Whoever said shopping is therapeutic couldn’t be more correct with that thought. To me, it actually is a rejuvenating and fun exercise; especially street shopping. And when I talk shopping, I visualise Mumbai markets. Of course it is famous for branded labels and standard outfits but it is also extremely pleasant place when it comes to local street markets. There are a lot of such markets in the suburbs, near stations and posh areas too. So, if you are the one who love the idea of “shop-till-you-drop” and enjoy bargaining, here’s a list of places that should be on your Must-Visit list, next time you travel to Mumbai.
1) Colaba Causeway
Colaba represents the shopping culture of Mumbai. The look and the feel of this place, especially at evening, is suave. The yellow lighted, vivaciously sparkling place is a wonderful place to spend time at. We get a wide range of products to choose from, here in Colaba. A great deal of kolhapuris, junk jewellery, loafers, flip-flops etc can be found at a real good price. From palazzos to kurtis...u name it, u get it. And the cherry on the cake is that you get to bargain. U can bring them down half the price that they pitch in the beginning. Also, there are some sharp and curt sellers who would sell goods at a fixed but reasonable rate. (Like an up-and-down dress for 400 bucks?!)Thus, just one word- Un-missable.
2) Linking Road
It is not only popular with Mumbaikars but people all over India know Linking Road is one great place to shop from. Be it VERO MODA or Where Oh Moda, u get all kind of brands and cheap fakes, here. Majorly, this place is famous for varieties in shoes, bags, wallets, clutches, belts, shades, stoles..yes again, almost everything! But, one notice for the bargain savvy people: They hate us. They hardly entertain any bargaining. Still most of the goods are worth the price, looking at the novelty in designs offered there.
3) Irla
If you are a shopaholic you will like this place but if you are also a book-worm tadah, you will love Irla. So, Irla has famous alfa-markets, well furnished, stores, road-side vendors, but most importantly a very amiable and well-versed book-seller. That store is not just another book store; amongst the pile of the books in that little space is a book-keeper who possesses the knowledge about almost any book you want a review of ( with correct pronunciation :P ) He sells and rents the books at good deals. Coming back to other goods, best buy in Irla can range among cute colourful PJs, unique wallets, clutches, glares etc. Also, at the end of the street there is Wagh Bakri Tea Lounge, just in case you need to quench your thirst after all that vain attempts at bargaining.
4) Lokhandwala
The fun in Lokhandwala is all about the availability of the latest trends and novelty in designs. And, forget it when people claim that you can’t bargain at Lokhandwala. Start at the lowest price and the seller will bring it to the ideal price. One piece of advice: Do not judge the stalls/shops before you get into that place- go dig in the piles, roast the shopkeeper and you will definitely find your best buy there. Noon is the best time if you want to shop at your ease. Go around the street without wind or storm. Go calmado and come back with heavy bags!
5) Fashion Street
This street is one of the limited street-shopping places that cater to men. Export surplus clothing and fashion accessories are available for cheap prices. You can find a good range of denims, tees, baggy pants, jackets, hats, accessories, footwear and that too at a price which you would like to pay for not-so-long-lasting stuff. In fact, that is what works in their favour, as you get to change your wardrobe every few months for good rates.
Make sure you visit these places and once again, prove “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness did not know where to shop from.”
Go grab that instant gratification. Happy shopping! ;)
