Soni Bazaar (jewellery lane)

Soni Bazaar is the traditional jewellery lane of the old city of Rajkot, in Gujarat, India. The word soni means goldsmith, and the lane is made up of small jewellers and workshops selling gold and silver ornaments, from light daily-wear chains and earrings to heavy bridal sets. It differs from generic shopping because purchases are priced by weight and purity rather than by a fixed sticker price, and many pieces are made or altered on request by craftsmen in the lane. Vendors are mostly established family jewellers serving local customers, so the content is overwhelmingly genuine jewellery rather than souvenir items. Buyers should still verify quality. Gold in India is sold on hallmarked purity, such as 22 carat, and hallmarking by the Bureau of Indian Standards is a standard check, so visitors should look for the hallmark and ask for an itemised bill listing weight, rate, and making charges. Silver pieces should likewise be checked for purity marks. Bargaining happens mainly on making charges rather than on the metal rate, which follows the daily market rate; a reduction on making charges is commonly negotiated. Payment is often by bank transfer, UPI, or card for smaller items, while large purchases may involve cheque or transfer; cash payments above legal limits require identification. Tourists cannot reclaim GST, and no refund scheme applies. The atmosphere is calmer than the clothing streets, with shop assistants serving customers seated at counters, and tea is often offered. Crowds build before wedding season and festivals such as Dhanteras and Akshaya Tritiya, when buying gold is considered auspicious. Food options are limited inside the lane, but tea stalls and snack vendors are nearby in the old city. The lane has no stall layout beyond a run of shopfronts, and visitors usually compare quotes at three or four jewellers before buying. Prices span roughly INR 2,000 for a small silver item to INR 200,000 or more for gold sets. Shops open at about 10:30 and close around 20:30.