Pune | Dynamic Shopping Experience

Markets, crowds, and a lot of bargaining are all the ingredients to a dynamic shopping experience. Street shopping has its charms. We know how content it feels when one finds just what’s on their mind after an extensive hunt through the entire market. Also, is there anything one can’t find on our streets?

Pune is a paradise for shopaholics. Right from Paithani Sarees, Maharashtrian Naths, Kolhapuri chappals, silver and brassware, to cheap apparels and accessories, Pune’s markets are amazing. For foodies, there is Bhakarwadi, Mango Barfi, Puran Poli, a variety of Chiwda and other condiments. These would make amazing souvenirs from this lively city and would also make great gifts.

Here are the best places for street shopping in Pune that must never be missed out:

1. Hong Kong Lane

This super-popular street on Deccan Road is ‘THE’ place for shopping in Pune. By the array of accessories to choose from, shopaholics will be easily taken away. The accessories like bags, books and mobile stores are what dominates this lane. Shops here are overloaded with mobile phone cases and decked with sunglasses, caps and wallets. You will find caps of all shapes, sizes and designs with bags sold in abundance for men, women and kids. The amount of footwear available here is overwhelming. Jewellery addicts are sure to go gaga over the number of choices of earrings, rings and necklaces available here at slashed prices. Other get-at-able commodities at Hong Kong Lane are watches, leather belts and dials. This is an ideal place to put your bargaining skills to work.

Location: Hong Kong Lane, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune

2. Mahatma Phule Mandai

This place in Shukrawar provide is an excellent spot for shopping fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices. It is a place filled with street-hawkers and sellers selling on their bikes and cars and has a whopping 530 stalls. Also, if you’re an animal lover and looking for a pet, this place is just for you. Starting from Pugs to Persian cats and doves to fishes, pets of all breeds are sold at extremely reasonable rates. Mandai is a loud and busy place having shops of dry fruits, condiments and other grocery items. Imported snacks and chocolates are also available here. Perfumes and cosmetics are overloaded here. If you’re here for fruits and veggies, visiting during mornings is a good idea.

Location: Shukrawar Peth, Mandai, Pune

3. Fashion Street

Fashion Street will give you a wardrobe makeover at the budget price. The clothing here is so cheap! Similar to the one in Mumbai, these crowded narrow lanes offer anything and everything under the fashion canopy. The vendors here provide reasonable prices before you could even start bargaining and you might find the same product at different vendors and prices. Bhavani Peth is an excellent place to find the clones of all your favourite brands. There are around 450 stalls to cater all accessories at budget-friendly, convenient and affordable rates making it a haven for shopping in Pune.

Location: Bhavani Peth, Shobhapur, Kasba Peth, Pune

4. Tulsi Baug

Tulsi Bag is in the heart of Pune and a haven for street shopping. Super famous for ready-made garments, you will find rows of shops available for your customised fittings here. This is one of the oldest markets for shopping in Pune equivalent to Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. The shopping atmosphere starts at Alka Talkies square and ends near the cantonment area. Be it Jeans, blouses, shirts or accessories, all of these are at accessible at great deals.

 Location: 93, Laxmi Rd, Tulshibaug, Budhwar Peth

5. Bajirao Road

This area accommodates all your home and furniture needs. Bajirao Road is apt for all home décor enthusiasts or if you’re looking for a home-makeover on budget. This place strikes a close competition with high-end furniture brands. It is the perfect place for customised and self-designed furniture where commercial furniture sold at attractive prices. Shops here stretch over Puram Chowk and ends at Shaniwar Wada Palace.

 Location: Bajirao Rd, Puram Chowk, Pune, Maharashtra

6. Juna Bazar

If you have a hobby of collecting ancient, exclusive antiques, this place is for you. Also called Old Market and Chor Bazar, this is a flea market in itself. You will find hardware tools, delicate jewellery, clothes & cosmetics and junk accessories sold in tents lined on either side at unbelievable prices. This place for street shopping in Pune is more oriented towards vintage artefacts, antique handicrafts, brass statues, paintings and so on. Some of the stuff you can find here are typewriters, coins, telescopes, vinyl records, music instruments, portraits and posters.

Location: Veer Santaji Ghorpade Road, Kasba Peth Pune

7. Fergusson College Road

F.C. Road is a college crowd hotspot and perhaps one of the most lively areas for shopping in Pune. The prices of clothing here are too good to be true. Earrings and bags here are to die for! Also, you can match your dresses with innumerable phone cases available here. Located in the heart of the city, this market has everything from trendy footwear to chic dresses which are sure to spoil you. You may bag in a good deal of discount if buy in bulk.

Location: Fergusson College Road, Shivajinagar, Pune

8. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar

Popularly known as Deccan Gymkhana, it is a small scale market known for its fruits and food. A lot of its shops are predominantly selling leather products. This one’s a one-stop destination for shopping at Pune and is particularly famous for traditional sweets, flowers and gift items.

Location: Shivajinagar, Jangali Maharaj Rd, Pune

9. Clover Centre

This place at MG Road provides an exceptionally affordable shopping experience in Pune. You will be spoilt for choice at the number of variety available of jewellery and accessories. From embroidered jutis to denim backpacks, tailors, customised fitting you have it all here. Clove Centre is a hub of innumerable shops in one complex.

Location: Clover Center, Moledina Road, Camp, Pune

10. ABC, Pune

Appa Balwant Chowk, conveniently called ABC, is for all the book lovers. With wide price ranges, the stationary shops offer all you need to satisfy your stationary obsession. This place covers educational, fictional, non-fictional and all other categories of books. Shops here sell new, old and reused books and this place is everything a book lover needs. Apart from being a book worm’s nest, this place sells shoes, school bags, travel bags, mats and much more.

Location: Near Laxmi Road, Budhwar Peth, Pune

11. Laxmi Road

Located in the older part of Pune, Laxmi Road is almost like its very heart. One of the oldest and most well-known markets in the city, it is famous for its traditional wares such as Paithani Sarees, silk sarees, designer sarees etc. However, this shopping paradise has something for everyone. On one hand, you can find gorgeous earrings for as low as 30 bucks on the other sparkling diamonds and gold jewellery vie for your attention. From footwear to make-up and even beauty essentials; you can find almost everything you need here. Don’t forget to munch on some delicious roadside snacks too!

Location: Laxmi Road, Pune

12. M.G. Road

Mahatma Gandhi Road or M.G. Road, as it is better known locally, is one of the principal shopping places in Pune. It is a truly diverse and vibrant market that has some of the best malls on one hand and fast, smart street fashion in the other. You are likely to shop to your heart’s delight here! Do not forget to pick up some pretty earrings, quirky shoes or eclectic scarves while you are here. Stock up on bags of chips from the famous Budhani wafers and cakes from Kayani Bakery. Also, set some time aside to eat at one of the charming local eateries such as Marz-o-rin, Pasteur, George’s restaurant.

Location: M.G. Road, Pune

13. Koregaon Park

One of the most happening and cosmopolitan areas of the city, Koregaon Park or KP as it is more fondly known as is a pure delight to shop at. If it is a contemporary and off-the-runway fashion you are looking for, then you have come to the right place. It has some stores selling the cutest dresses, accessories, footwear, bags and many more goodies that will make you stand apart in a crowd. Moreover, it is also the definitive place to enjoy some world cuisine at some eateries lining the lanes as well to enjoy the nightlife at one of the many watering holes and lounges.

Location: Koregaon Park, Ghorpadi, Pune

If street shopping doesn’t excite you, worry not. Pune has some of the best and award-winning malls too. (Yeah, there are awards for malls too) You could head to Phoenix Market City or E-Square Mall. Amanora Mall, SGS Mall, and Inorbit Mall are also a few of the most crowd-pulling malls. Dorabjee’s Royale Heritage and Season’s mall are some worth considering for those who do not want to burn a hole in their pockets. Other Malls in Pune are Pune Central Mall, Nucleus Mall, and City one Mall.