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Exploring Andaman’s Top Markets And Shopping Spots
Almost all the shopping in Andaman happens in one place: Port Blair. Within a few walkable blocks around Aberdeen Bazaar you can buy pearls, shell and bamboo handicrafts, Nicobari cane mats, tribal art and island spices, either haggled down at a street stall or bought at a fixed price from a government emporium. This guide maps the 11 places worth your time, from the bazaars where bargaining is expected to Sagarika and TRIFED where it is not, plus Port Blair’s one modern mall. For each spot you get what it is best for, rough timings and the prices to expect, so you know a fair deal when you see one.
Key Takeaways
- Head straight to Aberdeen Bazaar in central Port Blair, the hub for pearls, textiles, bamboo crafts and daily needs.
- Buy fixed-price, guaranteed-genuine handicrafts at the government emporiums: Sagarika, the Andaman Handicraft Emporium and TRIFED.
- Bargain at street stalls (open around 30 to 40 percent below the first quote); never haggle at the emporiums.
- Skip anything made from turtle shell or protected coral. It is illegal to buy or carry out under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Shop in the morning for the fullest stock. F3 Ambience is the closest thing Port Blair has to a modern mall.
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Best Street Markets and Bazaars in Port Blair
This is where the haggling happens. Port Blair's street markets sit within walking distance of each other around the town centre, so you can cover most of them in a single unhurried morning. Prices are negotiable, the range is widest, and the atmosphere is at its liveliest before lunch.
All 11 Shopping Spots at a Glance
A quick map before the detail. Timings are indicative and can shift with season and public holidays, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the day.
| Place | Type | Best for | Indicative timings | Price band |
| Aberdeen Bazaar | Street market (hub) | Pearls, textiles, bamboo & tribal crafts, daily needs | ~9 am to 9 pm, often closed Mon | Budget to mid, bargain |
| Ratnam Market | Street market | Shell crafts, spices, apparel, jewellery, groceries | ~10 am to 8 pm | Budget, bargain |
| Aadim Market | Produce & craft market | Fresh produce, spices, seafood, cheap souvenirs | Mornings best | Budget, bargain |
| Junglighat & Sunday Market | Local / flea market | Everyday clothing, household goods, local colour | Sun flea; daily fish/produce am | Budget, bargain |
| Sagarika Govt Emporium | Government emporium | Fixed-price shell, bamboo, coconut & wood craft | ~9 am to 6 pm, may close Sun | Fixed price |
| Andaman Handicraft Emporium | Government emporium | Indigenous-artisan bamboo, shell, coconut, wood | ~9 am to 9 pm, often closed Mon | Fixed / mid |
| TRIFED | Government (tribal co-op) | Tribal handicrafts, textiles & paintings | ~10 am to 6 pm | Fixed price |
| Cottage Industries (Gandhi Khadi) | Government emporium | Khadi textiles, handloom, cottage crafts | ~10 am to 6 pm, weekday hours | Fixed price |
| Queen Sea Shell Craft | Craft shop | Conch-shell jewellery, bangles, carved decor | ~10 am to 7 pm | Mid, some bargain |
| Anup Eco Arts | Eco-craft shop | Eco-friendly driftwood, coconut & recycled craft | ~10 am to 7 pm | Mid, fixed-ish |
| F3 Ambience Mall | Mall | Branded apparel, food, air-conditioned browsing | ~11 am to 9 pm | Retail (fixed) |
Explore Popular Destination In Andaman
01
Aberdeen Bazaar, the hub
If you only have time for one stop, make it Aberdeen Bazaar. This is the heart of shopping in Port Blair, a cluster of shops and street stalls selling everything from colourful textiles and pearl jewellery to bamboo crafts and tribal masks. The showrooms here are the main place on the islands to buy pearls, and the surrounding lanes cover daily needs, spices and souvenirs. For clothes and electronics, walk the connected MG Road and Electrical Plaza just beside it. Most shops run roughly 9 am to 9 pm and many close on Mondays, so plan around that. When you tire of shopping, the Lighthouse Restaurant nearby does a good crab curry and fresh fish. Bargaining is expected at the stalls, less so inside the fixed-price showrooms.
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02
Ratnam Market
A short walk from Aberdeen Bazaar, Ratnam Market is the practical all-rounder. In one stop you can pick up seashell crafts, aromatic island spices, apparel, costume jewellery, small electronics and groceries, which makes it handy when you want several different gifts without crossing town. It is best known for its shell craft and spices. Compare two or three of the small outlets before you buy, because the same item swings noticeably in price from stall to stall. Rough hours are 10 am to 8 pm.
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03
Aadim Market
Aadim Market, tucked inside the Aberdeen Bazaar area, is where locals shop for fresh fruit, spices and the day’s catch straight from the Andaman Sea. Go in the morning for the fullest stock. Beyond the produce it also has vendors selling inexpensive local handicrafts and souvenirs, so it doubles as a low-cost place to hunt for small keepsakes. This is bargain territory, and prices start low to begin with.
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04
Junglighat and the Sunday Market
For a look at where islanders actually shop, head to Junglighat, the busy fishing-harbour neighbourhood a little south of the centre. It is Port Blair’s fish and produce hub on most mornings, and it hosts a weekend flea market where you will find cheap clothing, household goods and the occasional local craft at prices well below the tourist stalls. You are not here for polished souvenirs. You come for local colour, a genuine market scene and a bargain, which is exactly what many searchers mean by the nearest market to town.
Government Emporiums and Craft Shops for Authentic Buys
If your priority is a genuine, ethically sourced piece rather than the thrill of the haggle, buy from the government emporiums. Prices are fixed, the craft comes directly from local and tribal artisans, and there is no risk of picking up something illegal or fake. These are the safest places to spend on the good stuff.
05
Sagarika Government Emporium
Sagarika is the government-run emporium most visitors are pointed toward, and for good reason. Everything is fixed price, so there is no haggling, and the handicrafts, worked from bamboo, seashell, coconut shell and wood, are made by local artisans. It is the reliable choice for authentic Andaman craft you can trust. Hours are roughly 9 am to 6 pm and it can close on Sundays and public holidays, so it suits a weekday visit.
06
Andaman Handicraft Emporium
Also government-run, the Andaman Handicraft Emporium buys its stock directly from indigenous artisans, which means your money supports the people who made the piece. Expect bamboo, seashell, coconut-shell and wood items at fixed prices. It is a close companion to Sagarika and worth pairing on the same trip. Reported hours run to about 9 pm, with a Monday closure, so confirm the day before you go.
07
TRIFED Tribal Handicrafts
TRIFED, the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, was set up in 1987 under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to support tribal livelihoods. Its Port Blair outlet sells tribal handicrafts, textiles and paintings sourced straight from communities, so a purchase here is both a distinctive souvenir and direct support for the artisans. Quality is high and prices are fixed. Look for clothes, jewellery, home decor and framed tribal art.
08
Cottage Industries Emporium (Gandhi Khadi)
For handloom and khadi rather than shell and bamboo, the Cottage Industries Emporium, sometimes signposted as the Gandhi Khadi outlet, is the place. It carries khadi textiles, handloom fabric and cottage-industry crafts at fixed government prices. It is a quieter, less touristy stop than the bazaar, and a good one if you want a length of handwoven cloth or a simple, genuine keepsake without any bargaining.
09
Queen Sea Shell Craft
Queen Sea Shell Craft is a specialist worth seeking out if shell work is what you are after. The shop is known for jewellery and bangles made from sea-conch shell, and it also carries decorative lampshades, shell-inlaid wooden trays and carved shell pieces. Prices sit in the mid range and there is usually a little room to negotiate. Only permitted shell species are used in genuine artisan work, which is another reason to buy from an established shop rather than a beach hawker.
10
Anup Eco Arts
Anup Eco Arts is the pick for travellers who want a souvenir with a lighter footprint. This small Port Blair craft studio works in eco-friendly materials, driftwood, coconut shell, cane and recycled pieces, turned into decor and gifts rather than mass-produced trinkets. Stock is one-off and prices are broadly fixed, so treat it as a boutique stop rather than a bargaining one. It is a good answer to the common question of where to buy something local that is not shell or coral.
Malls and Modern Shopping in Andaman
Port Blair is not a mall city, but it is not without one. F3 Ambience Mall is the closest thing to a modern, air-conditioned shopping centre on the islands, with branded apparel, a few food outlets and everyday retail under one roof. It is the easy option on a hot afternoon or when you want fixed-price convenience over the bustle of the bazaar. For clothes, electronics and daily necessities the concentrated shopping strips of MG Road and Electrical Plaza, both beside Aberdeen Bazaar, do the same job in a more local, open-air form. Between them they cover the everyday shopping that the craft markets do not.
Shopping Beyond Port Blair: Havelock and Neil
Most serious shopping is in Port Blair, but if your trip runs to the islands you will still find a few places to spend. On Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), the small cluster of shops around Market No. 3 near the jetty covers beachwear, basic supplies and souvenirs, and a handful of stalls near Radhanagar Beach sell shells, sarongs and trinkets to the sunset crowd. Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) has an even smaller bazaar for essentials. Prices on both islands run higher than Port Blair because stock is ferried in, and the choice of genuine craft is thinner, so save the real handicraft shopping for the capital and treat the islands as top-up stops.
What to Buy, and What to Avoid
The signature buys are pearls and shell jewellery, bamboo and cane craft, coconut-shell and wood pieces, Nicobari cane mats and hats, island spices, and tribal handicrafts from the emporiums and TRIFED. The fixed-price government outlets are your safest bet for genuine, ethically sourced work. For a deeper look at the individual souvenirs and what makes each one worth packing, see our companion guide to the best things to buy in Andaman.
One firm rule on what to avoid. Do not buy anything made from sea-turtle shell (often sold as tortoiseshell), protected corals, or the shells of protected mollusc species. These are protected under India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and buying, possessing or carrying them off the islands, or out of the country, can be illegal and lead to seizure or prosecution. Genuine artisan shell craft uses permitted shells. If a seller cannot confirm that a coral or shell item is legal, walk away. Buying from the government emporiums removes almost all of this risk.
How to Bargain, and When to Shop
Bargaining is part of the experience at Port Blair’s street markets, Aberdeen Bazaar, Ratnam Market, Aadim Market and the smaller shell-craft shops, but not at the government emporiums, where prices are fixed. A few rules keep it friendly and effective. Open around 30 to 40 percent below the quoted price and expect to meet somewhere in the middle. Compare two or three stalls before you commit. Buy multiples from one seller for a better rate. And stay good-humoured, because a smile earns a better price than a hard sell.
Timing matters too. Shop in the morning for the freshest produce at Aadim Market and the fullest stock everywhere. Many street shops wind down by early evening, and the government emporiums keep shorter, mostly weekday hours, so slot them in before a late lunch rather than at the end of the day.
What Things Cost: Indicative Prices in Andaman's Markets
Rough starting prices so you have a baseline to bargain from. These are indicative ‘from’ figures. Real prices move with size, quality, season and how well you haggle, so confirm on the ground.
| Item | Indicative price (from) | Where to buy |
| Nicobari mats (cane / grass) | Rs 400 | Govt emporiums, TRIFED |
| Shell / fishbone articles & jewellery | Rs 90 | Queen Sea Shell Craft, Ratnam Market |
| Pearls / pearl jewellery | Rs 500 | Aberdeen Bazaar showrooms |
| Bamboo / cane / coconut-shell craft | Rs 100 | Sagarika, Andaman Handicraft Emporium |
| Spices (per 100g to 250g) | Rs 35 | Aadim Market, Ratnam Market |
Final Word
Port Blair packs Andaman’s best shopping into a few walkable blocks, from fixed-price artisan craft at Sagarika and TRIFED to the pearls, shells and spices you can haggle for in Aberdeen Bazaar. Go in the morning, buy genuine, and skip anything made from protected shell or coral. If you would rather have the shopping and everything else sorted before you land, browse our Andaman tour packages, or plan the rest of the trip with our full Andaman travel guide.
FAQs
FAQs About Shopping in Andaman
Port Blair is comfortably the best place to shop in Andaman. Almost all the markets, government emporiums and craft shops are concentrated there, most within walking distance of Aberdeen Bazaar. Havelock and Neil Island have only small markets for beachwear and basics at higher prices, so plan your real handicraft and pearl shopping for Port Blair and treat the islands as top-up stops.
Andaman is famous for its local crafts: pearls and shell jewellery, items worked from fishbone and timber, bamboo and cane craft, Nicobari mats, sarongs and hats, and island spices. Tribal handicrafts, textiles and paintings from the government emporiums and TRIFED are the most distinctive and ethical buys, since they come straight from local and tribal artisans.
Aberdeen Bazaar is the central market in Port Blair and the main shopping hub in Andaman. It is packed with shops and stalls selling pearls, textiles, and handicrafts made from shell, wood, coconut and bamboo, alongside everyday goods. The connected MG Road and Electrical Plaza cover clothes and electronics.
Port Blair has one modern shopping centre, F3 Ambience Mall, which is the closest thing on the islands to an air-conditioned mall with branded apparel and food outlets. Beyond that, the concentrated shopping strips of MG Road and Electrical Plaza near Aberdeen Bazaar are the go-to for clothes, electronics and daily necessities.
For guaranteed-genuine craft, buy from the fixed-price government emporiums: Sagarika, the Andaman Handicraft Emporium, TRIFED and the Cottage Industries (Gandhi Khadi) emporium. They source directly from local and tribal artisans, so the quality is dependable and there is no haggling or risk of fakes. Anup Eco Arts is a good stop for eco-friendly driftwood and coconut craft.
Yes. Pearls and pearl jewellery are among the signature buys, sold mainly at the showrooms in and around Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair. Prices start from roughly Rs 500 and climb with size and quality, so browse a few showrooms and compare before you buy.
Buy from established showrooms and the government emporiums rather than beach hawkers, and ask the seller which shell species a piece is made from. Genuine artisan craft uses only permitted shells. Real pearls feel cool and slightly gritty against your teeth and are rarely perfectly identical, while plastic imitations are light, warm and flawless. When in doubt, the fixed-price emporiums are the safe choice.
Yes, bargaining is expected at Port Blair's street markets such as Aberdeen Bazaar, Ratnam Market and Aadim Market, where you can often settle around 30 to 40 percent below the first quote. It is not done at the government emporiums (Sagarika, the Andaman Handicraft Emporium, TRIFED), where prices are fixed. Compare a couple of stalls and buy multiples from one seller for the best rate.
Avoid anything made from sea-turtle shell, protected corals or protected sea-shell species. These are restricted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and buying or carrying them out can be illegal. Stick to permitted shell, bamboo, cane and wood handicrafts, and buy from the government emporiums or TRIFED if you want a guarantee of authenticity and legality.
Most street markets in Port Blair, including Aberdeen Bazaar and Ratnam Market, run roughly from mid-morning to evening, with Aberdeen Bazaar and the Andaman Handicraft Emporium widely reported to close on Mondays. The freshest produce at Aadim Market is in the mornings. The government emporiums keep shorter, mainly weekday hours and may close on Sundays and public holidays, so confirm the day before you go.
