The market area around the Habba Kadal bridge is one of the most localised and least tourist-oriented bazaars in Srinagar, dealing primarily in the daily requirements of the old city neighbourhood rather than handicrafts for export. The stalls sell dried fruits and nuts, spices, fabric, household goods, and the handcrafted copper and brass utensils that are a Kashmir specialty. The kangri — the traditional Kashmiri firepot, a clay pot set in a wicker basket that is carried under a cloak for warmth in winter — can be found here in various sizes.
The market is best for spices and dried goods: the saffron, dried fruits, and Kashmiri spice mixes sold here are oriented toward local buyers and priced accordingly. The kangri stalls are worth visiting even without intending to buy — the range from tiny decorative pieces to full-sized working kangris, and the craft of the wicker weaving around them, is genuinely interesting. The market is busiest in the mornings; the riverside location means the light is particularly good in the early morning hours.