Karaikudi's main market area sells the traditional goods of the Chettiar community alongside the antiques and architectural salvage that have become the town's second industry. As the old mansions are cleared or renovated, their contents — carved teak pillars, marble panels, Belgian mirrors, copper vessels, Chinese ceramic jars, period photographs — end up in the antique shops that line parts of the main bazaar.
The quality and pricing vary widely. Serious pieces go to dealers in Chennai; what remains in Karaikudi is the second-tier material, but still interesting. The spice shops in the market sell fresh ground kalpasi, marathi mokku, and the other local spice specialities that you won't find in most Indian cities — a worthwhile purchase to take home.