Sold before Buying: Bazaar Trails in Mumbai

Criss-crossing narrow lanes, tiny shops spilling with colourful wares, people haggling for a better deal...welcome to the bazaars of India. You can find them everywhere, and even juxtaposed against high rises and glitzy malls, these bazaars fiercely hold their own. The bursting metropolis of Mumbai has many such gems hidden in its folds.

Care to try the fiery tears-in-the-eyes signature Maharashtrian masala mixes? Head straight to the Lalbagh spice market. Guntur, Bedki, Reshampatti or Kashmiri; no we are not planning a travel itinerary. These are the names of the variety of chillies one would find in the lalbaug spice market. An expert eye could tell one from the other. Each has a specific purpose... some provide the fiery red colour without the heat, and some could be scalding hot. This market is also home to spice mixes so authentic, which the pickiest grandma would approve. You just need to let your nose lead you- the aromas will guide you to the spices long before you see them. Here, you can not only buy the spices, but can also get them dry roasted and ground into the masala mix of your choice... before your own eyes. It's not uncommon to see ladies patiently waiting, with bagful of spices, for their turn.

Criss-crossing narrow lanes, tiny shops spilling with colourful wares, people haggling for a better deal...welcome to the bazaars of India. You can find them everywhere, and even juxtaposed against high rises and glitzy malls, these bazaars fiercely hold their own. The bursting metropolis of Mumbai has many such gems hidden in its folds.
fter you have had your fill of the spices, we move on to Null bazaar. Roam the bazaar to find utensils, crockery, odds and ends for the house, the list goes on & on. Looking for a desi barbeque set? Find it at Null Bazaar!

Just across the street from Null bazaar is Chor Bazaar. Once a well kept secret and reserved only for the adventurous, the notorious Chor Bazaar or Thieves Market welcomes connoisseurs and beginners with equal warmth. Furniture from the Raj, rare electronics like vintage gramaphones, out-0f-print LPs, film posters that take your back to your parents' time, coins and stamps from a time when they had currency... It's not uncommon to find a genuine antique here. And if these guys can't find something for you, it probably doesn't exist. Gems from here often find their way into curated collections of lifestyle stores . The labyrinth of narrow lanes beckons the enthusiastic traveler. One can easily spend a day in this Aladdin's Cave. The more adventurous can try their hand at bargaining. Be warned - do not begin if you don't intend to buy.

So let's go bazaar hopping. We have enough to have you sold on it, whether you buy anything or not.