Shopping @ Weekends!!!

Many of my weekends in Pune are spent shopping with my roommates, colleagues or friends.. So, I thought why not publish a post on shopping @ Pune!!

Shopping in Pune can be quite an experience! There is nothing you won't or cannot find here…you just have to have the eye for it! Or two eyes for that matter.. lol.. Pune with its blend of Indian and Western cultures is a paradise for all shoppers catering to each and every individual. Added to the fact that Pune is located close to Mumbai, which is the fashion capital of India, it sure has a lot to offer..

There have been a few instances wherein I have left my place around 11:30 am (after a very lazy I-don’t-wanna-get-out-of-bed stint) and gone shopping only to find the shops closing. Therefore, one thing I’ve learnt is to remember ‘the snooze time’ which is between 1.00 and 4.00 p.m., where the shopkeepers take their afternoon siesta! The best time to shop therefore is in the evenings as Pune sure has a very extreme climate, unlike Goa which is much more pleasant although the temperature keeps getting hotter..

M.G.Road, in Camp serves not only as a shoppers haven but also as a perfect place to window shop! Every Saturday & Sunday the whole road is closed to traffic and thrown open to people so that one can take full benefit of the same minus the traffic jams. MG Road on weekends is therefore called ‘Walk In Plaza’ and is an initiative by the authorities to help gear up business for the small shops and restaurants. There are a lot of shops wherein you’ll find huge banners with the magic word ‘SALE’!!! But before you let your purse strings loose remember not to get carried away by the simple 4 letter devilish word. The reason being once you’re a regular visitor on M.G. road, you’ll find that these banners are put up 365 days in a year!! ;-) Smart Marketing kaput..

There is also a Fashion Street in Camp which unlike the one in Mumbai is a small hadda of narrow bylanes within the area which go zig zag.. But it sure makes a very pleasant visit as one can browse for little trinkets which won't last more than a wear which makes it an interesting shopping experience by itself! Bursting at its seams on a crowded evening, you sure need to be able to develop a skill to move across the narrow kiosks :p Don’t look at me!! I don’t push..

Anyway, most of my shopping is confined to the shopping malls so I don’t really get attracted to these shops. The main shopping malls in Pune are Pune Central, Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons, West Side, Big Bazaar, KK Bazaar, etc etc to name a few.

These malls have everything from branded goods & designer outfits to cheaper alternatives (or clever duplicates for that matter). Shopping @ weekends has a disadvantage as all the malls are very crowded. But there is an advantage too; it also means you burn a lot of calories going to different floors and waiting in the ‘oh so big’ line at the cash counter.

Then of course there are a lot of eateries in and around the malls which means I can have my favourite flavour of ice-cream.. (Black Currant) before heading back to my room.

Oh and before I forget about the snaps I’ve posted with this post.. are both from Pune Central.

Anyway, with all the pros and cons of shopping in Pune, every shopping spree is a delight especially since there is a lot of choice and the price is lower when compared to shopping in Goa. Till next time byeeeee…