Month: June 2016

Multi-storeyed malls may be popping up in India by the second, but the charm and exhilaration exuded by the age old bazaars and flea markets is irreplaceable.  The thrill of being able to bargain your way through a shopkeeper’s stubbornness is as satisfying as a hearty meal after a good day’s work.

So on that note, let’s take a look at some of the best flea markets in India.

Sarojini Nagar, New Delhi

If you’re looking to grab the latest fashion at prices that will put every online sale to shame, Sarojini Nagar in Delhi is the right place for you. Not only does this market possess the highest fashion quotient of the capital, it has all the surplus garments and export material available at throwaway rates.

Book hotels near Sarojini Market.

Saturday Night Market, Goa

A shopper’s paradise, this charming market located on the outskirts of Anjuna beach in Goa offers you a wide range of clothes, shoes, jewellery and cosmetics to choose from. The food here is pretty amazing, too!

Book hotels near Anjuna Beach.

Laad Bazaar, Hyderabad

Your quintessential local market, Laad bazaar is famous for its colourful array of bangles and its mouth-watering spread of traditional Hyderabadi sweets.

Book hotels near this market here.

Colaba Causeway, Mumbai

Ahoy, shoppers! The home of Bollywood celebrities brings to you the busiest shopping street in India- one where you can find anything and everything that falls under the category of hot and latest fashion.

Book hotels near this market here.

Janpath, New Delhi

Located bang in the middle of the national capital and right across the road from Connaught Place’s Outer Circle, Janpath has two distinct markets – one market consists of shops lining a busy street and sells various kinds of clothing, artefacts, trinkets etc., and the other market is the quintessential flea market that sells everything from clothes and accessories, books and bags.

Book hotels near this market here.

Parry’s Corner, Chennai

The shopping hub of the city, Parry’s Corner is known for its unbelievable collection as well as the speed at which everything gets sold out.

Book hotels near this market here.

Johari Bazaar, Jaipur

If you haven’t spent hours and hours looking for colourful bandanas and jaipuri dupattas with matching Jodhpuris for yourself, your wardrobe is incomplete.

Book hotels near this market here.

Ravivari Bazaar, Ahmedabad

This 600-year-old market offers you everything under one single roof. All you need to take with you is your stamina and your bargaining skills!

Book hotels near this market here.

Chor Bazaar, Mumbai

Amchi Mumbai is known for this ‘thief’s market’, and for its amazing collection of clothes, antiques, furniture and paintings. There is a very popular saying in Mumbai, “if you lose something in Bombay, you can probably find it in Chor Bazaar”.

Book hotels near this market here.

New Market, Kolkata

With a whopping 2000 shops, New Market in Kolkata sells a wide variety of items including clothes, electronics and food items. Do not forget to bargain hard here. Also, remember that this market is closed on Sundays.

Book hotels near this market here.

Related Blog Posts: Hyderabad Points of Interest

Top Yoga Destinations in India

Yoga is perhaps the world’s only physical, mental and spiritual practice of its kind. With its origins in ancient India, Yoga has today spread all over the world. Its various forms are practised by millions of followers on a daily basis.

The International Day of Yoga is observed every year on 21 June. Yoga is the only such practice in the world to have a special day of celebration recognised by the United Nations!

Being the place of its origin and home to the world’s largest population of Yoga followers, India has a number of Yoga centers and ashrams spread across its length and breadth. Based on information compiled from various websites and experts, we list down some of the top Yoga destinations in India for those who want nothing but the best when it comes to learning this practice.

Rishikesh

Nestled amidst the beautiful Himalayas and located on the banks of the Ganga, Rishikesh abounds in Yoga ashrams and learning centers. Some of the most popular ones are the Patanjali International Yoga Foundation, Anand Prakash Ashram, Parmarth Niketan and Sivananda Ashram.

(Book OYO in Rishikesh here)

Pune

The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute founded by BKS Iyengar, an international acclaimed Yoga guru, is located in Pune. A special variation of HathaYoga, namely, Iyengar Yoga (with a special focus on postures) is taught here. The institute’s popularity can be judged from the fact that at times, there is a two-year-long waiting list to get admission here.

(Book OYO in Pune here)

Mysore

The Ashtanga Institute in Mysore is run by the family of the renowned guru Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois who had been teaching there since the 1930s. As the name suggests, this institute focusses on the art of Ashtanga Yoga.

(Book OYO in Mysore here)

Chennai

Founded by T Krishnamacharya (who taught Yoga to both BKS Iyengar and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois mentioned above), the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai is another popular Yoga center which specialises in Viniyoga.

(Book OYO in Chennai here)

Munger

The Bihar School of Yoga is unique in the sense that the focus is not just on the physical aspects of Yoga but also service and meditation. Munger itself might be a city not heard of by many, but it is in fact, the fifth largest city in Bihar, and just 180 km away from the capital city of Patna.

In case you have more time with you, check out places to visit in Patna

(Book OYO in Patna here)

Trivandrum

Kerala is among the most popular destinations for Yoga and Ayurveda in the world, popular among celebrities and the general public alike. The Sivananda Vedanta Center is among the most popular training centers here. The training focusses on postures, breathing, relaxation, meditation, and diet.

(Book OYO in Trivandrum here)

Mumbai

Probably the least known among all the centers mentioned in our list, The Yoga Institute, founded in 1918, is the oldest organized center of yoga in the world!

(Book OYO in Mumbai here)

So, what are you waiting for? If holistic well-being is on your mind, pack your bags and travel to these Yoga destinations whenever you can.

Related Blog Posts: Places to visit near Chennai

Mumbai is a trove of hidden treasures and the more you think you know about the city that never sleeps, the less you actually do. The discovery of this city is as endless as its beauty that unravels itself in a multitude of wondrous secrets and stories. Knew it already? Then the next best thing to do is to visit this city ASAP! Book your OYO here.

Think you have seen all of the places there are to see in Mumbai? Think again. We bring you some of the most well-kept secrets of the city. After you have been to the Gateway of India, Chowpatty, Elephanta & Kanheri caves, and the other popular must-sees, these places are where you’ve got to be.

Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue

Keneseth Eliyahoo, the center of Jewish cultural life in Mumbai, is the second oldest Sephardic synagogue in Mumbai. Behold the mix of Jewish traditions with Indian and English colonial architecture at its best.

Chor Bazaar

The best place to shop for antiques & vintage products, Chor Bazaar translates into ‘Thieves Market’ and is one of the biggest flea markets in India. True to its name, a lot of stolen goods find their way into this market & is notorious for pickpockets. It’s located near Mohammad Ali Road in South Bombay.

Jogeshwari caves

Belonging to the end of the Mahayana Buddhist architecture era, Jogeshwari caves are some of the oldest cave temples having Indian & Buddhist sculptures as well as carvings on its walls which are lined with the idols of Hanuman, Ganesh, Dattatreya & other Gods.

Yeoor Hills

Located close to Mumbai in Thane, Yeoor hills is a nature lover’s paradise and a welcome respite from the city. With its lush greenery, beautiful butterfly gardens & a lake with waterfalls that comes alive during the rains, it is the best getaway for some peaceful solitude. There are many more tourist places in thane to make your day memorable.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

India’s largest multicultural annual festival, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival always starts on the first Saturday of February and runs until the second Sunday in February in the one of the most beautiful and historic localities of Mumbai, The Kala Ghoda Art District. The nine-day fest celebrates music, cinema, dance, food, literature, stand-up comedy, theatre, urban design and architecture, visual arts & holds workshops, stalls, heritage walks as well as the Make in India festival. The festival has free entry and offers a potpourri of art for everyone who appreciates it.

These great places are still tiny drops in the vast ocean of secrets that is Mumbai,  but if you haven’t even been to these places, you haven’t seen anything at all. So as we sign off, here is a message that perfectly describes the Mumbai state of mind.

P.s. You might like these related resources:

• Visit Mumbai’s famous places- The City That Never Sleeps
• Visit these unmissable Historical places if you are travelling to Mumbai
• You Can’t Afford To Miss These Places When Planning a Visit to Mumbai

Related Blog Posts: Places to visit near Mumbai