Shopping at Delhi
Shopping in Delhi is always absolute fun as nothing seem to be unavailable in the bustling streets of Delhi markets. Be it a modern shopping area of South Delhi or bustling bazaar of Old Delhi, the city is nothing less than a paradise for the shoppers.
The most glamorous shopping area in the heart of the city is the Connaught Place (CP), built during the British Days designed by Edwin Lutyen. This circular shaped market finds a beautiful fountain and park in the center, with convenient and ample parking spaces. For decades it continues to be the prime shopping hub of Delhi storing wonders in its womb. Radial roads lead out of this centre point to all parts of the city connecting old city with the new.
The underground shopping plaza 'Palika Bazar' inside the Connaught Circus is another marvel of the city which also provides an underground parking. While CP market area still retains its original British flavour, the modern Palika Bazar connects the place with present modernization. Both Connaught Place and Palika Bazaar market remains closed on Sundays.
Do visit the Baba Kharak Singh Marg where you will find a row of State Handicraft Emporias. Prices here are fixed and products are genuine. Typical textiles brasswares, jewellery, paintings, furniture and souvenirs from every State can be found in their respective showrooms. Pay a visit to the Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath in the STC Building Complex for the choicest handicrafts from all states under one roof. This Emporia Chain also has its branches in major cities in India and abroad.
Other up-market shopping areas are South Extension, Sarojini Nagar, INA Market, Greater Kailash Part- I, Vasant Vihar in the South Delhi and Khan Market and Sunder Nagar Market in central Delhi within a km from the India Gate. The availability of all kinds of necessary and domestic goods along with some excellent collection of garments and accessories in reasonable rate have made these markets a necessary shopping area in respective zones.
On the left of the Race Course road, is Santushti (meaning relief), the ideal shopping venue to the ethnic art lover created by the Air Force Wives Welfare Association. Intricately crafted woodwork, brasswares, terracotta, textiles, jewellery, clay toys, and metalwares can be purchased in this tiny arcade at reasonable price. The chic cottages against the well-landscaped garden and pebbled paths offer something more than shopping itself.
Opposite the INA market at Laxmi Bai Nagar, Delhi Tourism runs an open air handicraft market, Dilli Haat, in which craftsmen are invited from every state to sell their products directly. This is an ideal place if you want to taste the different cuisines representing each region of the country. Fruit salad, fruit beer are some of the specialties which you should not miss in you trip to Dilli Hut. The celebration of regional festivals is another attraction of the place.
Inside the walled city there are some of the oldest market places of Delhi that are fascinating the people for centuries. Chandni Chowk (moonlight square) is still famous for its silver jewellery, precious and semi precious stones, garments and accessories. A journey inside the narrow streets of Chandni Chowk will surely take you to the Mughal era. While shopping you could also feast in some of the most famous sweet shops and chaat corners. For all kinds of silver and precious & semi-precious stones walk into the narrow lanes of Kinari Bazar, also famous for glittering costumes of famous Indian mythological characters. Khari Baoli is the wholesale market for dry fruits and food grains. etc.
Towards west Delhi the most versatile markets are Karol Bagh and Rajouri Garden which are a striking mix of upmarket as well as flea markets and are quite crowded. Another very unique feature of Delhi are its Weekly bazars which exist in almost all colonies selling all kinds of household items for its residents. Certain festival related bazars are also fast gaining popularity mostly for pilgrim tourists and foreign tourists like at Suraj Kund (in Haryana) and the Hauz Khas village which is an artificially created village.
In brief, the experience of shopping in Delhi cannot be compared with any other experience in the world and is a treat for itself. We are sure once you take a stroll in the market areas of Delhi, you will love to come here again and again.
Shopping Mumbai
Shopping in Mumbai is a memorable experience as you wander through its Bazaars with striking names like Chor Bazar, Mutton Street and Zaveri Bazar. At Chor Bazar you'll find a phenomenal collection of antiques, jewellery, wooden articles, leatherware and general bric-a-brac.
Crawford market, famous for flowers, fruits, meat and fish, is certainly place worth capturing on your camera. Zaveri Bazar offers excellent range of jewellery items. For colourful and innovative carpets one should head for Mereweather Road behind Taj Mahal Hotel. Here the range is extensive, exclusive and the prices slightly higher. To be on the safer side, one could, however check at the Jammu and Kashmir Emporium first. Several state emporia in the World Trade Centre, at Cuffe Parade are an ideal place to buy souvenir, a rare artifact or textiles. The Central Cottage Industries Emporium (Apollo Bunder) and Khadi Village Industries Emporium (D.N.Road) with their fixed price tags, are genuine and of superb quality.
Colaba and Flora Fountain (Hutatama Chowk) in the heart of South Mumbai and walking distance from Bombay V.T and Churchgate Railwa Stations are full of shopping of all kinds, mainly ethnic artifacts and departmental stores.
Walk into Fashion Street and shop for your new summer wardrobe. The street is close to the famous Metro Cinema and Dhobi Talao.
For those who look for the glamorous the ideal place to shell out some money would be Kemps Corner, Warden Road, Breach Candy and Napean Sea Road.
Bandra, the so-called Queen of Suburbs is the residential abode of the's who of Mumbai, film stars, industrialists and the likes. Linking Road joins Bandra to Khar and is lined up on both sides with showrooms for the elite. But the striking contest here is the pavement selling which adds to the thrill while you walk out of a posh showroom.
The famous essence of perfume industry in India had its prime ingredient called Itar. Although the Itar is now only concentrated towards Kanuj in U.P. , right here in Mumbai you could get a sample of it the way it used to be. Yes, walk into the famous Mohammed Ali Road and shop to your heart's content for Itar, embroidery and Zari work besides artefacts and souvenirs.
Shopping at Bangalore
Shopping at Bangalore can be real funs for those who love explore various markets and shopping places. From pure silk saris to Swaroski crystals, you can find anything that you fancy on the streets and shops of Bangalore.
Commercial Street is one of the busiest and crowded shopping areas in Bangalore.
The shops are filled with shoes, jewelry, art decors, stationery, novelties, travel kits and sports goods. The South Parade of the British Period is now known as the MG Road. The road still retains the colonial charm even after lot of development and advancement has been made. This the place for shopping for electronic equipments, books and magazines, silk saris, textiles, antiques and photography equipments. The shops and emporiums to explore while shopping here are Barton Court, Cauvery Arts and Crafts Emporium, Coir Board Showroom, Kids Kemp, Natesan's Antiquarts, Public utility Building, Saree Kemp, Shringar Shopping Complex and Spencer's Super Market.
You can go to Brigade Road for shopping at Bangalore. This place is famous for electronic items such as televisions, refrigerators, music systems, computers, washing machines; garments; crockery and footwear. The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Showroom, Poom Puhar, is also located on the Brigade Road. Residency Road is known for some of the famous emporiums like Gangotri, Uttar Pradesh Government Handicrafts Showroom; Mrignayani, Madhya Pradesh Government Emporium; Utkalika, Orissa Government Handicrafts Emporium and Gurjari, Gujarat State Handicrafts Emporium. At these emporiums, you may like brassware, wooden furniture, antique jewelry, ethnic printed fabrics, saris and decorative items.
Besides the four important shopping zones, there are several other shopping areas at Bangalore. These areas are famous for some special products. For shopping of cutlery, crockery and other household items, you can head towards Richard Square in Russell Market. Chickpet is known for pure silk saris, jewelry in gold and silver and dress material. You can go to Arcot Srinivaschari Street for shopping of brassware, silverware and copperware. Wooden products, plywood, electrical goods and paper can be shopped at B.V.K. Iyengar Road. Avenue Road is the right place for shopping of stainless steel, silver jewelry and stationery items.
Shopping at Chennai
Chennai has some places to offer for shopping. In fact Chennai is a Shopper's delight. There are a lot of places and shops worth visiting. One thing to be kept in mind is to try to bargain for prices at almost all places. New plazas are springing up while traditional stores are having themselves refurbished to attract more customers. Readymade clothing including brands, art and crafts, contemporary and traditional artwork, antiques, jewellery etc are easily available in the city. Traditional items like Pattamara Mats and the leaf and palmyra-fiber handicrafts from Tirunellveli, bronze and brass castings and traditional jewelry from Kumbakonam, Metal works from Tanjavur, stone carvings from Mamallapuram, Silks from Kanchipuram are all available in Chennai.
For conventional items and handicrafts, Government Emporiums offer wide variety of choice at fixed rate. Victoria Technical Institute at Anna Salaai offers handicrafts from all over the country. Central Cottage Industries Emporium in Temple Towers Anna Salaai again offers good stuff.
SIPA'S Craftlink at Kodambakkam High Rd is South India's first fair price shop which supports local artisans. You can buy variety of locally made handicrafts, textiles and papier-mache items at reasonable prices.
Cane'n'Bamboo at Egmore stocks textiles and handicrafts sourced from charity based craft cooperatives at lower prices than most of the Emporiums.
Naturally Auroville at Khaddar Nawaz Khan Rd sells beautiful clothes, shoes, ceramics and wide range of toiletries handmade in the Auroville community. You can get organic foodstuff also here.
For finest Kanchipuram silks Vardharams at Harrington Rd Chetput has good collection. Co-optex Egmore sells Kanchipuram silks from their own cooperatives. Nallis is also famous for exclusive range of silks and sarees.
If you like large air-conditioned complexes go to Spencer Plaza Anna Salai, Shopper's Stop Harrington Rd, Globus or GeeGee Emerald Plaza MG Road all have range of shops selling famous brands of clothing, books, music, children toys and accessories etc.
For ready made clothes and accessories try Lifestyle at TTK Road, Westside at Spencer Plaza, Saga Departmental stores.
The Thegaraya Nagar district known locally as T Nagar is a great place to shop especially at Pondy Bazaar and bustling markets around Pangal Park. Pothy's at Usman Rd offers wide range of silks, cottons, saries etc. Here you will also find huge multistory shops like Lalitha Jewellery and Prince Jewellery selling astonishing range of gold, silver and diamond jewellery.
If you are interested in cheap fabrics then you should also visit, small footpath fabric bazaar sets up in the afternoons in the lane next to Co-optex Egmore.
Raahat Plaza near Vadapalani is one of the most beautiful and tidy complexes in Chennai.Shop for garments, books, toys, multimedia/electronics, computers, music-related items, greeting cards, etc. A food mall and an exclusive showroom for Sony are also there. On the ground floor, there is a mega shop, an exclusive supermarket, from where one can buy many useful items.
Parrys Corner also has many shops selling almost everything. Nearby is the famous Burma Bazaar where all sorts of imported goods can be purchased.
Shopping at Kolkotta
Calcutta has a lot to offer the hard-core bargain hunter. From hole-in-the-wall shops that sell T-shirts and jewelery at a steal, to classy arcades in deluxe hotels, there's something to suit every budget in Kolkata. Over the years, a lot of malls have sprung up all over the city, but if you want a true-blue feel of a good bargain in Calcutta, here's where you should spend your shopping money:
New Market
If you stand outside this sprawling market complex and crane your head in the right direction, you might still spy a faded sign or two that still refer to this place as Hogg Market. However, if you'd rather plunge into the heart of the shopping game, here's the best place to start bargain hunting in Kolkata. Shiny plastic clips, faux crystal ware, flowers, fabric, toys, luggage, ready-to-wear clothes, shoes, crockery, candles, swimwear, uniforms… name it and it's likely to be there in one of the shops here. The thumb rule at New Market? Bargain with all your might!
AC Market
If you want to get away from the heat on the streets, walk into AC Market on Shakespeare Sarani. No prizes for guessing what the AC stands for - an icy blast is bound to hit you as soon as you open the doors to this building. AC Market is much smaller than New Market, and doesn't offer the mind-boggling variety of goods that the former does. It used to be the haunt of the upwardly mobile, but with swanky new shopping complexes opening up over town, AC Market is now a toned down version of its former snooty self. Don't let the "Fixed Price" signs scare you off - this is as good a place as any for great bargains.
College Street
Trams, buses, people on foot, rickshaws, cows, dogs - and rows and rows of bookshops, that's College Street. If you're looking for books at a steal, this is the place to go to. A word of advice though - get to where College Street begins and undertake the rest of the journey on foot - this way, you can not only browse to your heart's content, you'll also not have to worry about parking your vehicle.
Dakshinapan Shopping Complex
This is one place that's a favorite with college student looking for clothes to fit their budgets. Bargaining is out of the question here, as most shops sell their ware at fixed prices. However, the complex is choc-a-bloc with state emporia, peddling their ware at reasonable rates. A few bargains can also be grabbed at the shops that aren't emporia. The complex also houses a few clean food stalls, where you can stop for a bite after a long shopping spree.
Shopping Ahmedabad
Buying or browsing, shopping in Ahmedabad is fun in itself. Meander through dozens of boutiques and gift shops on C.G. Road. During the day take your time browsing through the fascinating range of Patola silks, ethnic fabrics, silver jewellery, furniture and handicrafts. And in the evening try the Law Garden evening market for ethnic and traditional clothes and white metal jewellery. Be there by 5 P.M to have an early start. The POIs as well Teen Darwaja in old city are once again great places for antique shopping if you have the time and inclination for bargaining and don’t mind the heat and dust of the crowded old city.
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