Select Country
Indore in located in Madhya Pradesh and it is known the commercial capital of the state, and not without good reason. In earlier times, Indore was a major hub of commerce and a main connecting city between northern India and the Deccan. The city is also known as Mini- Mumbai and it is still a great place to shop and trade. The city still draws craftsmen and weavers who are still diligently practicing their craft and there is a good market for their goods in Indore. The Maheshwari sarees and the Chanderi silks are bought by everyone who visits the city and there are traditional wood carved items to be bought as well. For urban people who are mostly used to shopping in malls, shopping in the streets of Indore will surely be a new experience and it will completely change their perception about ethnic and indigenous products. Here is a look at some of the best markets in the city and what they have to offer:
Sarafa Bazaar is located on the Annapurna Road and is the prime marketplace in the city. The market is divided into two sections- the Bara Sarafa Bazaar and the Chota Sarafa Bazaar. It is truly a shopper’ delight because the market opens at 11 am in the morning and stays open right up till 12 am. Hence, the marketplace is always teeming with people. The market is especially well known for all kinds of jewelry, modern and traditional alike. You will find exquisite jewelry with Meenakari work, something that is becoming quite rare these days. Moreover, this is also the best place to get your hands on some traditional brass ornaments and there are craftsmen in this region who still have exquisite craftsmanship to offer. It is hard to find such design and making in any other market of India. Once the evening falls, you will find the market turning into a food lover’s paradise and stalls after stalls are set up selling mouthwatering food. You will get a plethora of chaats and snacks here like dahi vada, malpua, namkeens of all sorts, khopra, bhutte ki kees and a variety of samosas and patties. This is one of the reasons why the market stays open till 12 in the morning as the food lovers never stop coming. You will have a wonderful shopping experience here, munching and browsing at the same time.
Located in the larger Shekhawat Market, the Maharaja Tukojrao Holkar Cloth Market is the one of the oldest shopping centers in the entire city and is especially known for its wholesale cloth market Indore. The marketplace was in fact, set up during the reign of the Holkars and merchants from all over the state, and even other states come here to buy cloth and fabrics in bulk and in wholesale rates. On the other hand, there is a number of readymade garments shop as well and you will find wonderful kurtis, kurtas, salwar sets and hand embroidered sarees here. The designs and colors are very fascinating and the patterns are indigenous to the region. You will get clothes here are relatively lower prices and if you can put your bargaining skills to good use, you will actually end up with a very good deal. The market remains open from 10 am to 8 pm.
The Sitlamata Bazaar is also located in a section of the Shekhawat Market and it is the one stop destination for all kinds of wedding shopping or if there is any other special occasion which you are celebrating. It is a great hub for all kinds of ethnic wear and there are a number of stores selling exquisite sarees and lehengas. The quality of fabric here is also much better and yet they are quite reasonably priced. You will find sarees of exquisite zari work or chikankari designs. You will also find garments with indigenous block prints and tie- and dye patterns. There are also some shops selling wedding jewelry and there are shops that sell items which are needed for various rituals and festivals in Indian homes. You will love the ambience of this market and it is always in a festive mood and during occasions like Diwali or during the wedding season, this market is filled to the brim, with every shop doing brisk business. People come to this market even from the suburbs. The market is open from 10 am to 8 pm.
The Heritage Market is centrally located and so it is quite easy to access it from any part of the city. Although the market is known for its heritage architecture, it is actually better known today as it houses many international brands and there are a number of designer showrooms here. This is the place to go to if you are looking for modern and trendy clothes and accessories and as a result, the region is a popular shopping destination for the teenagers and youngsters. This is also a great place to buy formal clothes and brands like Allen Solly, Nike and Puma have their own stores here. Naturally, there is no scope for bargaining in these branded showrooms but quality of the products is guaranteed. On the other hand, there are still some smaller shops tucked in between the larger stores and they still sell handloom products and items and comparatively lower rates. The shops here remain open from 11 am to 9pm.
Located right by the famous Rajwada of Indore, this marketplace is easy to find. It is the best place to shop when you are out shopping for the children in the family. There are a large number of readymade garment stores selling clothes for children and there are tailors here who will make custom fitted clothes for the kids as well if you want to make them something special. Both casualwear and partywear clothes for children are available here and there are as many stores for toys and games. If you have a birthday party at home, you will find all the items you need here itself. On the other hand, near the outskirts of the market, you will find a number of stores selling garments for men and women as well and hence you can find all that you need for the family right at one spot. It is one of the cheap clothes market in Indore. You will actually end up saving a lot of time and money by coming here for your family shopping. The market remains open from 11 am to 9 pm.
It is not known that why is this market named thus, but it is believed there was a market for selling ammunitions in earlier times quite nearby and this is how the region got its name. It is one of the best markets in the entire city and you can get almost everything here, from clothes to jewelry, from accessories to handcrafted items. In fact, this is one of the best markets to lay your hands on some handcrafted good like wood carved figurines, leather toys, stone carved household items and much more. You will also find lots of items made from sustainable products like clay and coir. Naturally, if you are visiting the city then you will find this to be a great place to pick up some souvenirs for your family back home. One of the best buys here are the terracotta idols and they are especially extremely popular among the foreign tourists who want to buy something truly Indian for their friends back home. The market remains open from 11 am to 8:30 pm.
If you have a love for the hills but you cannot visit them as much as you want to, then fret not. The Tibetan Market in Indore, located almost at the center of the city, is a great place to buy items that are very much reminiscent of the hill communities. The market truly comes alive during the winters when the Tibetans come down from the hills with their wares. You will find wonderfully handcrafted items made by Tibetan refugees at very reasonable prices. The best thing about the market is that you can find woolen garments, leather jackets, mufflers and a variety of stoles and scarves at very reasonable rates. You will also find shops selling Tibetan carpets and rugs, paintings and silver Tibetan jewelry. The idols and images of Buddha are the top picks. There are woolen garments available for both adults and children. The market gets brownie points because it is one of the best joints in the city to lay your hands on some authentic Tibetan food like momos, Thukpas, and other kinds of dumplings. The market is mostly set in the winter season and is open from 9 am to 9 pm.
For the students of the city, the go- to destination is the Khajuri Market which is known for its book shops and shops for stationeries. All kinds of things for art and crafts are available here along with books, copies, pens and colors.
This market is known for its electronic goods and home appliances and the shops here always offer some good deals. As expected, this market is very crowded during Diwali and New Year.
This bazaar is almost exclusively dedicated to handmade goods and handcrafted items and local craftsmen from far and wide come here to trade their goods.
The Chappan Bazaar is known for its 56 stalls, and all of them dedicated to food. The fragrance of food from various food markets waft in the breeze and you will not be able to resist yourself as you come across the superbly laden food items in the food shops and of course, the freshly made meals especially made for you as you order them. Everything from Mughlai, Continental, Chinese, and local food items are available here at very affordable prices.
Although there are various shopping malls in Indore, the street shopping experience here is quite unique. Do not fail to visit the amazing places to visit in Indore and you will surely unearth some treasure for yourself.
Please go back to portrait mode for the best experience
April 15, 2024 
