Mumbai Money and Shopping: Where

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The shopping experience in the city is a study in contrasts. At the lower end of the spectrum are street vendors. Existing at the borderline of legality, entire streets have been given over to these hawkers and in many places it is impossible to walk on the footpaths, because they have blocked the way. On the other hand, these vendors often give you a great bargain though you will have to haggle a lot and be careful about what to buy. There's nothing like taking a local along to shop for you. Some famous shopping streets are:

• Chor bazaar, Get down at the Grant Road station on the Western Line. The market is on the east side of the station.Chor Bazar which literally translates to "Thief Market" is a colloquial term used to refer a place selling stolen items. It consists of number of interconnecting by-lanes with street vendors hawking a wide variety of items from antiques to shoes to car accessories etc. The place can be quite a surprise for the number and type of items on sale. A great place to spot bargains and bartering is a must. Shop with a keen eye - look out for fakes or second hand items that are shoddily repaired and can be passed out for a quick buck.

Don’t carry too many items like money / jewellery / watches on you when visit the market. Keep it to bare essentials and keep an eye on your belongings. There is a very good chance that you may get robbed since locals are apt at spotting first time shoppers.

• Fashion Street, (Mahatama Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai, From Chruchgate Station start walking towards Flora Fountain make a left turn and its a block down). Best place in Mumbai to buy cheap clothes. Bargaining/haggling skills are a must if you want to shop here! Offer to pay 1/4 of the asking price or less and then work your way upwards!

• Colaba Causeway is filled with tourists and locals. It is located very close to the Gateway of India. It is a place where you will be able to find many authentic Indian souvenirs, antiques, carpets, and chandeliers. But foreigners will have to be very careful, as all these stores are road-side stalls. What may seem a good price that the person has quoted to you, it will actually be a rip off. Do not settle for anything more than one-fourth the quoted price. If they refuse a price just walk away and they will call you back quoting a lower price. Normally, the more you buy, the less you will have to pay for each individual item.

• Crawford Market It is now officially known as the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Market. But locals still refer to it by its old name. It is within 10 minutes walking distance from the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus on the Central Line in South Mumbai. Earlier it was the major wholesale trading market for fruits & vegetables. Now it houses shops selling imported items such as food, cosmetics, household and gift items.

Or you could do your shopping at family-run shops, where the items are behind the counter and you have to ask the salesperson for what you want. The traditional way to buy sarees or jewelry is to go to a shop where you sit on a bedspread laid out on the floor and the salespeople bring out their wares one-by-one until you make a decision. Shops like Bharat Kshetra in Dadar have scaled this model up to such an extent that they have a two-storied complex where you can do the same.

Mumbai has been experiencing a boom in malls in the past few years. You can combine your shopping, dining out, and watching movies in one place.

• Atria Mall, Near Nehru Planetarium, Worli. One of the best malls in Mumbai. It is not as big as In-orbit Mall at Malad, but the atmosphere is good. Well known brands are available.
• Phoenix Malls — This is another great place for shopping. It is a mega center formed by converting an old cotton mill into a shopping center. It is home to numerous different things, including lots and lots of shops, great restaurants, nightclubs, and a bowling alley. On weekends this area can get quite crowded, but in general this is a very safe place, with all the food clean and hygienic. There is also almost no chance of being scammed as all stores have price tags on their products
• In-orbit Mall — Currently the largest mall in Mumbai at 1.2 million square feet. Great Place for shopping. Situated at Malad linking Road. Auto-rikshaw would cost Rs. 25-30 from Goregaon. There are movie theaters in the mall and various international brand stores. Avoid going on weekends and holidays, especially in the evening.
• Infinity Mall — Good place for shopping at Andheri (West) Linking Road. Includes movie theaters, as well as Landmark, one of the best book, music, dvd stores in Mumbai.
• Nirmal Lifestyle — It's one of the best Mall's in Central Suburb located in Mulund (West), LBS Marg. There is Shopper Stop, HyperCity (a fantastic supermarket just like you would find in the USA; right next door to In-orbit mall), PVR Cinema Multiplex Hall, Pubs, and all kinds of Food Joints, with well know apparel, footwear, and electronic brands making it a complete destination for shopping and entertainment in central side of Mumbai.
• Big Bazaar bigbazaar.com - Similar to a Wal Mart. They are situated at most of the renowned malls around Mumbai. They sell groceries, clothing, cosmetics, house hold items & furnishings. Prices are on the cheaper side since most of the items are in-house labels.
• R City Mall - the largest mall in Mumbai, between Ghatkopar and Vikhroli at LBS Marg. It is a three storey building with a good space for car and bike parking. Third floor has a Big Cinemas Multiplex and the first Theatre with Cine Dinner (watch movie with food). The cost of a ticket is Rs 600 per person with that you get the food as a compliment. There are various outlet in the mall like Lifestyle, Pantaloons, Provogue, etc.

• bigbazaar.com