Located in the center of the city, Chor Bazaar is easily accessible by rail, though many locals  prefer to bike or walk to the market in the morning because of the city's public transit  congestion. The market is an ideal place for visitors to capture the hustle and bustle of Mumbai--the diversity of its buyers and vendors highlights the confluence of many cultures in the area, and it offers a rare glimpse into the life of the Bohras community of minority Shia Muslims as well as the Kolis fishing community. Although the flea market can get densely packed at midday, there is much to be found for tourists, locals, and even non-shoppers. The inexpensive prices of goods also makes the market a true paradise for antique hunters. For non-shoppers, Chor Bazaar is more often used as a linkage to other places of interest nearby like the circular Shiva temple known as Gol Deoul.

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Chor Bazaar, an “off the beaten path” street market in Mumbai, opens every morning except Fridays (when trading begins at noon, after Muslim prayers). Located in a predominantly Muslim area, the market is also respectfully closed during other prayer times throughout the week. Chor Bazaar translates as "Thieves' Market" in Hindi, and it features a wide range of street vendors selling trinkets such as antique jewelry, clocks, Bollywood posters, and statues of Hindu and Buddhist deities. While it was once famous for hawking stolen goods, today the market is primarily known for its vast assortment of second-hand merchandise. Its most popular section is the “chop shop,” which is comprised of a massive stock of used car parts.

Image credits, from left: Daniel Incandela via Flickr, Yogesh Rao via Flickr, Cory Doctorow via Flickr, Yogesh Rao via Flickr, Cory Doctorow via Flickr, Roshan Panjwani via Flickr