This Bengaluru bookstore wasn't anything I imagined!
Only it was far better. 😍
"You — of all the people I know — will love Champaca!"
"Omg, you're in Bengaluru? Are you going to Champaca?"
"You'll have a tough time resisting yourself from hoarding books there!"
👆 What my friends said when I told them I was visiting a few bookstores in Bengaluru.
And Champaca Bookstore was quite something..
I've heard so much about it. So much so that I fell in love with the bookstore even before I set foot in it. What I imagined would be a big bookstore with only a few people in the books section turned out to be different. The reality? It was cosy, with many people in the book section. It was something intimate.
The charm of the bookstore lies in the stunning entrance with vibrant green creepers framing the doorway. As you step in, it gets even better. Wall-to-wall shelves of books stretch out to your right, and light streams from the windows and the roof. It's like the sun rays are playing a little peek-a-boo between the shelves and the billing counter/reception area.
Tucked in a quiet neighbourhood, Champaca also has a cafe inside. You can order small bites, coffee or kombucha. If you’re alone, grab a high chair by the window. The view from there is the only hint that you’re in a city.
Now, let’s talk books..
The bookshelves at Champaca are like a secret hideout, and that’s the charm. I love that they have a closed shelf that says: Open to find books by Bangalore Authors.
You open it, and you’ll see some known authors, and some you’re ready to get acquainted with. It's like the bookstore is personally introducing you to your city's literary community, both established and emerging.
Browsing genuinely felt like an adventure here.
When you’re done (which I doubt you’ll ever be) with fiction, I recommend you move to the food or climate section. Interesting titles like Cloudspotting for Beginners and Trees of Delhi will catch your eye. The food section is a blast! Books like Eat Korean, Hungry Heart, Let’s Make Ramen, Small Fires (which I’m currently reading and bought from Champaca), and The Story of Tea caught my attention.
The billing counter bursts with life — potted plants create natural borders, flanked by artsy postcards, tote bags, and more books. Apart from a cafe-type seating area, there’s another sit-out with cushions right near the counter. And as one can imagine, that area is rarely found empty.
That very evening, Champaca hosted a reading session. It also moonlights as a community space for you to meet some like-minded readers. But if you’re a solitary reader (like me), there’s a ladder for you to explore more books. The ceiling-length shelves hold more curation that you’ll never get enough of.
P.S. Champaca opened a new outlet in Indiranagar, and I’ll be sure to check it out when I’m in Bengaluru next. Till then, bye! 👋🏼
And, oh, you can shop from Champaca online. You should definitely check out their subscription and gift boxes.
Essential reads
Marketing difficulty by Dirt
Indie bookstores need patrons, not buyers, to stay relevant by Hindustan Times
Novels set in libraries by Penguin Random House
Tune for the day
Champaca is lovely. Also women led. It's the best.💚 Good energy flows, and you can see it in the space. Thanks for writing this!
This is so well written. Having visited Champaca a few times, I felt like walking into that space once again. Attention to details and their descriptions were impeccable. Superb! Keep writing. Keep going.