How to Find Great
Bargains in Bangalore?

chillibreeze writer — Kavitha Shankar

Silicon Valley of India, Shoppers’ Paradise, Garden City; these are only some of the few names those die-hard fans refer to Bangalore as. To be honest, I am not a big fan of Bangalore myself. As another Chillibreeze writer rightly describes the city, “It is just a town grappling with the image of a bustling city” and it is very true that one gets buried six feet under all the hype once they are there. But it has its high points and one of those is shopping. For the ardent shopper, it has several options laid out on a silver platter; from adventurous and inexpensive roadside, bargain shopping to upscale and expensive mall shopping. Given my argumentative mentality and my innate ability to haggle endlessly, I spontaneously fall under the bargain shopper category. Bargain shopping lets one discover the city. Its fun, it’s exciting and it’s fulfilling!

Let us take the day off and walk across the various bargain markets in Bangalore. Get ready to get your feet dirty and I mean, not just figuratively but also literally. We are speaking dirt, grime and dust here. This is what it takes in this city, most of the times, to get back home with your wallet intact (or should I say, almost intact) and loads of goodies in your gunny bag!

We will tour in the order of increasing sophistication and civilization or as close as you can get to it with this genre of shopping. Before we start, I will let you in on one secret, when you bargain, ask for less than half the price commanded by the seller. This is the mantra of the game. We only have one shopping objective for the day; Spend less, buy more.

Russell’s not all that fishy!

Bangaloreans know exactly what I am talking about. Imagine a network of crisscrossing narrow streets adorned with rotten and smashed banana leaves, lined with tiny shops, some of which are mounted on platform-like structures, culminating at a fish, meat and fresh produce market (Now! That explains the undesired embellishments on the roads!). This is where we will be shopping for the next couple of minutes. It is called the Russell Market. You name it and they offer it. From spices to jewellery you can find everything you want in this rather overcrowded and dirt filled paradise. If you are looking for adventure then this place can give you a good run for your money. The best way to shop here is to numb your senses, especially the olfactory ones, for a brief period of time and muster a lot of courage in terms of bargaining, you may get weird glances at the prices you quote but the key is: you cannot hear, see or smell anything other than yourself. Most of the items here are handmade. My favorite pick is the intricately designed Indian beaded shoe that can be found in various patterns, colors and above all, for less than half the mall rates. As for the fresh crushed spices, they are sure to add that special aroma to your food. Richard Square at Russell market is famous for its cutlery and ceramic collections. Overall, Russell market is an adventure shopper’s dream come true. Try this area if you are ready to take on a challenge and some adventure.

Majestic Mania

The Majestic market is another very good proposition for shoppers scouring the town for great deals. Although situated at the heart of human activity, it still is far removed from sophistication in terms of layout and comfort. Once again, the area is thronged with buyers and sellers, each seller trying to lure a buyer who in turn is trying to get the best deal. This market is conveniently located near the Bangalore train and bus stations. If you are attacking this market straight out of the train, then the big backpack on your back with a Nalgene bottle clipped to the strap are the biggest giveaways. So, shed those before you enter this zone. In terms of the crowd, the scene here is not very different from good old Russell that we just visited. The pathway is cleaner and more conducive to shopping and you don’t necessarily have to numb your olfactory senses during this visit. Here, there is a combination of bigger and smaller shops. But remember, the tinier, the better (Call this the “Size-Does-Matter” Rule). Bigger sellers normally do not cave in to your demands. You will find a wide variety of goods in this market; spices, clothing, footwear, accessories and fresh produce.

Spice up your Home

Let us digress a little bit from everyday shopping. Say you are helping a friend move into his/her apartment. Fixtures are the first thing that you want to get out of the way on your shopping list. After all, you cannot survive without lights and fans, can you? Where do you go looking for those dream decors? Now, if you want a great price and an enormous collection to choose from, then BVK Iyengar Road is the place for you. All the shops put together make a replica of the Home Depot. In other words, each store specializes in one particular home item. What is most striking about this market is the collection of light fixtures. This market abounds in lamps and shades of every possible style; antique, contemporary, Indian, European stained glass and much more. Given the expanse of this collection, this market warrants a day or more of your shopping expedition. The shops are pretty well organized and most people get a warm reception that usually includes a welcome drink along with generous promises of best prices and superior quality. You walk away with the best bargain if you pick all your stuff from the same store and quote an amount on the bulk of items purchased. Don’t apply the “Less-than-half-the-price” rule here. The margins in these stores are much lower, do your homework or take your architect along.

Back to the basics

The last stop for the evening also happens to be my favorite, Commercial Street. If you are tired at this point, you can walk into the famous restaurant, Woody’s, to feast on some of your favorite Indian dishes. When done, you will have all the energy required to ransack Commercial Street. This shopping area is definitely organized enough for a pleasant shopping experience. The main street has a bunch of big brand stores but we will stick to the ‘Size-Does-Matter’ rule for now. You can actually strike gold when you enter the by-lanes of this street. There are tiny shops that sell clothes, footwear, jewellery and other accessories. The sellers expect you to bargain and hence jack up the prices to a certain level. So, a smart start at the right price is crucial. If they readily make you the owner of the chosen item, then, you can either hit yourself for not starting right or pat yourself for being on bull’s eye (bad news is, most likely it is the former). If you think you could have done better, start moving away from the store and you will be surprised how the bullish shopkeeper turns into a tiny bear all of a sudden.

Pack up!

It’s time now to pack your loot and head back home to brag about your haggling skills. But before you get there, let me wrap up with my 2 cents on today’s shopping tour of the city. Although Delhi remains unparalleled in terms of shopping in India, Bangalore is a shopper’s paradise in its own sense. Caution is in order; you will need patience, time and energy for this kind of shopping. It will also help to have a local go with you if you are absolutely new to the city. The shopping experience here is elevated due to the fact that you can actually converse with the seller in almost any South Indian language and reach a bargain. This versatility is what sets Bangalore apart in its shopping experience. In this sense, Bengaluru is truly cosmopolitan. If you are visiting Bangalore as part of your itinerary, one of these markets is a must-see. The city itself doesn’t have much to offer but you can make it an experience by exploring the terra incognito for a tourist.

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—About our writer: Kavitha says, Writing is a very unique art. It lets your mind wander but in the right direction. It places you in oblivion but yet dawns upon you certain revelations. It locks you from the world but only to make you discover newer ones. Writing puts me at a different level of perception altogether. Its not about seeing your words in print but its about echoing your thoughts to the world. You can actually make a difference with your words!

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