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Flea Markets, Craft Fairs & Pop-ups in Trivandrum
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Trivandrum's markets are mostly fairs with fixed dates rather than a weekly flea, and the listings below are refreshed daily with the ones that are on. The classic format is the exhibition-cum-sale. Handloom weavers' societies, khadi boards and craft co-operatives take Ayyankali Hall in Palayam for a week or two at a time, and Putharikandam Maidanam at East Fort hosts the large trade fairs, with the biggest rush before Onam, when people buy new clothes, and again before Christmas and Vishu. Kanakakunnu Palace adds craft, plant and food fairs on its lawns, and the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village near Kovalam sells directly from artisans' studios all year. Newer pop-up markets, with home bakers, thrift and upcycled clothing, handmade jewellery, plants and small design labels, are run on weekends by independent organisers in cafes and hotel halls around Kowdiar and Vellayambalam and in the atriums of Lulu Mall and Mall of Travancore. For everyday bargain-hunting there are two historic bazaars: Chalai, which runs east from the East Fort gate and was Travancore's main wholesale market, and Connemara Market at Palayam, named after a Governor of Madras. The government's handicrafts emporium near Statue Junction sells fixed-price Kerala crafts.
Good to know
- Handloom and craft fairs give government rebates before Onam and Christmas. The last few days have the deepest discounts but the thinnest stock.
- Chalai is best on a weekday morning. Many shops there close on Sundays.
- Carry cash for smaller stalls and a cloth bag; plastic carry bags are restricted in Kerala.
- Pop-up markets are announced on Instagram a week or two ahead and usually run for a single weekend.
- At Putharikandam, expect an entry ticket for large fairs and a muddy ground after rain.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a weekly flea market in Trivandrum?
Not a fixed one. Pop-up markets are held on some weekends by independent organisers, and handloom and craft fairs run for a week or two at a time.
Where are handloom and craft fairs held?
Mostly at Ayyankali (VJT) Hall in Palayam, Putharikandam Maidanam at East Fort and Kanakakunnu Palace.
Where can I buy Kerala handicrafts?
From artisans at the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village near Kovalam, at the government handicrafts emporium near Statue Junction, and at craft fairs.
When are the biggest fairs?
In the weeks before Onam, and again before Christmas and Vishu.
The weekend, sorted.
Every Thursday: the 10 best things to do in Trivandrum this weekend, the free stuff, and what to book before it sells out. Join readers across Thiruvananthapuram.
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