With its shimmering silks, sandalwood and rosewood carvings, and exquisite handicrafts, Karnataka is a shopper’s paradise. You can buy sandalwood sculptures, agarbattis (incense sticks,) perfumes, sandalwood oil, and other small gifts like pens, letter openers, metal lamps, wood carvings, and inlay work. Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage is evident in every product made by skilled, dedicated artisans who are devoted to keeping their art alive.

Bangalore and Mysore are reputed for their shimmering silks. Woven in a unique assortment of rich colors, produced in a multitude of varieties, and interwoven with delicate gold threads, Karnataka’s legendary silk sarees have become an integral part of the Kannada culture and tradition.

For hundreds of years, Karnataka has been the home of sandalwood. The range of products and designs is varied. The Gudigar families of Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, and Mysore districts specialize in this craft. Shoppers can carry home beads, pendants, carved tables, screens, dinner gongs, boxes, caskets, mythological figures, a host of stationery items, trays, decorative panels with intricate scenes carved on them, and even tiny bookmarks crafted from this delicately scented wood. Inlaid furniture, and sandalwood carvings are a favorite with affluent tourists.

Channapatna, a small hamlet 46km from Bangalore on the Mysore highway, excels in lacquer ware, a craft practiced today by over 3000 local crafts persons. Lacquerware products include brightly colored wooden toys, door curtains, powder boxes, and napkin rings, besides a range of distinctive jewellery.

Karnataka’s finest honey comes from Bhagamandala, 30km from Madikeri, where some of Kodagu’s best apiaries are located. Virajpet is also known for its honey.