There goes a popular saying that shopping is the best therapy. Who in this world doesn’t love to shop and specially when we visit a new place we love to explore the local market, buy a thing or two, take gifts and momentous for our loved one back home. So I have been visiting Pondicherry since past two years, and I have found out that being a tourist place it has got lot of stores from where you can shop. There are similar kind of shops that sells the same stuff just you need to strike the right bargain. Also there is not much opportunity for street shopping like the ones you have in Sarojini Nagar in Delhi , New Market in Kolkata or our very own Fancy Bazar in Guwahati. Here are listed five places from where you can shop the choicest of things you want to.

Ultimate Guide To Shopping In Pondicherry

POTHYS

The one place to top my list is none other than the renowned store named POTHYS. Its located in Street. Many of my friends keep on asking me from where I buy my sarees, I just have one answer for them they are all from POTHYS. Since past three years I have been stocking sarees from the same. POTHYS have two stores, one in Chennai and one in Pondicherry. It’s a huge multi-storied building. First two floors are only meant for Sarees, remaining floors are for other ethnic wear for both men, women and children, there is a floor for grocery and kitchen ware. The saree section is what that interests me, you get the trendiest of sarees, from party wear to regular wear, to wedding collection.

They have huge stock of handloom sarees from all over India. Counters are there for each variety of handloom sarees that originate from different states of our country like Kanchi cotton, Chettinad Cotton, Andhra Cotton, Ikkats from Orissa, Taanth sarees from Kolkata just to name a few. They have a large variety of beautiful silk sarees. During the month of July the Adi Sale goes on and you can avail huge discounts and also free gifts. The saree ranges from Rs100 to as high as your budget can be. You name it and they have it. Check this saree HERE I am wearing its from POTHYS 

JAIN STREET

Jain street looks best when you visit at night. Brightly colored stores, it’s the main commercial hub of Pondicherry. From handmade items, artifacts, to home decors, apparels, shoes, jewelry stores, accessories, etc. you will find it all. There are also many small stalls all over the streets that sells earrings and other jewelry items but make sure to bargain.

AUROSHIKHA

This store is my personal favorite store. Auroshikha is a unit of Sri Aurobindo Ashram. There is a boutique in 28, Rue de la Marine Puducherry. Here you can purchase incence sticks, scented candles, scented sachets, perfumes, essential oils, holders, handmade herbal soaps of neem, tulsi etc and various other decorative items. The price is very reasonable as such you can buy in huge quantities for gifting your friends, relatives or colleagues.

CASABLANCA

Situated in 165 , Mission Street, Heritage Town Puducherry, I found this store quite interesting as they have quite a good collection of various popular brands. It’s a three storied boutique with a café and a pizzeria on the first floor. You can buy apparels for men, women and children, home decorative items, crookeries, bags, accessories, etc. They have a cute section where you can buy coffee mugs printed with cute captions. They also have a section where items from renowned brand CHUMBAK is there.

KALKI Boutique in Auroville

When you visit Auroville, if you are a shopping lover than KALKI boutique is sure to attract you. They have some classic pieces of outfit, home decor items, bags, jewelries,acccessories,various crochet items,  aromatherapy and essential oils, incense sticks, scented candle and many more. Prices are little bit on the higher side, but the items are really exquisite. There are many more boutiques but I found Kalki the best.

CRAFT MELA

An Art and craft mela or fair was going on in Pondicherry, near the Gandhi Mandapam or Gandhi Statue. There is a market, just nearby there is a space where Craft Mela was going on. I am not sure whether It’s still going on or not, but my sister who stays in Puducherry told me that throughout the whole year some or the other kind of art and craft exhibition cum sale is conducted in that particular market. When in Pondicherry you make visit as you never know what awaits your luck. While I was there the craft mela had everything that I yearned from, from home décor stuffs, lights, Handloom kurtas made of ikkat, kalamkari etc fabric, various kind of fabrics for making blouses or other clothing, sarees, dupattas, accessories, handmade jewelries and what not. The price range was also very reasonable. Kurtas were priced between 500-1000 INR.

That was all, please share your shopping experience in Pondicherry too in the comments section below. Also you can read more about Pondicherry, a real verdict to be precise, you can check HERE.