Where to go shopping in Kochi, India

Kochi or Cochin, popularly known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea” is a beautiful city in Kerala on the western Malabar Coast of India. The city cherishes Mother Nature and is definitely a traveler’s paradise! The straddling backwater, the coconut groves, shopping destinations and the authentic Kerala cuisine will definitely make you trip to Kochi again and again. If you are planning a trip to Cochin, here is out guide to shopping in Kochi.

M G Road

The most important commercial center in Cochin is at the M.G road, which is short for Mahatma Gandhi road. Here, you can buy stuff ranging from clothes to cosmetics to knick-knacks. The road is lined with small and big shops and many shops selling spices which are among the best places to shop in kochi.

The most popular items that are bought by tourists are handicrafts, spices and nuts. In handicrafts, the most commonly used raw materials are coir, brass, copper, bamboo, etc. Kairali Emprium at M G Road is one of the best place to shop for artifacts, clothes and crafts which are all typical to Kerala. A Kathakali mask makes a nice souvenir and comes in small, medium and large sizes and is available at Kairali Emporium. You can also look at large retail showrooms like Seematti, jayalakshmi Silks and Chennai Silks to get a taste for fashion and the finest quality sarees and other exquisite range of clothes and fabrics.

Lulu Mall Kochi

This biggest mall in India (in terms of land area) is undoubtedly the one-stop destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment in Cochin and definitely comes in the top of the list of shopping malls in Kochi. The Lulu Mall Kochi houses a wide range of national and international fashion and merchandise outlets like Zodiac, William Penn, Wills Lifestyle, Creyate etc. The Lulu Mall food court is exceptionally huge and can seat 3000 persons at a time. Other than western fast food, LuLu Mall Kochi has Vazhayila, Anjappar and Doner Kabab for those with a desi palette.

Bazaar Road

Running from Fort Cochin to Mattancherry, this two kilometer stretch of road is where Kerala’s commodities are sold. This is a narrow section of road filled with tiny open-fronted shops advertising wholesale, retail or commission sales. Green cardamom, Pepper, Cinnamon, brown cardamom, cloves, bay leaf and other unique things to buy in Kochi are all on offer in the shops here. Try and pick well-sealed packets rather than open spices as the vacuum packed spices will keep fresh longer.

There are many shops along Bazaar Rd, selling spices, pulses etc and is much cheaper to buy here than in Jew Town, where everything is more tourist-orientated. Some are actually whole-salers, but there are plenty shops selling small quantities of spices as well.This is also best option to buy great souvenirs to carry back from Kerala.

Oberon Mall

Oberon Mall is the first full format Mall in Kerala with Multiplex theatre, indoor gaming zone and one of the largest glass domes in South India and is among the most happening shopping malls in kochi. The mall houses shops that offer branded wear and other items, apart from food courts and amenities for children to play.

Marine Drive

One can get an amazing collection of readymade items and cotton items on the Marine Drive road and the GCDA shopping compleX. One great thing about shopping in Cochin is that there are many varieties of cotton clothes that would fetch high prices in Western shops. This means that a lot of them make it onto market stalls in Cochin and with a bit of clever bargaining and ‘bundling’ you will get some great buys for a fraction of what they would cost back in your country. There are many fast food joints and cafes on the roadside and one can always stop there to munch on some eatables while on your shopping spree.

Read more: 10 most beautiful states to visit in India

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