Health Warning : Men keep out.
You may suffer of boredom, fatigue and mental nausea. There maybe ideas in your hardwired heads on
how your pocket holes are burnt and how to stop the same. On the plus side, if
you want to know where to spot lovely women of your city or town, you may
proceed ahead but at your own risk.
Women : This is purely meant for
our kind. Those who love to shop and swear by it. I would also request you to add to it. Simply
message or email me your Hideout in the city or traveller shopping experience
details and I will add it in this note. But Malls and Brands are to be strictly
excluded unless there is some unique experience about it.
Lets make the world a better
place in.
Trade is but an ancient word and
the one so revolutionary that so many men and women scratch there heads in
dingy government departments or in posh corporations or even in corner shops to
make it happen. We Women kind may not earn that respect at home or at work for
our contributions but walk in a street with a fat purse and you find folks
bowing down to us.
The traders would do anything to
woo us.
The ruins of a possible Bazaar at
Raigad may give us a glimpse of an era gone by or if we dig deeper into the
Indus valley civilization we can make out what was the ‘In’ thing of those
times.
I love Bazars. They have a local
flavour to it. The best part is that they are cheaper and we can haggle. I also
find an air of mystery to them. You never know what could be there for you. You
find people from all walks of life. There is a colourful and a vibrant energy
to it. I like Malls too but the air of
sophistication can suffocate me at times.
I am starting from the treasure
tales of my home city and will end at the current finds of my present one.
Achare Gaav Bazar
This is my native place Achare
tucked away on the Konkan coast. It is near Malvan and has a sea shore. There
is a Bi-weekly bazar in the village, big days for the villagers. Like all
village bazaars, you could find everything under the sun at this bazar stacked
on mats on both the sides of the road. Specialities include Kokam and Masalas.
A variety of Vegetables are available these days, however earlier there was a
limited option.
But if you are a fish lover, this
is a heaven. It is in plenty and very cheap. Very Fresh too. (The British may
call this the ‘Best local catch’)
Also, do not miss to eat the
Kanda Bhaji on your way home.
MUMBAI
You want to get some coriander
mum? Sure, I will get it. I hardly refuse an offer to shop. For anything.
I know the shopping nooks and
corners of my city having stayed there for all my life. So here is the list.
Groceries : As any Mumbaikar will
swear by it is undoubtedly near your local railway station. For wholesale
prices and imported stuff rush to Crawford Market.
Wedding Planner: If you love to
design your own stuff and have an eye for embroidery do visit Bhuleshwar,
Mangaldas market, Gandhi market, Malad market. You may also like to visit Pu la
Deshpande hall at Prabhadevi or Handloom fairs in the city for the most
exquisite textiles and jewellery from around the country. The fabrics are
gorgeous. For high end affairs, watch out for exhibitions at Blue Sea, Worli or World Trade Centre. Mix and Match,
do it your own way.
Timepass shopping: Before the glittering malls
spread over the city, the most fashionable city roads are Linking Road, Hill
Road, Fashion Street and Colaba causeway. If you want to make a giggling
lingerie shopping trip with your girls, Bandra is the place to be. For just one
season of casuals or party wear , shoes and jewellery which may last
surprisingly last for a long time this is the place to be. No wonder it is
forever crowded. The other option is local trains.
Books: Fountain at Churchgate
anytime any season. Maharashtra book stall at Ranade road, Dadar. Even King’s
Circle, Matunga has amazing stuff although they will be duplicate copies.
CHOR BAZAR: A place on my wish
list.
PUNE
I must confess that I am no
expert on this city. Perhaps Anuja Kumar could you throw some light please?
Laxmi Road : From saris to skirts
to three stoyed stores for sherwanis, this is the ‘Maherghar’ of clothes for
Punekars.
Tulsi Baug: Best place to shop
for Utensils and Bhatukali of course.
FC Road and MG Road: For all the
casual and one time shopping.
Hongkong Lane: for Junk
jewellery. My Best friends laughed at me when I compared this place to Linking
road. Whatever.
Osho Ashram, Koregaon Park : I
have spotted some chappal wallas and jewellery stalls around the area but I
think it is for the visitors at Osho.
BANGLORE, MYSORE, OOTY AND
KODAIKANAL.
Perhaps I said it in One Breath.
That was my travel route!!
Bangalore is the city I love the
best although I have not really explored it.
M G Road and Brigade Road is the place to be
for silk saris and casual shopping.
Mysore : Sandalwood, some more
Sandalwood and a bottle of eucalyptus oil
Ooty: Don’t buy those plants they
don’t last in City air. Instead just breathe the fresh air.
Kodai: Home made chocolates
HYDERABAD
The city of Pearls and Gemstones.
Every girl would want be a Begum gazing through those shops lined with lovely
pearl necklaces and poetic gemstone jewellery. Helps if you a relation in the
Armed forces.You cannot have enough of it, perhaps one for every occasion,
husband are you reading this?
INDORE
Another place for Saris. Do not
really recall details of this trip.
SOLAPUR
Don’t laugh. I swear by solapur
chaddars, I even made Aditya buy them for me to carry them to London. You will
get it cheapest here. Also a place for Irkali saris…. Sari for Rs.200 anyone?
NASHIK and YEVLA
Again don’t laugh. If you are
looking for some Antique style Copper Murtis or Vessels, Nashik markets are a
place to be.
Yevla is a one-stop destination
for all the Wedding sari shopping. You name it, they have it. My and Aditya’s
family bought around 150- 200 saris. Don’t choke.
GOA
Seashell art crafts and jewellery
and straw hats. Try the stalls near Mandirs or Churches instead of the beaches.
Zantes is the best for Cashewnuts. Do not forget that pack of Dordol or guava
cheese. Cheap daru in plenty to carry in you are flying.
NAINITAL
This lovely Himalayan town has a
lovely Bazar around the lake. There is a market by Tibetian refugees which
sells jackets and casuals. Also a few stalls which sell funky lingerie.
There are delicately carved
candles and even some embroidered textiles.
MANALI
Wooden articles and some Kashmiri
wares. Fresh fruits and locally made apple juice.
SRINAGAR
The real stuff. As my mum puts
it, you feel a sense of terror at times when you roam the Bazars of Srinagar as
gunned men are posted on the corners of the streets, fields and even roof tops
of houses.
Trade is but at mercy of tourists
and hence commands high prices and little bargaining.
A treasure for Textiles, wooden
articles and handi crafts, paper mache, cricket bats. Walnuts and Apples in
plenty. Saffron and Kawha to tickle your senses.
PORT BLAIR
It is the capital of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands. A Coral treasure lsland. Check out the Government approved
shops in the centre of the town which also have some handi crafts. But the
Andaman life ends very early as women folk have to return home early for lack of
transport.
RAJASTHAN
A Shopping Paradise in a desert.
I have visited Jaipur, Ajmer when I was a little child and do not really recall
much. But I did visit Jodhpur and Jaiselmer a few years ago. I still regret not
buying that silver bracelet with elephants as I was a student starved for cash
and in a dilemma to buy or not to buy. There is a lovely bazar around Jodhpur
fort where you could buy a Bandhani or a lovely piece of jewellery. My Kaka had
managed to pick up a lovely carpet too.
We all have something on our
agenda when we visit Rajasthan. Saris, Embroderied textiles, jewellery, shoes,
leather goods, Mojdis, furtniture ….what not? I found this fair price shop at
Jodhpur main market which has all these items at reasonably low prices. It has
a chain all over Rajasthan. So if you are a student deprived for cash, you
might as well visit it.
MAHABALESHWAR
There is nothing like very
Commercial , touristy shopping destination as Mahabaleshwar. But admit it
ladies it is fun. You do end up buying that crochet skirt which you dread to
wear when you are back to the city. Me
and my besties had visited every Shoe shop in Mahabaleshwar. The best buy is
buying tons of strawberry squash, jelly toffees and jams which will keep the
family happy till it lies at the corner of the cupboard till the end of the
year. :P :D.
Aaji’s trinklet shopping
My paternal grandmum was a big
time shopper and had a zeal for life in general. She used to match her saris
and jewellery and also demanded the purfectt handbag. Being a rather pious lady
otherwise, she had travelled lengths and breaths of India on all the possible
pilgrimages the country offers. She never returned empty handed and bought
gifts for all distant members of the family.
For us children, the gifts were
the scared threads to be tied around the wrists or some pendants with god’s
images on it and some yummy sweets too. But the best one, I have treasured so
far is from Kerala. It is a beaded necklace made of coconut choir and a pendant
with OM made of choir too. I still smile if I am visiting any religious place
and see all the ‘stall’s on the way there.
Aaji would stop and have a look
inside the stall.
(I have not been to Kerala, North
East and Bengal, Orissa and Chennai as yet. But those who have, may add to it.)
