India’s Local Market Guide — A Complete Guide to Top 20 Markets (2024)

1. Chandni Chowk, Delhi

The Chandni Chowk is one of the busiest and oldest markets in India that dates back to the 17th Century. It is the largest wholesale market where you can find endless shops and stalls of food, jewelry, electronics, spices, art, antiques, souvenirs, and many knick-knacks.

A famous spot is the Khari Baoli. It is the largest wholesale spice market in Asia which was built during 1650. This market beams with vibrant colors and aromas of local spices, herbs, and dried fruits.

Indian dry fruits

• Address: Near Red Fort, New Delhi 110006, India
• Opening Hours: Every day except Sunday, 9.30 am to 8 pm.

2. Connaught Place, Delhi

Opened in 1931 and named after the Duke of Connaught, the Connaught Place is one of the largest commercial centers in Delhi. Today, it's a heritage building and a shopping complex.

The alleyways and sidewalks of the market spill over with goods including books, clothes, handicrafts, electronic goods, and jewelry. The well-organized shops are interspersed with eateries, cinema halls, and theaters.

Eatery selling paratha

Though no longer Delhi's premier shopping area, the Connaught Place's shaded walkways are pleasant to stroll through and there are also bars and cafes that are great to stop at along the way. You can also visit the nearby Central Park, which features an amphitheater, fountains, and plush lawns.

The best way to reach this market is via the metro. The nearest station is Rajiv Chowk Station which is only a ten-minute walk from the market. You can also easily find buses and cabs to reach Connaught Place.

• Address: Connaught Place, New Delhi
• Opening Hours: Every day from 10 am to 8 pm

3. Janpath Market, Delhi

Janpath Market is one of the most famous shopping areas in Delhi and is known for its long lines of boutique stores selling a variety of merchandise from clothes, Pashmina shawls, and carpets to brass ornaments, folk paintings, and handicrafts.

Indian textiles

There is also a Tibetan Market in Janpath selling Himalayan arts and crafts such as wall hangings and beads. This street market is a good place to go to find the latest fashion at good prices and to practice your bargaining skills.

Janpath Market is near some of the city's popular attractions like Jantar Mantar, an observatory containing old world astrological instruments, and the National Museum, containing a collection of more than 200,000 art pieces.

• Address: Janpath, New Delhi, the nearest metro station is Rajiv Chowk Station
• Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm

4. Johari Bazaar, Jaipur

Jaipur's historic marketplace, the Johari Bazaar is a must-visit in any Jaipur travel guide. This market is catching the attention of visitors due to their specific stones and fabrics.

The name Johari Bazaar literally means "Jeweler's Market". You can find all kinds of traditional jewelry, like Polki jewelry, Kundan jewelry, and Jaipur's style of jewelry made of enamel, Meenakari.

The drum is played to accompany the melody

The Johari Bazaar not only sells jewelry, but there are also textile shops. From Bandhej and Leheria sarees, suits to block printed bed sheets and Jaipuri Rajais, you can find them all.

There are some food stalls and restaurants near the bazaars that make for useful pit-stops when you need to restore your energy before getting back to shopping. One of the most famous is Laxmi Misthan Bhandar's delicious lassi.

• Address: Hawa Mahal Rd, Badi Choupad, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India
• Opening Hours: Every day, 10 am to 11 pm.

5. Bapu Bazaar, Jaipur

Bapu Bazaar is the best market for traditional Rajasthani products including vivid textiles, handicrafts, brass work, jewelry, and precious stones.

The most famous items found here are a type of Rajasthani footwear called mojari and are traditional shoes made from camel skin. Other popular items include traditional Indian clothes like lehengas (heavy embroidered skirts) and salwar kameez (long Indian shirt and pants).

Rajasthani footwear

This market is popular among travelers and is the perfect place to get an authentic shopping experience, see a diverse range of local goods, and buy Rajasthani souvenirs at affordable prices.

• Address: Between Sanganer Gate and New Gate, Jaipur
• Opening Hours: Every day from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm

6. Kripal Kumbh, Jaipur

Kripal Kumbh is a showroom, displaying a wide array of authentic blue pottery. This workshop was started in the late sixties by Sri Kripal Singh, an artist and well-known ceramics master. Today the shop is maintained by a team of artists who were all trained by him.

Decorated Ceramic Bowls And Plates

This is the best place in Jaipur to appreciate the art of blue glaze pottery both the classical designs and the new shapes that have been created over time. At the shop, you will find a range of decorative ceramic items such as plates, bowls, coasters, boxes, vases, and other trinkets. Pottery making classes are also available.

• Address: B-18A, Shiv Marg, Banipark, Jaipur
• Opening Hours: Every day except Sunday from 9:30 am to 6 pm

7. Gem Palace, Jaipur

As the oldest and the most reputable jeweler in Jaipur, the Gem Palace has a history of crafting splendid jewelry for maharajas and their queens, presidents, and even film stars. Through their wealth of experience, the Gem Palace has developed sophisticated designs that cater to every taste.

At the store, visitors can see magnificent pieces on display including the splendid royal collection which once belonged to the local royal families, the Raj collection which glimmers in timeless Rajasthani tradition, and the universal collection celebrating simple beauty.

You can find all kinds of jewelry here from vintage pieces to intricate modern designs. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of money if you buy anything.

• Address: Shop No. 348, MI Road, Jayanti Market, New Colony, Jaipur
• Opening Hours: Every day except Sunday from 10:30 am to 7 pm

8. Colaba Causeway, Mumbai

Known as the "Culture Square" of Mumbai, Colaba Causeway gets its charm from the surrounding colonial buildings that line the area such as the Prince of Wales Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art.

The causeway is filled with retail shops selling decorative crafts, electronic goods, cosmetics, and herbal products as well as shawls, carpets, and ethnic jewelry. Visitors can try some street food or relax at roadside cafes and restaurants here.

Try some street food

• Address: Colaba Causeway, South Mumbai
• Opening Hours: Every day from morning until night

9. Crawford Market, Mumbai

Crawford Market is one of the most vibrant markets in Mumbai specializing in daily fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, and poultry. It's also a wholesale market selling an array of items including imported goods like cosmetics, gift items, and toys.

Fresh produce market

The market lies to the north of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. West of the market is the Zaveri Bazaar which specializes in diamond and jewelry trade while Chor Bazaar is located to the northwest.

• Address:North of CST, South Mumbai
• Opening Hours: Every day except Tuesday from 11 am to 8 pm

10. Dadar Flower Market, Mumbai

The Dadar Flower Market is one of the city's oldest and biggest flower markets. It is also known as a Phool Gully or Flower Road.

The market sells wholesale, although one can still find small vendors coming to make their daily purchases. It is filled with row after row of stalls and wooden planks set up to sell flowers, both common and rare. You can find lotuses, roses, marigolds, gerbera, chrysanthemums, lilies, and many more.

Flower Market

The place is an indoor market and attracts both tourists and photographers. The market opens as early as 5:30 am. and retailers buy out most of the flowers by 10 am.

• Address: 302, Tulsi Pipe Rd, Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028, India
• Opening Hours: Every day, 6 am to 8 pm.

11. Chor Bazaar, Mumbai

The Chor Bazaar is one of the largest and popular flea markets in the country. The name translates to 'Market of Thieves'.

The market got its name due to mispronunciation of the original name 'Shor Bazaar' which translates to 'Noisy Market' or 'Chor Bazaar' by British colonists.

This market is crammed with stalls that sell second-hand goods, handicrafts, antique, and vintage items such as old handicrafts, bronze statues of god and goddesses, vintage gramophones, bronze bells, Bollywood posters, colonial-era lamps, antique Smiths clocks, vintage cameras, power tools, and authentic Victorian furniture.

Bronze statues of god

• Address: Mutton Street, Near Bhendi Bazaar, South Mumbai
• Opening Hours: Every day except Friday, 11 am to 7.30 pm.

12. Flea Markets, Goa

Goa is famous for its beaches, nightlife and flea markets. The city is also home to numerous flea markets that date back to the 1980s. You can find both locals and foreigners selling clothes, accessories, handicrafts, souvenirs, spices, books, and pottery.

One of them is the Anjuna Flea Market. This market is very popular among the tourists who visit Goa and sells everything under the sun, ranging from exotic junk jewelry to even second-hand bikes.

• Address: Monteiro Vaddo, Anjuna, Goa 403509, India
• Opening Hours: Every day 8 am to 6 pm.

13. New Market, Kolkata

Located in Lindsay Street, the New Market is a sprawling market that has been in existence since the British Raj. The place is a reminiscence of British architecture in the city.

The market is divided into various sections where one section you may see delicious fruits, and cake shops while on the other hand, a majority of shops sell sarees, many of them being the traditional ones.

You can find over 2,000 stalls and stores lining the streets, selling everything from clothing to accessories, electronics, food items, spices, exotic flowers, utensils, brassware, leather bags, and much more.

Food items and spice

• Address: Bertram Street, Lenin Sarani, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700017, India
• Opening Hours: Every day except Sunday, 10 am to 10 pm.

14. Karma Kettle, Kolkata

Karma Kettle is one of the finest artisanal tea stores and offers a delectable selection of crafted teas and tisanes. Set inside the Ballygunge Place, the Karma Kettle showroom is the best place to taste test different tea blends and also pick out different types of Indian tea bags, teaware, and gifts.

Tea

• Address: 4 Swinhoe Street, Ballygunge Place, Kolkata
• Opening Hours: Every day except Tuesday from 11 am to 8 pm

15. Laad Bazaar, Hyderabad

Laad Bazaar, also known as Choodi Bazaar, is one of the popular traditional markets in Hyderabad which is located near the historic Charminar.

Laad Bazaar is heaven for jewelry shoppers. The whole market is bustling with more than 100 shops selling all kinds of bangles.

You can also find pearls, semi-precious stones, silverware, saris, hand-woven materials, naturally scented perfumes, and wedding-related items.

The bazaar is set in a narrow alley where no rickshaws or cars are allowed. It does get crowded, so don't expect to have a relaxing walk with open space.

Make sure you sharpen up your bargaining skills before entering the area, as a good bargain would get you the best of products at the best prices.

• Address: Char Kaman, Ghansi Bazaar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500002, India
• Opening Hours: Every day, 11 am to 11 pm.

16. Jew Town, Kochi

Jew Town in Mattancherry is one of Kochi's most fascinating spots, with its colonial-era buildings, Portuguese-style houses, narrow streets, and neatly lined-up shops. Everything on offer in the market is sold by the last surviving Jewish families.

The shops here sell antiques, crockery, carved wooden furniture, bronze and brass sculptures, remnants of traditional houses, and jewelry. Aside from that, it is well known for its spices.

• Address: Anavathil, Kappalandimukku, Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala 682002, India
• Opening Hours: Every day 5 am to 9 pm.

17. Floating Vegetable Market, Srinagar

The Floating Vegetable Market which is perched on the picturesque Dal Lake is a major tourist attraction with the serene lake with lotus plants.

From 5 to7 am every day, the vegetable vendors on their traditional Kashmiri boats, known as Shikara, gather on the lake to sell fresh produce, fruits, vegetables, wood carvings, high-quality saffron, and other local items that appeal to tourists.

The vendors themselves are the farmers who grow the vegetables and fruits in their farms and bring them to the floating market to sell.

Hordes of tourists will come to this market to enjoy the scenic setting, experience the hustle and bustle of the market, and take photos.

• Address: Dal Lake, Karapura, Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir
• Opening Hours: Every day, 5 to 7 am.

18. Lakkar Bazaar, Shimla

Lakkar Bazaar is located near the ridge in Shimla, which captures the very essence of the abundance of different types of wood found in the state. The marketplace offers all kinds of locally made wooden products like toys, souvenirs, utility items, and wooden jewelry.

The variety of items offered by the bazaar is not limited to wooden items only. The market also has a majority of shops which sell woolens and handicrafts. The Kullu shawls are especially famous.

• Address: Lakkar Bazar, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001
• Opening Hours: Every day, 9 am to 7 pm.

19. Kannauj Market, Uttar Pradesh

Also known as the perfume capital of India, Kannauj Market is situated in the Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the River Ganga.

These markets are renowned for their various kinds of perfumes, along with tobacco and rose water. There are more than 650 varieties of fragrant oils being sold in the market and they are all-natural without any alcohol content.

These perfumes are prepared using a traditional method of extraction called 'Degs & Bhapka system', which is a hydro distillation process.

In addition to the regular collection of oils, some sellers have produced analogies for famous brands such as Givenchy X series oil and Nina Ricci.

• Address: GT Rd, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh 209727, India
• Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

20. Ima Market, Imphal

Ima Market or Ima Keithel, as it is locally known, is the only market in the world where you will find over 3,500 women shopkeepers running their business and signifying the economic participation of Manipuri women. It is also known as Mother's Market.

Although you can find other markets of this type around Manipur State, Imphal has the biggest one. The market is more than 100 years old and has been a platform to provide jobs and entrepreneur opportunities for women.

Only married women are allowed to run the stalls in the Ima Market, and this tradition is passed on from one generation to another. Men cannot seek employment or entrepreneurship, but they are welcomed to come as customers.

Here, you can find a variety of goods, ranging from groceries, local produce and authentic food items like dried fish to clothes, handicrafts, bamboo products, utensils, local herbs, woolens, traditional costumes, and many more.

• Address: Bir Tikendrajit Rd, Thangal Bazar, Imphal, Manipur, India
• Opening Hours: Every day, 3 am to 7 pm.