Mumbai

Typical Indian market in a historic building. While most of Mumbai's shopping areas provide memorable shopping experiences, one of them, Crawford Market in south Mumbai, offers heritage as well. The Crawford Market has a very interesting blend of English architecture and local flavor, and it makes it the must visit place of many visitors to Mumbai. Close to 150 years old, this market was named after Sir Arthur Crawford, who was the first municipal commissioner of Mumbai, during British colonization. Bloody frescoes of Indian farmers working on wheatfields, which are outside the building of Crawford Market, which looks very decidedly British. Now, recently, Crawford Market was renamed as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market. But visitors and locals still prefer to call it Crawford Market. Before the liberalization of the 1990s, this was one of the few reliable places where you could buy trustworthy international brands of cheese, chocolate, and olive oil. While foreign foods are now more commonly available in India, one can still buy the same goods here at discounted prices. Even today, Crawford Market is one of the favorite places to buy fruits, vegetables, and meat. And during summer, you cannot miss the sight of mangoes in this market. And if you have not tried Mumbai's world famous Alphonso mango, you are missing out on something. Right next to Crawford Market is Mangal Das Market, a wholesale textile markets. Now, here, dress fabric and saris can be bought at reasonable prices. Few people know that fabrics for the costumes used in the film, Kama Sutra, were purchased from this very market. In fact, the movie industry's one of the major buyers of this place. Other than food and clothes, there are a host of other products available at the Crawford Market. Like, for example, this entire lane is a plastic market, where you can find anything and everything made out of plastic for household use. While some old timers feel that the market has become too modern, many still believe that it retains its old world charm. I am Premjit Singh, showing you Mumbai.

• published: 31 Jul 2016