Looking for some items in Chennai

Hi all- I am here asking for the 411 (help info) for some items family members have requested of me when we come to Chennai. Yes, the want list is already coming in. Lol

The areas most frequented are:

Alwarpet/Mylapore area- mainly> TTK Road, RadaKrishna Road, Luz Church Road, Eldams Road, Royapettah High Road

The items/places:

shops where they sell affordable fabric in smaller pieces- my sis-in-law loves to make pillows and such with pretty fabrics. Not great amount of fabrics needed....

places that sell small hand-made wood carved animals, etc- my brother-in-law desires a tiger and says he's never found one in all his travels abroad (only factory made) -others want an elephant/monkey and one wants a small carved fishing boat.

Are these unreasonable/unrealistic to find in the areas I mentioned? If anyone knows actual bazaar/store names I would be ever so grateful for that knowledge!

Thank you ahead of time for any response/help given.

You'd do better to post this when you are actually here! Then we can make a dialogue of suggesting, trying, suggesting.

You can buy fabric in small pieces from any of the fabric shops, and many will have end-of-roll offcuts and stuff for sale too. The choice will be bewildering!

Wooden animals: watch out for the regular Exhbition-cum-sales. There are a couple of regular venues in the places you mention. Also any of the state emporiums shops may well have, and are likely to be cheaper. Poompuhar in Mounts road a good place to look, and, further up Mounts Road, Khadi Gramadiog is a wonderful treasure cave of cheap stuff!

These are very common items and you wont be in any sort of trouble finding them...

If your in luck you can get those carvings at CP arts centre at alwarpet junction/eldams rd

... that is one of the regular venues I mentioned.

But you have to see the newspaper to see what's on.

Another is the community hall in CP Ramaswamy Road

You can get all your items from Victoria Technical Institute (VTI)
Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.
Phone: 852 3141 / 3153

Isn't VTI expensive?

I haven't been there, but have this impression. Could be wrong?

You can try at Tamilnadu State Emporium called Poompuhar. I do not exactly the place. But it may not be difficult to find. Also you can ask for the "Kondapalli wooden toys", usually available in the AP Emporiums and may be available in Chennai.

All chennai super-duper guides, do we have a "Lepakshi Emporium" in chennai?


Edited:
I didn't read Nick's Post completely !!!!!!

Poompuhar is near to Higginbotham's bookshop on Mounts Rd (Anna Salai), a little further 'up' the road from Spencer Plaza.

VTI is 'down' the road, I forget how far.

Khadi Gramadyog have several shops, but the big, pokey, cave-like treasure-trove one is even further 'up' Mounts Road after Richie Street (the computer and electronics bazaar). Actually, their shop near Parry's is maybe bigger, but it is not as nice.

Sorry, I don't know Lepakshi Emporium. But although it might look like I try to give the impression I know every shop in Chennai, in reality I know just a few!

up = towards Parry's
down = towards Airport

Mounts Road = Anna Salai. People seem to be drifting back to the old name!

Nope, they are reasonable, and their quality is very good. Cane and bamboo is an expensive shop.

All who responded- Thank you sincerely! The reason I ask ahead of time is so we can look up on maps and figure out walking or whatever as it adds to the excitement of returning to India!

Never fear, once I am there in Chennai I will most certainly head to our old browsing center and ply you with questions regarding things I get stumped on. Lol

Well, it won't be long now- time sure is going quickly and we'll be in Chennai before we know it! (Not sure if you archive them but please keep this thread available thru Dec so I can find it when we get there and I have to go out looking for the items- all of you are so helpful and thanks again!)

Remember the title, then you'll be able to search for it. Threads disapear very quickly from the early forum pages, but they will always be here.

crowgirl, dont forget rain protection, it should be pouring (heopefully) in dec.

...Early December, yes, but it should be dry again after mid-Dec, at least.

Should be.

Even our Chennai weather is being unpredictable this year. I don't think there is any need to hope for a good monsoon: the reservoirs are full already. I'm much more worried about flooding, as the ground is wet already.