19 Best Varanasi Souvenirs worth Gifting

Many of you, like me, find joy in taking back bits of memory of a place in form of souvenirs I am sure. Varanasi has a huge scope for shopping as you will find out in this Varanasi travel blog. Shopping in Varanasi for souvenirs beats hands down many other cities of India.

One reason I attribute for this is its long 5000 years of history. People of many walks of life, over the centuries, would have come and settled here contributing to its multi-art and craft culture, that has led to creation of several famous things to buy in Varanasi.

Ideally this travel blog post on Varanasi souvenirs should be named – GIFT YOURSELF SOMETHING HANDMADE – because you get keychains, fridge magnets, coffee mugs from everywhere in world, but this list is dedicated to all handmade famous things of Varanasi.

Do check my Varanasi Travel Guide for first timers, in which I have included the time for Shopping in Varanasi in the itinerary.

19 Best Souvenirs from Varanasi India

Where to shop in Varanasi – Places for Souvenir Shopping

Before I elaborate on what to buy in Varanasi, let me list out the places where you can buy the souvenirs.

• In my Varanasi travel guide I had mentioned about Travel Facilitation Centre and Craft Museum (TFC). You get almost all handicraft items, textiles under one roof. All authentic too, so there is no chance of getting cheated on quality.
• Other places where you get souvenirs are right in front of Varanasi sightseeing destinations. Many vendors put up their stalls selling all kinds of knick knacks. The best part is they suit different budget ranges.
• Yet another option is wander through the Varanasi gali s (alleys, Lanes and by lanes) you will cross innumerable shops. It can be overwhelming too to interact with the local shopkeepers who are very friendly and obliging to show several items. You may feel pressured to buy at least something from them.
• Visit wholesale markets of Varanasi to grab a few of your cherished items.
• Buy Varanasi Souvenirs from the local artists directly if you have the time to visit them at their place of work. It will be a direct help without going through the agents and middlemen.
• If you have missed out all of the above completely, no worries you can still pick up souvenirs at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. There are many kiosks selling different handicrafts and textiles. Here too you will get authentic stuff but priced a bit higher.

What to buy on your trip to Varanasi – wooden toy Lacquerware

Major Tip for Shopping in Varanasi

BARGAIN! Yes, bargain the prices they quote when you shop for Varanasi souvenirs. I have done it in airports too and it works there too. Sometimes they quote 10 or 100 times the original cost. The minimum they hike the price is double the original cost. It is in their culture.

So HAGGLE as much as you can. They don’t hike to cheat but they look at it as a means to how much they outsmarted you. They think something like this: you are well travelled than me, so let me see who is smarter! It is all pure fun for them. Once you move out they brag about their exploits.

Of course, such businesses are their bread and butter, so they will never sell at a loss. If you have hit at a price they refuse to sell you know you are near the base price. Keep a reasonable margin for them and the item will be yours.

What to Buy in Varanasi – 19 Souvenirs from Varanasi

Now that you are aware of what to buy and how to buy, read on to know what to buy in Varanasi. I have mentioned 19 best souvenirs of Varanasi. This is not the end; I intend to add more to this list.

I have divided the list into three parts;

1. 10 best Souvenirs of Varanasi which have the prestigious GI tag. This is a list of GI products of Varanasi and its surrounding region. (GI (Geographical Indication) tag is a legal certificate highlighting the geographical location of the skill or the product. This indication acts as a certification of the unique style, qualities, traditional methodology etc. specific to the particular geographical region.)
2. 5 Souvenirs Famous in Varanasi, they don’t have the GI tag yet, nevertheless are symbols of Varanasi.
3. 4 Souvenirs of Religious Significance from Varanasi – This is for those of you who are spiritually inclined. Hindus and Buddhists will relate to this section well.

Souvenirs of Varanasi with GI Tag

Banaras Brocade and Sarees

It is not known whether Banaras got famous for the silk sarees or the sarees got famous because they are made in Banaras! They are almost synonyms. Banarasi silk fabrics are a must buy and the sarees top the list if you have a mother, sister, wife or daughter waiting for you back home. The weavers of Banaras are well known for Zari/Zardozi embroidery and Brocade weaving.

Prices can range from a few thousands to lakhs in INR. Check here: Banaras Brocade Sarees – Best Varanasi Souvenirs

Varanasi Wooden Toys and Lacquerware

Head to Khojwan near Varanasi to see the wooden toy makers, craftsmen of Kharadi community carving out delightful toys that bring a smile on the lips of kids and adults alike. Uniqueness about these toys is that they are made without any joints. I picked up one of them – an owl, from TFC. This art got GI tag in 2014 along with lacquer ware produced in this region.

Read more: Wooden Toys of Kondapalli, Vijayawada

Varanasi Glass Beads

Varanasi leads other cities of India in export of glass beads. However the art is facing a threat as glass, the major raw material for producing these beads, is getting expensive and scarce. Artisans dedicated to this art can be found in Chandpur, Kandwan and Ramnagar, nearby villages of Varanasi. These beads are used not only for jewelry but also for enhancing textile designs. Varanasi glass beads got GI tag in 2016.

Check here: Varanasi Glass Beads

Varanasi glass beads

Banaras Metal Repousse Craft

Can you believe Metal Repousse Craft is older than older than the Banarasi Silk handloom industry! Since the Vedic times, traditional artisans have used the repoussé technique to make faces of gods and goddesses, traditional ornaments with gold and silver, doors and wall decorations in temples and more.

The artists use malleable metal sheet that is shaped by hammering from the reverse side with a raised design getting formed in the front. It is completely handmade using traditional tools. This technique is referred to as embossing (Khal – Ubhaar Ka Kaam) and secrets of this craft have been preserved by the Kasera community for generations.

Varanasi soft stone Jali work

Jaali translates to net. Now imagine a net like sculpted finish in stones, how intricate it must be. Years back I had purchased a small oval lamp made of jali work. It threw mesmerizing shadows when lit in a pitch dark room. Today, after knowing its origin, I value it more.

Carving is done on soft stone sourced from mines of Chunar. With improvised tools the artists tried out more innovative carvings like undercut which has been a huge success and much sought after by the buyers.

Banaras Gulabi Meenakari Craft

Gulabi Meenakari, translates to pink enamelling, is a unique art form. It is made by making pink strokes on white enamel. You may know that Jaipur is the main centre for meenakari. It is well known for rich colors like red and green.

Varanasi is known for the art (Gulabi Meenakari). It is believed to have come from Persia, the Mughal brought it to Varanasi and it has been practised there ever since. The feature that makes it stand out from other meenakari is, while colouring the surface of metals with a fusion of colours pink is prominent. The art form thus derives the name Gulabi Meenakari. (Gulabi means pink color in Hindi)

Price: Gulabi meenakari artefacts are priced between Rs 1,000 and many lakhs in INR. Luckily for me I got one as a gift, a peacock, from the UP Tourism board during the International Travel Writers’ Conclave.

Things to buy in Varanasi – stone jali work, gulabi meenakari

Handmade Carpet of Bhadohi

Carpets of Bhadohi are hand-knotted, manufactured on a vertical wooden loom with thick cotton and woolen yarns. The common designs depict flowers, animals, gardens, trees and trellises. The colors used in various hues and ways in floor coverings and rugs never fail to liven up the room.

If you want to see a weaver at work and pick up from the weaver then head to Bhadohi, the carpet city of Uttar Pradesh, a small village about 16 km away from the city of Varanasi. This art form got a GI tag in 2010.

Price range – It costs ₹ 1,250/Piece for a 4x4ft carpet to more than a lakh depending on size and colors.

Do cater for luggage space. You can also get it couriered to your place of stay from reliable dealers.

Carpets of Bhadohi – Varanasi Gift Guide

Nizamabad Black Pottery

Pottery art form is common in not just India but in other parts of world too. It is one of the ancient forms of art. Then why is Nizamabad Black Pottery famous?  One, because of its shiny black color due the presence of high mica content in the soil of Nizamabad; Two, due to the contrasting engraved shiny silver motifs. Even the smallest piece of pottery work will hold your gaze for long.

The pitch black color comes after a special process of firing, where the pots are kept in an air-tight Aanva or kiln at a temperature of around 600 °C.

GI Tag in 2015

Price ranges from a couple of hundreds in INR to a few thousands depending on the intricate silver engravings on them. Get it packed well to avoid any possible breakage.

Mirzapur Handicraft Dari

Mirzapur Handmade Durrie got the prestigious GI tag in 2015. It is recognized for its entirely manual process of weaving, starting from designing and weaving to finishing. They weave traditional and contemporary designs in fairly bold colours and patterns.

The high quality of workmanship is achieved through the panja dari weaving technique. Panja is the metallic clawlike tool that is used to beat and set the threads in the warp (lengthwise yarns). Because of the tight weaving technique Mirzapur Handmade Durrie is known for its long life and durability.

Prices can range from a few hundred in INR to thousands.

Mirzapur Handmade Durrie

Also read: Carpet Weaving in Rajasthan

Gazipur Wall Hanging

These are interior decor items woven by skilled craftsmen using a blend of different colors of yarns of jute and cotton and sometimes include silk embroidery in the final piece. Though it is made in villages of Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Chandauli, it got famous with the name of Ghazipur wall hanging. More than 3000 families engaged in this centuries-old art. Banaras weaving technique called naka jala taka to create these unusual designs. Ghazipur wall hanging was granted the Geographical Indication Tag (GI) in 2018.

Souvenirs famous in Varanasi

The second list has 5 Varanasi souvenirs which are not in the GI tag list; but are famous things to buy in Varanasi. They carry the mark of Varanasi.

Precious Gemstones

There are several Certified Gemstones shops in Varanasi. If you believe in stone therapy with astrology, Varanasi is the place. Gemstones in India are available at reasonable prices compared to many other countries of the world. The reasons for this are plenty of gemstone mines and low labor charges. Several small shops sell semi precious stones for jewellery purposes too. See the two of them I have in my collection: Pink Ruby and Yellow Sapphire.

Pink Ruby and Yellow Sapphire Gemstones – Amazing Souvenirs of Varanasi

Chunar Pottery and Ceramics

Chunar in Mirzapur is known for its unique shape and size of ceramic and pottery. A variety of articles such as lamps, pitchers, flower vases, candle stands etc. are made here. The clay in the Chunar region has the natural contents to bring the brick red color on the fired pot. The clay is mixed with feldspar and quartz to make the ceramics. Chunar ceramics stand out distinctly as they have a rough and rustic appeal with characteristic blue, green and brown glazes.

Read about Chunar Sightseeing in my travel blog – Places to Visit around Varanasi.

Terracotta Forms

Votive offerings in the shape of tiger, elephant and horses during worship of Goddesses and festivals are an age old tradition. These are made of terracotta. Body limbs are wheel turned. In addition to the use of potter’s wheel, women potters practice a unique hand modelling technique to give features like ears and teeth with soft clay. After giving shape, the decoration is done by incising patterns on the surface for making geometrical patterns or features. These items are baked in improvised kilns. Clay after firing turns into terracotta. This terracotta has now expanded the horizon beyond ritual and festivity to home décor.

Terracotta Forms on exhibit in Trade Craft Museum

Perfumes

Varanasi is famous for alcohol free, floral extracts and natural herbs based perfumes. Locally they are called Ittar or Attar. Kannauj, near Varanasi, has been producing these for over 400 years. Sadly the industry is under threat now as sandalwood oil, that it was traditionally made with, is rare and another reason is people consider it highly unfashionable to use ittar; instead they fall for the lure of French Perfume.

They are not expensive like the foreign perfumes, and they are skin friendly too. Perfumes of Varanasi are definitely worth a buy.

Flute

Legendary singers like Pt. Ravi Shankar, Girija Devi belonged to Varanasi. Music is seeped into the culture of Varanasi so much that a gharana is named after it – the Banaras tabla gharana (one of the six styles of playing tabla) developed by Pandit Ram Sahai (1780–1826). Plenty of shops sell different musical instruments. Flute is the most common of all. Street vendors play heart stirring tunes that will stop you on tracks. Worth a buy, as flutes are easy to carry and makes an interesting gift for a child.

Souvenirs with Religious Significance from Varanasi

For spiritually inclined tourists and devotees, here are a few famous Varanasi souvenirs to buy that have religious significance. You get them in a pocket friendly price range. They are small in size and fit well into your allotted luggage space.

Shiva Linga made of Crystal Quartz

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh is home to the Bhagwan Shiva, is considered the most sacred of Hindu shrines. Buying a Shiva Ling from here is believed as carrying back the energy of the holy place back home. Worshiping the sphatik shivling at home is equivalent to bowing to God Shiva. Devotees believe Crystal Quartz (Sphatik) Shivling is auspicious. Crystal Quartz is a powerhouse of energy and positivity. It absorbs, stores, balances and amplifies the positive vibes. It also waives off the negativity around it.

Buddha Statues made of wood and stone

Due to the proximity of Sarnath from Varanasi you will find several souvenirs related to the place for sale in Varanasi too. Statues of Gautama Buddha, especially Buddha heads carved out of earthy-colored kaima wood can be seen in plenty. You will find them made of Chunar sandstones too.

Ganga Jal

Who would imagine water can be a souvenir too! In Varanasi you get Ganga Jal (water), yes water from River Ganga in small containers for sale. Ganga water is considered holy. It is mentioned in scriptures that God Brahma, the creator of Universe, washed the feet of Sri Vishnu, the protector of Universe with Ganga Jal. Hindus believe the water of Ganges carries the blessings of Bhagwan Vishnu’s feet. They think it is auspicious to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house.

Gangajal Sells for Rs. 5.50 per bottle. The water isn’t charged, the cost is for the bottle.

Rudraksha Mala

Hindus believe the Rudraksha bead safeguards its wearer from negative energies. It provides stability and good support by creating a protective covering all around. To check for the quality of the Rudraksha beads, check the mukhis are well defined and run from end to end. Its corns and contours will be natural and there will be no cracks along the mukhis. A full size Rudraksha mala will have 108 beads. The number 108 is sacred and auspicious in the Hindu tradition. There are many benefits of wearing Rudraksha mala. It cures the wearer of diseases like bladder diseases, memory loss, respiratory and heart diseases, liver and breast problems. (Rudraksha refers to a stonefruit, the dried stones of which are used as prayer beads by Hindus and Buddhists.)

Price ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand. I was lucky to receive one Rudraksha mala as a gift from the resort.

Check here: Rudraksh Mala for Women

Rudraksh Mala

Are you interested in more Souvenir Guides?

Read my following travel blogs on:
Souvenirs from Lombok, Indonesia
Cork Souvenirs from Portugal
Souvenirs from Sharjah, UAE

Did you like this shopping guide for souvenirs from Varanasi?

If you have liked this list of famous things to buy from Varanasi then consider saving, pinning and sharing this travel blog on Varanasi Shopping Guide. You can follow me on my social media handles Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to see the wonderful destinations, beautiful offbeat places and get instant updates about them.

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link on this post. This will be at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. Thanks for your support!

Indrani Ghose is an Indian Travel Writer and Blogger based in Bangalore, India. She has written for numerous publications across the globe – including Lonely Planet, The National UAE, Whetstone Asia, Deccan Herald. You can follow her on her social media handles Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to see the wonderful destinations, beautiful offbeat places and get instant updates about them.