The best Indian souvenirs for men can be a special gift that he’ll love to receive. Are you wanting to get a cool souvenir for your husband, brother, son, or another guy in your life? Well, there are plenty of options that will give them a small piece of your trip and could only come from India.
What are the best Indian souvenirs for men?
- Pickles
- Sweets
- Tea
- Incense
- Padlocks
- Spices
- Saffron
- T-Shirts
- Toy Cars
- Coins
- Stamps
- Brass Crafts
- Stone Sculptures
- Wine
- Bidri Crafts
- Indian Paintings
- Mini Paintings
- Kurta
- Tailored Shirt
- Auroville Products
- Chappals
- Juttis & Mojaris
- Sandalwood Carvings
- Silver Pendants
- Ayurvedic Products
- Meditation Bowls
- Liquor
- Instruments
- Knives & Swords
- Pietra Dutra
- Kashmiri Carpets
- Pashmina Shawls
- Bronze Sculptures
However, I know it can be difficult to choose the perfect gift, so here’s a big list of souvenirs that are unique to India with details, price ranges, and where you can buy it.
NOTE: I chose places to buy these items in New Delhi since that’s the most common tourist destination, but you can find most of them in many more places.
Souvenirs Less Than $10
Indian pickles
This is a great inexpensive gift for any foodie. These are NOT like bread and butter or dill pickles. Āchār (pickles) have a blend of complex flavors with sweet, sour, spicy and savory all in one. You can just add this to the side of your plate with any curry dish or even sandwiches.
Price: ~$3
Where To Buy: Sethi’s Achar Shop in New Delhi.
Sweets
Indians have a huge sweet tooth, so if you are buying gifts for someone who also has one then you are in luck. Here are some you could try:
- Galub Jamun: A ball of wheat flour in sweet syrup.
- Rasgulla: A ball of Indian cheese in sweet syrup.
- Jalebi: Wheat flour in the shape of a pretzel that is soaked in syrup.
- Gajjak Til Papad: It’s like peanut brittle but with sesame seeds.
- Petha: It’s like pure sugar but chewy and juicy with different flavors such as pumpkin, pineapple and many more.
Price: ~$1
Where to Buy: Bangla Sweet House in New Delhi
Tea
Sipping tea is a national pasttime here and one that we at ChaiNomad.com totally agree with 🙂
Darjeeling, Assam and masala chai are the most popular types of tea here but there are many varieties.
- Nilgiri Tea
- Kangra Tea
- Terai Tea
- Annamalai Tea
Price: $5 for 1lb of premium loose tea
Where to buy: The best place is from a tea plantation in a place like Darjeeling or Kerala.
Incense
Walking down most streets in India, the smells of enticing incense (agarbatti) will waft through the streets. Incense is used in Hindu pujas (prayers) to purify their mind and heart. You could buy sticks, raw incense wood chips, or smudging incense. These can be a great gift for a man who wants his place to smell great.
Popular Indian aromas are:
- Chandan (Sandalwood)
- Mogra (Jasmine)
- Gulab (Rose)
I like Zed Black fragrances but you could find premium brands like Auroville or Patanjali incense.
Price: ~$1
Where to buy: Any souvenir store
Padlocks
When walking through street markets, you will see padlock shops with many different type of varieties. Most are kinda boring but you can find some cool weird ones that young kids would like. There’s one that won’t open when you put the key in but has a secret way to open it. Others have elaborate designs on them.
Price: ~$3
Where to Buy: Main Bazaar in Paharganj has the padlock that opens in a secret way, ask the merchant to show you.
Curry & Spices
There’s actually no “curry powder” in India, it’s actually a mix of chili, coriander, cumin, fennel, turmeric, cinnamon, and whatever else the cook wants to add. They make the powder for each dish since there is such a range of curries. But if you’re buying spices for a chef you can’t go wrong with a number of different locally sourced spices.
Price: ~$5
Where to buy: Khari Baoli in Old Delhi is the biggest spice market in the world. Kerala is the most popular spice producer in the world.
Saffron
This crimson-colored spice looks like small threads and can add a delicious sophisticated flavor to foods. This is why it’s the most expensive spice in the world. Rice, paella, bouillabaisse, beef stew, seafood and many more dishes go well with saffron. Be wary of buying fake saffron as that is a common scam in India. But this can be a great gift for a chef. Kashmiri Saffron is known as some of the best in the world.
Price: $1 to $7 per gram
Where to buy: Government-owned spice shop in Kashmir (or any big city)
Ironic T-Shirts
Just like rebellious teenagers in any country, young Indians wear some funny t-shirts. If you’re buying a gift for a teenager, you could find some funny Indian-inspired shirts.
Sayings like “I’m not late, I run on Indian time.” You can find plenty of these at street markets around India.
Price: ~$3
Where to buy: Sarojini Market, as well as Khan Market and Chandni Chowk in New Delhi.
Toy Cars or Auto-Rickshaws
For younger kids, you could get a small auto-rickshaw toy replica. In the West, they may have never seen it before. The Hindustan Motors “Ambassador” car is a bit more luxurious and is another cool option.
Price: ~$3
Where to buy: Jaiman Toys in New Delhi
Coins
The rupee coins could be a good simple gift for a collector or kid. You could also find some commemorative coins that could be a bit cooler of a gift such as the Mumbai Mint’s Ganesh Chaturthi Silver Souvenir Coin. You could buy some older Annas from the British era.
Price: ~$0.10 for simple rupees to +$20 for collector’s coins
Where to buy: Indian Hobby Club near Lahori Gate
Stamps
You can find some beautiful cool-looking stamps at any Indian Post. If you want to find some collectible stamps you can see some with Gandhi, Nehru, and other politicians. You can see many more with temples to army-inspired images. If you have the time and an address, you could order custom stamps with his photo on it.
Price: $1 to $5
Where to buy: Indian Hobby Club near Lahori Gate
Brass Handicrafts
Dhokra art is one of the earliest types of metal casting which often uses brass. These types of handicrafts have been created for +4,000 years and are beautiful, reasonably priced gifts.
You can find small figurines of animals, bowls, Hindu gods and more.
Price: ~$5 for a small sculpture
Where to buy: Popli Brass Shop in Janpath
Small Stone Sculptures
Near most temples you can find small handmade stone sculptures of Hindu gods and symbols. Near where I live, there is a temple from the 9th century honoring Shiva and you can find plenty of Shiva sculptures close by. The quality of these sculptures is not museum-worthy but if you’re not buying for an art collector they won’t know 🙂 because they look pretty cool.
Price: ~$5 or more
Where to buy: Near tourist sites
Indian-made Wine
India is not typically known for wine but a bottle of wine is a gift most guys will like and there are some local vineyards with good bottles. Fratelli Sette is one of India’s most popular wines and has won some awards. La Reserve is known for its oak flavored wines and is made in Bengaluru. Myra Misfit is an unfiltered wine that is also made in Bengaluru. The names come from the blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Price: $5 to $20
Where to buy: Wine Shop in Sunlight Colony, New Delhi
Bidri Handicrafts
Bidri is metal (usually 94% zinc and 6% copper) pottery and crafts from Bidar in Karnataka. The finish is dark with intricate designs in gold or silver and has a cool masculine design. You could spend hundreds of dollars for a tea set or hookah, but small boxes for keeping odds-and-ends are very reasonably priced.
Price: ~$5 for a small decorative box
Where to buy: Bidri Crafts in Gunfoundry, Hyderabad
Souvenirs from $10 – $25
Indian Paintings
For art lovers, you can find some uniquely Indian paintings in styles like Tanjore, Madhubani and Warli. Madhubani scenes are typically colorful reproductions of Hindu mythology. Tanjore is similar. Warli is more simple with a tribal style.
Price: $10 and up
Where to buy: Madhubani Folk Art Centre, Chola Impressions Art Gallery (Tanjore), Tribes India (Warli) in New Delhi
Miniature Paintings
These tiny paintings can be more easily transported back to your home country. They are done on canvas or paper and might remind you of cave paintings in the Ajanta Caves. The first artists were from Bengal and currently Rajasthan is the center for this type of art. The subjects are often Mughal inspired.
Price: $15 for a small painting
Where to buy: Jeypore Souvneirs in Jaipur
Kurta
Kurtas are long shirts that hang down close to the knees. They might not be everyone’s style but they are comfortable and give a distinctive Indian look.
Price: ~$15
Where to buy: Raunaq Kurta Pyjamas in Karol Bagh, New Delhi
Tailored Shirt
If you come prepared with measurements, you can order tailor-made shirts with good cotton for as low as $5. If you want organic cotton and a premium tailor, you will spend more like $20+. You can pick the fabric, share the measurements, and in a few days, you’ll have a tailor-made shirt.
Price: $5 to $20 and up
Where to buy: Raymonds in Hauz Khas, New Delhi
Auroville Products
Auroville is an experimental community in South India, and they survive by making and selling high-quality health, wellness, food products and souvenirs. If you can’t make it down to their location, you can find them online. I have tried their incense, seeds, and they have some great shirts. They also make their own paper mache art and have some cool modern products like vases, lamps and more.
Price: Varies
Where to Buy: Auroville Visitor’s Centre or their website
Kolhapuri Chappals
Chappals are sandals or slippers and the Kolhapuri style is made from buffalo leather. The sandals are named after a place in South Central India but these types of footwear are popular around India. They are known for their high quality and last 5 to 6 years. For the shoe lover, this could be a unique piece to wear around.
Price: $20
Where to buy: Vishal Foot Wear, Main Bazar Rd in New Delhi
Juttis and Mojaris
Another type of footwear in India are Juttis and Mojaris. These look like a cross between pointy-toed dress shoes and slippers. They slip on and both styles are closely related to each other. Juttis are from Punjab and Mojaris are from Rajasthan.
Price: ~$10
Where to buy: Vishal Foot Wear, Main Bazar Rd in New Delhi
Sandalwood Carvings
Sandalwood makes for beautiful carvings like boxes, ashtrays, figures and necklaces or bracelets. The wood is fragrant and dark which has a strong masculine appearance that the men in your life will love. There are many more types of products from sandalwood from incense to soap as well. Kerala is one place where you can find a lot of these carvings.
Price: $10 and up
Where to buy: Kerala Handicrafts, Kochi
Silver Pendants
You could find a cool silver pendant for a necklace with a Hindu god, symbol or stone. This would be a cool conversation-starter for someone who wears jewelry. You can find a ton of beautiful jewelry for women as well.
Price: $10 and up
Where to buy: Jaipur jewelry shops
Ayurvedic Health Products
Along with yoga, Ayurveda was born in India and you have a lot of health products such as: skin creams, moisturizers, massage oils, hair conditioners and cleansers. I think the massage oils are a great idea.
Price: $10 and up
Where to buy: Kairali Ayurvedic products in Mehrauli, New Delhi
Buddhist Meditation Bowls
Buddhist originated in India and the Dalai Lama spends a lot of time in Dharamsala. If you make it that far north, you can plenty of Buddhist items. One that stands out is the meditation bowl, also called a singing bowl, because when it is struck it makes a beautiful sound (it “sings”) to help you maintain your focus during meditation.
Price: $25 and up
Where to buy: Tibetan Handicrafts Centre in Dharamsala
Souvenirs from $25 to $50
Indian-made Liquor
A bottle of spirits is a gift a lot of men will love, and India has a few brands that would be a unique addition to his liquor cabinet. Amrut Whiskey is made from hand-picked Indian barley in the Himalayan foothills and matured in oak barrels. There are notes of licorice, toffee, molasses and honeycomb. John Paul is another whiskey that is distilled in Goa. It matures in bourbon barrels for 3 to 5 years with notes of cream and vanilla.
Price: $40 to $50 for a 750-ml bottle
Where to buy: Government Wine & Beer Shop in Mayur Vihar
Indian Instruments: Sitar, Flutes, Tablas
The music in India can be an acquired taste, but there is no questioning how unique it can be. If you want a higher-end gift for a musician, an instrument would be just the thing. A sitar would be very cool but might be hard to transport. You would be better looking for a natural bamboo flute or a tabla drum.
Price: $25 and up for a flute or drum.
Where to buy: Raj Musicals near Shadipur, New Delhi
Decorative Knives or Swords
I recommend not taking this one in your carry-on luggage but would make for a very cool souvenir for many men. The talwar swords were used by the Mughals and are one type of sword which came from India are curved. There are a number of other styles. You can legally buy blunt weapons in India. If you don’t mind transporting it, then this would be a cool piece to collect.
Price: $25 and up
Where to buy: The Sword Market in Pushkar
More than $50
Pietra Dura
For beautiful art, a gift of a pietra dura piece is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Each semiprecious stone is polished, cut, and fit into the white marble to create some breathtaking patterns. While you can find smaller pieces that are easier to transport and reasonably priced, you could also spend thousands of dollars to have a coffee table transported back to your home country. 🤓
We saw a showroom in Agra since there is similar work on the Taj Mahal.
Price: Small items can go for as little as $25 but most are more expensive.
Where to buy: Subhash Emporium in Agra
Kashmiri Carpets
These traditional handmade carpets come in silk, wool or a blend of both. You will pay more the more knots per square inch you get. Often these carpets are so loved they are passed down from generation to generation.
Price: $300 and up
Where to buy: Carpets of Kashmir in Mumbai
Pashmina Shawl
If he lives in a cold climate, a soft fine pashmina shawl could make a great gift. Pashmina shawls are one of the most useful gifts made in India. Be careful to get an authentic pashmina shawl as there are many fakes being sold. You’ll want to head to a government-owned shop to be sure you get the real deal.
Price: $150 and up for hand-woven shawls
Where to buy: KCS Kashmir Shawl Emporium in New Delhi
Bronze Statues
Bronze statues might be a bit heavy but it is a piece they can have for life. Bronze casting was very popular in the Chola Dynasty in India from the 9th century to the 13th century. Today, you can still watch the artists make them in Swamimalai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The method they described in the Rig Veda and Silpa Sasthira thousands of years ago is still being used.
Price: $50 and up
Where to buy: Navachola ASS Arts & Crafts in Swamimalai
For More Gift Ideas:
I hope this was helpful and if you want to get some more gift ideas, I wrote a post with ideas for gifts for your trip to India.
