Guide
What to Buy in Varanasi (Banaras), Starting from Thatheri Bazar
The things to buy in Varanasi are Banarasi silk sarees, brass and copper ware, wooden toys, Gulabi Meenakari jewellery, Banarasi paan and sweets that travel, above all Lal Peda. Many of them are registered Geographical Indications (GI) of Banaras. Thatheri Bazar, the old metalsmiths' lane between Dashashwamedh Ghat and Kashi Vishwanath Temple, is a good place to start: it has brass and copper shops and some of the city's oldest sweet shops in the same few lanes.
What to buy, and where
| What to buy | Where in Varanasi | Registered GI |
|---|---|---|
| Brass, copper and bronze ware: puja thalis, lotas, diyas, kalash, bells | Thatheri Bazar | Banaras Metal Repoussé Craft; Banaras Metal Casting Craft |
| Banarasi silk sarees and brocade | Godowlia, Chowk, Vishwanath Gali | Banaras Brocades and Sarees |
| Lal Peda and other dry sweets | Old sweet shops in Thatheri Bazar and Chowk, including ours | Banaras Lal Peda |
| Tirangi (Tiranga) Barfi | Sweet shops across the city, including ours | Banaras Tirangi Barfi |
| Banarasi paan | Paan shops in Chowk and Lanka | Banaras Pan (the betel leaf) |
| Wooden toys and lacquerware | Vishwanath Gali and old-city shops | Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware & Toys |
| Gulabi Meenakari and other jewellery | Dal Mandi, Chowk | Banaras Gulabi Meenakari Craft |
| Glass beads | Old-city shops | Varanasi Glass Beads |
| Rudraksha, idols, religious paintings | Vishwanath Gali, near the temple | – |
GI names as listed in the IP India register of Geographical Indications. A GI protects a product's name and origin; it is not a certificate for any one shop.
Thatheri Bazar: brass, copper and sweets
Thatheri Bazar takes its name from the thatheras, the metalsmiths who beat brass and copper into vessels by hand. Many of its shops still sell metalware: puja thalis, lotas, diyas, kalash and bells, and decorative pieces in brass, copper and bronze. Bargaining is common at the metal shops. Ask whether a piece is solid brass or plated; solid pieces are noticeably heavier.
The lanes are narrow and best walked, from Godowlia or Chowk. Most metal shops keep daytime hours, roughly 10 AM to 6 PM. The food shops open earlier and close later, and three well-known ones sit within a few minutes of each other: The Ram Bhandar for a kachori and jalebi breakfast, Rasvanti for Lal Peda, and our counter, Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar, for Malai Gilori, Lal Peda and Rasbhari.
Sources: holyvoyages.com, Incredible India
Banarasi silk sarees
The city's best-known purchase. Look for Katan (pure silk), organza with zari, Tanchoi and heavy brocade woven with gold and silver zari. Godowlia, Chowk and Vishwanath Gali have many saree shops, and many visitors also buy from weavers' showrooms. "Banaras Brocades and Sarees" is a registered GI.
Sweets to take home
Dry khoya sweets travel best. Lal Peda is the one most visitors carry home, and "Banaras Lal Peda" is a registered GI. Tirangi Barfi, the three-layered saffron, khoya and pistachio barfi, is registered as "Banaras Tirangi Barfi". Till Barfi is the winter choice. Cream sweets such as Malai Gilori are best eaten in Varanasi.
We pack boxes for travel at the counter, and send sweets by courier across India: message us on WhatsApp with your city and quantity. See gift boxes and ordering online.
Banarasi paan
"Banaras Pan", the betel leaf, became a registered GI in 2023. Paan is best eaten fresh, so have it in the city: Keshav Paan Bhandar near Ravidas Gate in Lanka and Chaurasia Tambul Bhandar in Chowk are two of the best-known shops, and meetha paan is the safe first order.
Source: livemint.com
Wooden toys, jewellery and beads
- Wooden toys and lacquerware: brightly lacquered turned-wood toys, a registered GI ("Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware & Toys"). Look in Vishwanath Gali and the old-city lanes.
- Gulabi Meenakari: pink enamel work on metal, a registered GI. Dal Mandi also has Kundan and Polki jewellery.
- Glass beads: "Varanasi Glass Beads" is a registered GI.
- Religious items: rudraksha malas, idols and religious paintings, in Vishwanath Gali near the temple.
Markets at a glance
| Market | Known for | Near |
|---|---|---|
| Thatheri Bazar | Brass, copper and bronze ware; old sweet and breakfast shops | Between Dashashwamedh Ghat and Kashi Vishwanath |
| Godowlia | Banarasi sarees, bangles, jewellery, spices, sweets | Dashashwamedh Ghat |
| Vishwanath Gali | Sarees, religious items and paintings, wooden toys | Kashi Vishwanath Temple |
| Chowk | Clothing, jewellery, handicrafts, souvenirs | Kashi Vishwanath Temple |
| Dal Mandi | Jewellery: Kundan, Polki and Meenakari | Chowk |
| Lahurabir | Silk, jewellery, Ayurvedic herbs | Central Varanasi |
Sources: holyvoyages.com, Incredible India
A shopping walk through the old city
- Godowlia: sarees, bangles and spices at the edge of the old city
- Thatheri Bazar: brass and copper, then Lal Peda for the journey home at Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar
- Chowk and Vishwanath Gali: silk, wooden toys and religious items near Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Dashashwamedh Ghat: the evening Ganga Aarti, then paan
Hungry on the way? See places to eat in Varanasi and the famous sweet shops of Varanasi. Planning the rest of the day? See places to go in Varanasi.
Questions
What is famous to buy in Varanasi?
Banarasi silk sarees, brass and copper ware, wooden toys, Gulabi Meenakari jewellery, Banarasi paan and Lal Peda. Many of these are registered Geographical Indications of Banaras.
What is Thatheri Bazar famous for?
Metalware. Thatheri Bazar is named after the thatheras, the metalsmiths who made brass and copper vessels here, and its shops still sell puja thalis, lotas, diyas, kalash and bells. It is also one of the old city's food lanes, with The Ram Bhandar, Rasvanti and Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar.
Where can I buy brass items in Varanasi?
Thatheri Bazar in the old city, between Dashashwamedh Ghat and Kashi Vishwanath Temple, is the traditional place for brass, copper and bronze ware. Walk in from Godowlia or Chowk.
Where can I buy Banarasi sarees in Varanasi?
Godowlia, Chowk and Vishwanath Gali have many saree shops. Look for Katan (pure silk), organza, Tanchoi and brocade with zari work.
Which sweet should I buy from Varanasi?
Lal Peda: it is the city's best-known sweet, it is a registered GI, and as a dry khoya sweet it travels well. Tirangi Barfi is another Banaras GI. Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar in Thatheri Bazar sells both and ships by courier across India.
Does Banaras Lal Peda have a GI tag?
Yes. "Banaras Lal Peda" is on IP India's list of registered Geographical Indications, under food stuff. "Banaras Tirangi Barfi" and "Banaras Thandai" are registered too. A GI protects the product's name and origin; it is not a certificate for any one shop.
What are the GI-tagged products of Banaras?
They include Banaras Brocades and Sarees, Banaras Gulabi Meenakari Craft, Banaras Metal Repoussé Craft, Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware & Toys, Varanasi Glass Beads, Banaras Zardozi, Banaras Pan, Banaras Langda Aam, Banaras Lal Peda, Banaras Tirangi Barfi, Banaras Thandai, Banaras Tabla and Banaras Shehnai.
What time do shops open in Thatheri Bazar?
Most metal shops keep daytime hours, roughly 10 AM to 6 PM. Sweet and breakfast shops open earlier and close later: Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar is open every day, 8 AM to 9 PM.
Stop by in Thatheri Bazar
Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar is about 500 m from Dashashwamedh Ghat and about 800 m from Kashi Vishwanath Temple, open every day, 8 AM – 9 PM.