The Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway has a bunch of reliable pit stops including Seven, Village Aharam, and Hotel Vivera among others. If you ever happen to be on this route on your next weekend getaway from Hyderabad, do stop at Hotel Vivera - not just for the food but to check out the stores here.
It's common knowledge that Telangana happens to be one of the best places in India to get yourself some authentic Ikat weaves. If you like the hand weave and would like to get some authentic Ikat apparel, bed linens and sarees, definitely check out the Venugopala Swamy Handlooms store (locally known as Cheneta Vastralayam) at Hotel Vivera. We found clutches, purses, face masks, kurtas and dresses for children, sarees, kurtas for men and women at the store.
What's cool about the store is that they source all their collection from clusters of weavers in villages neighbouring the highway. The store's USP is the super affordable prices. Seriously, we found some well-stitched children's kurtas for as little as INR 250 here! Kurtas for adults start at a neat INR 500. We also found Mangalagiri, Kalamkari, Gadwal, Venkatagiri and Uppada Sarees at affordable prices. If you're looking for storage of duffle bags in Ikat, they also have a few in stock. While it does take a little digging, you can find some pretty stunning weaves and clothes at the unassuming store.
While sustainability and slow fashion brands are trends that are just catching on, stores like Venugopala Swamy Handlooms show that supporting local weavers and shopping sustainably doesn't have to burn a hole in your pocket. For prices this good, this authentic handlooms store is a must-visit for when you're on this route.
