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02
Jul
No trip to Velankanni feels complete without carrying back a small piece of the pilgrimage for your loved ones. The streets around the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health are lined with shops selling everything from rosaries and wax candles to framed pictures and local snacks.
The stretch of shops right outside the church gates is the best place to pick up rosaries, holy water bottles, statues of Mother Mary and devotional books in Tamil, English and Telugu. Wax candles in the shape of body parts (a local tradition for healing prayers) are also widely available and inexpensive.
Velankanni's market street also sells dry fish, banana chips and homemade sweets that make great edible souvenirs. Keep some small change handy, as most roadside stalls prefer cash.
Staying at a hotel that is a short walk from the Basilica saves you the hassle of commuting back and forth for shopping trips between prayers. VPN Residency is just minutes away from the main market road, so you can shop, rest and head back out without losing time.
Compare prices at two or three shops before buying, especially for silver and gold-plated items. Evenings tend to be less crowded than late mornings, making it a comfortable time to shop.
