Laad Bazaar

Laad Bazaar (Telugu: లాడ్ బజార్, Urdu: لاد بازار) or Choodi Bazaar (Telugu: చూడి బజార్, Urdu: کھودی بازار) is a very old market popular for bangles located in Hyderabad. It is located on one of the four main roads that branch out from the historic Charminar.

Laad meaning lacquer is used to make bangles, on which artificial diamonds are studded. In this 1-kilometre (0.62 mi)-long shopping strip, most of the shops sell bangles, saris, wedding related items, and cheap jewelry.

History

This market is very old, in operating since the time of the Qutb Shahis and the Nizams. It is close to landmarks such as Charminar, Makkah Masjid and Chowmahalla Palace .

Shopping

Laad Bazaar is the main market for bangles, it is popular for bangles, semi-precious stones, pearls, saris, brocade, velvet and gold embroidered fabrics, traditional Khara Dupattas, lacquer bangles and perfumes.

The narrow lane is filled with burkha-clad women, bangle shops and old buildings with wooden balconies, bargaining and haggling is part and parcel of this market. Shopkeepers employ "beckoning" tactics, placing an employee at the entrance of the store beckoning passers-by to enter their shop.^[1]

Many stores are furnished with a clean, soft cotton mattress that covers the entire floor. Customers sit on the soft cotton mattress without shoes, lean against a wall with a round pillow and the sales person presents all items on the floor. All business is conducted on this floor and often other employees use the padded area in the back, as they may be sorting or sewing.

Image:Hyderabad Street Market.jpg|thumb|220px|Auto rickshaws near Laad Bazar]] Auto rickshaws and cars are barred entrance from Charminar end (the preferred entrance) of the strip due to the narrow street being crowded, and only pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and scooters, and sometimes cycle-rickshaws are permitted to enter.

Southeast of Laad Bazar lie the palaces built by different Nizams including the Chowmahalla Palace.

Reference list

External links

• Picture of the bazaar
• Bangles on display
• Satellite picture by Google Maps

Coordinates: 17°21′43″N 78°28′22″E / 17.361923°N 78.472842°E