Shanker Art Gallery

Working on Hawa Mahal Road means there is never a quiet moment outside. Our shop is at 132/133, and you can always hear the cows, the tourists, and the rickshaws passing by. It is one of those spots where you see people from all over the world just by standing at the door. We spend a good chunk of our morning just dusting off the items because the road gets so much traffic and soot. The gallery is filled with all sorts of things we’ve gathered, and sometimes it’s hard to even walk through the aisles without bumping into something. We don't really have a fancy display; we just put things where they fit. My family has been around this area for a long time, so we know most of the other shopkeepers nearby. We drink a lot of chai while waiting for people to stop in. The building itself is old, with thick walls and some corners that stay dark even with the lights on. We don’t go in for much talk; we just show people what we have if they ask. By the end of the day, my feet usually ache from standing on the stone floor. It’s a busy life right in the heart of the old city, but we are used to the noise and the constant movement of the crowds outside. It’s just the way things are done here on this street.