Chennai, or Madras, is renowned for its exquisite food scene and majestic views. However, the city also features bazaars that will bolster your shopping experience. Regardless of what you want to shop, perfume, clothes, footwear, or fabric, these markets have it all. If you are a first-timer in Chennai, this Things2Do itinerary will help you locate the shops and markets in the bazaars.
1The Pondy Bazaar
Pondy Bazaar, located in Chennai, is among the best shopping places to purchase jewelry, bags, purses, and phones. Once you walk through this bazaar, you will notice that most shops sell various houseware items, from kitchenware to house décor.
Some of the most notable shops in Pondy include Naidu Hall and Ratna Store, which sell items synonymous with locals and visitors. Additionally, many shops sell quality watches, jewelry, bags, and kids’ play items at affordable prices.
The rule of thumb is to bargain for prices to ensure you purchase everything at a discount. Also, do not exit the bazaar before indulging in delicious meals in any restaurant.
2The Pantheon Road
The Pantheon Road, one of the famous shopping markets in Chennai, is renowned for its unique and high-quality cotton garments. Note that the locals prefer adorning clothes made from cotton due to the humid weather of the summer season. Whatever your cotton color preference, Pantheon Road always has something to offer.
Also, if prints and patterns fascinate you, you must try the designer fabrics and printed robes, which you can adorn when on vacation. Moreover, many shops sell high-quality reams and printed fabric at an affordable price. You can find unstitched kurtas and second-hand overseas clothes from time to time.
Cotton Street, a shop in Patheon Road, is a must-try. The street has about 60 shops on either side that sell fabric from INR 25 per meter. Here, you can also purchase dupattas, sarees, and kurtas at affordable prices.
Note that prices fluctuate as the day progresses, mostly past 2 pm. Therefore, you must arm yourself with exceptional bargaining skills to ensure you purchase a handful of items at a great deal.
3The Sowcarpet
The Sowcarpet is a famous Chennai shopping destination renowned for its delicate north Indian delicacies. Known as the Mini Rajasthan of Chennai city, the bazaar has many shops that sell delicate fabrics ranging from sarees to churidars and cholis.
Sowcarpet is in the north of Chennai and inhabited by North Indians, who love adorning alluring garments. Also, visitors barely have language barriers because the Northerns communicate using Tamil and Hindi.
Additionally, if you have perfected your bargaining skills, you will purchase at a discounted price. You cannot drive through this bazaar as it gets crowded in the evening.
4Besant Nagar
Besant Nagar, one of the best shopping places in Chennai, neighbors the sea and a posh estate, which makes it the essence of thrifty shoppers. You can purchase fashionable and exquisite clothes, footwear, jewelry, fabrics, and ikats.
The area is synonymous among university students due to its bead shops that sell unique bohemian accessories, silver earrings, and funky neckpieces. Additionally, given that this bazaar is close to the beach, you can stroll through any of the restaurants and enjoy a variety of seafood options, including morsels and dosas.
5Ampa Skywalk
Ampa Skywalk is among the top shopping places in Chennai inside a mall. Although it is relatively smaller than other bazaars in its niche, Locals and visitors prefer Ampa due to its wide selection of items. Also, its location makes it easily accessible from various parts of the city.
Ampa Mall has many clothes shops, a food court, and a gaming arena for children and adults. The entire building and its environs sit on a three-acre piece of land, which features a 25-meter terrace with benches on the side that connect the movie cinema to ticket boxes.
Additionally, the food court houses approximately 650 people per sitting and sells delicious cuisines, including International and continental dishes. Some popular clothing brands you can shop for include UCB, Adidas, Westside, and Lifestyle.
6Phoenix Market City Hall
Phoenix Market City Hall is a renowned Chennai shopping destination famous for its apparel variety. You will never run out of shopping options here because all the shops sell branded clothes, such as Big Bazaar, Adidas, etc.
You can also add some fun to your shopping excursion by watching a movie in the IMAX theatre or the game zone and indulging in a few games. Phoenix Market City Hall features innovative facilities that make your shopping spree memorable.
Additionally, do not exit the hall without dining in the restaurants. Some of the dishes you can enjoy include continental and Indian cuisines.
7T Nagar
T Nagar is a Chennai shopping destination distinguished for its architecture and wide selection of items and the perfect destination for your clothes and jewelry preferences. Ranganathan Street is a legendary shop that sells various household and clothing items. During festivities, T Nagar experiences an influx of locals and tourists for its affordable prices and high-quality items.
Additionally, Usman Road, another shop adjacent to T Nagar, sells textiles and jewelry you can adorn for any occasion. If you want a seamless shopping experience in this bazaar, plan your itinerary around morning hours because evenings and weekends experience an influx of shoppers. Moreover, T Nagar offers many dining options that cater to various preferences. Visit Saravana Bhavan and dine on delicious chutney and idlis.
Chennai is primarily renowned for its food scene and scenic views, but unbeknown to most, the city offers a vast shopping experience. You will find everything you need in the top shopping places in Chennai shops highlighted above, from traditional designs to footwear and jewelry. Shopping in Chennai is a remarkable experience because the shops sell high-quality products at affordable prices. Follow our insta @ Things2doinchennai for latest update from the city.