Gujranwala is a large industrial and trading city on the Grand Trunk Road in northern Punjab, known as the birthplace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, for its wrestling tradition and for a strong grilled-chicken, tikka and karahi food culture.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Punjabi Khussa
Hand-stitched leather slip-ons with embroidered or beaded uppers, a Punjab staple sold in the cloth and shoe lanes around Rail Bazaar.
Price: PKR 1,500-4,500 (~$5-$16)
Where: Rail Bazaar; shoe shops on Service Road, Shaheen Abad
Phulkari Dupatta
Floral thread-embroidered scarves in the Punjabi phulkari tradition; bright silk-thread work on cotton or chiffon.
Price: PKR 2,000-8,000 (~$7-$29)
Where: Rail Bazaar; Aleena Shopping Mall boutiques
Silver and Gold Jewellery
Sarafa Bazaar is the city's jewellery quarter; silver bangles, jhumka earrings and 22-carat gold are sold by weight plus a making charge.
Price: Silver from PKR 3,000 (~$11); gold priced daily by weight
Where: Sarafa Bazaar, Mohalla Sayed Nagri
Clay and Brass Kitchenware
Hand-thrown clay pots, brass degchas and tinned copper utensils from the bazaar named for its clay-pot sellers; practical and sturdy gifts.
Price: PKR 300-3,000 (~$1-$11)
Where: Bazaar Katchay Bartan Wala
Dried Fruit, Spices and Pulses
Dal Bazaar sells dried apricots, almonds, whole spices and garam masala blends that travel well and are sold by weight.
Price: PKR 500-3,500 per kg (~$2-$13)
Where: Dal Bazaar, Mohalla Sayed Nagri
Urdu and Punjabi Books and Calligraphy Stationery
Urdu Bazaar stocks Urdu poetry collections, Punjabi folk-tale books and calligraphy pens and inks.
Price: PKR 200-2,000 (~$1-$7)
Where: Urdu Bazaar
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Sarafa Bazaar
Gold and silver jewellery
Where: Mohalla Sayed Nagri
Hours: Daily about 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Urdu Bazaar
Books, stationery and school supplies
Where: Old city
Hours: Daily about 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Rail Bazaar
Cloth, ready-made garments and household goods
Where: Mohalla Sayed Nagri
Hours: Daily about 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Bazaar Katchay Bartan Wala
Clay pots, metal utensils and kitchenware
Where: Old city
Hours: Daily about 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Dal Bazaar
Pulses, spices, dried fruit and street snacks
Where: Mohalla Sayed Nagri
Hours: Daily about 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Sunday Bazaar
Weekly market: clothing, household goods and produce
Where: Hospital Road
Hours: Sundays, roughly 9:00 AM-6:00 PM
Landa Bazaar
Second-hand clothing and shoes at bargain prices
Where: Pasrur Road
Hours: Daily about 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Old-city bazaars (Sarafa, Rail, Dal)
A cluster of specialised lanes around Mohalla Sayed Nagri: jewellery, cloth, pulses and spices within a ten-minute walk.
Best for: jewellery, fabric, spices
Service Road, Shaheen Abad
Fixed-price shops, Aleena Shopping Mall and late-opening restaurants along one road in the northern district.
Best for: clothing, shoes, evening shopping
Pindi Bypass
Kings Mall and chain restaurants, with parking and air conditioning.
Best for: branded clothing, family outings
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Kings Mall
Hours: Typically 11:00 AM-11:00 PM (confirm locally)
Aleena Shopping Mall
Hours: Typically 11:00 AM-10:00 PM (confirm locally)
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is normal in the old-city bazaars but not in malls or fixed-price shops
Start at about half the first price and settle around 60-70 percent
Gold and silver are priced by weight on the day; ask for the making charge separately
Carry small PKR notes; most bazaar traders do not accept cards