Laad Bazaar

Laad Bazaar, also called Choodi Bazaar, is a market of roughly 400 years running west from Charminar toward Chowmahalla Palace in the old city of Hyderabad, Telangana. It began as a market serving the Qutb Shahi court and is still known for lac bangles, which line the shop fronts in glittering rows of red, green and gold, often studded with stones and mirror work. The bazaar also sells Hyderabadi pearls, silver jewellery, traditional attar perfumes, embroidered fabrics, wedding items, brass ware and Nizami-style curios. Visitors walk the length of the street, stopping to watch bangle makers heat and shape the lac, to bargain over pearl strings, and to try samples of attar oils. Side lanes lead to fabric sellers and small eateries, and Irani cafes nearby serve chai and Osmania biscuits. The market is at its most photogenic in the evening, when lights come on and the street fills with shoppers, and in the busy weeks before Ramzan and Eid, when the crowds and stalls stretch late into the night. A visit takes one to two hours, depending on how much shopping is involved. The market is open daily from about 10:30AM to 9:00PM, and some shops close on Fridays. The lanes are narrow and busy, so weekday mornings offer easier browsing, while weekends and festival evenings are extremely crowded. Entry is free, and bargaining is expected, so visitors should offer about half of the first quoted price and be ready to walk away. Pearls should be bought from reputable shops that issue a receipt, and buyers should watch for imitation stones. The market starts at Charminar, so it is easily combined with Mecca Masjid and Chowmahalla Palace. Visitors should carry small cash notes and watch for pickpockets.