intricate designs and patterns of seashells in South India will make you feel surprised.
Where to buy: Kerala, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
13. Handloom Sarees:
For handloom sarees, South India is a wonderful region to shop for unlimited varieties of sarees. Every region has its special handmade silk or cotton sarees. From many parts of India, people visit to buy South India’s best-known handloom sarees especially, for marriages. Some of the best-buy sarees are Kanchipuram Silk, Pochampally Cotton, Kasavusarees, Mysore Silk, etc.
Where to buy: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
14. Aroma Oils:
For aroma oils and products, South India is one of the best regions. Being home to rich forests, here you can find the best products, which make you feel serene with their essence. Some of the best buys are scented candles, eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, incense sticks, almond oil, etc.
Where to buy: Kerala, Pondicherry, Kodaikanal, and Ooty.
15. Pottery:
The pottery styles of South India look very different and attractive. Being known for the best traditions of pottery making, here you can see varied types of pottery. From decorative items to household pottery, different varieties of pottery will attract you. Terracotta figurines, pots, flower vases, clay lamps, household pottery, etc are the best-buy options.
Where to buy: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Pondicherry.
These are all some of the best-buy souvenirs to shop for in South India. Whenever you visit South India, try to shop for any of these things and make your homes beautiful. The moment you see them in your house you should remember all your trip highlights in South India.
Further Reading:
