Shopping in Mumbai is a memorable experience as you wander through its Bazaars with striking names like Chor Bazar, Crawford Market, The Mangaldas Market, Fashion Street, Flora Fountain, Mutton Street and Zaveri Bazar. At Chor Bazar you'll find a phenomenal collection of antiques, jewellery, wooden articles, leatherware and general bric-a-brac.
Crawford Market
Also known as Mahatma Jyothiba Phule Market named after a local patriot, the old Victorian building is located north of the Victoria Terminus station. Built in 1869, it used to be the city's wholesale produce market. Just above the main entrance there is a bas-relief designed by Lockyard Kipling, father of Rudyard Kipling depicting workers in a wheat field. The market has interesting varieties of fresh produce at wholesale rates- fruits and vegetables, a meat section, imported cheese, chocolate etc. There is a bazaar area Lohar chawl across the street with an extensive range of goods. Nearby is Kiplings' cottage where Rudyard was born.
The Mangaldas Market
The Mangaldas Market is the largest indoor cloth and dress material market in Mumbai. There are hundreds of stalls where you can buy beautiful material from the finest silk saris to raw cotton.
Chor Bazar (Thieves Market)
Chor Bazar is a paradise for the antique hunter. It is arguably one of Mumbai's best shopping centers. This much talked about market in Mumbai occupied by an odd collection of shops deals with goods from second hand car parts to handmade furniture. One can buy good painting, jewellery, wooden articles, statues, leather ware and general bric-a-brac, silver coins and lots of other things from here. There are a number of shops where bargain is possible. The main avenue is Mutton Street, flanked by rows of little antique shops.
Zaveri Bazar (Jewellery Market)Zaveri Bazar offers a range of jewellery in diamond, gold and silver. The market is crowded and bursting at the seams. Napkin rings, picture frames, snuff boxes, bangles and necklaces in old silver can be purchased for reasonable prices. This is where the Mumbai's bullion exchange and diamond market used to be, though it is now primarily a retail centre. Mumbadevi temple is nearby.
Fashion Street
Fashion Street, also knows as FS is very famous for its readymade garments. It has at least 130 to 140 shops. You can see the latest fashion trends here, and casual wear is probably the cheapest anywhere in the world. It is a very popular area with college students and teenagers. The clothes are usually surplus exports and therefore are of very good quality and make. There are also several shoe and jewellery shops and anything else you can think of.
Flora FountainAll around the square sit Mumbai's infamous vendors selling just about everything from cheap nylon saris and ballpoint pens to herbal remedies.
The World Trade Center
The World Trade Center at Cuffe Parade is one of the main shopping centers in Mumbai. It has a huge number of state government emporiums, textile and carpet shops.
Central Cottage Industries Emporium
Central Cottage Industries Emporium where you can buy everything, ranging from the latest fashion in Bombay, handicrafts, consumer or electronic equipments, paintings, engineering innovations etc.
