Higginbothams

Higginbothams is one of India's oldest bookshops, founded in 1844, and its Anna Salai (Mount Road) branch in the LIC Building is a long-standing landmark of central Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The shop sells new books across general fiction, non-fiction, children's titles, textbooks, Tamil literature, regional history and travel guides, as well as stationery and some magazines. For visitors, its value is in the range of Tamil Nadu and South India titles: Tamil-language classics, English translations of Tamil writing, books on Chola temples and Dravidian architecture, and maps and guidebooks that are harder to find in airport shops. Prices are printed on the book covers, ranging from about ₹100 for paperbacks to ₹3,000 for large illustrated volumes.

As a book retailer, the question of authentic versus tourist trinkets does not apply in the usual way: stock is new, printed books from established publishers, and genuine copies carry fixed maximum retail prices, so bargaining is not part of the culture. Discounts, where offered, are usually small and tied to promotions. Payment by cash, cards and UPI is generally accepted. India does not run a routine tourist GST refund, and books are in any case taxed at a very low rate or exempt, so no refund process is relevant for most purchases.

The atmosphere is quiet and old-fashioned compared with the nearby malls, with browsing aisles, staff who will search for titles and a steady flow of students, office workers and collectors. On-site food is not a feature, but Anna Salai and the nearby Spencer Plaza area offer coffee shops, bakeries and South Indian restaurants within a short walk. The shop is generally closed on Sundays, and hours are approximately 10AM to 7PM on other days, so visitors should confirm before making a special trip. Visitors who want Tamil literature or regional history are advised to ask the staff for titles by author or publisher, since shelves are organised by category and Tamil sections can be found separately from English ones. A visit pairs naturally with the Poompuhar emporium and Spencer Plaza, both on Anna Salai.