Landa Bazaar Lahore: Winter Clothes at Low Prices

Landa Bazaar is Lahore's main market for second-hand imported clothing, in the Naulakha area east of the Walled City, between the railway station and Delhi Gate. Winter jackets, sweaters, shawls, jeans, shoes and blankets sell here for a fraction of shop prices, and cold months are the busiest. If you want to shop for warm clothes cheaply, or just see one of the city's most crowded working markets, this is the place.

This guide covers where it is, what it sells, when to go, how to bargain and what to check before you hand over cash. For the wider picture of where to shop in the city, see our list of the best shopping places in Lahore.

What is Landa Bazaar?

"Landa" is the name Pakistanis use for markets that sell pre-owned imported goods. The clothing arrives in bulk, mostly donated in countries such as the UK, US, Australia, Japan and South Korea, and is sold on by weight before it reaches the stalls. Dealers sort it into grades, and shopkeepers then sell it piece by piece.

Lahore's version sits inside the Naulakha Bazaar, the stretch that runs from Zafar Shaheed Chowk on Railway Road to Delhi Gate. The landa section proper runs from Shaheed Ganj Chowk to Delhi Gate. Inside it you will find smaller clusters: a shoe market, a ready-made clothes market, and the Babu Market area near the railway station side.

Where is Landa Bazaar and how do you get there?

It lies close to Lahore Railway Station, Delhi Gate and the Sarai Sultan area, so it sits on the edge of the old city rather than on a road most visitors would pass by accident. Search Google Maps for "Landa Bazaar Naulakha" or "Zafar Shaheed Center Landa Bazar" and the pin will land you in the right lanes.

The practical routes:

• From the railway station: it is a short walk or a brief rickshaw ride, depending on which end of the bazaar you are aiming for.
• From Delhi Gate and the Walled City: you can walk it. If you are already exploring the old city, our guide to Delhi Gate shows where that entrance sits.
• From elsewhere in Lahore: a ride-hailing car or rickshaw to the landmark is simplest. Traffic around Railway Road is heavy and there is little sensible parking, so leave the car at home if you can. Our note on getting around Lahore covers the options.

What can you buy?

Stock changes daily as new bales are opened, so treat this as a picture of the usual range rather than a guarantee:

• Winter wear: puffer jackets, wool coats, fleeces, sweaters, caps, gloves and mufflers
• Jeans and casual clothes from imported brands
• Children's clothing, which is often the best value because it has been worn less
• Shoes and boots, in their own section
• Blankets, bags and household items, including crockery

If you are heading to the mountains and want cheap warm layers for a trip, this is a practical place to buy a jacket and gloves. Our page on Lahore in winter covers what the city itself demands in the cold months.

When to go

Winter, from about November to February, has the largest stock of warm clothing and the biggest crowds. Weekends are packed. A weekday morning is easier if you want room to look through a pile.

Opening hours are not officially published. Listings commonly show something like 10 am to 8 pm, while some show later closing, and individual shops open and close on their own schedule. No source confirmed a fixed weekly closing day, so treat any claim of one with caution and ask a shopkeeper before making a special trip. Arriving by late morning and leaving before dark is a sensible plan either way.

How to bargain

There are no fixed prices. Shopkeepers judge a customer quickly and often start high if you look like a newcomer. A commonly repeated approach is to offer around half the first price and settle somewhere in between.

• Ask the price of two or three similar items first so you know the range.
• Keep small notes ready. Change is slow to come by, and showing a large note weakens your position.
• Be willing to walk away politely. The next stall often has something similar.
• Buying several pieces from one stall usually gets a better price than buying one.

Prices vary too much by item, brand and condition for a fixed figure to help, so decide what an item is worth to you before you start.

What to check before you pay

Second-hand clothing is graded but not inspected piece by piece for you.

1. Check seams, zips and buttons. Run the zip fully up and down.
2. Look at armpits, collars and cuffs for stains and wear.
3. Smell the item. A musty or chemical smell is hard to remove.
4. Hold it to the light to spot thin patches and small holes.
5. Try it on where a stall has a screened corner, or check the label size against your own measurements. Sizes are foreign and vary by brand.

Wash everything on a hot cycle before wearing it. Returns are not the norm here, so decide at the stall.

Staying safe in a crowded market

It is a dense, busy area, so use the same habits you would in any old-city bazaar. Carry only the cash you need, keep phones and wallets in front pockets, and go with a friend if you can. Bring a strong bag, since purchases add up in weight. Going in daylight and in a group is sensible advice for anyone.

Is Landa Bazaar worth a visit?

It suits budget shoppers, families buying winter clothes for children, students, and anyone who enjoys sorting through piles for a find. It is less suitable if you dislike crowds, cannot bargain, or want returns and fixed prices. In that case, the shopping streets described in our Anarkali Bazaar guide are more orderly.

For other things to do around the city, see our Lahore experiences page.

Frequently asked questions