Preetha Shankar
Swanky malls in the city have started
cropping up, but nothing beats the street shops which have been there time
since! These street shops are still popular with the young crowd, owing to the
factor of cost-efficiency. So this is a call out to all the young shoppers to
keep your wallets full and brush up your bargaining skills before going on a
shopping spree. And don't forget to shop at these popular locales till you
drop!
Located in T Nagar, the commercial hub of
Chennai, Pondy Bazaar clearly tops
the list as the city's most charismatic shopping spot. Even though there were
pavement shops previously, it has been replaced by a shopping complex. But this
still has not deterred people from coming to this locale. Situated in
Thyagaraya Road, it teems with transport and throngs of people bargaining for a
great buy. It is mostly crowded with youngsters, who are willing to purchase
the trendiest clothes, accessories, bags and footwear. Christobel, a regular
visitor says, “I love Pondy Bazaar. Owing to the variety of items it houses and
also for the cheap rates, it is definitely one of the most sought after
shopping destinations for the young and hep crowd. Personally, its ethnic
jewellery collection attracts me the most. The stuff not only looks good, but
is also pocket-friendly and of good quality.” Even with the presence of edgy
branded stores like Levis and Jhillmill, the small shops give them a run for
their money, owing to its strong customer base.
Easily accessible due to its proximity to
the Mambalam Railway Station and T Nagar Bus Depot, Ranganathan Street is a shopper's paradise, albeit a slightly
dusty one at that. This place witnesses a perfect amalgamation of big textile
and jewellery stalwarts like Pothys, GRT, etc. and small scale vendors. Soma
Das, a tourist from Kolkata says, “I like the ambience of this place, as it
reminds me of Esplanade in my own city. I love the small accessories stalls,
selling earrings that are cheap and fashionable. But it helps to know the local
language here, or accompany someone who is proficient in Tamil. I also loved
the unique collection of footwear at display, and they were priced reasonably
too.” For those seeking a light snack while shopping, spicy mango slices and verkadalai
might just be the right pick to tickle your tastebuds.
Detached from the hustle and bustle of the
metropolitan, Cotton Street/Pantheon Road in Egmore is a quiet lane that meets a dead end. There are
around 15 wooden stalls stacked with vibrant fabrics that immediately grab
one's attention. With cotton fabrics being the specialty of this place, there
are numerous options to choose from- be it trendy tops and traditional salwar
materials to home decor items like curtains and bedspreads. Swathi, a
20-year-old medical student says, “I prefer shopping in Cotton Street than at
Fountain Plaza and Alsa Mall because it is much more affordable here. Moreover,
cotton- the material available is always a hit with summer. It is comfortable
and perfectly suits Chennai's climatic condition.” Divya Chandrakant, a college
graduate adds, “The price range and the selection of cloth materials sold are
out of the world. The material I bought here a few years back is still in good
condition.” On a side note, remember that bargaining here can help you save a
few more bucks.
For those who want to get a taste of
Marwari culture down South, Mint Street
in Sowcarpet fulfills that
requirement. Cruising through its meandering narrow by-lanes, what one first
encounters is a famous lassi shop. Walking further reveals shops selling
Chiffon and Georgette sarees with intricate embroidery and embellished sequins,
cutting-edge accessories and funky footwear. Priyal Singhvi, a resident of the
area says, “I shop here three days in a week. The kurtas available are
outstanding. It is contemporary, with an ethnic touch.” Moreover, right
opposite the Sri Jain Wadi Bhidbhanjan Parshvanath Temple is a cart selling
delicious chats such as Kachori and Samosa chat with a serving of Dal kadi, and
leaves a taste that lingers on the tongue.
Close to both the Central and Egmore
Railway Stations, Purasawalkam High Road makes for an ideal spot to get
a feel of old Chennai. Usually, people staying close to this locality are the
ones who frequently shop here. Nivedita Rajgopal, a literature student says, “I
usually purchase cloth materials from Madhar Sha, as it has been around for a
long time and delights customers like me with the quality of the products.” She
also adds that the accessories sold in pushcarts are cheap and attractive that
woos young college-goers like her.
Tucked away in the North of Chennai, Parry's
Corner is
situated in close proximity to the Chennai port at the juncture of Beach road
and NSC Bose road. This place is one of Chennai's oldest shopping markets, and
there are magnificent buildings from the British-era that bear testimony to its
history. One comes across shops selling
traditional North Indian sarees with heavy embroidery work, antiques, art and
artificial jewellery. Each
street is a small detour specializing in some particular items, such as Kasi
Chetty Street for stationery items, Anderson Street for paper products, Devaraj
Mudali Street for cosmetics, and Godown Street for fabrics and textiles.
Abinaya T, a student of Dentistry says, “I love shopping in Parry's because it
gives me the feel of authentic India. I usually buy stationery stuff from here
at a throwaway price.” Nearby to this place is Burma Bazaar, which is famous
for the genus of imported goods such as perfumes and electronic gadgets
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