Shopping At Local Bangalore Markets

Being a food blogger, I love to buy grocery. I pick the grocery every week and fill my kitchen pantry. But apart from buying grocery in malls and doing online shopping, I love to hand pick some of the organic and exotic produce from the local markets. I believe that the street vendors have some of the best and freshest produce. This includes seasonal fruits, dry fish, spices, spice mixes, etc.

I had always heard about the famous K R Market, Bangalore also known as City Market. Once along with my spouse and some friends, I participated in a walkathon at Cubbon Park, post which we all decided to go for a walk at the K R Market. I was impressed by the various things sold there. Right from fruits to vegetables everything was sold at a whole sale price.

I also found some street vendors who sold some spices like bay leaves and turmeric roots packed in small sachets. Along with this I also discovered a new spice which they use in the special pulaos and biryanis in Bangalore. It looked like a big clove which was an inch in size. Apart from this, there is a special flower market where different varieties of flowers are sold. My friend bought bunches of red roses for a Pooja at home.

Even things like agarbattis, karpur, haldi, kumkum, batti, rangoli powder, coconuts and each and every item needed for Pooja was sold there. Every need of a common man can be fulfilled from this market. The market is not like any mall. It is like a small village where there are small streets which leads us to different areas where certain types of things are being sold. I also found a candle vendor who sold candles of different sizes. A long and thick candle costed me Rs.80 or 90 and lasted a year.

In certain shops, pre-mixed spice powders were also being sold. These were homemade and were sold at reasonable prices. You should definitely buy these. If you want to cook the famous lemon rice of Bangalore, you can buy the spice mix meant only for lemon rice and make yummy lemon rice at home. These powders are preservative free and the taste is authentic.

Apart from the City Market, you should also visit the Russel Market. I belong to Goa and love fish. If you want to buy the freshest fish and meat, you should visit the Russel market where you will find everything that is needed to cook a non-veg meal. You will also find readymade homemade powders and pastes needed for marinating fish and meat.

Another place worth a visit is Chickpet. This is a place meant for wholesale shopping and you will find each and everything there. There are special areas where spices like cloves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, red chilies of various types and heat, tamarind, etc. are sold in kilos. Dry fruits are also being sold here at throw-away prices.

When to visit these markets? Chickpet is closed on Sunday. But you should visit City Market and Russel Market only on a Sunday as this is the day when the best is being sold and at whole sale rates. And yes, don’t forget to bargain. Keep your wallets safe and beware of pick-pocketers.