What should I buy in Varanasi?
Banarasi silk saris and brocades are the city's most famous product. Look also for wooden lacquerware toys, pink meenakari enamel, glass beads, brass and copper ritual items, rudraksha and religious books. Buy silk from established shops, ask about the Silk Mark, and avoid shops where a guide or driver insists on taking you.
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Banarasi silk
Banarasi saris and brocades — often woven with gold or silver-coloured zari — are protected by a Geographical Indication (GI). Prices range widely depending on silk, zari, design and whether the piece is handwoven or powerloom.
Buying tips
- Ask whether the sari is handloom or powerloom, and pure silk or blended.
- Look for the Silk Mark label, a quality assurance for natural silk from the Silk Mark Organisation of India.
- Buy from established shops that explain the weave and give a bill.
- Be wary if a rickshaw driver or "guide" insists on taking you to a particular shop — commissions are added to your price.
Other crafts
| Craft | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wooden lacquerware toys | A traditional Banaras craft |
| Gulabi meenakari | Pink enamel work on metal |
| Glass beads | Varanasi is a centre of glass-bead making |
| Brass and copper ritual items | Lamps, kalash, bells; see Thatheri Bazaar |
| Rudraksha and malas | Buy from reputable shops |
| Religious books and prints | Around the temple lanes |
Where to shop
- Vishwanath Gali — offerings, religious items, bangles
- Godowlia and Dashashwamedh — general bazaar
- Chowk and Thatheri Bazaar — metalware
- Weavers' neighbourhoods — some visitors visit workshops; go with a reputable guide
After darshan
Phones and bags are not allowed inside the temple, so shop after your visit rather than before.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a Banarasi sari is genuine?
Buy from established shops, ask whether it is handloom and pure silk, and look for the Silk Mark label for natural silk.
Sources and further reading
We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.
- Silk Mark Organisation of India (opens in a new tab)
Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles — Government source, checked September 2026
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism — Varanasi (opens in a new tab)
Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh — Government source, checked September 2026
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
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