Chennai Shopping Malls

Chennai Shopping

Chennai enjoys a unique place among the bustling metropolitan cities of India. The fourth largest city in India, right from the days of the British, Chennai continues to be an important trade center. A large-hearted city, the pulse of Chennai is its ability to adapt to changes without losing its identity.

In keeping with the international demand where customers look for an altogether different shopping experience, the shopping mall culture is fast gaining popularity. Earlier, limited to City's main artery such as Anna Salai or Mount Road, Chennai is experiencing an influx of newer, modern shopping centers all over the city.

Shopping in Chennai malls from dawn to dusk can be a fascinating experience. Distinguished as a place that promises finest shopping bargains of the world, Chennai's shopping malls offer a large range of shopping options. From Purasaiwakkam in North Chennai to Adyar in the south of the city, bustling shopping complexes have changed the face of the city.

Cotton Street Egmore: A favorite haunt for bargain hunters, the street next to the Cooptex Showroom in Egmore offers cotton textiles in different hues. Be it for salwars, bedsheets, tablecloths or home furnishing, you are sure to pick it here. Be prepared for some price haggling.

George Town: Head to one of the city's oldest areas in George Town,( you can still see the statue of King George V near Flower Bazaar). Be prepared to trudge through narrow streets of Parrys Corner, where people, vehicles, hawkers and more jostle for space. The area offers a wide range of merchandise, from electrical fittings and crockery to stationery, home needs and more! Stores sell their wares at competitive rates, especially if you are looking to buy a dozen or more. You can pick up dry fruits and Indian mithai too in Sowcarpet.

Some streets entirely deal with particular range - like Kasi Chetty Street, Govindappa Naicken Street (famous for electrical fittings), Broadway ( for bicycles and Optical products), Anderson Street (for paper supplies), Linghi Chetty Street ( motors, grinders and other electrical equipment), Godown Street ( for textiles) and Deva Raja Mudali Street. You can buy from steel rods to School paraphernalia like bags, notebooks, pens, maps and the like can be found in these streets. If you are planning a children's party, what better place to pick up your party supplies! Treat yourself to some tangy Indian chaat and badam milk after a hectic morning of shopping.

Chennai also like other cities in India, suffers from "Rename Syndrome". Many of the street names have been renamed to local names - often creating confusion and a bit of hardship. People still continue to use their old names along with new names. We highlight a few renamed streets as below:

Chennai Old Names of Streets :: New Names of Streets

• First Line Beach Road :: Rajaji Salai
  
• Lloyds Road :: Avvai Shanmugam Salai
  
• Mowbrays Road :: TTK Road
  
• Mount Road :: Anna Salai
  
• Chamiers Road :: Pasumpon Muthuramalingar Thevar Salai
  
• Nungambakkam High Road :: Uthamar Gandhi Salai
  
• Inner Ring Road :: Jawaharlal Nehru Road
  
• General Patters Road (GP Road):: Thiru-Vi-Ka High Road
  

Handicrafts Shopping in Chennai

Victoria Technical Institute on Mount Road offers a variety of hand-crafted artifacts. Established in 1887, this charitable trust seeks to promote the artisans of South India. Poompuhar and Khadi Gramodyog are other Government-run establishments that showcase the country's artistic talents, from fine woodwork and metal filigree to inlaid stonework and religious figurines. Central Cottage Industries Emporium in Nandanam on Mount Road is another treasure trove of artifacts and handicrafts. From Urja pottery to fabrics from different states of India, Cottage Industries is the store to visit for gifts, bric-a-brac and home décor items.

Upscale stores offering handicrafts in Chennai are Naturally Auroville, Kalpa Druma and Central Cottage Industries Emporium. Naturally Auroville offers plenty of objects de art made with natural locally sourced materials, scented candles, pure essential oils, designer lamps and fine foods. Kalpa Druma on Cathedral Road is a shoppers' delight, with floors of ethnic textiles, handicrafts, gifts, and antique furniture. For the flavor of Chettinad, visit the MRM Foundation in MRC Nagar. It sells rural crafts, textiles and home décor items. Check out Athangudi tiles, Kandaghi sarees and palm leaf baskets. Fabindia has always been synonymous with exquisite Indian wear, organic foods and amazing personal care products.

Check out Amethyst located opposite Sathyam Theatres on Whites Road. Housed in a an old colonial bungalow, replete with checker board marble flooring, high ceiling and old world charm, Amethyst doubles up as a café and exclusive store offering designer clothes, exotic Indian jewelry and more!

The shopping mall such as The City Center offers an awesome 1,50,000 sq. ft. of shopping area. Its ambience seems to be adding a new dimension to the City's looks, what with it promising to be a one-stop entertainment destination.

Lifestyle has opened a huge outlet and offers its distinct shopping options. Landmark too has a major presence here and promises to be a wonderful shopping experience. There are food courts and INOX multiplex cinemas planned here.

Spencer Plaza on Mount Road is a hot favorite particularly with children and teens. The mall is 125,000 sq ft, fully air-conditioned and accommodates more than 400 shops. Located at about half-hour ride from the airport, all the leading international brands have an outlet in Spencer Plaza. Branded apparel shops, reputed jewelry shops, food, grocery, IT products, electronics and entertainment items, healthcare supplies, handlooms and handicraft shops, bookshops provide an overwhelming shopping experience to consumers.

From here, it takes ten minutes to reach shopping complexes of Alsa Mall, Cisons Complex, Fountain Plaza and Prince Plaza in Egmore. Not comparable with Spencer Plaza, these malls still draw youth looking for ethnic outfits, accessories and curio items. Shoppers stop, Globus, Westside, Lifestyle, Landmark are shopping stores that have completely changed the way people window shop and buy. These malls are vast, centrally air conditioned with three or four floors and house branded goods, as well as utility items and restaurants.

Alsa Mall: Alsa Mall was a forerunner in Chennai's list of one-stop shopping haunts. Located on Montieth Road, it houses an assortment of stores, gift shops and boutiques. Head for a relaxing foot massage at a spa located within the mall.

Chandra Metro Mall: Located on Arcot Road in Virugambakkam, Chandra Metro Mall is a more recent addition to the city’s mall culture. It is a relatively smaller shopping hub; offering 5 multiplex theaters of Fame Cinemas. It houses Pantaloons and Food Bazaar, among other stores. Foodies can flock to the food court.

Fountain Plaza on Pantheon Road has been a shoppers' delight for decades. Look around for tailors as well as readymade garments. Pick up your beauty needs and trendy footwear.

With another three nearing completion and many under consideration for approval, Chennai promises an internationally accepted standard of shopping to every prospective customer. The world's first shopping mall dedicated entirely to gold is soon to be opened in the City. Luring the customers to buy branded jewelry, dress jewelry as well as traditional gold seems to be the primary objective of this unique 'only gold mall'.

We summarize the bigger malls in Chennai in a tabular format below: