Monday, April 8, 2013

Bazaars of Jammu


Jammu is the city of contradictions. There are two charmingly contradictory aspects to the city of Jammu which one can see while shopping in this ancient city of temples. Shopping in this city is a unique experience which you can remember for a lifetime. Jammu offers the combination of traditional as well as modern shopping. Jammu, the city of ancient temples boasts of three markets - Vir Marg, Raghunath Bazaar and Hari Market to cater to your shopping requirement. These three markets are famous for Kashmiri handicrafts, traditional Dogra jewellery and various dry fruits, chiefly walnuts and almonds.
The Shopping Attractions in Jammu are a delight for the shopping bugs. The arts and crafts of Jammu are extremely popular all over the country and the world. The specialities and the must-buys are the Pashmina, the Shahtoosh and other woolen shawls. Some of the shawls are made with exquisite and intricate embroidery and dyed in beautiful, vibrant as well as sober colors.


Raghunath Bazaar

The famous market of “Raghunath Bazaar” is very popular among the tourists/ pilgrims as it is right in the heart of Jammu city. Named after the famous Raghunath Temple, this market is right next to the Raghunath Temple in Jammu. Some of the most liked restaurants in the adjoining Residency Road provide food ranging from the simple to the exotic. 
It is one of the best shopping destinations in the region. Some of the shopping items which are available in the Raghunath Bazaar in Jammu are phirans, tweeds, woolen carpets, woven willow baskets, brass and silverware, silk and embroidery works, vases, bowls, wall hangings, naqqashi work, furniture, wood carvings, other decorative items made of wood, and many more.

Gole Market


Another popular shopping place among shopping markets in Jammu is Gole Market which is a little distance away across the Tawi River in Gandhi Nagar locality. This locality is famous for modern shopping including electronics, garments, footwear and other modern accessories. Poshish - an outlet of J&K Handloom Development Corporation (a shopping centre for Handloom products) is also located at Gole Market, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu

Hari Market

The highly renowned shopping market in Jammu is named after the erstwhile Raja of Jammu - Hari Singh, the last ruler of Jammu and Kashmir and the man instrumental for the merger of Jammu in Indian Union. Hari market is well known for traditional Dogra jewelleries, Kashmiri handicrafts and various dry fruits. Dry fruits are of great attention in this market, mainly walnuts and almonds. The shops in Hari market offers good quality basmati rice, dried mango peels, rajma and barfi.

If you visit Jammu, don’t forget to have some purchase from Hari Market and get some milk sweets known as barfi. Other important items available here include superb hand-knotted carpets of silk and wool, apart from handicrafts like Pashmina shawls.

 

City Square Mall


City Square Mall  is the first mall in the city of temples. Various national and international brands have opened their showrooms inside the mall.
 

Wave Mall

The mall has been constructed in keeping with the preferences and requirements of Jammu’s modern shopping enthusiasts who represent the aspirations of all amenities that one can find in metros.

The mall provides shoppers a wide gamut of luxury brand choices in apparels, fashion, lifestyle, home furnishings, cinemas and cafés. Leading international brands, including Lifestyle, Allen Solly, Van Heusen, Barista, Yo China, Blackberry, Nike, Woodland, US Polo, TONI & GUY  have signed up for their presence in the mall along with a host of large Indian brands. A dedicated food court, with a seating capacity of 200, offers tired shoppers a variety of local, national and international cuisines and delicacies.

The four-level Wave Mall, located at Narwal in the city vicinity, sprawls over an operational retail area of 200,000 square feet. In addition, its premises include a multiplex, Wave Cinemas with 3 screens that accommodates 1043 seats. It also offers ample parking space across three levels that accommodate 500 cars and 200 two-wheelers.

Bahu Plaza


Bahu Plaza is also a major corporate complex. It is situated in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu city.

Jammu is also known for the superlative quality of its 'basmati' rice, 'rajma' (red beans), 'ampapar' (dried and candied mango peel), 'anardana' (dried pomegranate seeds) and 'barfi' (milk sweets). For purchasing authentic Kashmiri handicrafts, one can visit the Jammu & Kashmir Government Arts Emporium near the Tourist Reception Centre on Residency Road. The emporium displays and sells a wide variety of handicrafts, including Pashmina shawls and exquisite hand-knotted carpets of silk and wool.
Jammu is also famous for its Choclate Burfi and Sund panjeeree, famous shops for such sweets are Amritsarian Di Hatti at Raghunath Bazaar and Pahalwan Di Hatti at Gole Market Gandhi Nagar.