Chennai has some places to offer for shopping. In fact Chennai is a Shopper's delight. There are a lot of places and shops worth visiting. One thing to be kept in mind is to try to bargain for prices at almost all places. New plazas are springing up while traditional stores are having themselves refurbished to attract more customers. Readymade clothing including brands, art and crafts, contemporary and traditional artwork, antiques, jewellery etc are easily available in the city. Traditional items like Pattamara Mats and the leaf and palmyra-fiber handicrafts from Tirunellveli, bronze and brass castings and traditional jewelry from Kumbakonam, Metal works from Tanjavur, stone carvings from Mamallapuram, Silks from Kanchipuram are all available in Chennai.
For conventional items and handicrafts, Government Emporiums offer wide variety of choice at fixed rate. Victoria Technical Institute at Anna Salaai offers handicrafts from all over the country. Central Cottage Industries Emporium in Temple Towers Anna Salaai again offers good stuff.
SIPA'S Craftlink at Kodambakkam High Rd is South India's first fair price shop which supports local artisans. You can buy variety of locally made handicrafts, textiles and papier-mache items at reasonable prices.
Cane'n'Bamboo at Egmore stocks textiles and handicrafts sourced from charity based craft cooperatives at lower prices than most of the Emporiums.
Naturally Auroville at Khaddar Nawaz Khan Rd sells beautiful clothes, shoes, ceramics and wide range of toiletries handmade in the Auroville community. You can get organic foodstuff also here.
For finest Kanchipuram silks Vardharams at Harrington Rd Chetput has good collection. Co-optex Egmore sells Kanchipuram silks from their own cooperatives. Nallis is also famous for exclusive range of silks and sarees.
If you like large air-conditioned complexes go to Spencer Plaza Anna Salai, Shopper's Stop Harrington Rd, Globus or GeeGee Emerald Plaza MG Road all have range of shops selling famous brands of clothing, books, music, children toys and accessories etc.
For ready made clothes and accessories try Lifestyle at TTK Road, Westside at Spencer Plaza, Saga Departmental stores.
The Thegaraya Nagar district known locally as T Nagar is a great place to shop especially at Pondy Bazaar and bustling markets around Pangal Park. Pothy's at Usman Rd offers wide range of silks, cottons, saries etc. Here you will also find huge multistory shops like Lalitha Jewellery and Prince Jewellery selling astonishing range of gold, silver and diamond jewellery
If you are interested in cheap fabrics then you should also visit, small footpath fabric bazaar sets up in the afternoons in the lane next to Co-optex Egmore.
Raahat Plaza near Vadapalani is one of the most beautiful and tidy complexes in Chennai.Shop for garments, books, toys, multimedia/electronics, computers, music-related items, greeting cards, etc. A food mall and an exclusive showroom for Sony are also there. On the ground floor, there is a mega shop, an exclusive supermarket, from where one can buy many useful items.
Parrys Corner also has many shops selling almost everything. Nearby is the famous Burma Bazaar where all sorts of imported goods can be purchased.
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