Bohri Bazaar, where old meets new

A historic place with affordable shopping attracts customers from all over Karachi

Though a number of malls and shopping centres have come up in the metropolis, the legendary Bohri Bazar still stands out as the favourite shopping joint for the old inhabitants of Karachi. This is especially true for those living in and around Sadar which has much of the oldest parts of Karachi. The Bazar is situated in the central part of the city that also formed much of the historic colonial core of Karachi.

The Bohras say they are commonly known as ‘Bohri’ here in Karachi, which is a distortion of the community’s actual name: Bohra. They don’t call the bazaar Bohri Bazaar, instead they call it Bohra Bazaar. The word Bohra means traders, as the community has been associated with various trades. As such, the Bazar is mainly dominated by the members of the Bohra community.

The Bohra community, also constructed a mosque for themselves right at the centre of the Bazar known as Tahiri Masjid. The mosque is known for its unique design which is based on Egyptian style architecture –a rarity in this part of the world.

Bohri Bazaar continues on either side of Raja Ghazanfar Ali road, with more or less 5,000 shops spread over a large area in a maze of narrow streets. It is assumed that approximately 50,000 people visit this place daily and according to a rough estimate, the business activities are in the range of Rs 20 million to Rs50 million.

The Bazar is even popular among the middle and lower middle class families. They come to this Bazar as it continues to offer an amazing number of cheap deals, and fashionable dresses with of course the twist of Desi taste. Even the old Karachiites, specially from the minority communities living in areas like Baldia, Mehmoodabad and Qayumabad are regular visitors for trendy apparels, variety of kitchen ware, inexpensive household items, jewelry and sandals.

This bazaar is one of the oldest marketplaces of Karachi, located at the heart of the city. It was established before independence, a number of shops are more than 100 years old. The bazaar has witnessed two horrific disasters, one of which was in 1958 when a huge fire broke out in a fireworks shop. The building, which was mainly made of wood, and another one nearby, were burnt beyond recognition. The second incident took place in the 1980s when two bomb blasts claimed dozens of innocent lives. The Bohri community also played an important role in reconstructing the market.

Despite the fact that it is very difficult to find one’s way through the teeming crowd and never-ending shops in the narrow lanes and bylanes of Bohri Bazar, this crammed and busy market place undoubtedly remains the most affordable shopping destination in the metropolis.

Bohri Bazar is undoubtedly big enough to satiate the cravings of Karachi men and women, irrespective of their ethnicity who are always looking for classy but inexpensive wear that is both fashionable and sophisticated. Here, cheap bargains are always available at your disposal, and above all you can readily get replicas of designer apparel. And the best part about this market is that it is divided into several smaller sections, garments, curtains, jewelry, kitchenware, household items etc.

If you want to add splashes of colour in your dupatta, the market is filled with a number of dyeing centres. What encourages women even from posh localities to come here, is the fact that you don’t have to revisit the Bazar after a day or two to get your dyed clothes back. You can get these after a truly rapturous chaat experience either at Bombay Chat house or Chowpati. The city’s best chaats and mixed chaats are available right in the centre of this Bazar.

While returning home after shopping and a visit to chaat houses, one never forgets to stop at Nimco. The shop opened back in the 70s, and continues to attract even the younger lot of the city. Situated in the middle of the Bazar it’s still approachable on foot. The shop was so famous in the city that its brand name has become a generic name, for these delightful snacks that Karachi has become so popular for. Many more shops with the same name, selling similar products, have opened up in various parts of the city.

There is a whole lane devoted to shoes filled with an overwhelming number of boots, sandals and Peshawari Chappals that will take your breath away. The price is unbelievably low, and you can buy them within the price range of Rs400 to Rs15,000. Similar cost also applies to the stylish and versatile part dresses which are always in vogue. Nevertheless, always remember that a meticulous and well-articulated bargain will win you any deal in Bohri Bazar!

As such one cannot talk about the only kind of Bazar without mentioning the luxurious collection of rich fabric found here. The retail shops here specifically specialise in colourful and eye-catching fabrics that are sold at an incredibly low price. Whether that be cotton, or silk fabric, the shoppers here are ready to please their customers with this beautiful collection of textile materials.

What’s more? Plated with gold and crafted with dedication, the jewelry collection of Bohri Bazar may not be so high-end, but they are certainly enough to make you look graceful (within a budget). The gold plated antique and silver jewelry are both versatile and low-priced, and the materials include chockers, necklaces, pendants, bangles, bracelets, and many more.

The best thing about such jewelry is that it can be worn on any occasion. From looking elegant in wedding ceremonies to including them in your day-to-day outings, the gems and jewels of Bohri Bazar can be your trusted companion. You can purchase such jewelry by spending a couple of thousand rupees. Visit these glittering jewelry shops once, and you will be amazed at how mesmerizing they look!

There are not many people in the whole of Karachi who have not tasted the spicy, crunchy and delicious chaat and mixed chaat of this old shopping centre. However, if you are one of the unfortunate ones who are yet to taste this celebrated street food, do not waste time and grab a bite. Again, after shopping for hours at Bohri Bazar, a stopover at Chaudhry Farzand Ali, one of the oldest shop of kulfi that serves with falooda, kulfi and Norus cost only about Rs 100 per plate; indeed feels like an elixir sent straight from heaven.

These street food items in and outside Bohri Bazar are available at a very low price. One can have a hearty meal by spending a small amount of Rs 200-400. Don’t forget to try the diverse number of lemon-pani sharbat offered here, and of course, not to mention the famous Baloch ice cream!

Though the lively crowd and energetic vendors of Bohri Bazar can shock first-timers, the grandeur of this major shopping hub should not be missed by anyone. From time immemorial, this Bazar has served people from all walks of life; hence, do not hesitate to treat yourself with the vibrancies, old-fashioned charm and affordable apparel from Karachiites’ very own Bohri Bazar.

It may be mentioned here that Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazar is very much similar to our Bohri Bazar. The Bazar is also famous for its food, fabric market, carpet stores, sweet shops, and shopping culture. And now the Bohra community of Mumbai has developed the old Bazar into a Modern shopping centre. Now it has a new face in the form of a shopping arcade. The buildings of Bhendi Bazaar have shopping areas on the first few floors. The architecture has Fatimid motifs from Egypt keeping the elements that represent Bhendi Bazaar intact. Let’s hope that Bohra Community will team up with the City Administration in converting over very own Bohri Bazara in to a modern shopping complex.