Chor Bazaar

You're Reading

Synopsis

You’ll find everything from mobile phones to motorcycle parts – pretty much anything that you’re determined enough to seek out at this market

If you’re a Bollywood junkie, you can’t afford to give Mumbai’s infamous Chor Bazaar (literally thieves market) near Mumbai Central, a miss. You’ll find everything from mobile phones to motorcycle parts – pretty much anything that you’re determined enough to seek out. It’s also a treasure trove of Bollywood memorabilia including old movie posters and LPs and even rare books and magazines. Not surprisingly it’s one of the largest flea markets in India and a major tourist attraction for those who want to explore places beyond the obvious. The word ‘chor’ means ‘thief’ in Hindi and Marathi and hence the name. Interestingly, the name of the market was originally called ‘Shor Bazaar’ meaning ‘noisy market’ and the current name is said to have come from a British mispronunciation. The market finds a mention in many popular novels: one of them is Rohinton Mistry’s ‘Such a Long Journey’, where he refers to the market as, “not a nice place”.