Jodhpur—Let’s go shopping
If spice is your thing, India is a great place to shop. Saffron is a good buy. This place is called M.M. Spices.
I bought my copper dishes here at the fairest price I got anywhere in India
Jodhpur is famous for its Mehrangarh Fort, one of India’s largest. I promise to get the fort soon enough, but today I want to share the wonder of one of Jodhpur’s amazing markets.
Poor John and I spent almost half a day in the city’s main market. After all that, I’m pleased to report that we managed to get out with just one purchase—a set of gorgeous copper dishes for serving curries—I cook a lot of Indian food.
This sort of restrained buying makes me smug. It also means that at the end of the trip, I’ll still able to lift my backpack.
Jodhpur’s main market
Jodhpur’s markets are overwhelming for their crowds, noise, bustle, colour, variety and choice. When it comes to choice, every Indian market is a long way from a western supermarket.
You won’t be able to choose from 30 kinds of breakfast cereal , but you will be able to bulk-buy 30 kinds of dried spices. You’ll find jerry cans galore and fabrics in every colour you can imagine. The fruits and vegetables will be the freshest you’ll ever get, and there might even be a few you’ve never seen before.
You can buy a steel wool scraper, a bracelet, a single clothespin (peg) or get a bicycle repaired, but it’s a lot easier if you know the local word for what you want or if you can sketch it.
A quick sketch has helped me to buy clothespins all over the world.
Today I can bring you pictures of Jodhpur’s main market, but I can’t sketch in the sounds and smells.
Saris, fabric and scarves—colours in abundance
Where to next? 
Wow! I’d spend my whole allowance in a place like this. So many pretty colors.
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It’s so hard to resist. Only the size of my backpack keeps me under control.
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That just might work… I have carry what I buy.
I’ll have Popeye arms in no time!
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You should see the definition in my upper arms!
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LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures and your getting me as close to the experience of an Indian marketplace as I probably will ever have in my life-time.
In my younger days I lived in Greece and the open-air markets were my favorite places so thanks for triggering old memories.
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Open-air markets are one of the reasons I travel! I love, love, love them. Stay tuned for a trip through the market in the capital of Bhutan.
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How many flowers and how many people must worked to produce all that saffron. And the link to ‘jerry cans’ was also fascinating.
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Saffron has to be the most labour-intensive food on the planet. Glad you liked the jerry can link.
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What a fabulous market but dangerous for my wallet, i suspect! 🙂
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Not as dangerous as you might think. Prices are still low in India.
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Just lovely. When you get home please show us what you purchased & put in the backpack? I do not know how you keep yourself under control with the purchases available. The spices alone make me shake. Now “copper pots”???? You must show me what you purchased. Did you send anything home ahead of you?
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Oh Jeanette, after years of travel I have a house brimming with souvenirs, which makes it a little easier to resist. I do buy a few things, but mostly to give away. I’ll see if I can round up things and get a pic. 🙂
As an aside, coming home my backpack weighed 15 kilos or 33 pounds, and Poor John’s weighed 20 kilos or 44 pounds.
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I would love to see a picture. I can’t even imagine how much weight on my back that would be. Now Poor John should be happy that I am not there as I would talk him into carry my purchases. When are you coming home? Oh so you are giving things away?????? I wish to request with the most respect the copper pots or just one would be really nice, lol.
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I’ll do my best. The copper pots will be easy. And did you see the blog entry with a pic of the watercolours I bought for our daughters?
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Yes I did see them they are lovely. My home is also full of art from places I have traveled. In fact I have to much that many are no longer hung. Are they in the backpack? I would l love to see the copper pots. Are you bringing any spice back? Did you purchase any fabric?
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Only bringing back saffron, the copper bowls, two fancy placemats, some tea, two bracelets, two scarves, three cookbooks, two unframed paintings and the most amazing piece of fabric that I’ll be writing about soon.
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Wonderful. I love looking at those beautiful piles of spices, a feast for the eyes even if you, as a passing tourist, are not buying.
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I have way too many photos of spices in markets. Such a pleasure to look at—and to smell.
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Those fabrics in those prices I don’t know else where on earth you can get ! 🙂
And hope red chillies did not upset your stomach. I love hot spices, but many find it difficult to suit with. They are not only colourful, but give the dishes amazing fragrance and are full of food values.
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The fabrics really are fabulous and oh-so cheap. Real bargains. As for the hot chillies and spices, we love them,so we don’t suffer when eating them.
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Me too 🙂
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🙂
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Hello LeggyPeggy,
Open marketplaces are the greatest, provided it does not rain.
1) What is a Jerry Can ? I didn’t know until I got to the bottom of this blog and saw the photo. I guess there are used for many thinks besides gasoline? And how did “Jerry” get so lucky to have a can named after him ha, ha.
2) Fresh vegetables and fruits are the freshest and my guess most not genetically engineered and little or no pesticides… and not a week or more old (Like Western Supermarkets, with more sprayed product to make them look good and last longer, for appearance).
3)Nothing like fresh spices,the smell and taste in food.. and a bargain for Saffron Threads (expensive here).
4)And you got some copper dishes, a great idea for your Indian served foods. Next time maybe some copper cooking pans? For cooking or display.
Another good post,
Sy S.
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Thanks Sy, I adore the open-air markets. So much to look at, so much to buy, so much temptation. So glad I bought the copper dishes, and very happy that I already own an ancient set of copper-bottomed Revere Ware. So good for cooking.
As for jerry cans, a little higher up on the blog piece I’ve put a link to a Wikipedia page on jerry cans.
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The spices alone would have me excited and cooking for days, trying all of the various spices!
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The spices are wonderful, and it’s such a treat to see AND smell all the varieties. Luckily most are readily available in Australia so I can cook with them too.
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very entertaining posts!
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Thanks so much.
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it really is…informative, too…
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Much appreciated comment. Thanks again.
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You have a remarkable eye for detail. You have captured the flavors
and essence of vibrant, colorful India and it’s people, so well! Thank you for sharing:))
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Thank you so much.
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Looks like a superb marketplace. I think I’d spend hours just taking photos of the brilliant colours.
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