Skardu's bazaar is where most people do their shopping before heading home: dried apricots and walnuts by the kilo, raw and cut gemstones, hand-woven wool, and a few Balti crafts you won't find in Lahore or Karachi. The main shopping streets run through Naya Bazar and the older lanes around Yadgar Chowk and Hussaini Chowk, a short walk or drive from most hotels.
This guide covers what's actually worth buying, roughly what it costs, and which part of town to look in.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Naya Bazar and Yadgar Chowk, central Skardu |
| Best for | Dry fruit, gemstones, woollens, Balti crafts |
| Opening hours | Roughly 9 am to 8 or 9 pm; shorter in winter |
| Bargaining | Expected in gemstone and craft shops, less so for dry fruit sold by weight |
| Cash or card | Carry cash; card machines are unreliable |
Dry fruit
Baltistan's dry fruit is the easiest thing to buy and the hardest to leave behind. Apricots are the local speciality, sold whole, as kernels, and as a paste, along with dried mulberries, walnuts and almonds grown in the villages around Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu. Shops along Naya Bazar sell it loose by the kilo, and it's worth tasting before you buy, since quality varies a lot between vendors.
Buy toward the end of your trip so it doesn't sit in a hot car, and check that walnuts and apricot kernels haven't gone soft or bitter, a sign they're old stock.
Gemstones
Skardu sits close to some of the richest gem-bearing ground in Pakistan. The Shigar and Basha valleys, a short drive or day trip away, produce aquamarine, topaz, tourmaline and other semi-precious stones, and a cluster of gem shops around Yadgar Chowk and Naya Bazar sells both rough, uncut pieces and finished jewellery.
Prices depend entirely on the stone, its clarity and how it's cut, so there's no single figure worth quoting. If buying anything of real value, ask for a receipt describing the stone, and treat a very low price on a "rare" gem with some scepticism; Skardu's gem trade, like anywhere, has its share of glass and dyed quartz sold as the real thing.
Woollens and Balti crafts
Baltistan has its own weaving tradition, and hand-woven woollen cloth, locally called pattu, is made into jackets, caps and shawls that are genuinely warm and hard to find outside the region. Look out too for chugha, the long embroidered woollen gown worn across Baltistan, and hand-carved wooden items such as spoons and bowls.
These are usually sold in small family-run shops rather than big stores, and the people selling them are often the ones who made them or know who did, which is part of the appeal.
Other things worth a look
- Balti caps, the distinctive rolled woollen cap worn across Baltistan, in plain or embroidered styles.
- Pashmina and wool shawls, sold in several bazaar shops, though quality and price vary widely.
- Local honey, when in season, from apiaries around Skardu and Shigar.
Where to shop
Naya Bazar is the main commercial strip, with the widest choice of dry fruit and general shops. The older lanes around Yadgar Chowk and Hussaini Chowk have more of the gem and craft dealers. Both are walkable from the Skardu city centre hotels, and most drivers know them well if you're coming from further out.
Give the bazaar an hour if you just want dry fruit and a look around, and closer to half a day if you're serious about gemstones or want to compare a few craft shops before buying. Evenings are busiest, once the day's sightseeing is done and the shops are lit up, and that's also when it's easiest to strike up a conversation with a shopkeeper about where a piece was made or mined.
Our Skardu guide covers the rest of the town, and our restaurants in Skardu guide is useful for planning a meal around a bazaar walk. If you're planning the wider trip, our Skardu and Deosai itinerary can build in time for the bazaar on your last day, once the driving and sightseeing are done and there's nothing left to carry uphill.
Packing purchases home
Dry fruit and small crafts pack easily into hand luggage. Gemstones, especially unset pieces, are best carried in your cabin bag rather than checked, both to keep an eye on them and because rough stone can look odd on an X-ray. If you've bought a chugha or a heavier woollen piece, it folds down small but is worth airing out before packing, since wool picks up smoke and cooking smells quickly in a bazaar shop.
Keep any receipts for higher-value gemstone purchases until you're well home. It's rarely needed, but it's the only proof of what you paid and what you were told about the stone if a question ever comes up later.
Frequently asked questions
What is Skardu famous for buying?
Dried apricots and other dry fruit, semi-precious gemstones such as aquamarine and topaz, and hand-woven Balti woollens including pattu jackets and caps.
Where is the main bazaar in Skardu?
Naya Bazar is the main shopping street, with older commercial lanes around Yadgar Chowk and Hussaini Chowk nearby.
Can I bargain in Skardu's shops?
Yes, particularly for gemstones and crafts. Dry fruit is usually sold by weight at a fairly fixed rate, so there's less room to negotiate.
Is it safe to buy gemstones in Skardu?
Buy from an established shop, ask questions about the stone, and be wary of unusually cheap "rare" gems. For anything expensive, a receipt describing the stone is worth having.
