The Shilp Gram is an open air craft bazaar cum food
plaza situated in campus of Awadh Vikas Yojna on Sultanpur road. Coming from
Gomti Nagar side, you will see it on the left side just parallel to the Shaheed
Path. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated the 'Avadh Shilp Gram' on
Saturday and announced several welfare measures for the artisans. The 20-acre
sprawling campus of the Shilp gram houses a huge complex of shops where
artisans from across the state can showcase their products. Built in red stone,
the 'haat' saw thousands of people flocking there on its inaugural day. The
haat will comprise 169 craft shops, food courts, exhibition hall, banquet hall
and amphitheatre as well. The project has been developed by the state government for
providing financial and marketing assistance to the artisans of various
handicrafts and medium, small and micro entrepreneurs.
The idea is to display the crafts and promote the Craftsmen from all
states of India to make a wide variety of handicrafts are available at one
place. There is a lot of similarity here with much famous Dilli Haat, New
Delhi. However this one in our Lucknow is much huger in the scale and in area.
In my eyes this place can turn out to be much more than a handicraft selling
place because there is a lot that can be done and enjoyed here. The place is
made keeping in mind the contemporary visitors of our city. From Kashmiri
Shawls to Phulkari Dupatta, to anything and everything, one can go on a
shopping spree here instead of going from state to state. As I visited the
place just one day after the inauguration I could spot only limited stalls and
shops open but most of the shops are already allotted and will open very soon. There are so many reasons to Visit Shilp Gram.
It is a Shopper Paradise – from home decor, to
clothing and jewellery, one can find anything and everything at one place. This
place is soon going to attract people from city and visitors from outside
Lucknow too. Surely our wait for yearly Lucknow Mohotsava has ended with this
being available to us all year round. If you love to shop and explore do not miss this
place. It also makes an excellent joint for buying gifts for friends and family.
Another reason that could make it popular among the citizens is the
chosen site of the Shilp Gram, which is away from city’s hustel-bustle which
allows you to enjoy and breathe in fresh air, free of dust and pollution which
dominates inside the city and the crowded markets. There are enough parking
spaces which make it even better. Apart from saving time finding a parking spot
it is also provides a relaxed visit as there is not much of a chaos in this
part of the city. Morever there is alot
of open space for your kid to move here and there inside the complex too.
Modern day Lucknow contains alot of beautiful buildings but we have to
admit that Shilp Gram complex is very unique and impressive in its own
way. The infrastructure is very
appealing, giving Indianised look with modern techniques. The complex is
divided into various sections to make it feasible. There is a separate food
court, an amphitheatre for performances in future, two very well set up
Children’s playing area and clean washrooms. The stalls and directions are very
well marked too. There are air-conditioned and non-AC shops in Awadh Shilp Gram,
numbering 209 along with provision of separate men and women dormitories for
lodging of visiting artisans.
The Shilp Gram serves right for people of all age and section of society.
There is something for everybody. From food stalls to shopping stalls one can
come and enjoy here with family and friends. People who are looking to take a break from the
giant malls and polluted markets of Lucknow, you may get that in Shilp Gram.
Apart from from art and craft, Shilp Mela has a huge makeshift food court where
you can find a lot of variety in food. There will be stalls from different
states and various cuisines. Who would not want to indulge in some mouth watering, delicious food after much
shopping?
Another USP of Shilp Gram is its Children Play Area.
Congratulations all you ladies, you can let loose and
shop without the worry of eyeing on your kids because there is a lot for kids
to enjoy in the place too. The open spaces and, play spaces for kids are a very
good idea and have been brought up in Lucknow for the first time.
The place is not ticketed for now, not sure
about the coming days though. But till then one can go in, for free.
India’s amazing and varied handicrafts will be
beautifully displayed here under one roof. This will not only increase people’s
awareness on our dying art and tradition but also help the indigenous artisans
to come up. Preservation of these arts is must and this is the foremost way to
it. We will be lucky to see many Indian artists who are superb at what they
do but have not got the right stage to showcase what they got. Luckily with
such platforms they are coming up. E.g. embroidery, paintings, pottery and
textiles. There will be a variety of affordable souvenir shopping in a
pleasant, open-air, un-crowded place, promoting the handicraft industry
along with opening up of new avenues of jobs for youth.
The Shilp gram is being developed as a Cultural Hub. There are plans to organise
appropriate ambience for the festivals. This will be a single point where
foreign and domestic tourists will be brought and there will be a show case of
culture and tradition in form of art and craft. Music, Dance, Sports, and
theatre is also taken into consideration.
A good initiative
from the state government to promote the handicrafts of the country, this would
provide a unique shopping experience to the visitors if the promises are truly kept.
If developed properly, it can surely turn out to be one of the major
attractions of the city.
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