5 Must Visit Flea Markets In India

We live in a digitally dependent world. In an age where everything imaginable is a mere click or two away, the idea of trotting out into the market to procure your everyday essentials is deemed, well, antediluvian. And yet, the enigmatic charm of flea markets continues to attract crowds by the dozens even today. Be it the sight of vendors trying to make an honest living by selling everything from handcrafted trinkets to freshly made jalebis or the unruly racket of experienced hagglers at their wrangling best, a flea market is nothing short of an experience in itself. We have rounded up the best flea markets of both historical and cultural significance.

* Colaba Causeway, Mumbai

Known to be a shopper’s paradise, Colaba Causeway is your one-stop-shop for everything you can hope to buy. This includes (but is not limited to) clothing, second hand jewelry, handicrafts, souvenirs, books, accessories, bags, knick-knacks, and gewgaws. Such is the allure of the causeway that it is thronged throughout the day by tourists as well as locals from around the city. Make sure your jostling skills are on point, though you’ll certainly need them here.

* Chor Bazaar, Mumbai

Here’s an interesting fact – while many imagine Chor Bazaar’s name to be derived from the fact that it’s a thieves’ market, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Originally, the market was actually called Shor Bazaar, but that quickly got corrupted because the British pronounced it as ‘Chor.’ The name stuck, and India inherited the mispronunciation which is now the norm. The vendors at the bazaar have made the most of the reputation, though, and if your haggling skills are honed enough, you can find some of the best secondhand antiquities and trinkets in abundance.

* Sarojini Nagar, Delhi

You’ve seen it in Bollywood movies and heard its name in chart topper songs, but none of it can do justice to the actual experience of shopping at the place. With the best of fashion available at a bargain, it’s actually borderline addictive to shop here, and you can easily spend a whole day (if not two) at the market itself.

* Johari Bazaar, Jaipur

Traditional, handcrafted jewelry, anyone? Dubbed the shopping center of the city, Johari Bazaar is home to five hundred stores that cater to every mood and every need. Be it jewels, gems, precious stones, or just traditional Rajasthani gold jewelry, the market is full of skilled artisans with generations of experience in the field, which helps them find the best match for you. To add to that, the market is flanked by other markets like Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar, where you can find gorgeous garbs as well. Throw in the famous lassi at LMB into the equation, and all of it together makes for the perfect day out in the Pink City.

* Anjuna Flea Market, Goa

Every flea market has its own story and Anjuna’s is rather fascinating, to say the least. If the old wives’ tale is to be believed, the Anjuna Flea Market was started decades ago by a bunch of hippies who created handcrafted merchandise that helped them fund their stay in Goa. Today, the market only operates on Wednesdays and has the best merchandise from all around the country available at multifarious stalls that are set up by locals in the area. And of course, it wouldn’t be a flea market in Goa if there weren’t delicious street food and amazing live performances to go with the shopping, would it?