What Is Chor Bazaar?
Chor Bazaar is a popular market for shopping antiques in South Mumbai where antique and vintage stores congregate. It is one of the most famous spots to find some Indian treasures. If you become an expat in Mumbai, you often get asked if you have visited Chor Bazaar yet.
To learn about Chor Bazaar, I recommend reading the article Photo Tour of Shopping in Chor Bazaar Mumbai on About.com India Tour. The article offers some good pieces of advice.
Here’s a little extract on Chor Bazaar in the article.
“Mumbai’s Chor Bazaar, which literally means “thieves market”, has a fascinating history that spans more than 150 years. Apparently, it was originally called Shor Bazaar, meaning “noisy market”, but “shor” became “chor” because of how the British mispronounced the word. Eventually stolen goods started finding their way into the market, resulting in it living up to its new name! These days it’s famous for antique and vintage items.”
Despite not having been much of an antique or vintage shopper, I have been curious about the famous Chor Bazaar in South Mumbai. It did not sound like a place where you visit by yourself on a random day. Many tourists and expats go there with a tour guide. However, as a mom of a toddler who is not even 2 yet, many tours offered in Mumbai are not very susceptible to my schedule with my cute toddlemonster. Thus, I had not visited Chor Bazaar. Until recently.
One day my friend asked me if I was interested in joining her to go to Chor Bazaar. Needless to say, my answer was YES! Since my friend has already been to Chor Bazaar in the past, I felt comfortable. As a photography enthusiast, I felt very lucky to be able to share the visit of Chor Bazaar with her. Many times she said “Look! How cool!”, then I snapped some shots of the items she mentioned. Nothing like shopping with friends with a good eye for design!
Mutton Street ☆ Street You Need To Go in Chor Bazaar
Mutton Street is known as Chor Bazaar. This is the street you want to be!
My friend first took me to a store that came recommended from her local friend. It’s called TAHERALLY’S. It’s close to the beginning of Mutton Street where we started.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
Isn’t it so true?
MINI GUIDE FOR CHOR BAZAAR
WHERE TO GO
We asked to be dropped off on MS Ali Road by Mutton Street. The landmark on MS Ali Road near Mutton Street is Cafe Paradise in a red building which is on the other side of Mutton Street.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Timing
I recommend going to Chor Bazaar between October and February/March (it starts to get very hot in March/April). As Chor Bazaar is an open air market, I imagine that it would be tough to visit Chor Bazaar during the Monsoon Season. We went in January and it is a very cool season and not too hot, but still by the end of our hour-or-so-long strolling in the open bazaar, I was ready to go somewhere air-conditioned and cool. The Chor Bazaar does not open until 11:00 a.m.
2. What To Take
Water bottle, hat, comfortable walking shoes or sandals
3. Safety
I felt very safe. However, I wouldn’t let your guard down.
4. Dress
As it is in the conservative Muslim area, dressing conservatively (not showing much legs or shoulders) is recommended.
5. Chor Bazaar remains closed on Fridays for the religious practice.
Epilogue
I had a fabulous time exploring on Mutton Street with my friend! I was eyeing on the antique cameras to decorate my home, but they were not cheap to me. I recognized that it was my “want”, not “need”. Especially I just received gifts for Christmas, I could not justify myself for getting something other than items that I need. There were a couple of things that I would have loved to get, but this time, I successfully contained myself.
As for photos, most places say that they do not allow photo taking inside the stores. When I asked the very first store if I could take photos for my blog, they were hesitant. However, they kindly allowed me to take a few photos only.
I hope you enjoyed the photo tour on Chor Bazaar in Mumbai on Chuzai Living and the information I listed on this post is helpful to my readers. Thank you for visiting!!
All the photos were taken with Canon Rebel T3 with a 35 mm lens.
☆Additional Information
Apparently Chor Bazaar does a lot of business with film makers to rent or sell props for movies. You can read an article written about the best place to source props here. I also noticed that Chor Bazaar shop keepers were not willing to go down on prices very much when I negotiated. According to a few sources, Chor Bazaar flourishes enough with the business that comes in from the film making industry, the shop keepers are not desperate to sell their items and thus, are not willing to give away good deals. Whether this is true or not, I find it fascinating. How fun would it be to have a job to come to Chor Bazaar to select props for a movie?
Other Antique Shopping In Mumbai
The Raj Company ☆ Antique shop in Mahalaxmi across the street from Mahalaxmi Race Course
Oshiwara Antique Market in Jogeshwari ☆ Antique market popular among locals
Magnolia ☆ A beautiful store with chic modern antique interior products in Lower Parel
Sanctum ☆ Shop for modern industrial style antique furniture and stylish decor
Moorthy’s ☆ Antique warehouse shop in Tardeo
There were some pretty cool things in those photos. I enjoyed this post.
Thank you, Mani!
I would like to get lost there for a few days xD
♥！ Let me know when you do. I’ll accompany you!
Hehe, awesome! 🙂 Once in Mumbai I will contact you for such nice meet 🙂
🙂 Mumbai has a lot to offer!
Love these photos, Kaho! The old suitcases and antique cameras… Ooh, I think I could spend hours looking around 🙂
I wish you lived in Mumbai so that we can go shopping together!
Amazing! There must be so many treasures hidden in that market just waiting to be found. I love the box Brownie camera.
Yes, that’s a great way to put it! Many treasures are waiting to be found! I liked the Brownie camera, too.
aaa fantastic! I love all the things from this vintage shop…
Thanks, Travel Junkie!!!
Chor Bizarre is definitely one of my fav places to go in Mumbai – I secretly love it when visitors come to stay so I can take them there. Each time I find something new. Great photos!
Thank you! I loved it, too! I am glad I went in February because it was still cooler than now. Even then, though, I felt that after an hour and a half of strolling was long enough for me. Chor Bazaar is like a treasure box, isn’t it.
hi, i’m planning on visiting Chor Bazaar soon, one question, are there real swords available there, cause i need one for a school play
Malvika, thank you for visiting my blog! Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to your question as I did not remembering seeing one. However, that doesn’t mean that there is none. You might have to go there and look. I’m sorry!
Hi Kaho! I just discovered your blog and i love how you’ve captured Chor Bazaar. I’ve lived in Bombay all my life and visited only once. I can’t wait to come back and explore the streets and hopefully get a good bargain the next time I’m back home.
Shaheen, thank you so much for visiting!! I’m honored to see you have visited me!! I have visited your blog and left a comment before. Your blog is beautiful and I love your style. Chor Bazaar is so fun, isn’t it? There are so many places to go shopping in Mumbai! I love living in your home town!!!
Visiting Mutton Street tomorrow with some of my friends! It’s our first time there. I encouraged them because I am planning on exploring Mumbai before I go to a design college and unfortunately all good design schools are out of Mumbai. So yeah hopefully all goes well and I get in some good bargains :’)
Good luck!! I hope you’ll have great finds!! Good luck in your future with your design school as well!!
The visit was pretty awesome. Got some great pictures there. Check out my Instagram handle- vikrampradhan_
I’ve uploaded most of the pictures there 😀
I just went to visit your Instagram. You have taken beautiful photos in Chor Bazaar. You’re a great photographer!! I am glad you had a great time!!
I have started an online antique shop with exclusive collection from chor bazar .
whats the link?
Do you mind explaining which link or what information you’re referring to? Thanks!
Can you give me details of Antiques you having.
Arif, please contact individual shops in Chor Bazaar. I am not affiliated with Chor Bazaar. Therefore, I cannot answer that question. Thank you for visiting my blog!
You have really taken us there with your exhaustive photos..
Thank you, Deepa, for your compliment!
Woah i live in Mumbai (suburbs ) and i dint know about this place . I stumbled upon this article since i wanted to buy old film camera and as your great photos suggesst there are plenty of them there. Needless to say ill be visiting it this week . Thanks a lott!!
Manan, thank you for the comment? There are a plenty of old film cameras in Chor Bazaar. You might want to look around to get the best deal. It’ll take some time, but I hope you’ll enjoy the process! I hope you’ll have a fun visit!!
wow! i was totally looking for a guide to chor bazaar and i found an entire visual guide here!excellent photos!
Thank you! I hope you will find this post helpful and find something you enjoy the visit at Chor Bazaar!
We were filming in Mumbai last year and met Mohammed Shafi, who’s in one of the above photos of Mutton Street. We chatted, and he was so lovely that we made this short film about him. You can view it here: https://vimeo.com/151162654
Dan, thank you so much for sharing the beautiful video about Mohammed Shafi! That is so special!!!
This is a beautiful article. I loved every pic. I am planning to visit as soon as possible. Just out of curiosity, how much does the antique cameras cost? I would love to have one of them in my collections!
Arya, thanks for the comment! The ones I asked were 5000 Rs. and the shop keeper was not willing to come down on the price. If you speak Hindi, maybe you get a different price. Good luck!!
Can i get a 50mm or a telephoto canon lenses there at lowest price ??
Suraj, thanks for visiting my blog. Honestly I have no idea. I’m sorry! However, I would say the prices there would not be the lowest.
Hey, I am mesmerized by your website and your collectibles at home. You are doing such great working by finding those little treasures across Mumbai and sharing with your readers. Thanks a lot. I just wanted to ask you one thing; which place is better to buy a metal trunk( to be used as coffee table): Chorbazar or Crawford market. I see that you have purchased some very good trunks from Crawford, but i believe even Chor Bazar would have something good to offer.
Which one would you suggest??
It depends. I picked two shops. I only know these two: Gujrat Trunk Depot & Janata Trunk Depot. Gujrat, the trunk shop in Crawford market can be a hit or miss. When I went, they had a great collection, but when my friends went later, they hadn’t had a good stock in a while. The one near Chor Bazaar is smaller compared to the one in Crawford. They have pretty colors and their trunks are slightly smaller than Gujrat. The colors seemed a bit nicer at Janata Trunk Depot, so I like them for that reason. I hope this is helpful!!
Thanks for the update 🙂
You are welcome!
I collect antique bottle and would like to purchase a few while I am in Mumbain next month. I am most interested in seventeenth century British black glass bottles. I will be arriving the second week of July so please contact me if you have antique bottles available. Thank You
Darwin, I hope you will find seventeenth century British black glass bottles at Chor Bazaar. Unfortunately, I have no information about stores with specific items and Chor Bazaar is like a flea market in some way, so you just have to go there and walk around to find what you are looking for. Good luck!
Hi..I m looking for glow box on rental besis. Can I get the things on rental?
Please ask the store in Chor Bazaar as I have no idea. Good luck!
Hii I wana sell an old antique kerosene lamp and a pair of old antique bulb shades ….can u plz suggest wer I can sell it wid a good price…. Thank u
Cheraag, I was just a tourist in Chor Bazaar, so honestly I have no idea. I think you might have to go there and talk to the store keepers yourself. I’m sorry I cannot help! Good luck!
This was suuuuuch a helpful post on chor bazaar! Our uber driver didn’t know where to drop us off, and so your location map is also super helpful. Thanks for this!
I am so glad you found my post helpful! I found a small tip like this that I got from my friend was really helpful, so I wanted to share that with others. Thank you for your time to leave a comment on my blog!
Hi, I have a huge Coins collection + old Keys collection which I want to sell all together. As well some antiques. If you know anyone interested pls let me know via email. Thank You ..
1 Ashtray (brass) with design
2 Glass Ashtrays 2
3 Burmese Ruby (½ Carat)
4 Canada & USA 2X2 Photo Slides of 1950’s
5 Car Models
6 Coins collection 1516
7 Old Keys 120
8 Curios & old Stationery
9 Engineering Geometry Set box of 1960’s
10 HMT Kohinoor watch (working)
11 Ivory show pieces 5 (miniature)
12 Leather Hand Bag with design
13 White Metal glasses (set of 6) with design
14 Wood Tea Coasters 7 (designed)
15 ‘Violin’ shape bottle (brown)
16 Table Lamp 1½ ft. with lower & top painted glass & centre brass (bulb glows)
I am sorry to tell you that I am not able to help. Good luck!
That’s the beauty of the place, I never failed to found treasure in places like these.
They do seem to have loads of treasures tucked in every corner of each store. Thanks for your comment!
I would like to buy TAJMAHAL antic pices in marble Plse advice where I will gate cheap rate .
I don’t have the information. I hope you will find out.
Loved seeing all the images. But is it still the same in 2024? Or did it lost the charm? (specially the antique section)
Thank you. I’m not sure. I have not been back there since. I hope they still exist and the charm is still there.