Chala or Chalai bazaar is an old shopping area in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Chala was officially established towards the end of 18th century by Raja Kesavadas, Dewan of Travancore. The idea was to make Chalai bazar the central point for the supply of commodities to the Travancore kingdom. The Killi and Karamana rivers nearby was used to transport goods to the market.However, Mathilakom records of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple talk of a large market place that existed ‘near’ the temple, at least a century and a half before.
Chala market is the one place to visit during Onam Festival because it is here that one gets all kinds of flowers needed for the celebration. More than 10,000 kg of flowers will reach the Chala market during Onam.
Chalai Bazaar | Trivandrum Heritage Walk
