The drive to Chickpete

I was trying to buy all the electrical items for the new house. We had received a quote from a shop near by our apartment. But the geyser price he quoted was 300Rs higher than what I had purchased in Thippasandra. So I decided to check few other places. Looking at the yellow pages, I realized that there are lots and lots of shops in BVK Iyengar road in chickpet. One of my friend incidentally visited chickpet on the same day for something else. He also suggested to me give a visit there.

BVK Iyengar road is 30mins from drive from Indiranagar and 20 mins from MG Road. It is before KG bus stand on the KG road and nobody can miss it. I imaginged that this will be more like the TNagar of Bangalore and was sure that my M800 can beat the crowd.
There is a sign board at the junction of KG Road and BVK iyengar road without any cine actor or local politican's face. So that made my life easier. The moment I entered BVK Iyengar road I realised what kind of test my driving skills are going to face that day. I decided to move back to KG Road but any effort of trying to take a U turn will end up in blocking the whole road, so I decided to continue on the road in my car.
once in 50m I could spot a no parking board and one way board for the side roads(?). Only bikes can enter the side ways and ofcourse our Batsha's ratham. My heart started to beat at higher rates when the travel on the road continued with me unable to find a place to stop the vehicle. When I crossed a small crossing, all of a sudden I heard the famous sound on the Bangalore roads "Oyeeeeeeeee" and there the man on the white uniform arrived like the spiderman. He stopped the whole traffic on the road and scolded me nicely and then let me go since there is no other options possible for him there.
I reached the end of the road and found a right turn beneath a over bridge. I took a U turn and decided to come back home. When I took the turn, I was shocked to see two bullock carts coming opposite to me in the wrong lane. I have faced bicycles, bikes, autorickshaws, car, trucks and buses coming the wrong lanes in Bangalore. But never a bullock cart. Oh God, thank you!
When I took the U turn, I found some parking signs. Unfortunately many people have parked their vehicle permanently. Looks like someone has gone for short term trip abroad and parked his or her car there. Some cars should have been left there atleast for months. There was some emptry space infront of a transformer to park 2 to 3 cars. being a responsible citizen I left some space between the transformer and my car for people to do their duties(hehe) and parked.
Checked the price of fans and lights in the shops around there and came back to the car to see a shocker. My car was surrounded by 4 auto rickshaws, one load vehicle and a car. Mine was nicely standing in the middle and there is not space around it in any angle. One pedestrian helped me to push an auto aside and helped me to take a car out.
Ok all the drive experiences apart, there are some best things there in Chickpet.
1)All the household goods such as all type of fans, geyzers, lights, light fittings are really cheaper there compared to what you get in other parts of the city.
2)Price differs depending on the item. Racold geyzer we were looking for costed 6900 in the place closer to my apartment but it was 6450 in chickpet. Fans are cheaper by 20 to 30%.
3)Variety is also too good.
4)Light fittings are can be bought at bargain price.
5)All the brands are available in one area.

How to reach there?

Take a bus. Surely you can find a volvo going there. If you do not want to wait for the bus, take an autorickshaw. Auto is the best. No auto driver will say no to go to Chickpet. Never try to go by car or even motorbike is not advisable.

What to buy there?

Except TVs, Cell phones, music systems, or gadgets. All the other household items. Fans, lights, grinder, mixers, light fittings, geyzers.

Cloths?
Yes, esp Sarees are lot cheaper and collections are huge.

What to speak?
It is a market by local people. So do not expect people to speak fluent English. Hindhi also can be managed. If you know kannada , then that is the best.

What day to go?
Generally shops are MOn to Saturday. On Sunday most of them work half day. SO Sunday morning is better if you know exactly what to buy.

Happy Shopping!