Shopping in Aligarh

The state of UP has 13 metro cities. Aligarh is one of them. It is situated at a distance of 136 km from Delhi. It is one of the fast upcoming cities of Uttar Pradesh. It is a big manufacturing hub for brass fittings, locks, metal sculptors and a variety of handmade articles in brass and other metals. The city is the major producer of brass items.


The brass industry only employs thousands of skilled and unskilled persons making it a very big centre of brass hardware production in India. In fact, Aligarh processes about 100 tons of brass everyday and uses a fair portion locally for brass artifacts in India. It is famous as ‘Taala Nagri’- the city of locks. This fame comes to the city because it still produces locks on a very large scale. Aligarh began producing iron locks in 19th century and still considered to be the home of some of the best lock manufacturers in India. It is famous for iron, aluminium and bronze products also.

Aligarh is famous for its lifestyle, Nawabi culture, museums, and several important educational and religious institutions. It is also considered a great commercial centre. This attracts a large number of tourists here every year. When they come to visit Aligarh they find the place to be a shopper’s delight.

Items to Shop in Aligarh

Locks

Aligarh has been considered synonymous with locks. There are several branded and locally famous locks available in Aligarh. Manufacturing and export of locks is the major industrial and commercial activity here. It is still the mainstay of Aligarh. The artisans of locks have a splendid history behind their fame. The city is making locks since the Mughal period. It was initially an unorganized industry. When the British came, they streamlined it into a major activity. The main markets to purchase locks are Railway Road Market, Amir-Nisha, Centre Point and upper fort markets. Branded locks are available at all the markets of Aligarh but Tasveer Mahal is the most famous place to buy the branded locks.

Handicrafts and Brassware

Some of the highly sought-after handicrafts of Aligarh are made of brass, iron, aluminium and bronze. These items are beautifully cast and exquisitely designed. Aligarh has a long tradition of being not only a city of locks but also of art work in metals. A wide variety of art ware, wall hangings, designer items, decorative artefacts, sculptors, idols of gods and goddesses, deities of all faiths, Buddha idols in various poses are available. There is an annual exhibition for popularising the regional handicrafts which is always a good source of materials of such types. This annual affair is held by the handicraft board annually in the month of February.

Markets for Handicrafts

The famous markets for purchasing these items are Upper Fort, Tasveer Mahal and Amir Nisha. The Centre Point Market is the best place to purchase all kinds of brassware and other handicraft material. Other markets of repute to purchase designer items are Shamshad Market, Railway Road Market and Mahavir Ganj Market. Some are listed below.

Haryana handloom emporium: Railway Road, Govardhan market, Aligarh

Shri Balaji Kambal store: 15/6, Brahmpuri Chowk, Aligarh

AK International: 148, New Vishnupuri, Aligarh

Oriental Handloom: Marris road, Aligarh

R and P Exports: 5/44 Masodabad, Aligarh

Dress material

Another important handmade and popular item of Aligarh is the ‘Sherwani’. This is exclusive to the place. Sherwani is a kind of dress popular in marriages. It is the traditional coat of a bridegroom in North India. It was the most important part of formal wear in the Muslim culture of the state which later changed to general wear of the area. The markets of Aligarh are replete with designer Sherwani. There are famous artisans who export their items to far and wide places in the country as well as abroad.

Aligarh ‘Payjama’ is another local marvel which is one of the most famous items of dress in northern India. A Payjama is worn like a pair of pants. It is worn with a Kurta or a Sherwani. This is famous all over India as ‘Aligarh Pajama’. The tailoring of this lovely piece of dress is peculiar to the art of the tailors especially the traditional dressers of Aligarh.

Shopping Markets in Aligarh

Some famous shopping centres of Aligarh are listed below.

The area called Centre Point is a shopper’s paradise. This is situated in the middle of the city. The place has some of the best malls of the town.

Those who are interested in branded items in modern surroundings visit these places. The main malls of the Centre Point are Oasis Mall, Sharda Mall, K S Mall and Regency Mall. Other than the malls of the Centre Point there are shopping malls famous for their variety of product availability in different locations in Aligarh.The Great Value Mall and the Great Shopping Mall situated on Ramgahat Road are famous with shoppers. The Landmark Mall at Marris Road and the Ozone Mall in the ozone city, Aligarh are also worth visiting.