For any visitor to Chennai, the exploration cannot end without seeing the innumerable markets in the city. For, the development of the city is entwined with the early commercial enterprise of the British. As a result we continue to have some old and special bazaars.
These are the markets where you can seize some of the best deals in clothes, shoes, accessories and more. You name it and the city has it.
However, beware. If you don't know the local language or to bargain, then shopping experience may prove costly - like in any other tourist place across the world.
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Want to buy imported goods or electronic gadgets? The Burma Bazaar is the best place. The rows of shops near Beach station sell everything from a Nokia N 95 mobile phone to Dell Laptop - all of them imported. But don't expect any warranty.
All kinds of readymade garments to household items to small plastic goods you can find here where small vendors and shopping complexes share the space. The market is also famous for the CDs and DVDs of all languages. So if you want any old classic, your get it here.
And why Burma? In the 60s when Burma became independent and started throwing out outsiders, the refugees set up shops here and started selling whatever they could.
Ritchie Street
For the geeks and gadget freaks of Chennai, Ritchie Street is the place to be. When they want to know or buy the latest in the market, they head towards this lane off Mount Road, where the vendors sound like experts. And once you are a regular customer, you would prefer the suggestions of these shopkeeper to any website or certified expert.
Not only electronic goods, but also their spare parts are available here. With more than 900 electronics shops, Ritchie Street is the second largest market for computer spares and accessories in India.
Regulars also know that there is no use bargaining here, as all the shops have a common price. Don't worry, it's not difficult to locate the street - loud latest Tamil music welcomes you as you approach the place.
Ranganathan Street
When you visit Chennai, they say you cannot return without visiting two places. While the first is the Marina Beach, the second - very surprisingly for the outsiders - is Ranganathan Street.
The ever-buzzing street houses big shopping malls like Saravana Stores, Ambika Stores and Jayachandra to very small stalls and even vendors. Those on shopping spree can spend the whole day just in two malls - munching all the savouries available inside - and you would walk out just yearning for more.
The popularity of the place can be judged by the fact that during festive season, it would take a person at least half an hour to cover the street, which is not even half a kilometre long.
From morning till late night, the street is crowded with the bargain savvy people, loking out for the best household items at lowest rates.
Cotton Street
Wonder where the Chennaiites get all kinds of cotton dresses from? Most probably the youngsters would have bought their trendy cotton dresses for a good bargain from Cotton Street.
The lane off Pantheon Road showcases the best quality of cotton dress materials for best price. With more and more youngsters visiting this place for trendy dress items - Cotton Street has become one of the latest fashion hubs in Chenni. It is said that even some of the large stores in the city buy material from here for their brands.
Pondy bazaar
Just adjacent to Usman Road in T Nagar, is the favourite shopping centre of many Chennaites. If Ranganathan Street is all about buying clothes at lowest rates, Pondy Bazaar -- with its mix of malls, retail outlets of international brands and hawkers and pavement stalls, as also a large number of restaurants- makes shopping an wonderful experience.
As it is a beautiful place for window-shopping, it serves as a good place to spend the evenings for youths. Dress, cosmetics, toys, crockery, furniture and anything and everything for a family can be bought from Pondy Bazaar.
Forgot what you planned to buy or don't know what to buy? The walk leisurely through this street and you would not stop shopping.
Moore market
Like reading but don't want to empty your wallet? Don't worry; Moore market situated next to central station is the best place for you. Moore Market is Chennai's own second hand book market, where you get almost all the old books for very low rates. Academic books, fiction, classics or anything you can get for even Rs 5-10.
Even books that went out of print decades back are available in the plethora of shops here. After searching in all the popular bookshops most of the Chennaites find the desired book in Moore market. Rarely Moore market disappoints you.
Sowcarpet
For those who want a break from Chennai, but still want be in it, nowhere better than Sowcarpet. This market in north Chennai is popular for north Indian attire and other materials.
Most residents and businessmen here are from Marwar community, who provide Chennaites the best and the original north Indian accessories and the sweetness of their culture.
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In Parrys - one of the most popular places of Chennai - is Mint Street. With its English, the street gives the visitors a unique experience with Jain temples and glass shops.
It houses a variety of shops which sell at very low prices, beautiful glass products as also fashion jewellery that would cost you the earth anywhere else. And nearby is Stringers Street, very famous for footwear.
Koyambedu market
Just behind the Asia's largest mofussil bus terminus (Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus) is Chennai's main vegetable market, from where the city gets all its vegetables, fruits and flowers. Koyambedu Wholesale Market, which comes alive even before 3 am, is Asia's largest perishable goods market complex.
If you want fresh vegetables or fruits, an especially in bulk quantity, this is the best place - you get everything in wholesale price.
For, if you buy anywhere else also, that shopkeeper would get them from here only. Everyday, around one lakh people visit the wholesale market, whose daily business is nearly Rs 3 crore.
Flower Bazaar
Once a main landmark of the city, this crowded area of Parry's still houses all kinds of shops - even after the wholesale flower business shifted to Koyambedu.
Popularly known as 'Poo Kadai', the area even has a 'Flower Bazaar police station'. The market was near what was once Kothwal Chavadi - the wholesale vegetable market now shifted to Koyambedu. However, there are a handful of flower sellers still doing business in the pavements.
Zam Bazaar
Made famous in songs and films, Zam Bazaar, from where you can get anything you wish for, gives the visitors an experience that is truly Madrasi.
One of the oldest bazaars in the city, it is very famous for its naatu marundhu kadais (traditional herbal and local medicines shops) and garland shops.
The market, set up in Triplicane before Independence, still does not fail to charm you with its age-old feel.
