Lavi Fair 2026: Rampur's 300-year-old Himalayan trade fair is on, and it is the place to buy your winter shawl
The International Lavi Fair at Rampur Bushahr, born from a 17th-century trade deal with Tibet, holds its main days from 11 to 14 November with woollens, dry fruits and folk culture.
While the rest of India is still recovering from Diwali sweets, a small town on the Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh is busy doing what it has done for more than 300 years: trading. The International Lavi Fair at Rampur Bushahr, in Shimla district, holds its main days from 11 to 14 November, and if you have ever wanted to buy a proper Himalayan shawl from the people who make it, this is the week.
A fair born from a trade deal with Tibet
Lavi traces its roots to the 17th century, when the old princely state of Bushahr signed a trade agreement with Tibet. Rampur sat on the trans-Himalayan trade routes, and the fair grew into a marketplace where traders from the high mountains and the plains met, haggled and swapped goods. Cross-border trade has long faded, but the fair did not. It has turned into a cultural, commercial and tourism festival, and today carries the "International" tag in its official name.
What you will find at Lavi Mela Ground
The action happens at the Lavi Mela Ground on the banks of the Sutlej. Think of it as the Himalayas' original pop-up market. Expect:
- Woollens and shawls: handloom shawls and warm woollens made by weavers from the surrounding hills, the fair's biggest draw
- Dry fruits: mountain produce sold straight by the people who grow and gather it
- Handicrafts: traditional crafts and handloom products from across the region
- Local food: regional dishes you will not find on a city menu
- Culture: folk music, dance and cultural performances through the fair
Haggling is not just allowed, it is practically tradition. Carry some cash along with your phone, and take your time at the stalls.
Why a city boy should care
In a world of identical online listings, Lavi is where you meet the people behind the weave. A well-made woollen from here is the kind of thing that outlives three winters of fast fashion, and it makes for a far better gift than another box of dry fruits from the supermarket. For the men who like their jackets to come with a story, there is no better story than "I bought it at a 300-year-old Himalayan trade fair".
Getting there
Rampur Bushahr is in Shimla district, and the nearest airport is Shimla Airport at Jubbarhatti. Most travellers combine flights or trains with a long, scenic road journey along the Sutlej valley, so plan for a full day on the road from the plains. November in the hills is cold, especially after sunset, so pack a warm layer (or, better still, buy one at the fair).
The FHM take
Lavi is not a festival built for Instagram, and that is exactly its charm. It is noisy, practical and wonderfully real, a reminder that some of the best shopping in India still happens in a field by a river and not in a mall. If you are anywhere near Shimla this week, go. Come back with a shawl, a bag of mountain dry fruits and a new favourite town.
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