Rediff On The NeT Travel: A travel feature on shopping in the backwaters in Kerala, India


	HOME \| TRAVEL \| KERALA \| KUTTANAD \| WHERE TO SHOP

TRAVELOG
TRAVEL DESK
EVENTS
AIRLINES
SEARCH

Alleppey, a major coir producing town, is the place to shop for typical Keralan coir mats and other coir goods. Try the shops at Mullakal Road and Market Road in the town centre.

Kairali, the Kerala government handicrafts emporium at Hotel Ambadi, Beach Road in Quilon stocks a range of crafts. Or try other main Quilon shopping areas like the Municipal Shopping Complex and Supreme Supermarket. The town centre of Kottayam has a selection of shops that stock handicrafts.

Vishwasarthy Handicrafts Centre, Aranmula, located 30 kilometres from Kottayam, for special Kerala kannady metal mirrors. A rare item used by royalty these mirrors made from a special alloy of copper, brass, lead and silver are available in Aranmula for prices ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 50,000 and up.

St Thomas Statuary at Champakulam is known far and wide for its fine-carved wooden statues of Jesus.

Other typical items to pick up on a backwaters trip are cashews, banana chips, jackfruit chips, spices, coffee, wooden carvings, Kathakali dance masks (see the picture), and the large brass diyas

Landmarks Where to stay Where to eat Info you can use

Quick getaways