Popular shopping streets

Shopping can be an exhilarating, satisfying and therapeutic experience for many. Exploring the market and being able to find the thing that one is craving for, gives a sense of accomplishment and makes the effort made and the money spent, worth it! And when you have money burning a hole in your pocket, splurging at lavish, stylised shopping venues doubles the satisfaction derived from every purchase, because you know you’re getting complete value for money, along with the desired ambience and comfort. For all shopaholics and those who love to travel to different places to buy the best from every corner.

Khan Market, Delhi

Named after the famous Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Khan Market is one of the most chic and classy shopping markets of the capital. It was recently ranked as the costliest retail location in India and 24th globally (Source: Wikipedia). It caters mainly to high-end customers. Its retail offerings mirror the needs of the catchment it caters to and includes an eclectic mix of premium and lifestyle retail brands, book stores, fashion boutiques, fine dining, cafes and art stores. One of the hallmarks of this shopping hub is that the traditional sits alongside contemporary branded stores and somehow, the overall chemistry seems to appeal to shoppers not only from the mid upper segment, but also to the casual visitor.

South Extension I and II, Delhi

If there is one market that has been able to establish itself as the hub of South Delhi’s High-Street retailing, it has to be South Extension (popularly known as South Ex). It is divided into two parts - South Extension I and South Extension II. South Ex is one of the poshest market places in Delhi and promises an international shopping experience. From quality clothing to the best footwear, you will find almost anything and everything here. Frequented by the hip and happening crowd of Delhi, this market offers designer wear too. The market also has a number of eating outlets, where you can get delicious food, apart from the posh pubs, bars and discotheques. South Ex I has several stores and restaurants, including: a huge, 3-storied Benetton store, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Levi’s, Esprit, Mehrasons Jewellery Store, Teksons Bookshop, Mango, Nalli Saris, Tanishq, BG's, Sehgal Bros., as well as several other clothing and music stores.

Colaba Causeway

This dynamic shopping suburban area lies parallel to the Gateway of India. Frequented by tourist shoppers, it has a large number of hotels, cinema halls, restaurants and of course, shops. Known for its wide variety of offerings ranging from perfumes to clothes to jewellery to watches, clocks, etc., the Colaba Causeway is a hot favourite of all and sundry.

Touted as one of the hippest areas of Mumbai, the market caters to brand freaks as well, with the availability of all leading brands like UCB, Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Woodlands, Arrow, Lee, Levi’s, etc.

Connaught Place, Delhi

Built in 1931 on the lines of the Royal Crescent in Bath, England, Connaught Place or CP, as it is popularly called, is one of the capital’s most popular shopping centres. It is India's second largest financial, business and commercial centre. Its central location and ideal brand mix have always adorned CP with a retail distinction, like no other shopping vicinity in Delhi. There is nothing one cannot buy here. Besides the underground shopping centre Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place also houses many handicraft emporiums and eating joints like TGI Friday's, Nirula's, etc. CP now ranks among the most expensive shopping streets in the country.

Linking Road, Mumbai

Extending from Bandra to Santa Cruz, Linking Road is by far the most expensive retail patch in Mumbai. Over the last few decades, the area has seen tremendous alteration from hosting cluttered small format shops to housing premium retail stores. The wide variety of goods ranges from cheap Chinese products to international brands, to clever fakes. There is a potpourri of departmental stores, brand outlets, street side carts and regular shops, mostly selling clothes and accessories. One can also find many restaurants and cafes dotting the miles long stretch of this road. The retail stores that you will find here are GAS, Metro, Adidas, Nike, Reebok and OSIM, amongst others. This street is pretty similar to roadside shopping in Bangkok, with platform shops at some patches along the street.

Brigade Road, Bengaluru

Connecting M G Road and Residency Road, Brigade Road is one of the biggest commercial centres and busiest shopping areas of Bengaluru. The area if known for its high end brands, hosting exclusive stores, international brands, sporting goods, fashion wear and upmarket pubs and restaurants. Brigade Road houses some of the biggest flagship stores of established brands. The 9,000 sq.ft Levi’s Square store situated along this road is one of the largest flagship stores for the brand in India. The introduction of new pubs and restaurants is an added attraction for the fun loving metro crowd.

Begumpet, Hyderabad

Begumpet has a consumer profile that appeals to shoppers of all ages and sections.

The brand mix comprises of international and national brands, designer boutiques, bookshops, art shops, jewellers and traditional saree shops. Hyderabad has had a culture of domestic home-grown retail, which is quite well-represented in Begumpet. You can locate several exquisite jewellery and pearl stores here, Hyderabad being famous for them. Furthermore, Begumpet is also a hub for silk sarees with stores such as Kala Kunj Saree Vatika, Meena Bazaar and Nalli Silk Sarees. Apart from this, Shoppers’ Stop, Pantaloons and Lifestyle provide ample range of retail offerings for its clientele.

Park Street, Kolkata

When one talks about shopping in Kolkata, the first place that comes to mind is Park Street. Often referred to, as the “Food Street” and “The Street that Never Sleeps”, it is one of the most prestigious streets in the city of joy. With a myriad restaurants and pubs such as Trinca's, McDonalds, Oasis, KFC, Peter Cat, Flury's, Bar B Q, Mocambo, Olympia and Moulin Rouge, Park Street continues to don the mantle of being the most preferred dining district. Among celebrity restaurants, Indian cricket icon Saurav Ganguly's signature restaurant- Saurav's- The Food Pavilion is quite a rage. Happening nightclubs and pubs like Shisha and Someplace Else cater to the needs of night revellers. Shoppers can satisfy their spending urges at Park Centre, which offers a wide variety of apparel, especially ladies’ garments, cosmetics and electronic gadgets.

T Nagar, Chennai

Thyagaraya Nagar (also spelled Tyagaraya Nagar and abbreviated T. Nagar) is a large, primarily commercial locality in Chennai. Due to unavailability of space, the real estate prices here are extremely high. Though T.Nagar does not have a significant static population, the number of people frequenting its markets like Pondy Bazaar, the suburb’s principal commercial area, easily goes up to 5 lakh on weekends. Discounts and reductions offered during the festive season lure more customers, taking the count to a staggering 2 million!

Fergusson College Road, Pune

This fashion hub, which gets its name from the famous Fergusson College, is the most popular hangout for Pune’s hot and happening crowd. Popularly called FC Road, the shopping area thrives on purchases made by the many students who throng the market, looking for the trendiest clothes in fashion.

In the last five to six years when organised retail entered the street, it witnessed a new level of retailing. Keeping up with its young consumer profile, apparel vendors like Levi’s, Nike, W and Pepe made their appearance along the street. Restaurants like Subway, Barista and Café Coffee Day have also opened outlets here.

All these places are a must visit for everyone at least once in a lifetime, especially for the avid shoppers! You will get to lay your hands on whatever you desire to soothe your shopaholic heart. So pick up your wallets and get going…Happy Shopping!!!