Must-see shopping in South India

  • BX Furtado & Sons

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    The place in town for musical instruments: sitars, tablas, accordions, and local and imported guitars. Pianos and keyboards at LM Furtado & Co.

  • Sri Vijayalakshmi Fine Kalamkari Arts

    Telangana & Andhra Pradesh

    You can see artists at work in the Agraharam neighbourhood of Sri Kalahasti. Sri Vijayalakshmi Fine Kalamkari Arts is an old family business with over 60…

  • Fabindia

    Chennai (Madras)

    In a beautiful old building, this popular outpost of the fair-trade, India-wide Fabindia chain sells all the usual attractively contemporary, village-made…

  • Idiom Bookshop

    Kochi (Cochin)

    Originally just a pushcart selling books on Kochi's beaches, Idiom has a huge range of quality new and used tomes, including India-focused literature…

  • Paithani Silk Weaving Centre

    Aurangabad

    One of the best places to come and watch weavers at work is the Paithani Silk Weaving Centre where you’ll find good-quality products for sale. It’s about…

  • Bidri Crafts

    Hyderabad

    Bidri is a metal craft (originating in Iran) that involves intricate inlay work. The famous family-run business sells top-quality plates, vases, bowls,…

  • Sumangali Silks

    Mysuru (Mysore)

    Exceptionally popular with Indian women, and usually very crowded, this multilevel store sells fine silk saris, with quality of varying degrees depending…

  • Khadi & Village Industries Emporium

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    A dusty, 1940s' time warp full of traditional Indian clothing, silk, khadi (homespun cloth) and shoes, plus very popular Khadi natural soaps and shampoos…

  • Anokhi

    Puducherry (Pondicherry)

    A sophisticated Jaipur-born boutique popular for its beautiful, bold block-printed garments with a traditional-turns-modern twist, and gorgeous colourful…

  • Chetana Book Centre

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    This great spirituality bookshop has lots of books on Hinduism, yoga and philosophy, and the attached restaurant does excellent Gujarati and Rajasthani…

  • LivingArt Lifestyles

    Puducherry (Pondicherry)

    Breezy, boho-chic, block-printed dresses, skirts, trousers and crop-tops in fun-but-fashionable geometric patterns (all handmade at Auroville) sit side-by…

  • Anokhi

    Chennai (Madras)

    Tucked inside the ever-popular Chamiers shopping-and-coffee complex, Anokhi deals in gorgeous, well-priced, East-meets-West, hand-block-printed clothes…

  • Sandalwood Oil Factory

    Mysuru (Mysore)

    A quality-assured place for sandalwood products including incense, soap, cosmetics and the prohibitively expensive pure sandalwood oil (if in stock)…

  • Kitab Khana

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    This bookstore has a brilliantly curated selection of books, the majority of which are 20% off all the time. Food for Thought is a great little cafe in…

  • Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Government-run store famous for its expansive collection of quality sandalwood and rosewood products as well as handmade weavings, silks and bidriware …

  • Bungalow Eight

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Original, high-end, artisanal clothing, jewellery, home decor and other objects of beauty under the bleachers of the cricket stadium. Enter via the Vinoo…

  • UB City

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Global haute couture (Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Burberry) and Indian high fashion come to roost at this towering mall in the central district. Also…

  • Singbal’s Book House

    Panaji

    On the corner opposite Panaji’s main church, Singbal’s is a local landmark with an excellent selection of international magazines and newspapers, and lots…

  • Amethyst Room

    Chennai (Madras)

    Elegant Amethyst Room brings a colourful upmarket twist to the Chamiers-complex shopping scene with its beautiful Indian-design couture.

  • Forum Centre City Mall

    Mysuru (Mysore)

    When you need a dose of air-con and some retail time, this mall fits the bill. Offers a wide range of clothing stores (including H&M and Levi's), cafes…

  • Royal Music Collection

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Friendly Abdul Razzak's brilliant street stall showcases his 5000-stong vintage vinyl collection, which leans heavily to Bollywood, classical and…

  • Naturally Auroville

    Chennai (Madras)

    Colourful handicrafts and home-decor trinkets, including bedspreads, cushions, incense, scented candles and handmade-paper notebooks, all from Auroville,…

  • Cotton Cottage

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Stock up on colourful, handmade Dhabu block-printed and Chanderi-weaved cotton kurtas (shirts) and various pants – salwar, churidar, patiala – for the…

  • Bombay Store

    Pune

    Stocks quality handicrafts, souvenirs, quirky bags, cool accessories and contemporary furnishings, including Khadi cosmetics and kitschy Elephant Company…

  • Caculo Mall

    Panaji

    Goa’s biggest mall is four levels of air-conditioned family shopping heaven with brand-name stores, food court, kids’ toys, bowling alley and arcade games.

  • Fabindia

    Chennai (Madras)

    One of Chennai's bigger branches of this much-loved fair-trade fashion, accessories and homewares brand, a bit out of the way in the southeast of the city.

  • Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium

    Hyderabad

    Big selection of Telangana and Andhra (and other Indian) crafts including brassware, leatherware, embroidery, paintings, carvings, furniture and textiles.

  • Royal Enfield

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Fans of India's iconic motorcycle brand should make a beeline for its lifestyle store: cool T-shirts, helmets, boots, belts and other paraphernalia.

  • DD Dupattawala

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Even if you’re not the type to have your clothes tailored, drop by DD Dupattawala for pretty scarves and dupattas at fixed prices (from ₹110).

  • Seven Heaven

    Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

    A beach-chic 'island lifestyle' boutique filled with breezy dresses, kaftans and pants, plus beachwear, tribal-inspired jewellery and a few books.

  • Araku Aadiwasi Arts & Crafts

    Telangana & Andhra Pradesh

    Located between the Coffee House and bus station, it has a good selection of tribal jewellery, jute bags and wrought-iron and brass ornaments.

  • Himalaya Book World

    Hyderabad

    A fine selection of English-language fiction and nonfiction by Indian and international authors. They have several other branches in town.

  • Sri Sharada Grand Musical Works

    Mysuru (Mysore)

    Specialist store selling a variety of traditional musical instruments, including tabla (drum) sets and assorted percussion instruments.

  • Re Shop

    Kodaikanal (Kodai)

    Stylish jewellery, fabrics, cards and more, at reasonable prices, made by and benefiting marginalised village women around Tamil Nadu.

  • Green Shop

    Coonoor

    Beautiful fair-trade local tribal crafts, clothes, fabrics and notebooks, plus organic wild honey, nuts, chocolates, soaps and teas.

  • Cottonworld

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    A great shop for stylish Indian-Western-hybrid goods made from cotton, linen and natural materials. Think Indian Gap, but cooler.

  • La Boutique d’Auroville

    Puducherry (Pondicherry)

    Perfect for browsing through Auroville-made crafts: jewellery, pottery, clothing, shawls, handmade cards and herbal toiletries.

  • Gangarams Book Bureau

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    Excellent selection of Indian titles, guidebooks and Penguin classics. Has a knowledgeable staff and author-signing sessions.

  • Green Shop

    The Western Ghats

    The ecofriendly Keystone Foundation's shop has goodies for picnics (local chocolates, wild honey) plus lovely tribal crafts.

  • Patel Market

    Hyderabad

    The Patel Market, selling fabric, cranks into action from around 11am in the back lanes between Patthargatti and Rikab Gunj.

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