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Despite the region’s ethnic, political and cultural diversity, it doesn’t take anything more than the mere mention of Mumbai’s messy real estate to bring its inhabitants together. They say surviving in Mumbai is tough and once you’ve experienced its myriad horrors, you’ll automatically agree with that thought. However, what is even more difficult is trying to rent an apartment that isn’t going to leave you broke or gasping for breath as you sprint from one platform to another. But for students and young working professionals, the process of moving to Mumbai doesn’t really end there.
Once you’ve managed to secure an apartment, you move on to the next step of the process: furniture shopping. Furniture is important, it adds character to an otherwise decrepit Bombay apartment with paint scraping off from unusual places. It punctuates the cracked walls with a sense of familiarity and belonging and serves as a symbol of stability in a city that is changing by the minute. But it’s a very small section of this city’s population that can actually afford to shop from high-end boutique stores. Most of us are looking for quick alternatives that can be bought for cheap, set up overnight, and used indefinitely – or at least till it’s time to move on to bigger and better things in life.
Thankfully, Mumbai has a bunch of such wholesale markets tailored exclusively for our inexpensive needs. From Oshiwara’s antiques to Link Road’s upholstery, there’s nothing you won’t get here, you just have to look. To help you kick-start this adventure, we’ve mapped it all out. So read on, get moving, and remember – to haggle is the key.
How To Get There: Take a train to Jogeshwari on the Western Line, get out on the West side and take a rickshaw to the Oshiwara market which is about 15 minutes away.
With its unbelievable collection of both new and vintage furniture, the Oshiwara market often serves as a satisfying solution for those who can’t always travel to South Mumbai for the best deals. Some even like to call it the ‘mini Chor Bazaar’, although in reality, this place is much more than that. Form rectangle-shaped vintage lights to second-hand wooden furniture to timeless Chinaware and gorgeous chandeliers that seem to have been straight from a Sanjay Leela Bhansali set, there’s nothing you won’t get here. Whether you’re looking for a quaint side table or a daunting yet intricately designed writing desk, you are sure to find something that pleases you. If not, you can always get your furnishings customised the way you like.
If you’re still don’t fine what you need at this furniture market, you can always head over to the PepperFry store that has recently opened up in the the same stretch and gander before making any haphazard purchases online.
Timings: This market is open seven days a week, till 7:30 PM.
HG Recommends: For real vintage treasures, head to Saba Curious.
II. Chor Bazaar
How To Get There: Take the Central line and get down on Sandhurst Road station. From there you can either take a taxi to Chor Bazaar or easily walk as it’s only a 15-minute long distance.
Originally called ‘shor bazaar’ by the British because of how noisy the area would always be, Chor Bazaar is Mumbai’s most popular flea market. And despite the name, not all goods sold here are stolen. Narrow bylanes selling everything from vintage bejewelled dressing tables to luxurious sofa sets and wooden desks, the stuff here is cheap, durable, and definitely, worth the time you’ll have to invest in navigating through the commotion. Look for the mutton street and begin your hunt from there. Even if the price of something seems unbelievably cheap, haggle a little anyway. You can get individual wooden chairs and second-hand beds for as low as INR 1,000. Good bargains always have to be earned and Chor Bazaar is the best place for that.
Timings: Chor Bazaar is open on all days from 5 AM to 9.30 PM. However, there are some shops that open exclusively on Friday so that’s the best day to visit. And weekdays, of course, are less crowded.
HG Recommends: Even though you’ve ventured out for furniture, don’t limit yourself. Chor Bazaar’s collection of antiques like vintage posters, gramophones, record players and other homeware is beyond impressive.
III. Link Road Furniture Market
How To Get There: Take the Western Line to Goregaon station, exit towards the West, and take a rickshaw for Link Road. It’s barely a 2 km stretch, so you can even walk if the weather, traffic, and your own physiology allows you to.
Bangur Nagar, Chincoli Bunder Link Road Market, Link Road market – this market has many names. An exclusively furniture market selling a wide variety of new and old furniture, this market stretches from Inorbit mall to the next signal towards Andheri. Here you get a mix of air-conditioned showrooms selling beautiful handmade carpets as well as regular cramped shops selling not just furniture but also other upholstery and home decor accessories. There’s also a lot of cane and bamboo furniture available here. The prices here are much below what you’d pay at a mall, with the quality remaining unmatched. Most of the stores here deliver furniture to your house and are much less crowded than the likes of Chor Bazaar and Oshiwara Market.
Timings: Open all days except Wednesdays from 11 AM to 8 PM.
HG Recommends: Reach the market by noon just in case there are some shops that open a little later. After all, we wouldn’t want you to come back empty handed and disappointed.
IV. Bandra Station
How To Get There: On the Western Line, take a train that goes to Churchgate and get down at Bandra station. Exit towards the West and ask someone for directions as the market is located very close to the station.
While not an exclusively furniture market per se, the area outside Bandra station has plenty of shops selling second-hand furniture that is both economical and durable. From wooden tables and chairs to steel cupboards and almaris to sofa sets and other home decor accessories, you can get used furniture here for as low as INR 500. This place is ideal for students and bachelors who have just moved to the metropolis and are looking for quick, easy fixes to make their apartment appear for useful and homely. There’s also a whole section of cane furniture that you might have to bargain for.
Timings: Open all seven days a week, from 10 AM to 8 PM.
HG Recommends: If you spend some time bonding with the shopkeepers, you might also get a peek into exclusive imported furniture that can’t always be spotted from outside the shops.
V. Crawford Market
How To Get There: On the Central line, alight at Masjid station and take a rickshaw or walk towards Sir JJ flyover. The market is right near the flyover.
Although Crawford Market is predominantly known for food, spices, condiments, and other grocery supplies sold in wholesale quantities and at dirt cheap prices, there are a few commendable furniture shops you can find here if you have the time and patience to explore your way through the crowd. This is a great place if you’re looking for everyday household items or basic kitchen supplies that will last you a lifetime. Also, if you have pets, then this is just the right place to get some exciting toys, homes, and other accessories for your for non-human friends back home.
Timings: Crawford Market is open from Monday to Saturday till 8 pm in the evening.
HG Recommends: Looking for furniture markets won’t be as easy as stumbling across a dozen grocery shops within the first 10 minutes of arrival so avoid going to Crawford during peak/rush hours.
Feature Image Courtesy: Paroma Soni
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