Detailed Guide For Shopping In Sikkim 2023

Sikkim undoubtedly is one of the most beautiful states in the country, and while you are on your trip to Sikkim, and if you are one of those people who cannot leave the place without buying a lot of stuff, then then you are in the right place for shopping in Sikkim is a very cool experience, and is fun too. 

Several Sikkim Packages can be used to explore Sikkim and have a spiritual trip where you can unwind and rejuvenate your mind and soul. 

Sikkim is said to be one of the unique places. Now the real question is why is it unique, and how is it different from others? 

Well, for starters, it is important to know that the reason for the uniqueness is the presence of the Nepali, Lepcha, and Bhutia ethnic groups. Now how does that make Sikkim unique? 

For starters, the place has been inhabited by three groups from very different cultures. Now when there is a fusion between them and the cultures blend with each other, it provides a unique experience to the visitors. 

People in Sikkim celebrate their festivals and other joyous occasions with a lot of merriment and dress up in their traditional clothes, with equally beautiful jewellery pieces to show off their culture and celebrate everything about it. 

They get to experience three different cultures, different food, dress, and a way of living, all in one place, and the best part is that it also gives shoppers a unique experience of shopping in Sikkim. 

There are plenty of the best places for shopping in Sikkim, where you can buy handcrafted, handwoven products, including souvenirs for your friends and family back home. So check out the list of best shopping destinations in Sikkim:

Places For Shopping In Sikkim

1. MG Road

The popular MG Road is almost everywhere, so you can imagine the intensity of its popularity. MG Road in Sikkim is quite a happening place in Gangtok and is the main commercial area where you can buy stuff. 

Located in the heart of the city, MG Road is the major tourist hotspot where you find plenty of shops, food stalls, restaurants, etc. 

You can also buy some of the amazing foot wears from here and take a part of Sikkim with you as go back home from your wonderful trip to Sikkim, and then more people about your experience of shopping in Sikkim.

You can buy traditional clothes from here at reasonable prices, trinkets, accessories, and souvenirs as well. For souvenirs are the most important things because that is the first thing your friends are going to ask once you reach home. Isn’t that true? 

So don’t forget to buy stuff for your friends, for you can get a variety of stuff from MG Road market. It is not a hub for nothing. 

It is also popular for traditional Sikkamese dishes, for plenty of restaurants serve delicacies of Sikkim to experience the real taste of Sikkim and treat your taste buds with authentic flavoured meals made with fresh organic ingredients. 

Visit MG Road anytime before 7 pm and shop your heart out. 

Location: MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim. 

Suggested Read: 12 Sikkim Travel Tips For A Stress-Free Vacation

2. Lal Bazaar

Lal Bazaar is another place for shopping in Sikkim, located in the East area of Sikkim and is said to be the heart and soul of Sikkim’s kitchen. Lal Bazaar is located in Vishal Gaon.

If you like organic fruits and vegetables and you would like to taste the organics of Sikkim, then come straight to Lal Bazaar. 

Lal Bazaar, located in close proximity to MG Road, Lal Bazaar is the hub for fresh and organic farm products, which are sold by the local villagers. You can take a stroll across the street and explore the flea market. 

You can buy eatables and dried fish from the market. 

Location: Vishal Gaon, Gangtok, Sikkim

Suggested Read: Adventurous Things To Do In Sikkim 2023

3. New Market

Located in the main area of Gangtok, New Market is the most popular market in Sikkim, making shopping in Sikkim a fun experience. The New Market is located in MG Marg, Vishal Gaon. 

There are several best places for shopping in Sikkim, but New Market is a bustling area, attracting a good number of tourists, and locals, who buy stuff from here. 

The best items to buy from here are sweets, dry fruits, and Barfis, and one of the most popular items that you will find here is the sweet Mango Peels. Everyone who visits Sikkim visits this market and buys sweet Mango Peels because it is famous for that. 

You can buy these and take some of them for your home, to let others taste it and then crave for planning their next trip to Sikkim. 

So next time you are in Sikkim, do visit the New Market to buy some of the best stuff here. It is one of the best shopping destinations in Sikkim, which enhances your experience of shopping in Sikkim. 

Location: Vishal Gaon, MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim.

Suggested Read: 12 Restaurants In Sikkim For Gastronomic Adventures

4. Old Market

We talked about the New Market, but let’s see what the old market of Sikkim has to offer. Is it different from the New Market? Is it better? Let’s find out. 

The Old Market is one of the liveliest places for shopping in Sikkim, buzzing with tourists all over the place who are bargaining here to get a good deal. You can do a lot of bargaining here and get good deals on the product you plan to buy. 

This old Market is located in MG Marg and is popular for its accessories, clothes, and handicrafts. You can buy handicrafts for home decor because they are going to be unique, and you will not regret spending a penny on them. It will make your living room more beautiful than ever. 

Another interesting thing to buy here is the popular Dogra jewellery of Sikkim, and adorn yourself with it. If you come all the way to Sikkim, and shopping is on the agenda, then you should definitely not miss out on visiting the Old Market. 

If you are looking to buy some good quality dry fruits, then you can buy them at the Old Market. Almonds and Walnuts are the best sellers in the market, and tourists often buy plenty of it because such pure organic dry fruits are not always available, and you will not be in the same all the time. So it’s good to take advantage of the moment and buy all the stuff that you think you need from the Old Market. 

The variety of the things present here may leave you confused between what to buy and what not to. So think no more and take that trip to Sikkim to have the best experience of Shopping in Sikkim. 

Located: Near MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim.

5. Directorate Of Handicrafts & Handloom

Do you know what is the best part about shopping in Sikkim? It’s that you will be amazed at the fact that how the three ethnic groups, Bhutia, Lepchang, and Nepali, have left their presence everywhere. 

You can see it in the stuff present in the market, the decors, and everything that shows its cultural significance. The fusion of these ethnic groups has made Sikkim as beautiful as it is today. 

The Directorate of Handlooms and Handicrafts is one of the best places for shopping in Sikkim, for it is more like a handicraft fare that takes place in our cities annually, and people from other states visit the fare and try to sell a part of their culture to the visitors. 

Similarly, the entire Sikkim and its culture are beautifully presented in these Handicrafts and Handloom Market. 

Located at Zero Point at the edge of the Tibet Road in Gangtok, Sikkim, the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom Market is one of the most popular markets, and you can find handmade items here. The very skilled and maybe unrecognised artisans and craftsmen make all of it with their hands, and you can see the hard work in the intricate detailing of the items you buy. 

In the Handicrafts market, you can find authentic Sikkamese handcrafted items and artwork here. The fine craftsmanship and the finishing touches of the items are going to sell themselves. 

You can bargain here as well and get good deals on handicrafts. From the market, you can buy plenty of items for home decor, which will add more value to your living room, making everyone praise it. 

You can buy stunning Thangkas, which are religious paintings on canvas on the journey of Buddhism, which is actually one beautiful piece of art. Other things to buy at the Directorate of the Handicrafts and Handlooms include artistic wood carving, which is finely detailed, and it will make you wanna meet the person who crafted it. 

If you want to change the way your house looks, then you can buy the famous Sikkemese Carpets, which are very soft and will add a touch of elegance to your room wherever you decide to put it. These carpets are very soft, so it will be one of the best things to buy in Sikkim. 

You can also buy wall hangings from the Handicraft market and several other items to adorn your house and make it stand out among the neighbours. 

Location: Zero Point, NH 31 A, Gangtok, Sikkim.

Now you know where you can buy one of the best items and have the most incredible shopping experience in Sikkim. 

However, now the question arises that what is it that one should buy, for there are plenty of items present in the market, and no matter how much you want to buy it all, no cannot do that even if you have the money because it will be impossible to carry it back home. 

So let’s make it easy for you and break down some of the items that you can buy in Sikkim from the famous markets. 

Things To Buy In Sikkim

1. Masks

The best part about Sikkim is its unique culture due to the presence of the three very prominent ethnic groups due to which you can see the fusion of three cultures in Sikkim and because of which you cann some of the weirdest things in the local shops in Sikkim. 

One of the very cool, and unique things to buy in Sikkim includes Masks. No, not the masks you used in Covid to protect yourself from the fatal disease but the masks the covers your entire face and has quite a unique shape which looks a little horrifying, painted in vibrant colours. 

These masks are worn by monks while performing some rituals, so it is kind of a sacred thing, and due to which you will find these masks in abundance in all the markets of Sikkim. These masks are very giant, and you may see locals wear it too during some religious ceremony or at the time of some important festivals. 

So if you want to buy something unique from the markets of Sikkim then these masks are worth buying. 

2. Tea

Who doesn’t like tea? The answer is very few people because tea is absolutely love, and tea lovers can never say no to tea. When you love tea so much then you should know you can get plenty of it in Sikkim. You will find the best quality of tea in the local markets of Sikkim. 

According to the statistics, approximately 0.5 million kg of tea is produced in Sikkim throughout the year. The most common among all the teas is the black tea which is the usual produce and is bought by the people of Sikkim. 

White tea is also produced which is said to be very delicate since it is taken from the buds of the leaves that are unfurled, making the taste of the tea so much better. 

So when you are on your trip to Sikkim, don’t forget to buy some of the packets of tea to taste the authenticity of Sikkim teas. 

3. Traditional Dress

Tradition and culture is found all over the state of Sikkim, and it is evident in the markets here. You will see plenty of traditional dresses, and traditional clothes in Sikkim because the state boasts of its culture and traditions. 

In almost every market of Sikkim, you will find these traditional clothes that you can buy either for yourself or people back at home. 

The traditional dress which is quite popular here is called Bakhu, worn by the Bhutia, the people of Nepal living here. It is loike a loose cloak, that is fastened at the neck and the belt part near the waist is of silk, very similar to Tibetan Chuba dresses.

You can buy the ethnic dresses of the Sikkim culture or other clothes available in the market. These clothes can be bought as souvenir for your friends or you can also buy them for yourself to take a part of Sikkim with you as you go back home. 

4. Thangkas

If you buy Thangkas from Sikkim, it will surely feel like taking a part of Sikkim with you other than in your memories. 

Thangkas are the traditional paintings that depicts the journey of Buddhism through their piece of art, and is one of the fascinating things to buy from Sikkim.

You can hang these Thangkas in your homes, which will be very much appreciated by the people who will see it because it is something that draws people’s attention. They also make up for the best souvenirs to take back from the trip. 

5. Prayer Flags

Prayer Flags are the most common things to buy when you are travelling to the mountains. These prayer flags are of religious significance and that is the reason they are everywhere you go when you are either in Sikkim, Himachal and any place that has the presence of Buddhism. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Shopping In Sikkim