Chor Bazaar, Mumbai
Literally translating to the ‘Market of Thieves’, the Chor Bazaar is one of the largest and popular flea markets in the country. The market got its name due to mispronunciation of ‘Shor Bazaar’ (this was the original name of the market) as ‘Chor Bazaar’ by British colonists. This market is crammed with stalls that sell second-hand goods, handicrafts, antique and vintage items. Spend a day here rifling through some quality wares to grab some real bargains. Old handicrafts, bronze statues of god and goddesses, vintage gramophones, bronze bells, Bollywood posters, colonial-era lamps, antique Smiths clocks, vintage cameras, power tools, authentic Victorian furniture, and trinkets of all types, are just a few of the treasures to be discovered here.
Floating Vegetable Market, Srinagar
Perched on the picturesque Dal Lake, the Floating Vegetable Market in Srinagar is one-of-its-kind and certainly one of the most tourist-centric markets in India. From 5am to 7am, 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. Hordes of tourists come here to enjoy the scenic setting, experience the hustle and bustle of the market and click some Instagram-worthy shots. To reach the market, you need to ride on the shikara, which is indeed a blissful experience and brimming with photography opportunities.
Lakkar Bazaar, Shimla
If you are looking for wooden handicrafts, jewelry or souvenirs, Lakkar Bazaar (wood market) in Shimla is the place to be. Toys made of wood are especially famous along with the wooden walking sticks. Lakkar Bazaar is situated near the ridge in Shimla and it showcases the different types of wood found in the state of Himachal Pradesh. You will also find shops selling woolens and Kullu shawls which are also very famous.
Dadar Flower Market, Mumbai
The city of dreams is much famed for its street shopping. This flower market is something different and a unique experience to look forward for. The market is a wholesale one, although one can still find small vendors coming to make their daily purchases. The place is an indoor market and is a paradise for photographers and equally for tourists. One should visit this place in the early morning hours as most of the vendors would have sold out all their goods by 10 am.
Jew Town, Fort Kochi
The Jew Town market is well known for its spices apart from which the place sells antiques, shawls, perfumes, handicrafts, etc. The products are all sold by the last surviving few Jewish families. The smell of the exotic spices would pull you into the many small shops situated in a row; however, a large number of shops have pulled the shutters dues to the large scale competition. When the spices shops were shut down, they began the business of antiques which has now become a major draw here.