Johari Bazaar

Johari Bazaar, the jewellers' market, is one of the oldest bazaars in Jaipur's walled Pink City, Rajasthan, laid out when Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II planned the city in 1727. Jaipur has been a centre for cutting and setting gemstones for centuries, and the long arcaded street of Johari Bazaar is lined with shops selling everything from inexpensive silver to fine gold jewellery set with precious and semi-precious stones.

Jai Singh II invited jewellers and gem cutters to settle in his new city, and the trade has stayed. Jaipur is now one of the world's main centres for cutting emeralds and other coloured stones. The buildings of Johari Bazaar were painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, the colour that gave the Pink City its name. Alongside the jewellers, Johari Bazaar also sells saris, lehengas and bandhani tie-dye textiles.

What to see

• Kundan jewellery, with polished gems set in pure gold foil
• Meenakari, bright enamel work often on the back of kundan pieces
• Silver tribal jewellery and loose semi-precious stones
• Bandhani and leheriya fabrics in the textile shops
• The arcaded facades and the busy Badi Chaupar at the northern end

What to wear

Johari Bazaar has no dress code, but it is a traditional, crowded street, so modest clothing is sensible, with closed shoes for the pavements. Keep bags in front. This is also where Jaipur families shop for wedding clothes, so you will see the full range of Rajasthani dress: lehenga-choli, bandhani odhnis, and safa turbans for grooms.

Local food to try

Johari Bazaar is known for its sweets. Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar (LMB), on the bazaar, serves ghevar, rajbhog and a vegetarian Rajasthani thali. Street stalls sell pyaaz kachori, mirchi vada and kulfi. Dal baati churma and ker sangri are easy to find. Nearly everything here is vegetarian.

Good to know

• Best from October to March; late afternoon and evening when the lights come on
• Most shops open daily, about 11am to 9pm; some close on Sundays
• Free to browse
• Allow one to two hours
• In the walled city, south of Badi Chaupar, 5 km from Jaipur Junction
• For valuable gems, buy only with a certificate from a government-approved lab; avoid anyone offering gems for resale abroad

Nearby places

Johari Bazaar starts near Hawa Mahal, and Bapu Bazaar is a short walk west. The City Palace is about five minutes north on foot.