Shopping In Mumbai :

From internationally renowned haute couture to dirt-cheap one-season wonders, intricate jewelry and unique antiques to tawdry gifts and fabulous textiles, Mumbai is known as a shopper's paradise, and you'll find pretty much everything the country has to offer here. If you're shopping on the street or in the markets, take your time, sift and sort, establish authenticity and, if necessary, don't be afraid to bargain hard. That said, bear in mind that (as elsewhere in India) a "bargain," particularly when it comes to jewelry and antiques, is probably a cheap bauble or reproduction -- fakes are a dime a dozen, as are the con men who sell them. Besides the areas described below, you will find that the suburb of Bandra has become a local shopping haven, with Linking Road, Hill Road, and several other streets overflowing with shops and street stalls selling clothes, shoes, and everything else under the sun. In addition, Western-style multistory department stores like Shopper's Stop and Globus are filled with all kinds of garments and fashions. If you're shopping in Bandra, make time to visit the very upmarket Frazer and Haws store (Landmark Building, Pali Naka, Bandra; tel. 022/5675-0200), which carries eclectic and funky silver objets d'art, including sleek idols of Indian gods and goddesses like Ganesha and Laxmi. Also in Bandra are Fab India and dozens of trendy jewelry stores.

Antiques and Crafts - Mereweather Road behind the Taj Hotel has one or two pricey but good antique and craft shops with some interesting items amongst the bric-a-brac. There are also some street stalls selling reproduction antiques in the area, although prices quoted are often ridiculous. 

Clothing - Mumbai is the centre of the Indian clothing trade and caters for all tastes and budgets. ‘Fashion Street’, on M Gandhi Road between Cross Maidan and Azad Maidan, is a row of market stalls where some very good bargains can be found. At the other end of the spectrum, Mumbai is also home to a number of tailors who will make clothes quickly at a reasonable cost. 

Footwear - There's a large number of fairly mediocre shoe stores lining Colaba Causeway. For a much better selection try the stores clustered around Kemp's Corner or the huge number of shoe stalls lining Linking Rd between Bandra and Khar. You can get everything from Kolhapuri chappals and loafers to high-heeled sneakers and white steel-tipped cowboy boots. Metro is the largest of Colaba's many shoe shops. It has a large selection of both men's and women's sandals. Rinaldi Designs is a stylish shoe store, selling designer men's and women's fashion shoes. It's definitely not the place to look for trekking boots. Catwalk has a decent selection of fashionable Indian and imported women's shoes.

Furniture - Furniture For the more adventurous shopper, there is a large amount of Indian furniture for sale in Mumbai, both at dealers and in the bazaars. However the age or worth of purchases cannot be guaranteed – visitors should trust to luck and their eye, haggle fiercely and hope to be rewarded with an exceptional bargain.

Jewellery - Jewellery Mumbai is the commercial centre of India's large diamond industry and a major exporter of gems. The main retail centres are Zaveri Bazaar for gold and diamonds and nearby Pydhoni for silver. Many Indian women still put most of their wealth into jewellery so there's plenty of shiny stuff available. It ranges from simple glass bangles and classical necklaces to ornate folk art and elaborate costume jewellery that requires strong neck muscles and the poise of a princess to wear. 

Markets in Mumbai :

Mumbai has more than 70 markets, and it's worthwhile to spend a couple of hours exploring at least one, not so much for the shopping as for the human spectacle of it all. Flowers are an intrinsic part of Indian culture, and Bhuleshwar Wholesale Flower Market (CP Tank Circle; dawn-noon) is the best place in the city to witness the Indian romance with color and fragrance. Note that according to Hindu beliefs, if you touch or sniff the flowers, you'll ruin them -- so don't. Chor Bazaar (Thieves' Market) (Mutton St., off Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rd.; Sat-Thurs 11am-7pm) conjures up Arabian Nights' cloak-and-dagger intrigue and visions of precious rings sold with the finger of the former owner still attached, but in reality this is a fun place to rummage through an extravagant assortment of antiques, fakes, and junk and get into the rhythm of that favorite Indian pastime: bargaining.

Top Shops in Mumbai :

Ravissant
Think of Ravissant as the Tiffany of India. This shop specializes in exquisite silver, selling gorgeous silver tea sets, delicate filigree bowls and accessories like napkin ring and solid silver photo frames. Some of the tea sets have an Art Deco design element, and the shop also sells a well-edited collection of embroidered shawls (20-35,000 rupees) and cushions. There are two locations in Mumbai; one inside the Taj Mahal Hotel and a larger one just up the road from Soma.

Atmosphere
This sleek store, just around the corner from the Taj hotel, sells a wide range of textiles in a calm, spacious setting. Everything from plain to embroidered silks as well as linen are available for both curtains and upholstery. Expect to pay 1500 rupees a metre for an embroidered silk. If you're planning to buy fabric, do it quick. Ordering can take three days to arrive from their warehouse in Bangalore and it's about a week to make up curtains.

Soma
Soma is one of the best places to stock up on hand blocked textiles in India. The Mumbai location is just a few doors down from Ravissant, located on the second floor of a non-descript building. Everything from quilted tote bags to tablecloths and wash bags and quilts are available at reasonable prices, and there's a separate section for womens and childrens clothes.

Oberoi Shopping Centre
For a pleasant one-stop shopping experience in the heart of Colaba, head to the Oberoi Shopping Centre. Located just behind the Oberoi hotel, the two story shopping centre has polished marble floors and a handful of jewellery and textile shops. Near the entrance to the mall is the Gourmet Shoppe and a few tables- a perfect place for a quick sandwich and a fresh lime soda. Some of the standout shops inside the mall are Shahenaz for fabrics (there are two locations inside the mall); Fantasia, which sells organza curtains and hand woven placemats; and Jilani Furnishing, which can whip up custom made curtains in just a few days. Most silks start at 600 rupees a metre.

FabIndia
FabIndia has several locations around the country, including Jaipur, Chennai and Delhi, but one of the largest is in Mumbai. This two-storey shop sells a wide variety of cotton fabrics for both upholstery and curtains, as well as a line of clothing for men, women and children. There is also a wide range of hand-printed block print tablecloths, bedspreads and napkins, as well as a small selection of furniture. There are several locations in Mumbai.

Yamini
The Bandra location of Yamini has only been open for six months, and is a contemporary store selling all kinds of housewares, including cushion covers, towels, napkins and curtains (ready made and made-to-measure). Most of the fabrics used are cottons from Kerala.

Neelam Jewels
Neelam is owned by Neelam Kothaari, a former actress who decided to do a career switch. Located in the suburb of Bandra, this store sells diamond, semi-precious and precious stone jewellery. There's also a branch in New York City, and some of their pieces have been sold in Sotheby's and Christie's. Everything from tiny diamond flower stud earrings to elaborate wedding jewellery is available. The store is located on Linking Road, across from Pizza Hut.