India's Bustling Bazaars

Shopping-the Rustle of a new dress, the earthy smell of aa brown shopping bag( extra bag please!),and the thrill of everything combined. Here I have put together some of the most loved markets in the country which are soaked in history and offer fascinating tales. Apart from stocked shelves, ofcourse.

DILLI HAAT.

It gives you you a sneak peek into the rich treasure trove of crafts that each state of India boasts of in addition to offering delectable platters of food from every region All under the open skies attempting amalgamation of sides and sounds that provides and immediate respite from the cacophony of the traffic outside the gates.

Delhi Haat it is a favourite both among locals and tourists an initiative of the state tourism department the idea of creating a space where craftsmen from across the country could gather showcase and sell their ware in open space - like the rural market or haat- immediately caught the public imagination since its inception near the INA market in south Delhi in 1994, and although a second one has come up in north Delhi's pitampura area, it's the ' original ' one that's more popular. From silk to silver; woodwork to metal ware; pottery, rugs and bags to pickles and condiments- you just name it, the market has it all. A delicate Pashmina from Jammu and Kashmir code tempt you from one shop even as a neatly stacked set of black pottery from the North East peeps from the other a range of deftly crafted wooden furniture from Uttar Pradesh and paintings from Odisha could inspire you to redo your den wild rows of jewellery shops would definitely succeed in making you loosen your purse strings. Dilli haat scores big on the fact that all products on display are genuine and have been so fairly priced it must be mentioned here that the craftsman rent space for roughly 2 weeks hence every fortnight or so does space where in new look at the end of the shops begins the row of eateries that serve traditional food from different states of particular mention is the Nagaland stall and its delicious momos and bamboo shoot chicken and the adjoining Maharashtra stall and its sabudana khichdi and poha while it's always buzzing with people tourist ,students ,office goers, families. I recommend you visit Delhi Haat in the evening when it's cooler and the space is brightly lit up but if it's winter then definitely in the morning with less crowds you would get all the attention of the craftsman plus what better way to build up and appetite than soaking up the sun while strolling through the market?

Goa has everything a holiday can ask for resplendent beaches, great food and flea markets that give you the feeling you are on a quest for something precious in a sea of treasure of all the flea markets that it offers the one in Anjuna is the most popular started off as a Hippie exchange Aaj of commodities where they traded anything they had clothes jewellery guitars in exchange for some more time in this Paradise the place soon flourished into a a full slides market you can now buy trinkets clothes bags and junk jewellery but also some exquisite Indian Handicrafts and souvenirs here in typical flea market fashion the stalls run by a mix of foreigners and Indians are under brightly colour canopies exuding a rare exuberance. Most of the foreigners sell handmade things clothes jewellery or have stalls where you can get a piercing done for get dreadlocks look around and you may find some one selling a hammock or even a bicycle they even have bands giving live performances old timers love telling the story about how flea market was started by, " Eight Finger Eddie" an American hippie, whose popularity seeped beyond Goa. He had come to Anjuna in in 1965 and never left he died in 2010 they say it's easy to fall in love with Goa so Grab a beer or a corn on the cob and stole around this made of other such fascinating stories while Looking through things quirky and unique.

T NAGAR

Chennai's well known T nagar gives you a taste of two contrasting worlds of shopping- the one in air conditioned shops with shiny floors and the other on the road, among street vendors. Both, we must add, have their own charm. Thyagaraya Nagar, or T Nagar as it's short formed to, is said to be India's largest shopping district by revenue there are rows of shops selling silk sarees a must pick up in Chennai and jewellery among other things T Nagar is home to one of the largest gold markets in Southern India and there are several shops selling both traditional and contemporary designs in Gold jewellery a little deeper into the market and outside the bigger shop starts the row of street vendors whose again have a big following among locals and tourists for their interesting collection of ware that can range from clothes and footwear to bags electronics and accessories there are tables overflowing with plastic ware for the kitchen utensils and other household goods toys of the latest variety that are included with the newest Trend and tables after tables of jewellery and other accessories in all colours and designs imaginable basically name everything and it will be there a Shoppers delight be prepared for the crowds if it gets too difficult to digest just step aside and get into a restaurant again there's a white selection and let the melt in your mouth dosa do the trick.

ANTIQUES MARKET, OLD JEW TOWN

It would be safe to say that an experience in the antics market in kochi's old jew town goes beyond the hashtag shopping. It begin with matancherry- the old quarter of kochi - is steeped in history itself. Quaint and exuding an old world charm, this place was the ancient commercial capital of Kerala and a favourite Haunt of traders down the centuries. The Portuguese voyages to the Eastern cotter's design right here and you will find remnants of all the rulers who once reigned over this place. The Portuguese the Indian kings and the Dutch the shops selling antiques in the market here therefore have the perfect almost hypnotical precent of history., that is almost too hard to resist. One can find curios, handicrafts, exquisite wooden works and ancient memorabilia I the shops including rare antics like religious artefacts ancient jewellery boxes classic furniture sculptures and even paintings a lot of traders from outside Kerala clock to the old town and all the shop owners say that they get a steady flow of tourists most of their ware gets sent it through bulk Couriers the old town also has several shops selling spices that Kerala is famous for like cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, ginger and nutmeg wild here take your time and move around you never know what Treasure you make chance upon.

NEW MARKET

One of the most well known markets not just in Kolkata but also the end new market is a buzzing space of people and shops that sell everything that you can possibly imagine almost life a made with hundreds of shops you can find apparel footwear line in bags Kitchenware electronic items decorative items jewellery toys long story short there's something for everyone and befitting every budget. West Bengal is known for its beautiful sarees particularly with the Kantha stitch and it's handicraft both of which you will get an ample variety of in New Market having said that be prepared to use your best barganing skills here. it works!!Established in 1874 by the British as the first Municipal Market this place was earlier known as sir Stuart Hogg market. Later it what shorten to hogg market a name it is still referred to buy at times and always enjoyed a loyal patronage which remains true till date in the evenings junk jewellery seller set up their movable stalls on the side of the road peculiarly attracting young college goers. But that's not all all new market is also well known for its eateries that serve all the things that Kolkata is famous for Chicken rolls cutlets biryani and sweetmeats including cake combining two things that most of us cannot deny our love for shopping and eating out newmarket make a deal you can hardly decline.

CHOR BAZAR

One of the largest Market in India Mumbai Chor Bazar or thieves market is a display of all things imaginable. When it started during Colonial rule the market was known as shore Bazaar meaning noisy market because of the she is noise of the place with time stolen goods and second hand items started making their way into the shops and the name changed to Chor Bazaar if it were a map the Marketplace could be divided into many sections on entry you first reach the automobile section year old cars scooters and bikes are bought and dismantled and the spare parts sold to traders who visit the market name a piece and you will find it card or engine mudguards tires frames if you are an automobile enthusiast and have always dreamt of building something from scratch this is your place get the stuff At throw away prices and build your own machine Deepa into the market is the antiques section again a Paradise for those always ogling the steeply priced antiques in up market stores. You will find statues old grandfather clocks vintage cameras typewriters many Bollywood production houses come here to either buy or rent their crops for their films since we are talking Bollywood chor bazar is also a great place to source some Vintage movie posters that are her to sign elsewhere there is also a discrete stolen shoes Bazar that comes up every Friday near this place some Dawn to about 8:00 in the morning.

These are some of the few best places for shopping in our country and there are many other famous places for shopping like johari bazar in jaipur, laad bazar in Hyderabad ,lal chowk in srinagar, mother's market in manipur etc I'm yet to visit these places when I visit I assure you that I'll write about it. So till then keep shopping , enjoy and EXPLORE.

This is anvitha bellamane signing off till then KEEP TRAVELING.