Bookshops in India

mira4bai4

My wife is an avid reader and with getting ready to shift she is concerned that her appetite for books may not be quenched.

Does anyone know of any good book stores in the North or even online books, I have found one but it focuses on Literature for University studies.

Thanks

DaDrifter

There are quite a few stores in Delhi that carry a decent collection of books. Just to name a few - E D Galgotia, The Bookworm, Teksons ... and there are many more. The roadside book baazar held in Darya Ganj on Sundays is also worth exploring and is a good place to buy old and rare books. Most wholesellers and distributors for Medical and Technical books are located in the older parts of Delhi, in and around the Nai Sarak (Chandni Chowk) and Daryaganj area.

I can't seem to remember the names, do remember picking up some books from fairly large book shops in Chandigarh and Dharamshala as well. You really shouldn't have any problems finding good book stores in Delhi and up north.

Amit

crossword.. typical chain book store... and firstandsecond.com...

beach

First & Second is pure bullsh*t !! Almost every book published under the sun is available in their list!. You order it, that book disappears from the surface of earth.

I’m a diehard fan of Indiatimes

http://planetm.indiatimes.com/book/P...ookHomeNew.jsp

They never failed my expectations. Very fast and I used to get good discounts too. If you buy books regularly take a book club membership for additional discounts. But I’m not sure about the foreign shipping. I buy online and pay by card. On the fourth day the book is at my doorstep.

Also see www.penguinbooksindia.com

In Delhi there are a lot, I mean a lot of bookstores.



I burned my fingers with abebooks.

My book never arrived. I paid in $$$. When I complained, that lady sent a mail saying that to India it takes some time to reach. Also she asks me to tell her when it arrives so that she can tell the other customers also about the shipping time. The usual delivery time is infinity!, I wanted to tell her, like in our official communications in India. I lost money with these people !!!

********************

(Thank you for giving an opportunity to yell & vent my frustration about these people )

aghori

Where is good to shop for books about spirituality in Delhi?
I particularly interested in Shiva Purana and Yoga Vashistha.

vistet

I´ve used Vedams online store (vedamsbooks.com) a number of times : books always arrive 7-8 days after ordering. They`ve also been able to deliver books that are not within their large catalog.

beach

www.vedamsbooks.com they are popular here for books on philosophay,veda,history etc. I've not ordered anything from them though...

Alan D

My favourite bookstore in Delhi is Bookworm. It's not a big place but the two floors are crammed with new books - mainly fiction downstairs and larger non fiction books upstairs. The staff are very knowledgeable too and know pretty much what they've got if you haven't got time to browse.

It's easy to find, just a few yards off Connaught Place on the left hand side of Radial Road 4.

wonderwomanusa

>>My wife is an avid reader and with getting ready to shift she is concerned that her appetite for books may not be quenched.<<

That was sometimes a problem for me, and I read less in India than I do anywhere else. But in any tourist town, there's usually a shop that will sell or trade the book you've just finished for the next one.

And, if there are no books, there's always 50-some cable channels!

mira4bai4

wonderwomanusa, we are going to be living in the north and even when my wife is racing round multitasked to the hilt she still reads a book a week, can't see that changing much. We haven't had TV for 7 years and will I suppose slide into the cables without much trouble, hope not as going from zero to 50 channels is hi octane stuff.

Thanks for the input on the book stores, it might stop Vivien from buying up a larger supply than what she has got so far, got a box full of new unread ones ready.

mira4bai4

Thanks Beach your links to Indiatimes and Pengiun have shown Vivien that it is best to hold off buying any more stored books as some titles that she has ordered are cheaper through Indiatimes even without the discount. She thinks that she will be okay now and can hibernate away from the Indian confusions with a good book.

brightspark

In Delhi Bookworm is an excellent bookstore to go to.. Even though several new stores have opened up in the last few years, with larger floor space.. Bookworm seems to have more titles. Also if they do not have anything in stock.. they usually call up several distributors and try to obtain the books for you.. often within half an hour to an hour.


You would also find most Motilal Banarsidas titles with them. There are of course now the new chains such as Crossword, a couple of bookstores in Vasant Vihar. Small, but interesting bookstores, often offering good deals at Aurobindo Place market.

For second hand books, the Sunday market behind Daryaganj..on the outer ring road is interesting, as it is for several other knick knacks.. Second hand book store near Plaza cinema (about 50 metres from Bookworm is also interesting )..

If you want to sit peacefully and browse books (albeit very limited stocks ) some coffee shops have small bookstores now.. started with Barista in South Extension.. now in many places.

Most railway stations would have A.H. Wheeler stalls.. which would have regular magazines and bestsellers.. some of the larger stations also have Geeta Press, Gorakhpur..stalls.. which publishes mainly religious books.

I am not sure.. but I heard that Motilal Banarsidas, the original firm has split and there is another firm (run by brothers or cousins ?), which also has similar titles.

leslie

Now a new bookstore opposite elite hotel has good books and a very friendly guy at the bookstore.I don't remember the bookstore name.He is not like the other bookstore people,will not disturb you,unless you ask him anything.

I visited a book store in Bangalore MG Road...the sales people will be after you.....it is disgusting service.


Leslie.
OK,USA

Nick-H

Chennai

Further to Beach's great post, Landmark in Spencer Plaza has to be mentioned, because it is big. Good selection of fiction. Higinbothams seems to be stronger on non-fiction, including some obscure stuff as well as the usual computer/mangement (boredom/bullshit ) books. Despite being the oldest bookshop in India it has a rather chracterless atmosphere.

Fountainhead, a smaller shop in Radakrishnan Salai, is nice for a browse, and often has reduced bargains. It is strong on English-language fiction by Indian authors.

There are second-hand stalls in Luz Avenue too where books can be had for a few rupees. Mrs N stopped to browse one recently and I was astonished at the knowledge of his stock shown by the proprietor, who was not much out of childhood.

...and I think this thread deserves Sticky status!

capt_mahajan

in hyderabad, walden has been already mentioned in an earlier post.

and crossword.

for second hand books, try the junction of tilak road and abids on sunday mornings.

in bombay, strand is it. and the pavements near churchgate/flora fountain. its amazing what gems you can pick up there (including out of print stuff), dirt cheap.