Chennai shops in layers: colonial-era trading streets in George Town, silk showrooms that move tonnes of Kanjeevaram in T Nagar, and quiet Alwarpet bungalows turned concept stores. Three days, cash bazaars to fixed-price emporia.
The wholesale grid behind NSC Bose Road wakes at 09:00: Godown Street for cotton yardage by the metre, Anderson Street for paper and stationery, Chinna Kadai Street for brass lamps. Cash only, shutters down by 20:00, most shops shut Sunday.
A long strip of tin-roofed stalls run since 1969 by Burmese-Tamil repatriate families: imported electronics, Bluetooth speakers, teak lacquerware, perfumes and film DVDs. No receipts and no warranty, so test everything at the counter first.
Chennai's Marwari-Gujarati quarter. Mint Street sells silver anklets and toe rings by weight, Nainiappa Naicken Street stocks wedding fabric and zari trim, Ramanathan Street handles dry fruit and namkeen sold from open sacks.
Sir Thyagaraya Road's pavement market, rebuilt in 2019 into a wide pedestrian plaza with licensed hawker booths: Kolhapuri sandals, oxidised jewellery, cotton kurtas and phone cases. Trading runs until about 21:30, busiest after dark.
A 1920s bungalow set in a walled garden, Chennai's original concept store. Racks carry Indian labels like Anavila and Rahul Mishra alongside handloom linen saris, ceramics and stationery; the verandah café opens onto old rain trees. Daily 10:00-20:00.
Part gallery, part shop: reproduction Tanjore-style panels, vintage Madras photographs, Bidri metalwork and hand-bound notebooks displayed across two floors, with a bistro attached for the lunch break between stops.
A converted warehouse holding Anokhi's Chennai store — Jaipur hand-block-printed cotton quilts, wrap dresses, napkins and table runners — plus a first-floor café and a small crafts annexe. Doors close at 20:00.
Chennai's boutique high street packs Evoluzione's multi-designer floors, Kanakavalli for handwoven Kanjeevaram sold by weaver and village, Amrapali silver and the Ispahani Centre stores into a 600m stretch of shaded pavement.
The Tamil Nadu state handicrafts emporium: Swamimalai lost-wax bronzes, Thanjavur gold-leaf glass paintings, palm-leaf work, Kancheepuram silk and rosewood inlay, all at fixed government rates with in-store packing and export shipping.
India's oldest bookshop, trading since 1844 from a red-brick Anna Salai building. Two floors cover Tamil literature in English translation, Madras Presidency history, Carnatic music titles and a secondhand section near the stairs.
India's largest artists' commune, founded 1966 on ten acres off the East Coast Road by the Madras Art Movement. Two galleries and artist-run studios sell originals, terracotta figures and copper repoussé straight from the makers. Closed Mondays.
South India's largest mall, 1.5 million sq ft over five levels: Indian labels including Fabindia, Nicobar and Forest Essentials sit alongside international chains, with air conditioning that matters after a day on the coast road.