Photo Story: The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar

For some travellers, experiencing a new culture means visiting places of historical interest, museums and other important monuments in a new country. While for some, living, eating and travelling like the locals equates to a real experience of the local culture. I like a mix of both and on most of our travels, we try to find a balance between the two.

The southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh was recently bifurcated to form a new state - Telangana. Although both the states have varying topography, vegetation and climate, the economy of both is based mainly on agriculture. While rice is the main crop, the farmers in both the states also grow a variety of other pulses, fruits and vegetables. Way back in the late 1990s, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, had started Rythu Bazaar - a farmer's market initiative which aimed to reduce the influence and control of middlemen thereby ensuring that farmers received the profits themselves. The initiative was a success and even today weekly Rythu Bazaars (Rythu = farmer, Bazaar = market) are held in most towns and cities in both these states.

These weekly farmer's markets are not only a good place to buy fresh, local produce but also a photographer's delight and a lovely to interact with locals. My recent visit to one such Rythu Bazaar turned out to be a wonderful expedition. Fruits and vegetables in myriad colours and shapes, rows of farmers selling their produce, the banter of bargain, the smell of fresh fruits/flowers and the crowd of people was a mix of chaos and excitement. When I saw the heaps of fresh Capsicum and Aubergine, I must admit I was in awe. It looked so beautiful and inviting. The leafy greens and the bright red chillies were laid out in a row and complemented each other well. The fragrance of Mint and Coriander tickled my palate and stimulated my appetite. Some of the vendors were very talkative and eager to explain about the vegetables they grow and how they have benefited from these weekly markets. It was a nice way to get an insight into the lives of these small farmers.

For those who love fruits and vegetables, these markets are the ideal place to find local farmers and their produce. If you are visiting Southern India and are happy to brave the crowds and chaos, visit a Rythu Bazaar. It will be a different experience!

Here are some pictures from my visit to a Rythu Bazaar.

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

The colourful sights of a Rythu Bazaar in Telangana

42 comments:

  1. What great photos - I would spend a fortune at a place like that!

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  2. Such amazing colours! I really don't like crowds but I do love food! :)

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  3. Looks amazing so much to select grom too

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  4. That looks amazing !! so much colour and all fresh too .. I would love that :)

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  5. Wow, everything looks so fresh & perfect to eat. Puts some of our supermarkets to shame.

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  6. Lovely photos, that market looks fantastic, all the veggies look so fresh too.

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  7. Your photography is just stunning! I would also be in awe, the colours & variety is just incredible!

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  8. Wonderful pics and the food looks so fresh and delicious. I would certainly be going home with a few bagfulls :) x x

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  9. The food looks amazingly fresh

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  10. Such amazing colours. I really wouldn't like crowds but the food looks great.

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  11. Fantastic pictures, vibrant and lively. Looks like a really special place to visit.

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  12. wow! I would love to stroll around this market, smelling the veg, fruits and flowers. The most exotic market I have been to is in Morocco; and we never had enough time there.

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  13. I love different cultures the history of the place unusual foods I've never tried looks wonderful

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  14. Fantastic photos! The food is so colourful and fresh, looks delicious

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  15. looks amazing everything looks great and fresh fab

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  16. These food markets are amazing and i love the big stack of chillies

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  17. What an amazing place, the colours of the food are fantastic in the photos

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  18. Margaret Clarkson
    Thank you for a great article with such wonderful photographs

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  19. Fab photos, everything looks so fresh and tasty

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  20. wow, great photos and the food lucks tasty!!

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  21. great photos, the food looks so lovely and vibrant.

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  22. Absolutely gorgeous photos, I like the depth to them and the bright colours.

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  23. wow wonderful produce- I love the tiny Aubergines

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  24. Looks amazing everything so fresh absolutely stunning x

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  25. christine shelley22 February 2017 at 10:34

    Fabulous photos, looks like a wonderful visit

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  26. What gorgeous and colourful photos, they are really inspirational

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  27. Fab photos, the colours are really vivid - looks a very special place to visit.

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  28. I remember wandering around a lot on previous holidays, doubt I'd do it now.

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  29. What a fantastic, colourful display of fresh food. Puts our supermarket shelves to shame.

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  30. Wow, looks amazing, I'm sure you had the most wonderful time! Great photos

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  31. What a super post - it makes me really want to go there to sample all those lovely fruits and vegetables!

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  32. wow what great photos so bright and colourful too

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  33. These foods look so fresh and delicious - I bet they tasted amazing

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  34. The foods look so fresh and colourful, great photos.

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  35. Really beautiful pictures. The food looks fresh and amszing colours

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  36. Oh wow! This is sooo my kind of place! I love all the colour and freshness of the produce and I would love to mingle amongst the locals for cooking tips.

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  37. Great post, wonderful pictures & the food looks good too!!!

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  38. Lovely pictures. The veg look vibrant and healthy to eat

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  39. WOW great pictures that almost take you there with all the bright colours , how healthy we would all be if we are all that good food.

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  40. I love these picture's. The chilli's look amazing! My favourite.

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  41. Oh what lovely colourful pictures! The Veg looks really vibrant and tasty 😋

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  42. It looks amazing, great pictures. The fruit and veg look so appealing

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