Chickpete Metro Station - Heart of Bangalore's Historic Wholesale Market District
Train times
Times are BMRCL's published schedule; check the full timetable on holidays.
Exits
Exit A — Avenue Road, Chickpete Market
Chickpete Cloth Market (200m), Avenue Road wholesale shops
Escalator, Stairs, Elevator
Exit B — BVK Iyengar Road
KR Market (600m), VV Puram (1km), Town Hall (1.2km)
Stairs, Elevator
On the Green Line
- Madavara
- 14 stations
- Mantri Square Sampige Road
- Nadaprabhu Kempegowda StationChange for Purple Line
- Chickpete
- Krishna Rajendra Market
- National College
- 3 stations
- Rashtreeya Vidyalaya RoadChange for Yellow Line
- 7 stations
- Silk Institute
Station details
Chickpete Metro Station (CKP) on the Green Line drops you right into the heart of old Bangalore's bustling commercial district, where Avenue Road and BVK Iyengar Road converge. This area is synonymous with wholesale trading in textiles, stationery, and hardware, making it one of the busiest commercial corridors in the city. The station provides convenient metro access to KR Market (City Market), the iconic flower and vegetable wholesale hub, as well as the traditional Chickpete cloth market.
- Station Type
- Elevated
- Platforms
- 2 (Side platforms)
- Daily Footfall
- ~35,000
- Parking
- No
- Nearest Landmark
- Avenue Road Shopping District (Adjacent)
- Opened
- June 2017
- Facilities
- Elevator 2 · 13 persons / 1000 kg
- Escalator
- Restroom Paid (₹5)
- Wheelchair access
- Ticket counters
- Ticket Vending Machine
- Customer service
- Wi-Fi
- Water Fountains RO purified drinking water
- Seating
- Address
- Avenue Road, Chickpete, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560002 · Open in Google Maps
Getting around
Bus connections from Chickpete
3
- Route 12 → City Market - Jayanagar (Every 10 mins)
- Route 34 → KR Market - Banashankari (Every 15 mins)
- Route 9 → Majestic - Basavanagudi (Every 10 mins)
Auto & cab options
2
- Availability: High
- Typical auto fares — Majestic: ₹40-60, Jayanagar: ₹80-100, MG Road: ₹90-110
Tips for Chickpete station
6
- First-time visitor: Exit A for Chickpete cloth market and Avenue Road wholesale shopping district. Exit B for KR Market direction, VV Puram food street, and the old city heritage area. The area is extremely crowded during business hours — keep your belongings secure and be prepared for narrow, busy lanes.
- Shopping: Bargaining is expected and encouraged at every shop. Wholesale prices are available if buying in bulk — even small quantities get better rates than retail. Best to visit on weekdays to avoid the Saturday crush. Carry cash — many shops, especially smaller ones, do not accept cards or UPI. For sarees, visit multiple shops before deciding — prices and quality vary significantly.
- Food & dining: VV Puram Food Street (Thindi Beedi) is about 1km from Exit B and is a must-visit in the evening (stalls open around 6 PM) for legendary street food — set dosa, Congress kadlekai, holige, juices, and chaats. For quick meals during market hours, darshinis near both exits serve excellent idli-vada, dosa, and filter coffee at very affordable prices.
- Avoid: Do not drive here — parking is nearly impossible and the one-way lanes are a maze. Metro is by far the best way to reach the wholesale district. Avoid bringing large bags into the market lanes — space is tight.
- Photography: The old market lanes, traditional Kannada signboards, and colorful textile displays make for excellent photography. Early morning (7-8 AM) has the best light and fewer crowds. KR Market flower section at dawn is iconic.
- Safety: Keep mobile phones and wallets secure in crowded market lanes. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry. Stay on main roads after dark. During business hours, the heavy foot traffic makes the area generally safe.
Crowd & peak hours
4
- Morning rush: 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM (Very High). The station gets very busy as the wholesale market area opens. Use smart card to skip ticket queues.
- Evening rush: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM (Very High). Platform gets crowded with people carrying shopping bags. Buy return tokens in the morning to save time.
- Off-peak: 11 AM - 4 PM (Moderate but still busy). This is a commercial district so off-peak is still busier than most stations. Good time for first-time visitors to explore the markets.
- Weekends:
Places near Chickpete Metro Station
Restaurants & Cafes near Chickpete
3
Cuisine: Street food paradise — South Indian and multi-cuisine · ₹ · Must try: Set dosa, Congress kadlekai (spiced peanuts), holige, fresh fruit juices, chat items, paddu · Hours: Evening only — stalls open from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM
A must-visit Bangalore food experience. Walk through the entire stretch before deciding — each stall has a specialty. Gets very crowded on weekends.
Cuisine: Quick-service South Indian · ₹ · Must try: Idli-vada, masala dosa, filter coffee · Hours: 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Multiple darshinis near both exits. Fast, hygienic, and very affordable — the working person's canteen in this area.
Cuisine: Traditional South Indian vegetarian meals · ₹-₹₹ · Must try: Full meals (thali), bisibele bath, kesari bath · Hours: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Several old-style restaurants in the pete area serve traditional Karnataka meals during lunch hours.
Shopping & Markets near Chickpete
3
Bangalore's oldest wholesale textile and cloth market, operating for over a century in the historic pete district
Wholesale rates — silk sarees from ₹500 to ₹50,000+, cotton sarees from ₹200 · Known for: Silk sarees (Mysore silk, Kanjeevaram, Banarasi), Cotton sarees and dress materials, Wholesale fabrics and textiles, Wedding trousseau shopping
Bargaining is expected. Wholesale prices available for bulk purchases. Carry cash — many shops prefer it.
One of Bangalore's oldest commercial streets, famous for stationery, school and college supplies, books, hardware, and electrical items
Known for: Stationery and office supplies (wholesale rates), School and college textbooks, Hardware and tools, Electrical components and fittings, Printing and packaging materials
Shops are packed close together in narrow lanes. Take time to compare prices between shops — wholesale rates can be significantly lower than retail.
Bangalore's largest wholesale flower, vegetable, and fruit market — a sensory experience unlike anything in the city
Known for: Wholesale flower market (jasmine, roses, marigolds, temple flowers), Vegetable and fruit wholesale trading, Spice and dry fruits section, Incense sticks and puja items
The early morning flower market is a photographer's dream. Wear comfortable shoes — the floors can be wet and slippery.
Museums & Culture near Chickpete
3
An ornate 18th-century wooden palace built by Tipu Sultan, with teakwood pillars, arches, and balconies. One of Bangalore's most significant historical monuments.
Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM daily · Entry: ₹15 (Indians), ₹200 (Foreign nationals)
Remnants of the original mud fort built by Kempe Gowda I in 1537 and later rebuilt in stone by Hyder Ali. The Delhi Gate still stands.
One of the oldest and largest mosques in Bangalore, located in the heart of the old city near KR Market.
Heritage Sites near Chickpete
1
The petes (markets) of Bangalore — Chickpete, Balepete, Cottonpete, Tharagupete, Aralepete — form the oldest commercial core of the city, dating back to the 16th century Kempe Gowda era. 'Pete' means market in Kannada.
A heritage walk through the petes reveals old-world charm — look for traditional signboards in Kannada, century-old shop fronts, and the unique character of each specialized market lane.
Educational Institutions near Chickpete
1
Several schools and colleges in the VV Puram locality
Transport Connections near Chickpete
1
Major BMTC bus hub with routes to all parts of Bangalore
Places of Worship near Chickpete
1
Historic temple in the old Chickpete commercial area, dedicated to Lord Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)
Area guide
A bustling, chaotic wholesale commercial district that feels worlds apart from Bangalore's IT corridors. Narrow lanes are packed with shops stacked floor to ceiling with goods. Handcarts, delivery vehicles, and thousands of shoppers jostle for space. The area comes alive at dawn when wholesale traders arrive and the earliest deliveries reach KR Market. By evening, the lanes empty and a very different, quieter old-city character emerges.
Chickpete (Chikka Pete, meaning 'small market' in Kannada) is one of Bangalore's original market areas, with roots tracing back to the 16th century when Kempe Gowda I founded the city. The petes — Chickpete, Balepete, Cottonpete, Tharagupete, Aralepete — each specialized in a specific trade, and this system of organized market streets formed the commercial backbone of the old city. Avenue Road was built during the British era to connect the Cantonment area to the City Market, and it quickly became a major commercial artery.
The Green Line metro has made this historically congested area far more accessible. Before metro, reaching Chickpete by road meant navigating some of the worst traffic in the city. Now commuters from across Bangalore can reach the wholesale district in minutes, which has increased footfall and business for local traders.
Frequently asked questions
Which exit do I use for KR Market from Chickpete Metro Station?
For KR Market (City Market) and the wholesale area, take Exit B towards BVK Iyengar Road — KR Market Bus Stand is about 600m walk. For Chickpete cloth market and Avenue Road stationery and hardware district, take Exit A, which opens directly to Avenue Road.
Is Chickpete Metro the best station for wholesale shopping in Bangalore?
Yes — Chickpete Metro Station is the best metro stop for Bangalore's historic wholesale district. Exit A leads to Avenue Road (books, stationery, hardware), Chickpete cloth market (textiles and sarees), and BVK Iyengar Road hardware shops. KR Market's flower and vegetable wholesale market is 600m from Exit B.
What are the metro timings at Chickpete Station?
Chickpete Metro Station is on the Green Line with first trains around 5:00 AM (Tuesday–Saturday; Mondays start earlier at ~4:15 AM) and 7:00 AM on Sundays, with the last train at 11:00 PM. Platform 1 heads towards Nagasandra; Platform 2 goes towards Silk Institute (Yelachenahalli).