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shopping in mumbai

Mumbai is a shopper’s paradise. The shops and bazaars offer a truly amazing diversity of goods, as well as being worth a visit in their own right. Mumbai sells everything from expensive European antiques to local spices by way of electrical goods and silks. In particular, it is the centre of the Indian clothing trade and caters for all tastes and budgets. ‘Fashion Street’, on M Gandhi Road between Cross Maidan and Azad Maidan, is a row of market stalls where some very good bargains can be found. At the other end of the spectrum, Mumbai is also home to a number of tailors who will make clothes quickly at a reasonable cost. For the more adventurous shopper, there is a large amount of Indian furniture for sale in Mumbai, both at dealers and in the bazaars. Caveat emptor is very much the rule and the age or worth of purchases cannot be guaranteed – visitors should trust to luck and their eye, haggle fiercely and hope to be rewarded with an exceptional bargain. Likewise, Mumbai is a major centre of the diamond trade and for those with strong nerves and long pockets, who know what they are doing, it is possible to pick great bargains. For inexpensive yet attractive wooden and other presents, the Central Cottage Industries Emporium, Shivaji Marg, between Apollo Bunder and Regal, is open Monday-Saturday.

Shopping Arcades Of The Hotels : If one wants to take the leisurely option for your shopping trips, go for a stroll around the air- conditioned shopping arcades of the main hotels, the Taj, the Oberoi Towers and the new Oberoi, all in south Mumbai, and shop for clothes, shoes, leatherwear, jewellery, and good quality handicrafts.

Prices will be higher than outside, but the choice in these shopping arcades is excellent, and if one is a canny shopper, one can always window shop there, before heading off to the markets. Some shops however are exclusive to the hotels in the Oberoi Shopping Centre, for example, there is a wonderful shop called "Christina", selling bags, purses, scarves and silk blouses. Designs are never repeated, and one has to be quick off the mark if one sees something one likes, for the little shop is always busy, often with airline crew.

Chor Bazaar : Its name literally means "thieves market," as this was where stolen goods were once sold. Today, it is best known for antique furniture and quaint collectors’ items sold at throwaway prices. Daily from 10 am. Between Sardar V. Patel and Grant Road, Mumbai.

Crawford Market : Built in 1871, and also known as Mahatma Phule Market, this is where you'll find the best Alphonso mangoes in the city along with hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables. The flower market is a riot of red, yellow, pink, marigold and purple. Less pretty is the nearby meat market: It's fascinating but definitely not for the squeamish. Bargaining is expected, and you can take home most items at 50% of their quoted price. Daily from 10 am. Lokmanya Tilak Road and MRA Road (north of Victoria Terminus), Mumbai.

Mangaldas Market : A massive indoor market selling every conceivable type of cloth. Look for the bolts of beautiful Indian silk and cotton. The key to success there is patience and astute haggling. Daily from 10 am. Off Sheikh Memon Street, Mumbai.

Zaveri Bazaar : Primarily a retail outlet, this is the epicenter for most of India's jewellery trade. Visit the glamorous shops if you are looking for gems, gold or diamonds. Daily from 10 am. Sheikh Memon Street, Mumbai.

Fashion Street : For shirts, tee-shirts and wonderful cotton clothes for children, all at rock bottom prices, visit "Fashion Street" a street market opposite one of Mumbai's exclusive clubs, the Bombay Gymkhana, but known to everyone as the Bombay Gym. Fashion street sells export rejects, and export "over-runs" which are often excellent quality clothes at knock down prices. Bargain very hard, and with any luck one can reduce the sales man's opening offer down to a more realistic price.

Colaba And Flora Fountain : Colaba and Flora Fountain (Hutatama Chowk) in the heart of south Mumbai and at walking distance from Bombay VT and Churchgate railway stations are full of shops of all kinds, mainly ethnic artefacts and departmental stores. It is a good place to find shoes, cotton clothes, Kaftans and children's clothes.

Dadar : Another major shopping area is around Dadar T.T, and if you go there in the evening, the place is packed. Good cotton clothes, saris, children's clothes galore and a general atmosphere of fun shopping. Given the space constraints in Mumbai, the further one goes from the over crowded southern tip, the bigger and better the shops become. Departmental stores are virtually unheard of in south Mumbai, whilst just a short drive away, uptown, are large complexes.

Bandra : Bandra, the so-called "Queen of Suburbs" is the residential abode of film stars, industrialists and the likes, of Mumbai. 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, a world of contrast from a posh showroom.