Phahurat Market – Little India, Bangkok

Uninitiated visitors to Phahurat need to keep two landmarks in mind: one is the golden-domed Sikh Temple (referred to as Wat Sikh by the Thais) and the other is the India Emporium – a brimful of textiles, custom-made garments, curtains and sundry Indian merchandise, additional to a proliferation of typical Indian snacks and meals available in the top-floor food court. You can get a brilliant array of dishes and beverages like lassi (the Indian version of milkshakes) at a fraction of the prices charged by the trendier restaurants in Bangkok – highly recommended if you want to sample Indian food (you only have to get a token booklet of paper money to pay and then they'll refund you what's left afterward).

Some claim that Phahurat is the biggest textile market in Bangkok. The shops are located in a virtual maze and it is not quite easy to keep your bearing as you walk around. The walk, however, is worth it as you never know what's going to turn up at the next corner – it may be a flower outlet, a snack stall, or a ready-made garment shop; an amazing experience, really! Adjacent to the India Emporium, along Chakkraphet Road, you will find another concentration of Indian vendors selling sweets, savories, prayer items, sarees, etc., as well as provision shops specializing in Indian produce.

In short, if you're feeling adventurous, you will be amazed by the wide variety of merchandise, eateries, snack shops and sundries required in Indian homes.