Where to buy stuff (economically) in Gurgaon

Where can you buy the best and most economical stuff in Gurgaon? The focus being on the economical bit. This post is the result of one late night discussion with twilightfairy, Paavani, MojoSanjay et-al on twitter, immediately after Easyday markets opened on Sohna road. By economical, I mean economical for the middle class and not the affluent 🙂

Cauliflower at the Gurgaon wholesale Vegetable market: On the day of this photo (Jan 2011), wholesale price was Rs.100 for 60-65 kg (3 of the bags in the picture) and retail was Rs.6 to Rs.10 per kg

Groceries

There are grocery shops at every stones throw, and the malls have all the big names. The best “deals” in my opinion are at Big Bazar in Sahara mall, though you have to hunt out the deals (and the store now has a slightly ragged look). Easy Day on Sohna Road is the new kid on the block and offers minor discounts on almost every item ( 50 ps on may items). I do not buy fish and meat from Easy day as they are over priced there. Spencers on mall road has a food court that has a reasonably economical range.

Fish

The cheapest place to buy fish in Gurgaon is the market next to the Sikanderpur Metro Station (opposite Hotel Bristol). I prefer the entrance from the metro station side as it is less smelly, but parking is easier in front of the plant nursery opposite Bristol.

This market functions in the evening and I find the prices to be almost half what one has to pay at the Arjun Marg market (David) or South City 2 A block market (Surya).

If you want more variety, take the metro to the INA market. This market is open all day, has a huge variety and yes, you can bring fish and meat in the metro train. An added advantage is that one of the exit s is right inside the market.

An interesting weekend excursion could be to take the metro to Dilli Haat, cross over to INA market and come back on the metro. I have done this trip many times.

[See update at the end of this post]

Veggies and fruits

If you have a large family or if 3-4 families can share, the best place to buy vegetables fresh and cheap is the wholesale market at Anaj mandi near Hero Honda Chowk. But you have to go early in the morning – before 9 am, though earlier is preferred.

This mandi has three parts – whole sale where prices are really cheap, but you have to buy a sackful of carrots, 17 kg apples, 5 kg grapes, 60 Kg cauliflower, etc, a mid-tail section, where you can buy in multiples of 5 kg and a retail section that costs the same as elsewhere.

If you have no need to buy wholesale, then you should try the market at Sadar bazar, near the Gurudwara, again in the morning. Prices are Ok and the stuff is fresh.

Large format Retailers like Big Bazar, Spencers, Easy day, etc. run special schemes which will get you specific days (eg. Wednesday) or specific items with cheaper prices. But these prices never compare to the anaj mandi market prices.

When prices really shoot up, like they did recently for onions, then Safal (Mother dairy) is the place to go.

Paper plates, etc.

The place to buy this economically is in Vyapar Kendra, near the City Centre Metro station.  Do not buy from the displayed stuff on the ground floor. Sahil Plastics in the basement is the place to go. You can also buy packing material for food stuff, garbage bags, polythene bags, etc. from here.

Sadar Bazar in old gurgaon has quite a few shops that sell these things at reasonable rates, and a few behind the vegetable market, that are even cheaper, but you have to settle for lesser quality,

Homoeo Medicines

There are two Homoeo medical shops in Galleria market (DLF Phase 1) on the first floor. Bhandari has boards on the top floor pointing to the shop. Ki2 is another shop on the same floor. Many believe that German medicines are more effective than Indian ones when it comes to Homoeo. You have to ask specifically for “German” when placing your order (and they are costlier)

Kerala / South Indian Stuff

There are quite a few South Indian / Kerala stores in Gurgaon, but I found the best quality stuff to be had at Balaji store in Vakil market. Vakil market is in the lane besides Mother’s pride, opposite Galleria Market, or near Barbeque Nation.

One interesting aside is that  dry fruits are cheaper in Balaji store than in Big Bazar or Easyday!

Tapioca

Cassava, that staple of the Keralite can be found in almost all kerala shops, but in Balaji Store. The place I would recommend is New Ammus, in Sushant Arcade, Sushant Lok Phase-I, again in the basement. Another attraction of New Ammus is that they run a restaurant that does brisk business is Porotta, fish curry, Chicken curry, Beef fry, et al. The cleanliness is nothing to write home about, but the price is a killer and the taste is passable if not good. It is recommended that you pack the stuff for home consumption.

[Update] They have now shifted the restaurant elsewhere]

Clothes

The Arjun Marg Shopping complex is full of shops selling export reject (and some spuriously branded) clothing. you can get all types and sizes in these shops. Prices were reasonable till recently, but have started moving northwards. That said, even at its best, the prices are no comparison to what can be had at the Sarojini Nagar market.

(Easy day seems to have some good deals going currently on clothes)

If you know of any other outlets that fit the bill, do leave  note in the comments so that others can benefit

[update] I have added more about best bujiyawala and fresh fish  in Gurgaon