Everywhere you look in Mumbai, something is for sale. With chappals being sold on a sidewalk, young boys hawking magazines in the middle of traffic, bric-a-brac on display in bustling bazaars, trendy clothes hanging temptingly in boutique windows, and everything under the sun for sale in air-conditioned malls, you will never run out places to empty your wallet!
South Mumbai is home to Mumbai’s main shopping districts. This is where you’ll find Crawford Market – an old, covered, and busy outdoor market selling a large assortment of items including fruit, flowers, vegetables, home wares, hardware, and even pets. Nearby is Zaveri Bazaar where you can sample an excellent range of jewelry. Located on Mutton Street is the famous Chor Bazaar or Thieves Market. You’ll find antiques – some real, most probably not – and a bunch of trinkets and goodies for rummaging. Fashion Street, near Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus, sells export surplus clothing and is a good place to find bargain Western wear. Touristy Colaba in the heart of South Mumbai is an excellent place to hunt for ethnic artifacts and souvenirs. Sometimes prices are set, but most of the time you should bargain down the price.
Bandra and Juhu are two suburban neighborhoods packed with trendy boutiques offering the latest fashions and accessories, as well as many outdoor street stalls selling everything from bangles and shoes to bananas. Linking Road, the road that links Bandra to Khar, is lined on both sides with indoor and outdoor shops. On Juhu-Tara Road, there is a large array of trendy and up-scale clothing, shoe, and jewelry stores. Prices are usually negotiable in outdoor stalls and set in high-end shops.
Most of the large, indoor shopping centers can be found in northern Mumbai. You can shop comfortably and conveniently in these air-conditioned malls featuring a wide variety of stops and department stores. Link Road in Malad West and in Andheri West is home to several of Mumbai’s popular mega malls. High Street Phoenix in Lower Parel is another major shopping area. Prices are set and range from affordable to expensive.
