Shopping in Ladakh
- Ladakh is known for its many local handicrafts and artefacts. The most famous among these are Thanka paintings, wooden crafted tables (chok-tse), Tibetan carpets, Pashmina shawls, gems and jewellery, masks and other items of decoration. Ladakhi dresses can be purchased from New Shar market, parallel to Main Bazaar. Tibetan markets (usually tented, make-shift shops) are the best places to buy antiques and both genuine and not-so-genuine artefacts.
- Pashmina (Cashmere) shawls are available at several shops in the Leh main market. Though Pashmina is produced in Ladakh, the most superior shawls are still the forte of Kashmiri artisans. But if you want an absolutely pure Pashmina shawl, you need to be an expert on Pashm or you can buy a handcrafted one from Government Handicrafts outlets, one near Sabzi Mandi.
- Moti Market (See map) in Leh town is a well known place for the people interested in purchasing pearls (moti) and other precious and semi precious stones and jewellery.
- Tibetan handicrafts items like carpets, paintings, and other Buddhist artefacts can be brought from shops in Main bazaar or New Shar market.
- Apricot and its oil are also famous local products of Ladakh. Actually, the best qualities are produced in lower Ladakh including Kargil as also in Turtuk belt. The footpath based vendors at the end of the Main Market, sell cheaper varieties. One of the shop at Zangsti, Ladakh Apricot has better products in well packed pouches and bottles. The grade I Halman variety of apricots cost around Rs. 200 per kg. The better ones are the natural dried apricot which are dark coloured with kernel (above in the photo), while osmotically dried varieties looks more appealing, are less testy. Here you can also get other apricot products as well as various dried horticulture items.
- Seabuckthorn (Leh Berries) juice, produced locally, is also available in some restaurants.
Handphone: + 91 - 9419178448 / 9906999978 Landline: +91 - 1982 - 251702 Email: drukladakh@gmail.com Web: www.lehladakh.org