Manjunath Gift Centre

Manjunath Gift Centre is tucked away inside the vegetable market on Pais Street. It’s a very noisy spot because of all the shouting vendors and the people buying their groceries every morning. Our shop is number 116 in the shopping complex there. It’s a bit of a maze to find us if you aren’t used to the market layout in Byculla. We have a lot of items crammed into a small space because that is just how it is in Bangalore City markets. The smell of fresh coriander and onions usually drifts into our shop from the stalls nearby. We open up early, around the same time the vegetable trucks arrive. It’s a lot of work keeping the shelves neat when so many people are pushing past with bags of food. We sell a bit of everything, from small toys to household items that people might need on their way home. The floors are a bit uneven and the lighting isn't the brightest, but we have been in this spot for a long time. It feels right to be part of the daily market life. Sometimes we help the neighbors move their crates when it gets too crowded in the walkway. It’s just a regular gift shop in a very busy part of town. If you get lost, just ask someone near the vegetable stalls for the shopping complex. We are usually there until the market quietens down in the late evening.