Johari Bazaar jewellery lanes

Johari Bazaar is the walled-city market of gemstone, kundan and meenakari jewellers in Jaipur's Old City, Rajasthan, running between Tripolia Bazaar and Chandpole. Part of the grid of pink-washed streets laid out in 1727, it has been the city's jewellery district for generations, and the lanes are lined with arcaded shopfronts, small family workshops and upper-floor havelis. Jaipur is a major centre for gem cutting and polishing, and the bazaar sells everything from loose coloured stones and silver to gold wedding sets in the kundan and enamel styles for which Rajasthan is known. Local families come here to buy bridal jewellery, which gives the bazaar a lively, purposeful atmosphere, with shopkeepers sitting on white-sheeted floors offering tea. Most shops open from late morning, around 10:30AM or 11:00AM, and the market is busiest in the afternoon and early evening. A walk through the main stretch takes 30 to 60 minutes, longer with shopping. Many shops close on Sundays, so weekdays give the best experience. Mornings before shops open are quiet and good for photographing the arcades and architecture, while evenings bring crowds, motorbikes and rickshaws through narrow lanes. Prices are negotiable, and buyers who plan a purchase should ask for a written bill and a certificate for stones. Simple lac bangles, silver pieces and costume jewellery start at modest prices, while gemstones and gold vary widely. The bazaar lies a short walk from Hawa Mahal and City Palace, so it fits easily into a day in the Old City. Shoppers should compare several shops and avoid touts who steer visitors to commission-paying stores.