shopping

Kerala in the ancient days shore traders who spun fabulour wealth from spices, ivory and gold.

antiques

Chinese ceramics and other antiques of all sort of Goodies are found in the Jew street of Kochi. Similar antiques can also be found in small towns. Vintage painted clay idols, notoriously fragile and need your extra care while handling, bagging and transporting add to the antiques.

Coir, Alappuzha and other places in Kuttanad specialize in wall mats, carpets, bags and furniture made from natural fibers dyed with different colours. Grass and banana fiber are used to create more ornamental, delicate items: most handicraft emporia carry wide range of pattu pai or silky grass mats and soft bags made from banana fibers.

bells and lamps

Oil lamps (Kuthu Vellaku) is a classic made out of brass. Irinjalakuda and Thrissur are famous for them. Ornamental designs are also widely available, with elephant or peacock polishing. Other popular items of brass and bell metal are Parra (rice measures), hanging lamps and jewellery boxes.

handicrafts

Handicrafts, which range from hanging lamp, cloths, snakeboats, articles made of sandal wood, coconut husk, coconut shell, Sandal wood, loofahs and vetiver brushes, fragrant bathing posers to radiant skin and robust health, and dasangam, a particularly heady powdery incense can be fetched from Government handicrafts shops. Aranmula Kannadi, this metal mirror, the making of which was once a closely guarded secret, had its origin before the modern mirror. It is made of an alloy of copper and tin, its oval in shape and has a tail like handle.

Jewellery

Traditional jewellery items like necklaces, chains, bangles, earrings, nose rings, etc are rich in variety and design. Thrissur has a street devoted to Gold, but most towns in the state are not far behind.

spices

Trade in spices dates from the earliest times, when the natives sold pepper, fragrant turmeric, dried ginger, yellow-orange balls of whole arecanut, tamarind etc Kerala is also famous in them now. Apart from this Tea, Coffee and cashew is also widely available. Idukki district, particularly Munnar, is famous for its tea, and Wayanad District, particularly Kalpetta for its coffee and Kollam for its cashew.

traditional wears

Saree, mundus (dhoti) white with gold border are the traditional clothes. The handloom sarees of Kerala are known for its elegant simplicity.