city shopping in kochi
Kochi
If you are confused over what to buy for yourself as souvenir or a gift for someone back home, then visit the enchantingly quaint little curio shops in Kochi city of Kerala. These shops sell small knick-knacks, which are characteristic of the South Indian city. Since Kochi is well known for its handicrafts, you will find a unique assortment of items like figurines, colorful bead jewelry, mat, bangles et al made from coir, wood, bamboo, shells, brass, ivory and sandalwood.
In all probability, your predicament over what to buy in Cochin should end here. Though the concept of shopping malls is relatively new in Kochi / Cochin, yet there are a number of places here, where you can find branded goods and garments. If you have a specific item in mind, better find out from a local person once you reach Kochi.
Tips on what and where to shop in Kochi:
At the beautiful Marine Drive, you can shop for perfumes, watches, bags, suitcases, music cassettes and CD's.
The Penta Menaka complex has a number of duty free shops that sell electronic items and mobile phones.
In case, you do not have time to visit many shopping places in Cochin, then just head for the famous MG Road, where you can buy various kind of goods like textiles, readymade garments, jewelry, toys, home furnishing, handicrafts, decorative items etc.
Broadway is famous for its clothes and spices. The area around the Synagogue in Mattancherry is a major center of spice trade.
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram is a shopper's paradise especially for Kerala handicrafts. Here one can find the traditional handicrafts such as wood carvings, copperware, cane and bamboo furniture and crafts, lacquer ware etc. Although ivory goods have now been banned, inlay on wood carving, Kathakali masks and traditional fabrics can be bought at a number of shops.
Besides the usual fare of government craft shops, City's main shopping centers are Chalai Bazar, Connemara market, shops in Power House Road and M.G.Road, Attukal Shopping Complex (East Fort), Narmada Shopping Complex (Kaudiar), Kedaram (Kesavadasapuram) and the main road from Palayam to the East Fort. Most shops open from 9am-8pm daily except Sundays.
For the traditional silks, visit the shops around the Padmanabhaswamy temple. The Gurukirpa Sri Venkatrao's Silk Shop, Alappat House of Silks (0471-2478908) and Allukas are also located near by. For foot wear Hollywood, Boots( 0471-2477301), Kings (0471-2333465), Attukal Mall are the best bet.
Kozhikkode
Shopping in Kozhikode is about buying handicraft items, spices and tea. The clothing industry of Kozhikode offers plethora of options to the buyers.
You may like to buy cotton fabrics, silk, velvet of the best quality at reasonable prices. Silky Textiles on S. M. Cross Road is a good option for buying silk. Color Bar, Ladies Park are the other well-known showrooms for textile. For purchasing handloom fabrics, head to Comtrust Store on Town Hall Road.
Kozhikode is known as the ‘City of Spices,’ so don’t forget to buy different kinds of spices including pepper, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. If you wish to avail authentic spices at reasonable rates, then you can buy the same from the gardens. The spice gardens here are worth visiting.
The other option would be to visit the wholesale market at the Court Road, where you will find different varieties of spices.
Vilangakunnu village in Kozhikode is well-known for tea and coffee plantations. Several varieties of tea are grown; Black Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea are the different varieties of tea grown in this village. The tea gardens present an exotic natural beauty. You can buy tea from the garden or the local shops.
You may also like to buy coir products, rosewood items and carvings, artefacts made out of buffalo horn in Kozhikode
Thrissur
Shopping in Thrissur can be very interesting for those on a Thrissur vacation. Thrissur in Kerala is renowned for its mesmerizing variety of silks. Bell metal curios, brass work, textiles and gold jewelry are typical buys, the shopaholic would find hard to resist when in Thrissur.
If you are making a choice for a true memorabilia of the place from a wide array of display, look for things that are connected to Thrissur's very own culture to take home the true flavor of the region.
The silk produced in Thrissur are possibly the best buys while in the city. A variety of materials in myriad hues are sure to attract the tourists and visitors. Artifacts made of brass are also popular for their intricacy and use in common everyday life. Exquisitely crafted ornaments and embellishments in gold with in distinctly South Indian designs and alignments are also preferred by many.
The shops of Thrissur are welcoming with well behaved sales person who are always ready with a smile to help you decide what is best for you if you find yourself lost in the huge variety available. The best part is, you can shop at your own pace for delightful souvenirs to take back home.
Surabhi, Kairali or other government emporiums are good places to shop for things that are related to the culture and tradition of Kerala in general and Thrissur in particular. The prices here are reasonable and very much affordable and you can be at your peace of mind for the things come with a guarantee of authenticity.
Kollam Shopping
Shopping in Kollam is a delightful and unique experience. There are many Markets and Malls located in the city of Kollam in the southern regions of India . Shopping at Kollam would be incomplete without buying some of the medicinal herbs . The centers of shopping in Kollam provide a wide range of options to choose from. Kollam the city is among the most famous Ayurvedic centers in the southern regions of the Indian sub-continent. Some of the famous textiles and jewelery houses and shopping malls at Kollam are Rani Fancy, Sky Jewelry , Dazzles , Cloth Center , Sarins’ Super Market and Sudarsh etc .
List of Markets in Kollam
Kottakuzhiyil Margin Free Market : The Super Market is located near few distance away from kollam . All products is Available here
Sky Jewellery : The Jewellery Shop has large collections of Latest Jewellery for wedding Parties and normal use in home.
KC Center : The biggest shopping commercial centre located Karunagappally in Kollam . Besides metal items a wide variety of crockery and household items , world-class fabrics and high-fashion garments displayed here
K-mall : K Mall is an upcoming Shopping mall located aside of NH – 47, Kollam. Here you can seen Malabar gold, food courts, super markets, branded shops and entertainment zones.
Fashion Textiles : It is located at Mundakkal in Kollam State of South India . It is a Shopping Center offer Fabrics and Clothing Stores , Boutiques, Jewellery Shops and Gift Shops
H&J Complex : H&J Complex is an upcoming Shopping Mall in Karunagappally . The tallest shopping mall have supermarket, food courts, entertainment area, office space, two cinema multiplex hall, conference hall and auditorium under a common roof.
Things to Buy in Kollam
The range of materials available at the Kollam Shopping centers include traditional jewelery, textiles, handicrafts and handloom belonging to South India. It is famous for its creative designing in textiles as well as in jewelry.