Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka and India's technology hub, a high-altitude city of gardens, lakes, palaces, and a famously inventive food and craft-beer scene. Colonial-era cantonment avenues, Tipu Sultan's fort, and the Lalbagh Botanical Garden sit alongside glass-walled tech parks and the cafes of Indiranagar and Koramangala.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Mysore silk sarees
Pure silk sarees woven in Karnataka with gold zari borders, sold with the Silk Mark or KSIC guarantee.
Price: INR 3,000-30,000 (approx $31-312 USD)
Where: Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation showrooms, Chickpet, Cauvery Emporium
Sandalwood and rosewood crafts
Carved sandalwood figures, incense, oils and rosewood inlay pieces, a Karnataka speciality.
Price: INR 500-25,000 (approx $5-260 USD)
Where: Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium, MG Road
Channapatna toys
Lacquered wooden toys from the town of Channapatna, about 60 km from Bengaluru.
Price: INR 150-3,000 (approx $2-31 USD)
Where: Cauvery Emporium, Commercial Street, Indiranagar boutiques
Karnataka filter coffee
Freshly roasted Chikmagalur and Coorg coffee, often sold ground for filter brewing.
Price: INR 150-1,200 (approx $2-12 USD)
Where: Coffee Board outlets, Gandhi Bazaar, supermarkets
Spices and tea
Cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and masalas from the Western Ghats.
Price: INR 100-1,500 (approx $1-16 USD)
Where: KR Market, Russell Market, Malleshwaram
Mysore pak and Dharwad peda
Traditional ghee-based sweets from Karnataka.
Price: INR 100-800 (approx $1-8 USD)
Where: Gandhi Bazaar, Jayanagar, Malleshwaram
Bidriware
Black metal inlaid with silver from Bidar, sold as vases, trays and boxes.
Price: INR 500-8,000 (approx $5-83 USD)
Where: Cauvery Emporium, MG Road
Mysore and Tanjore paintings
Gold-leaf paintings of deities in the traditional Mysore style.
Price: INR 1,500-40,000 (approx $16-417 USD)
Where: Cauvery Emporium, Chitrakala Parishath
Ilkal and Molakalmuru sarees
Handwoven cotton-silk sarees from north Karnataka.
Price: INR 1,500-12,000 (approx $16-125 USD)
Where: KSHDC and Chickpet
Silver and temple jewellery
Traditional Karnataka silver anklets, bangles and temple-style gold plated jewellery.
Price: INR 500-15,000 (approx $5-156 USD)
Where: Chickpet, Jayanagar, Commercial Street
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Commercial Street
Bengaluru's best-known street market, a long lane of clothing stores, shoe shops and jewellers where prices run from stall level to branded showrooms.
Where: Shivajinagar / MG Road area
Hours: Daily approx 10:30-21:30
Chickpet Market
The old city's wholesale textile and sari district, packed with shops selling Mysore silk, Kanchipuram silk and cotton fabrics.
Where: Old city, near City Market
Hours: Mon-Sat approx 10:00-20:00; many shops closed or reduced on Sunday
KR Market (City Market)
A large wholesale market with a covered hall and a flower market that is one of the biggest in South India, most photogenic at dawn.
Where: City Market, old Bengaluru
Hours: Daily approx 05:00-20:00; flower trade busiest before 09:00
Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium
The Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation's fixed-price emporium on MG Road, stocking sandalwood, rosewood inlay, silks and Channapatna toys.
Where: MG Road, Central Bengaluru
Hours: Mon-Sat approx 10:00-19:30; closed Sunday and public holidays
Russell Market
A colonial-era covered market in Shivajinagar built in 1927, popular for fresh produce, spices, fish and meat.
Where: Shivajinagar
Hours: Daily approx 06:00-20:30
Gandhi Bazaar
A traditional market street in Basavanagudi selling flowers, fruit, brass and copperware and sweets, surrounded by heritage restaurants.
Where: Basavanagudi, South Bengaluru
Hours: Daily approx 07:00-21:00
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Commercial Street
One of Bengaluru's oldest and busiest shopping streets, running for about a kilometre of clothing, footwear, jewellery, fabric and accessories stores, from small stalls to branded showrooms.
Best for: Clothing, fabric, footwear, accessories
Chickpet and Avenue Road
The wholesale heart of the old city, with dense lanes selling silk sarees, gold, bangles, fabrics and stationery. Avenue Road is known for books and printing supplies.
Best for: Silk sarees, fabrics, gold, wholesale goods
KR Market (City Market)
A sprawling wholesale market for flowers, fruit, vegetables and spices with a Victorian-era hall, busiest in the early morning and one of Asia's largest flower markets.
Best for: Flowers, spices, fruit, photography
MG Road and Brigade Road
Bengaluru's central commercial spine with international brands, bookshops such as Blossoms on Church Street, government emporia and cafes.
Best for: Books, government emporia, brand shopping
Gandhi Bazaar
A traditional market street known for flowers, fruit, vegetables, brass and copper vessels, sweets, and the old-city cafes such as Vidyarthi Bhavan nearby.
Best for: Flowers, brass items, sweets, local groceries
Jayanagar 4th Block
A planned residential-commercial complex with fixed-price fashion, jewellery, bookshops and traditional sweet shops, popular with local families.
Best for: Fashion, silks, sweets, local brands
Indiranagar 100 Feet Road
A tree-lined boutique and cafe street with independent designer stores, home decor, and craft breweries.
Best for: Designer boutiques, home decor, cafes
Malleshwaram 8th Cross
A heritage neighbourhood with traditional silk sari shops, brass and pooja items, flower vendors and long-established sweet stalls.
Best for: Silks, pooja items, sweets, temple flowers
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Orion Mall at Brigade Gateway
A large mall in Rajajinagar with international brands, a multiplex, a food court and rooftop dining, adjoining the Brigade Gateway complex.
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
Phoenix Marketcity
One of the city's biggest malls, with over 250 brands, a multiplex, ice rink and large food court, close to the IT corridor.
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
UB City
A luxury retail and dining complex housing international fashion labels, high-end restaurants and rooftop bars.
Hours: Daily 11:00-22:00
Garuda Mall
A centrally located mall near MG Road with mainstream brands, a multiplex and food court.
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
Mantri Square Mall
A large mall with anchor brands, a multiplex and a metro connection at Sampige Road station.
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
Forum Mall Koramangala
One of Bengaluru's older malls, a Koramangala landmark with retail, cinema and dining.
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
Phoenix Mall of Asia
A large mall on the Bellary Road route to the airport, with multi-brand retail and entertainment.
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected at Commercial Street, Chickpet, KR Market, Gandhi Bazaar and roadside stalls, but not in malls, branded stores or government emporia such as Cauvery.
A counter-offer of 50-60 percent of the first price is a common starting point at street stalls, with the final price usually landing at 60-75 percent.
Comparing prices at two or three shops before buying silk, jewellery or handicrafts avoids overpaying.
Pure silk purchases should carry the Silk Mark or KSIC certificate; ask for a bill.
Sandalwood is government-regulated; buy finished items from certified emporia and keep the invoice.
Start the negotiation politely, smile, and walk away if the price is not right; a better price is often offered.
Weekday afternoons are quieter and give better negotiating time than weekends.
Carry small notes; change is often short at smaller stalls.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Payment: Cards and UPI are accepted in malls, emporia and most shops, but foreign-issued cards cannot use UPI QR codes. Street stalls and older markets prefer cash.
Opening Days: Most Bengaluru shops open between 10:00 and 21:30, six or seven days a week. Government emporia such as Cauvery close on Sundays and public holidays, while KR Market opens from the early hours. Malls open daily.
Haggling Etiquette: Haggling is friendly and expected in street markets. Once a price is agreed, backing out is considered poor form.
Tax Refund: Tourists can claim GST refund schemes only at limited airport outlets; most shopping is not refundable. Keep bills for large purchases and export documentation for restricted items such as sandalwood.
Airport Shopping: Kempegowda International Airport at Devanahalli has duty-free and Karnataka handicraft outlets in the departures area, convenient for last-minute gifts but priced higher than city emporia.