Here you will find the 30 best Indian gifts for people who love India. Personally, I think giving a trip to India is the best India gift idea. But I can imagine that that’s a bit out of your budget. And who am I to select the best India gifts anyways?
If you are short on time, and can’t afford a trip to India, here’s my personal favorite: a handmade sari photo album (check out number 13). But do check out the 29 other awesome Indian gift ideas.
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Indian gifts for large budgets
#1 Chai tea
Did you know that Chai actually means tea in Hindi? So when we’re saying Chai tea, we’re actually saying tea tea.
Anyways, back to the gift.
Chai tea is known as a spiced tea and depending on which region in India you get the chai tea from, you will get different spices. It’s incredibly popular both inside and outside India.
The Chai tea gift from Uncommon Goods includes spices such as cardamom, star anise, cloves, and of course black tea.
For different spice mixes, check out Amazon. Or for more inspiration for tea lovers, check out my tea gift guide.
#2 Indian spices gifts
Obviously, I couldn’t write a post about the best India gifts without including Indian food gifts. Delicious food is one of the first things people think about when they think of India.
So if you are looking for Indian gift ideas for foodies, you came to the right place. Check out numbers 4, 9, 11, and 26 for more inspiration.
Or buy this set of 9 Indian spices, in personalized tins with a silk sari wrapped to turn it into an even more Indian gift.
The spices included are cloves, cinnamon, cardamon, chilli, cumin, coriander, garam masala, mustard seeds, and turmeric.
If this gift is a bit out of your budget, check out the other Indian spice gifts at Not on the High Street for more cool ideas.
#3 Cricket-related gifts
Cricket is the number one sport in India, so if you are looking for Indian gifts for someone who loves sports, the national team’s cricket jersey might be a good idea.
Or check out Not on the High Street for more cricket-related gift ideas, such as a poster, a shirt, or the cricket periodic table.
#4 Indian gifts related to Bollywood
The Indian film industry Bollywood is the largest film industry in the world (measured by the number of films produced) and is extremely popular in India and beyond. So if you are looking for India gifts for someone who loves Bollywood movies, the Bollywood kitchen book might be a great idea. It includes traditional Indian recipes and suggested Bollywood movies to pair with the recipes.
Alternatively, check out the Bollywood Periodic table at Not on the High street if you are looking for wall art gifts.
#5 Indian gifts for her: jewelry
Are you looking for Indian gifts for women? Perhaps this jewelry set from the Indian brand Aheli is the perfect gift for her. Sets like these are often worn at grand festive events such as weddings, anniversaries, engagements, or basically any celebration.
#6 Metal wall art
If you are looking for Indian gifts for someone’s home, perhaps this beautiful metal wall art of Indian musicians is the gift you were looking for.
#7 Map of India
Maps of India are another example of great Indian gifts for people’s homes. I quite liked the illustrated map of India from Not on the High Street. But also check out Amazon for more map designs.
#8 Yoga-related gifts
Did you know that yoga originated in India?
If not, perhaps you may find the book “The story of yoga from ancient India to the modern west” interesting. So just give it as a gift to the person who’s obsessed with India and then borrow it yourself ;).
Or check out Amazon for more yoga-related gift ideas.
#9 DIY Indian food kits
If you are looking for Indian gifts for foodies then DIY food kits are a great idea. You can find Indian DIY food kits for all sorts of dishes and in all price ranges.
If you have a large budget check out Uncommon Goods for the Indian Biryani rice kit. For mid-budgets Not on the High Street is the best option with their different Indian street food options, such as Timitar Masala, Onion Bhaji, and Tikka Marinade. And lastly for small budgets, head over to Amazon and go for the Indian butter chicken.
Also, check out the 25 international DIY food kits for more gifts for foodies.
#10 Hindi language course
Did you know that there are 22 official languages in India? The two most common ones are English and Hindi. And since there’s a big chance the recipient already speaks English, why not give a Hindi language course?
Indian gifts for mid-budgets
#11 Indian cookbooks
Made in India: Recipes from an Indian Family Kitchen
Over 130 Indian recipes from three generations of Meera Sodha’s family.
Thali: A Joyful Celebration of Indian Home Cooking
Over 80 recipes to recreate a thali at home without too much fuss.
The Curry Guy Bible
Recreate over 200 Indian restaurants and takeaway classics at home. It’s a selection of the author’s favorites after eating Indian for two decades.
Authentic Indian Cooking with Your Instant Pot
Classic and Innovative Recipes for the Home Cook
#12 Indian dance course
There are quite a few traditional dances in India such as bharatanatyam, kathak, kathakali, manipuri, kuchipudi and odissi. Now, I am definitely not an expert in Indian dances, so I wouldn’t be able to tell you what the difference is between them.
But I do know that if you are looking for Indian gifts for someone who loves dancing, then giving an Indian dancing course is a super cool gift. So check out Udemy for the Indian dance courses they offer.
#13 Handmade sari photo album
If you are looking for Indian gifts for someone who recently returned from a trip and who doesn’t stop showing photo’s on his or her phone, this photo album is the perfect gift.
It’s handmade from Indian Sari and thus perfect for them to collect all their photos of their India trip. You can choose different sizes and colors.
#14 India gifts for coffee lovers
If you are looking for Indian gifts for coffee lovers, perhaps a travel mug with an Indian design is the gift you are looking for. My favorite was the mug with the map of India and with the option to add the recipient’s name. But check Zazzle for more inspiration.
And if you need more gift ideas for coffee lovers, check out the coffee gift guide.
#15 India posters
If the metal wall art was a bit out of your budget, but you are still looking for India gifts for someone’s home, perhaps these posters might be a better alternative.
The food poster is great for people who love Indian food or check out all travel posters of India on Amazon for more options.
#16 Ticket to Ride India
Ticket to Ride is one of my favorite board games, and thus one of the best Indian gifts for game lovers.
So far, I have only played the Europe edition, but the aim of the game is pretty much the same for every location. The only difference is the way the board looks and the cities you have to build railways to.
I can try to explain the purpose of the game, but I’ve tried that before and it actually makes it sound like a boring game, so just believe me when I say it’s a super fun game, especially if it includes the map of the recipient’s favorite country.
#17 Taj Mahal 3D puzzle
If you are looking for Indian gifts for someone who loves puzzles or architecture, this 3D puzzle of one of the seven wonders of the world might be a great idea. It will take them about 2-4 hours to construct the miniature Taj Mahal puzzle at home.
Also, check out the next item for more Indian gift ideas for someone who loves puzzles.
#18 Indian puzzle gifts
This puzzle of the Sadar market in Jodhpur in India is another great gift for people who love India.
Are you looking for gifts for a puzzle lover? You may also like my puzzle gift guide.
#19 Indian-themed water bottle
Are you looking for Indian gifts for a sustainable traveler who loves India? Perhaps a water bottle with the skyline of New Delhi is a great gift for them.
Or check out Zazzle if they are not much of a fan of New Delhi.
#20 Ayurveda products
Ayurveda is a form of alternative medicine that originated in India. So for people who are interested in Indian alternative medicine systems or who love herbal serums, this face serum from Blue Nectar might be a great Indian gift idea.
#21 India travel guides
Essential India Travel Guide
A must-have guide for Westerners. As the name suggests, it’s a great travel guide for Westerners.
DK Eyewitness: India
DK eyewitness’ guides are great visual travel guides, with beautiful photographs and detailed illustrations.
Fodor’s Essential India
With Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai & Kerala, it’s great for people who are looking for insider tips.
The Rough Guide to India
A great and honest travel guide that also includes an e-book for people who’d prefer to travel with fewer items
#22 India-inspired passport cover
The India-inspired passport covers on Zazzle are great examples of practical India gifts for travelers. I quite liked the one in the photo with the Taj Mahal and the recipient’s name. Oh, and no worries if you’re not so fond of the color purple, you can also change that ;). Or just pick one of the many other designs on Zazzle.
#23 Indian-themed tote bags
My personal favorite was this colorful tote bag with an elephant and the Taj Mahal. But definitely check out Zazzle for more tote bags that make great India gifts.
#24 Interesting books about India
India – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
A great book for people who want to understand Indian culture and traditions.
India After Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy
This is a great book for people who are interested in modern history.
Land of the Festivals: An Introduction to Indian Culture and Traditions
If you are looking for Indian gifts for people who love festivals, this book is the perfect gift. This book provides a comprehensive list of all the major festivals celebrated in India that one must experience once in a lifetime.
Indian gifts for small budgets
#25 India coloring books
There are a surprisingly large number of coloring books related to India on Amazon. I liked the “incredible India” one, as it comes with a free printable, so they can color it over and over again. But check out Amazon for more options.
#26 Indian sweets
This is another one of the great Indian gifts for foodies, Indian mithai (or sweets).
Check out all options on Amazon or simply go for the Galub Jamun. This is a type of fried dough ball made from milk solids and flour and is very popular in India.
#27 India-inspired luggage tag
The luggage tags by Zazzle are great examples of practical and small Indian gifts for travelers. I liked the one with the map of India where you can add the recipient’s name. But again, don’t limit yourself to my personal favorite, because Zazzle offers over 200 Indian-themed luggage tags.
#28 Pashmina scarf
For all fabric-noobs like me, pashmina is a variant of cashmere, and it’s a type of wool from the Changthangi goat. It’s a popular fabric in India, which makes it a great Indian gift for people who love scarves.
#29 India travel journal
The cute coloring sari journals from Not on the High Street are great India gifts for travelers. They are handmade and support rural villages in India.
Alternatively, you could also check out Amazon for travel journals specifically designed for people traveling to India. Or check out the 25 travel journals here.
#30 India-themed socks
If you are looking for fun, random, and small India gifts for travelers, this pair of socks might be a good gift for you. Socks are one of those essential items for travelers and with this Taj Mahal sign, the recipient can still enjoy some of India’s beauty, even when they’re not in India.
Save these India gifts
Don’t forget to save these Indian gift ideas for later.
