Shopping in Chennai
The state of Tamil Nadu is reputed throughout the world for its rich culture heritage besides its incomparable arts and crafts. The artistic products and makes of the state are popular around the world for their beauty and uniqueness. Besides being the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is also one of the most important trade centres in South India. Visitors to the city have ample avenues to do a satisfactory shopping and enjoy the thrill of shopping for a great variety of things.
General Shopping Facilities
Across the city of Chennai, perhaps the busiest and the most popular shopping centers is Rannganatha Street in T. Nagar and Anna Salai (Mount Road). In this location, one finds a galaxy of sophisticated shops and show rooms selling all types of textiles and apparels, ornaments and jewelery, vessels and household items. On the other hand, Mount Road houses a range of fanciful and attractive showrooms, hotels and a number of restaurants. George Town located near Parry’s corner is deemed as one of the largest markets of the country and sells all sorts of goods and things in wholesale. Talking of the shopping potentials in this locality, one can say, you name it and you can buy it from here. The unique feature of this area is its long standing reputation and expertise in business. As you visit the region, you find each of the streets specializing in a particular arena of goods. Electronic goods, sweets, chocolates, household items and vessels, paper, crafts, textiles, cosmetics, toiletries, medicines, chemicals, perfumes, hard wares, iron, steel and metals, decoration items and a long list of anything that you can name. Nearby this locality, one finds the most famous Burma Bazaar where one can shop are types of important goods ranging from ready-made and perfumes to electronic goods.
Timings for Shopping
Most shops across Chennai are open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm with a lunch break from 1pm to 4pm. However, some shops remain open all through the day and all through the week. Weekly holidays can differ at different localities. Most outlets offer attractive discount sales during the time of Pongal, Christmas and Diwali.
Shopping Malls
All over the expanding city of Chennai, one finds a large number of shopping complexes specialising in a wide range of shopping interests. Some of the notable ones among them are Alsa Mall on Montieth Road in Egmore, Spencer Plaza on mount Road, the Nilgiris and the Chinthamani and Prince Plaza on Pantheon Road provide alluring opportunities for shopping all that you look for under one roof.
Handicrafts
If you are looking to buy the native handicrafts of Tamil Nadu and a collection of crafts from other states, the best place to look for is the Victoria Technical Institute in Mount Road. In addition, one can also purchase a range of handicrafts at Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan at Mount Road and Kuralagam in Paris Corner. These outlets are the best ones to buy the traditional handicrafts and handlooms from the south, in addition to attractive handmade clothing and batik greeting cards. Central Cottage Industries Emporium located in the Temple tower is yet another popular and highly advisable spot for purchase of a range of art and crafts items. This place is aesthetically decorated and has displayed artistic items of varied interests collected from all over India offering a pretty vast choice for the shoppers. If you are looking forward to purchase traditional bell metal items, stone or wooden sculpture and bronze icons besides a range of other crafts from Southern region, the best place is Tamil Nadu State Emporia at Poompuhar located opposite to the famous multi-storey building where the Life Insurance Corporation of India Headquarters is located.
Silks and Apparels
Silk industry is one of the most thriving industries in Tamilnadu and a native craft to the state developed over a long period in history. Some of the most famous centers to buy silk saris and materials are Srinivasa Silks, Nalli Silks, Kumaran Silks, RMKV Pattu Mahal, Pothys and Chennai Silks at Theyagarya Nagar (T Nagar). B.M.Silks at Mylapore is also yet another good option. If you would like to explore readymade apparels, some of the best outlets for shopping are a range of shops at TTK Road, Saga Departmental stores, Alsa Mall, Spencer Plaza or Prince Plaza near Egmore, Nungambakkam and T. Nagar. The shopping outlet named Lifestyle situated at TTK Road and the shop named Westside at Spencer Plaza in addition to Saga Departmental stores are some of the major shops for buying ready made clothes. Over and above, Mount Road, T.Nagar and Paris Corner have retail outlets for almost all major textile mills located across India.
Gold Ornaments
If you are looking forward to buy gold ornaments, the best choice is to go for a number of famous jeweleries located in the Mount Road and T.Nagar. Some of the most popular jeweleries at T. Nagar are Prince Jewellery, GR Thanga Maaligai, Nathella Sampathu Chetty and Lalitha Jewelry. To purchase diamonds, you can visit Mehta Jewellery or Kirtilalas in Mylapore.
Books and CDs
‘Landmark’ located near Nungambakkam specialises in selling books, CDs, a range of novelties and cards. You can also shop for books from Odyssey in Adayar or Fountain Head at Mylapore and SAS Connections in Annanagar for a satisfying shopping experience. For book lovers, some of the most reputed shops to buy books under various heads are Higginbothams and BookPoint, both in Mount Road and The Bookshop at Spencer Plaza and The Giggles Bookshop at Taj Connemara hotel.
