Urdu Bazaar is Lahore's main book and stationery market, on Circular Road across from Mori Gate, and it is closed on Sundays. It runs towards Chatterjee Road behind Government College University, holds more than 500 shops by one count, and is a centre for publishing, printing and selling books. New textbooks, novels, religious books and school stationery are the main goods.
If you want second-hand or out-of-print books, the better place is the Sunday book bazaar in Old Anarkali, which exists partly because Urdu Bazaar is shut that day. This guide covers both.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Circular Road opposite Mori Gate, towards Chatterjee Road, Walled City |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Typical hours | One listing gives Monday to Friday 8 am to 10 pm, Saturday 9 am to 8 pm; treat as approximate |
| Good for | New books, textbooks, stationery, publishers' stock |
| Old books | Sunday book bazaar, Old Anarkali |
| Bargaining | Limited on new books |
What is Urdu Bazaar?
Before Partition the street was called Mohan Lal Road, and it was renamed in the 1950s. It grew from a narrow street with a few shops into a district of publishers, printing presses, binders and bookshops. Its publishers include school-text and notes publishers as well as literary houses. It is a working trade market first, with the look of an ordinary Lahore bazaar.
Timings and weekly off day
The market is closed on Sundays. Weekday hours in one listing run from about 8 am to 10 pm, with a shorter day on Saturday, but individual shops vary, so treat those as a guide. Go on a weekday morning or early afternoon, when shops are open and the lanes are quieter. The Walled City is close, so this pairs with a morning there.
What to buy
- School and college textbooks and guide books. Publishers and shops here supply much of the school market, in both Urdu and English.
- Urdu literature, poetry and religious books, new editions.
- Stationery. Notebooks, paper, pens and office supplies at trade prices.
- Books in bulk. Shops sell to libraries and other bookshops by the carton.
Hunting for old books
The place for second-hand and rare books is the Sunday book bazaar (Itwar Kitaab Bazaar) in Old Anarkali, along the service road facing Pak Tea House, the National College of Arts gallery and Lahore Museum. It has run for roughly 70 years. Sellers set up after dawn prayers and pack up around sunset. It stocks fiction, history and literature in English and Urdu, and some titles are hard to find elsewhere.
Prices there are worth checking. Older sellers sometimes under-price rare books, but younger sellers know the value and the going price of pirated and original editions. Look at binding and page count, and check that a "new" copy is not a reprint. See also Anarkali Bazaar.
Prices and bargaining
On new books, the printed price is the price, and any discount is small. Bulk buyers, students and libraries may get a better rate, but ask politely rather than pushing. Stationery is more flexible. Second-hand books are the place to bargain, and there you should compare stalls.
Check whether a copy is original. Cheap editions of popular titles are often unofficial prints, and quality varies.
How to get there
Ride-hailing to "Urdu Bazar, Circular Road" works, and Mori Gate is the landmark. Drivers are unlikely to enter the narrow lanes, so expect a short walk. Parking is limited. Our guide on how to get around Lahore has more.
The bazaar is crowded and the lanes are narrow, so keep your phone and wallet secure.
Planning a visit
Write down the titles, authors or publishers you want before you go, and the edition if it matters, since the shops are packed and staff will find a book faster if you give the exact name. Take a bag for the books and cash for small shops. If you are buying textbooks, bring the syllabus code or a photo of the cover. Buy from a shop that gives a receipt, and check the pages before you leave. A morning here fits with the Walled City, and the Sunday book bazaar makes a separate second trip if you want old books.
Who it suits
Urdu Bazaar suits students, teachers, parents buying school books, and anyone stocking a library. It does not suit a casual sightseer. For a reader or a collector, the Sunday book bazaar is the more rewarding visit. Our best shopping places in Lahore list covers other markets, and the experiences page has more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Urdu Bazaar open on Sunday?
No, it is closed on Sundays. The Sunday book bazaar in Old Anarkali runs that day instead.
Where is Urdu Bazaar in Lahore?
On Circular Road, opposite Mori Gate, running towards Chatterjee Road behind Government College University.
What is sold at Urdu Bazaar?
New books of all kinds, school textbooks, religious and Urdu literature, and stationery.
Where can I buy old books in Lahore?
At the Sunday book bazaar in Old Anarkali, near Pak Tea House. It runs after dawn until around sunset.
Can I bargain at Urdu Bazaar?
Only a little on new books. Second-hand books and stationery have more room.
