Explore Chandigarh’s oldest second hand book stores

A vintage, almost three-decade-old National Geographic (Cover story: Vietnam - Hard Road to peace) for just Rs 30. Such beautiful gems, which one could find not very long ago with ten minutes of patience and a keen eye, are now a rarity at Chandigarh's beloved second-hand book market in Sector 15. Constraints of space and economy seem to have taken over and those beautiful piles of Shakespeare and Ayn Rand have been relegated to secondary position. This market is a one-stop-shop for students - you could be readying for your Class10 Boards or UPSC exams - you will go back from here with a big stack of books and immense clarity regarding the syllabi. “Shopkeepers here may not hold big degrees, some have just passed Class 6 or 8, but they know everything there is to know about syllabi of a myriad of course. Books are bought at 40% of their MRP. They are sold at 60% of the MRP. From Class 9 students to civil services aspirants, the markets caters to everyone. Not just books, notes from various private tuition institutes are also available. The shopkeepers' margin on the notes is Rs 200-300.