Mumbai:
Mumbai is home to a growing number of chain bookstores -- well-lit, air-conditioned spots that often host book launches and stock the latest best-sellers from Indian and international authors. But bibliophiles looking to ferret out bargains or rare finds shouldn't end their search without digging a little more deeply, from decades-old shops to street stalls.
Start at the appropriately, if unimaginatively, titled New and Secondhand Bookshop (526, Kalbadevi Road, Dhobi Talao; 91-22-6524-1731). Opened in 1905, the shop has two cramped floors of shelves, sorted dutifully according to subject matter. These range from poetry to international politics, with many stops in between. A recent visit yielded a 1902 Edinburgh-published Jonathan Swift collection from the rare and out of print section.
As the result of a recent anti-hawker campaign, the pavements to the north of Hutatma Chowk (formerly Flora Fountain) aren't as dense with book stalls as they were five years ago. But this is still a fine place to find a wide range of new and used books, including current favorites like William Dalrymple and Amitav Ghosh, as well as Penguin classics, at a steep discount from the cover price. (Do, though, beware counterfeits when shopping.)
Finally, head to the Strand Bookstall (Dhannur, Sir P.M. Road, Fort; 91-22-2266-1994) -- no relation to the famous Manhattan Strand -- for an eclectic collection of new books. The holdings are organized only slightly more logically than the street stalls, but it's possible to find imported hardbacks here that don't show up in the chains. The bonus: everything is at least 20 percent off the listed price.
Start at the appropriately, if unimaginatively, titled New and Secondhand Bookshop (526, Kalbadevi Road, Dhobi Talao; 91-22-6524-1731). Opened in 1905, the shop has two cramped floors of shelves, sorted dutifully according to subject matter. These range from poetry to international politics, with many stops in between. A recent visit yielded a 1902 Edinburgh-published Jonathan Swift collection from the rare and out of print section.
As the result of a recent anti-hawker campaign, the pavements to the north of Hutatma Chowk (formerly Flora Fountain) aren't as dense with book stalls as they were five years ago. But this is still a fine place to find a wide range of new and used books, including current favorites like William Dalrymple and Amitav Ghosh, as well as Penguin classics, at a steep discount from the cover price. (Do, though, beware counterfeits when shopping.)
Finally, head to the Strand Bookstall (Dhannur, Sir P.M. Road, Fort; 91-22-2266-1994) -- no relation to the famous Manhattan Strand -- for an eclectic collection of new books. The holdings are organized only slightly more logically than the street stalls, but it's possible to find imported hardbacks here that don't show up in the chains. The bonus: everything is at least 20 percent off the listed price.
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