Gem Handicrafts

Our shop, Gem Handicrafts, is tucked away at number 39 on Lal Ghat Marg. We are very close to Poonam Haveli, so it’s easy to find if you’re walking toward the lake. The lane is narrow, like most of this part of town, which keeps things interesting when two bikes try to pass each other. Inside, we have a lot of stone work and different bits of jewelry that we’ve gathered. It’s often a bit cramped because we try to show as much as possible on the walls and in the little glass cabinets. My hands are usually a bit dusty from handling the pieces, but that’s just how it goes. The light comes in quite nicely in the morning, which helps when we are looking at the smaller stones. We don't have a big fancy sign or anything, just the name above the door. Most of our day is spent rearranging things or talking to the other shopkeepers on the street. It’s a tight community here. Sometimes the internet is slow, so we just wait it out. We’ve been here at Lal Ghat for years, and we’ve seen the seasons come and go. It’s a peaceful enough place to work, even with the noise from the tourists outside. We keep a couple of chairs out front for when the legs get tired. It's just a simple, honest business we've run for a long time.