Shopping in India!

Whether you’re travelling to India for the first time, or you’ve spent a lot of time in this stunning country, the chances are that you’ll want to take advantage of the exciting shopping opportunities on offer throughout India. From vibrant street markets to busy malls, going shopping in India is a cultural experience as well as being a great way to get some unusual bits and pieces to take home for your friends and family, as well as for yourself. Let’s take a look at some of the top shopping hotspots in India to help you find those brilliant buys!

Street markets

Visiting a street market is a must if you’re heading to India, as these lively markets will give you a great feel for the culture. Remember that haggling is part and parcel of the shopping experience in the Indian street markets, so don’t be afraid to bargain with stallholders. If prices are marked, you should be expecting to pay far less than the amount stated – it’s common to settle on a price which is less than half of that quoted, so be bold and bag a bargain.

In Mumbai, some of the best street markets are on Colaba Causeway, which is a tourist attraction in itself. This bustling market place is great for visitors and stocks all sorts of fantastic souvenirs to take home for your friends. If you’d rather have a more authentic market experience in Mumbai, then head to Crawford Market. Popular with locals, Crawford Market specialises in food and is full of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and, bizarrely, pets such as birds.

Delhi also has plenty of fabulous street markets across the city, so why not hop on the underground train to check them all out. Favourites in the Indian capital include the market in the Chadni Chowk area of Old Delhi and the Janpath market which is internationally renowned as well as being popular with the locals.

Malls

Of course, the street market experience isn’t for everyone and once you’ve had your fill of haggling for bargains with the city stall holders, you may well want to finish your shopping in a calmer, more familiar environment. In recent years, the cult of shopping has really taken off in India and there are a number of enormous shopping malls to be found on the outskirts of the larger cities in the country. If you want to flex your credit card, India is the ideal destination for you with enormous shopping malls in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi, Noida and Pune to name just a few.

Bangalore is the place to go for the ultimate shopping trip in India. Capital of the Karnataka state, the city currently boasts an impressive 25 shopping malls and is home to India’s first shopping mall, The Forum, which was built in 2004. Situated close to some of India’s major educational establishments, many young Indians come to The Forum to enjoy the many shops and entertainment options in the complex. If you’ve had your fill of authentic Indian street food, you can head to the Mall for familiar American fast food outlets, or, for a more traditional experience, check out a Bollywood film in the Mall’s large 12 screen cinema.

Wherever you’re headed in India, there are plenty of shopping options. While street markets offer an exciting, authentically Indian experience and are a great place to pick up souvenirs and goods to enjoy at home, the enormous shopping malls are still worth checking out to find some luxury Indian or international products. Oh yes, and don’t forget to have your credit cards for that ‘must have’ item when the holiday cash runs out.

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