CHENNAI: There is a struggle, initially, to find a free parking spot at the entrance to the weekly Friday ‘Sandhai’ at Pallavaram. We finally find a spot, pay our parking ticket (`10) and enter the moving mass of shoppers, dodging the stray buffaloes and dogs. Though it’s only 8 am, the place is bustling with early customers. Shopkeepers shout out their products to passers-by and the range of products will amaze you — from groceries, pets and flowers to antique collectibles, furniture, perfume and electronic goods, it’s a wonderland for the wallet-conscious shopaholics with everything being sold at dirt-cheap rates! We walk the 2-km stretch from the Pallavaram Railway Station to Tirusulam station and here are a few interesting items we found along the way.
HISTORY
Come rain or shine, the Pallavaram Sandhai has been happening every Friday since the early 1800’s and was initially a ‘maattu sandhai’ to sell cattle. Over the years, the bazaar expanded to sell a variety of goods to the British as well as to the locals, and today you can find just about anything here. Until recently, the bazaar was conducted in an open ground under the control of Pallavaram Cantonment but due to land related issues, it was shifted to its current stretch.
HOW TO FIND THE PLACE
Head to the Old Trunk Road just beside the newly built PVR Cinemas. Parking is available at the entrance. Be prepared to haggle your best, and it’s advisable to keep your purses and wallets close as the crowds can get massive especially during evenings.
Antique collectibles
There are around 4-5 shops that sell old antique coins, stamps and currency notes. Some coins are supposed to be as old as from the 10th century AD . Costs vary, but you can purchase an old East India Company ‘one anna’ coin for about `50.
Plants and Groceries
Expect typical retail prices for vegetables and fruits. Flowers like hibiscus, daisies, other garden and ornamental plants are available as well. Rose plants cost ` 50 (per piece)
Gizmos Galore
Set of old wires, chargers, mobile phones and even old TV remotes — all in decent working condition. You can get a good second-hand mobile at `1,500 or less!
Television sets with carious screen sizes and brands (all second-hand) sold for as less `1,500
Cogs, steel bolts, mechanical equipment and motors — sold at half the original prices, the shopkeepers claim
Cycles start from `1,000. Gear cycles are also available
Pick and pay for Mobile battery cells
Paintings and mirrors
Freshly baked butter biscuits, ginger cookies and over 10 other flavours in steel tins. Starts at `50-75 per kg.
The Animal Zone
You can find parakeets, lovebirds, rabbits, puppies, chickens, ducks, turkeys and even fish! Food and bowls and cages are also for sale.
A pair of Lovebirds: Starting price `1,500 with cage
Rabbits: `50-400 each
Lock, Sofa & Telescope
Telescope: Costs `2,000
Home-made vathals, appalams all available at wholesale prices
Solid locks for `25 onwards
Take rest after a kilometre of walking. Sofas start at `1,200 for a single-seater!
Perfumes and ‘athars’, both local and international brands and a variety of flavours — jasmine, musk, honey and rose. Starts at `10 for a roll-on athar
Old typewriter collectible for `650
Record player (supposedly a 100 years old!) `1500
Second-hand ACs start from `10,000 onwards