A private competitor to the government-run CCIE, the Cottage Industries Exposition stocks a wide range of arts and crafts from around India, from Kashmiri carpets to Keralan wood carvings. Sales staff can be a little overbearing, but the selection of crafts and curios is impressive. There are two stores in the same building, with slightly different stock, plus another branch on Juhu Church Road in Juhu.

FORT. Chimanlals are master printers. Their printed and embossed paper is simply stunning ­ there are cards, labels, envelopes, writing sets, wrapping paper, boxes and bags, all printed or embossed with distinctive Indian designs. Many items are detailed with gold and some are printed on beautiful handmade paper. Stock up on gift tags and wrapping paper and wow the folks back home. The shop entrance is on Wallace Street.

One of Mumbai's brightest and biggest bookshops, with two floors of glossy coffeetable books, novels, guidebooks, CD, DVDs and reference titles. The huge children's section is probably the best in town, and there's a smart coffeeshop where you can recharge your batteries after browsing the tomes downstairs. They also carry a huge stock of international newspapers and magazines.

Probably the most outrageous interior décor boutique in Colaba, House of Raro is the place to come for dressers with real turquoise handles and chairs upholstered in silver faux crocodile skin. The bling counter is through the roof - these are the kind of home furnishings seen in the villas of rap producers in LA. It's worth coming to see how the other half lives, even if you can't afford the stratospheric prices.

The teachings of Mahatma Gandhi were the inspiration for this India-wide charitable organisation. Their Mumbai store sells a huge range of khadi (hand-woven fabrics) and other handicrafts produced by poor rural communities from all over India. Popular buys include woven wool shawls and kurtas ­ long shirts for men and women. This is also a great place to buy statues, carvings and metalware.