Laad Bazaar, Hydrebad

Laad Bazaar

Laad Bazaar or Choodi Bazaar, is a very old market popular for bangles. It is located on one of the four main roads that branch out from the historic Charminar in Hyderabad
Laad means laquer, which  is used to make bangles, on which artificial diamonds are studded. In this 1-kilometre long shopping strip, most of the shops sell bangles, saris and  wedding related items, and imitation and junk jewelry which is very popular among the collage going girls

This market is very old, in operation since the time of the Qutb Shahis and the Nizamas. It is close to landmarks such as Charminar, Makkah Masjid and Chowmahalla Palace.
Laad Bazaar is the main market for bangles, it is popular for bangles, semi-precious stone, pearl jewellery, products such as silverware, Nirmal Kalamkari paintings, bidriware, lacquer bangles studded with stones, saris and handwoven materials of silk, cotton., brocade, velvet and gold embroidered fabrics, traditional khara Dupattas , lacquer bangles and perfumes.

The narrow lane is filled with  mostly burkha-clad women and collage going girls, bangle shops and old buildings with wooden balconies, bargaining and haggling is part and parcel of this market. Shopkeepers employ "beckoning" tactics, placing an employee at the entrance of the store beckoning passers-by to enter their shop.
Many stores are furnished with a clean, soft cotton mattress that covers the entire floor. Customers sit on the soft cotton mattress without shoes, lean against a wall with a round pillow and the sales person presents all items on the floor. All business is conducted on this floor and often other employees use the padded area in the back, as they may be sorting or sewing.

All 3 wheeler and 4 wheelers and heavy traffic is are barred near the entrance from Charminar because of the heavy traffic and pollution and vibration of the traffic the walls of the Charminar are being damaged and slowly the paint is peeling of due to the same, this is the reason traffic is restricted in the area the strip due to the narrow street being crowded, and only pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and scooters, and sometimes cycle-rickshaws are permitted to enter.

Southeast of Laad Bazar lie the palaces built by different Nizams including the Chowmahall Palace.