Chennai - Post Report Question and Answers
Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Some decent shopping. Antiques, South Indian art, some decent furniture. Most at this post seem to buy a few Indian/regional carpets, which seem nice and good quality. - Jan 2024
Not so much. I heard people used to buy things here, but maybe they picked them up in their travels around the country, but not south India. - May 2023
Nope. South India does not have the handicrafts or fun things that people like to buy in northern India. Quality of new items is low and artwork uninspiring and very religious. Go north. - Apr 2023
You will quickly tire of the local goods here... after a while it all looks the same no matter where you go. - Aug 2021
You can get high-quality picture frames made for very fair prices. If you have any art you have been waiting to frame, bring it with you. - Apr 2021
Yes, carpets, paintings, Chola bronze sculpture, so many cool things. - May 2019
Yes. textiles, silks, oriental carpets, wooden furniture galore - stock up here! - Aug 2018
People tend to buy textiles, woodwork, etc. There are some beautiful rugs, but they're quite expensive. - May 2018
Puja supplies. - May 2016
If you like to shop, you might as well furnish your whole house while you're here. Fabrics (table cloths, bedspreads, sheets, towels, clothing), hand-made furniture, rugs all cheap. - May 2016
Furniture, fabrics, local arts. - Mar 2015
Lots of crafts and fabrics. - Oct 2014
Fabric, furniture, Indian souvenirs. - Oct 2014
There are antiques and shopping in Pondicherry and Southern Tamil Nadu; we spent a lot of money on travel and were still able to save. - Jun 2014
Silk, cottons - so many beautiful fabrics of any colour you can think of. Scarves - cashmere, embroidered, you name it. Antique wooden furniture. Gold and silver jewellery. Pottery. - May 2014
Rugs, fabric, antique furniture, jewelry, framing. - Aug 2013
Fabric, jewelry and furniture is beautiful and inexpensive. - Jul 2012
Good food. Westerners often come and want to buy local South Indian clothes, though we have tried to resist -- the moment folks leave here, they realize they'll never wear the stuff again. - Aug 2011
24 karat gold everything! - Jun 2010
Textiles, antique furniture from Pondicherri, TRAVEL! - Sep 2009
Carvings, cloth, tailor-made clothes are cheap and good. - Aug 2008
