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Agra is famous for the shoes and bags it produces. Besides the Taj Mahal, related marble curios and its Petha, the biggest draw for shoppers in Agra is Leather goods. There are factories all over the outskirts and as a visitor for a mere day or two you will not be able to get to them all unguided. So the best thing to do is head for Sadar Bazaar.

Name and City

Berry Shoes and Leather Crafts, Sadar Bazaar, Agra

Dawar Shoes, Sadar Bazaar, Agra

Ideal Shoes, Sadar Bazaar, Agra

Chor Baba, Sadar Bazaar, Agra

They Sell

Between the four of them you will get a fine selection of men’s women’s and kids’ shoes. You will also get some nice bags, purses, belts, jackets, waistcoats, and wallets. Mobile cases and spectacle cases are also available. While Berry and Dawar have fixed rates, they also have excellent quality leather and do not give you cheap rip offs. You can not bargain with them, but if you ask for a Fauji discount both will promptly give you ten percent off. Berry makes shoes for Bata. Dawar has an export factory. Both are nice and old established names in Agra.

As for Ideal, his workmanship is not of export quality but he has all the possible uniform shoes in all the possible sizes that you could want them. All course mates looking for cheap uniform shoes are generally satisfied picking up stuff from him. Chor Baba is known for having amazing stuff at throw away prices. This guy does not have a production unit of his own, but instead he goes to all the export factories and others to pick up the entire surplus and reject stocks from them. Then you get to pick from shoes which are without the label but could be anything from Italian to American brands.

Some Directions to Get There

The first two shops are facing each other on both sides of the main road. The other two are not on the main artery of Sadar Bazaar. Tuesday is a holiday and all the shops are shut in Sadar Bazzar on Tuesday. Dawar is in the same line as Café Coffee Day. Just a couple of shops away and is open by around 11 am. Then Berry is right across the road. They don’t open till 12 so don’t go too early.

The back lane parallel to the main artery houses Ideal. If you go past the traffic lights and take the next left turn, instead of turning into Sadar Main Road you will hit Ideal on your left. Chor Baba usually brings his ware out between the lanes on the foot path each evening. You must bargain here.

How I discovered it

Believe it or not I first came to Dawar Shoes when I was barely eleven years old. It has barely changed since then and even when I cam back 18 years later, I knew it was the same place. My parents had brought me to see the Taj Mahal and as one of Dad’s Course mates was posted here as the 2IC of the para regiment we got an escort and vehicle from them to do all our sight seeing and shopping, not to mention a local guide.

Berry shoes was discovered in our quest to procure brown brogues for the AOC on behalf of some friend’s son. The size ten and brown colour combination were too deadly to find anywhere. This guy said he could bail us out if we gave him a firm order. He was ready to manufacture and sell a single pair to us in two weeks time.

Ideal was recommended by Reena Daruwalla whose brother had picked up a great leather jacket from them. Also for the regular uniform shoes this guy is excellent. Although I have yet to buy anything from him personally, as yet…

Chor baba is by far my favourite. I have picked up a lot of stuff from him and I must thank Meeta Roy for introducing me to this place.