INDIA ON WHEELS - A trip for pleasure!: Blue Pottery

Guys, one of India's most popular tourist destinations, Jaipur is the "pink" capital of the desert state of Rajasthan. Shopping is one of Jaipur's major attractions. Both the walled city and the adjacent M.I. Road (also known as Mirza Ismail Marg), which runs southwest from Ajmeri Gate, are lined with shops and factories. Amer Road is know for its many handicraft shops. Be sure you bargain hard for everything in Jaipur.

GEMS:

Jaipur is India's major gem cutting and polishing centre and one of the world's most important gem producers. Be careful against synthetic stones being passed off as genuine. Explore the many shops in and around the Johari Bazaar and along M.I. Road.

JEWELLERY:

Some of the best selections are at the Gem Palace and Amrapali, both on M.I. Road.

HANDICRAFTS:

There is a variety of handicrafts to choose from, ranging from brass figures, pottery, marble statues, metal ware to woodcarvings, and stone sculptures.

TEXTILES:

Jaipur is well known for its unique tie-dye (bandhani) and hand-blocekd cotton and silk fabrics. Two villages outside Jaipur are especially famous Sanganer and Bagru, where you can see families producing them.

Carpets and Rugs:

Jaipur is also well known for its wool carpets and cotton durries. Some of the carpet and rug shops also offer hand-blocked cotton and silk fabrics. Try Carpet Mahal and Textile Mahal, Channi Carpets and Textiles.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Shopping in India : Indian Pottery Style - 9

Guys, the art of making blue glaze pottery came to Rajasthan via Kashmir, their entry point into India. The name comes from the eye-catching Persian blue dye used to color the clay. The Jaipur blue pottery, made out of Egyptian paste, is glazed and low-fired. Some of this pottery is semi-transparent and mostly decorated with animal and bird motifs. Being fired at very low temperature makes them fragile. The range of items is primarily decorative, such as ashtrays, vases, coasters, small bowls and boxes for trinkets. The colour palette is restricted to blue derived from the cobalt oxide, green from the copper oxide and white, though other non-conventional colours, such as yellow and brown are sometimes included.

The popularity of ceramics can be seen from the numerous categories and types one finds all over India. Functional, unsophisticated, simple but attractive pottery shapes lay an emphasis on the dignity of form. The most common clay object is the all-purpose kullar (cup-like container) used for serving water or tea, sometimes decorated with geometrical and floral designs.

There are a variety of objects specially produced for festive occasions, such as lamps for Diwali, toys for Dusshera, pots for seedlings at Sankranti and colourful kalash (pots) for marriages. Many products are also used for decoration and make great gifts. Some of which are Karigari (design) pottery, ashtrays, flower-vases, tea sets, paperweights and decorative animal figures.

Delhi is famous for its 'Blue' pottery that uses an eye-catching Persian blue dye to colour the clay. Blue pottery is glazed and high-fired which makes it tougher than the others. Another version, the Jaipur blue pottery is unique. No cracks develop in it, making it impervious and more hygienic for daily use. Some of this pottery is semi-transparent and generally decorated with animal and bird motifs. Decorative items such as ashtrays, vases, coasters, small bowls and boxes for trinkets, are made using paste and fired at very low temperature.

Not readily available outside Bengal, out of interest to the visitor is the Mansa pottery of West Bengal. It represents the snake goddess and is a quaint, double curved pot with a face painted on it. Similarly the Dakshiniraj pots, found in the Sunderbans area, are round pots with mouth signifying a crown. An outlet of studio pottery is 'Valeries' in West Bengal, producing semi-handmade earthenware and glazed tableware in various and tones.

Blog of Note

Quality Tale
The blog contributes to ensure the Quality in any field in your life.
Cooking Funda
Life is meant for enjoy. Cooke It. Taste It. Pleasure It. Its an Indian Cooking Funda.Blog dedicated to house wives of all over the world to solve their all types of KITCHEN worries and making & serving good food to their bubbies and relatives.
It's My World
My well-wishers, here I am going to add my life's happenings, evidences, experiences, funny things, things inspired me a lot.Everything about myself, which helps me to make my life and future better. My father keep pointing me out for my each movements to show me good and bad things of life. Welcome to My World and be a part of my life.
From the Grandma's Purse
Indian household solution on all complaints fo human beings.make your kid HEALTHY-n-WEALTHY. Try Grandma's remedies for your kid and you too and see the difference.
News-N-Views
Everything under one roof : your emotions, success, thinking, editorials, hot issues & many many more. Just E-N-J-O-Y

Pediatric Links - Must See

Pediatric Surgery
This blog describes various medical and surgical diseases in children.

Laparoscopic procedures
Laparoscopic surgery though require skill, it is less morbid, less painful, gives good cosmesis and avoids large scars.

Pediatric Cancer
It is an informative blog which describes various types of cancer in children, their clinical presentation,diagnosis and management written by a surgeon.

Atlas of Pediatric Diseases
It includes the exclusive pictures of various diseases in children. This is very useful site to remember the pathology in a glance. Especially for doctors as well as for persons who are interested in pediatric medicine and surgery. Disclaimer :The images in this blog are from real surgeries, and they might not be suitable for all readers.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Shopping In India : Exotic JAIPUR - 34

Monday, August 18, 2008

Shopping in India : Indian Pottery Style - 9

Blog of Note

Blogs of Notes

Followers