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SHOPPING
 Kolkata is famous as a shopper’s paradise. The markets of Kolkata are
full of items which can be taken home as decorative pieces or gift
items. Kolkata has been attracting the tourist attention for its
handicrafts. The 'Tant' sarees are the speciality of West Bengal and
Calcutta provides you the best market for the purchase these sarees. The
Tant sarees are popular not only among the Bengali women but are liked
all over India for their unique appearance and colours. Kolkata offers
great bargains in items made from cotton and handloom. The famed
Baluchari work is something which every traveller to this place looks
for. The silk from West Bengal is a shoppers delight.
Though the real pleasure of shopping in Kolkata is on the road side
shops which surprisingly come up with good stuff, there are the big
names and showrooms which provide the customer with the latest fashion
wears and dress material. The government owned emporiums give good offer
in handicrafts and other decorative items. The Bankura Horse in Calcutta
is easily identifiable and captures the imagination. Brass figurines can
also be included in the shoppers list. The leather wears are very cheap
and durable. Kolkata is also famous for the jewellery. There are very
old as well as new shops in the heart of the Kolkata city which offer
you good quality gold & silver jewellery and ornaments. The intricate
work on the jewellery items attracts buyers far and wide.
Kolkata has a lot to offer the hard-core bargain hunter. From
hole-in-the-wall shops that sell T-shirts and jewellery at a steal, to
classy arcades in deluxe hotels, there's something to suit every budget
in Kolkata.
Over the years, a lot of malls have sprung up all over the city, but if
you want a true-blue feel of a good bargain in Calcutta, here's where
you should spend your shopping money:
South Kolkata – The TEFL School and Accommodation is located in this
part of the city.
The Metropolis
Popularly called the Big Bazar on the Eastern Bypass this mall is a
favourite place for people to hang around. The TEFL International
accommodation is adjacent to the mall. It has a food court, grocery,
clothes and multiplex movie hall and is the biggest attraction in that
area.
Dakshinapan Shopping Complex
It is the place to go when seeking a lot of different items. From
boutiques to bargain racks, from music shops to eateries, even a
showcase for the crafts by disabled people, you name it; it has the
works such as handlooms, textiles, handicrafts, imitation jewellery and
fancy goods.
This is one place that's a favorite with college
student looking for clothes to fit their budgets. Bargaining is out of
the question here, as most shops sell their ware at fixed prices.
However, the complex is choc-a-bloc with state emporia, peddling their
ware at reasonable rates. A few bargains can also be grabbed at the
shops that aren't emporia. The complex also houses a few
clean food stalls, where you can stop for a bite after a long shopping
spree.
Emami Shopper's City
Emami Shoppers' City in Central Calcutta have brought international
brands from Swarovski to Godiva to the city, breaking the city's
dependence on the older market complexes like A.C. Market and Vardaan
Market, which were mainly Chinese import dependent.
Forum Mall
It is a shopping mall located in the Bhowanipore area of Kolkata on
Elgin Road. It is the twin mall of the City Centre mall situated at the
other part of the city.
Gariahat Market
is located on Rash Behari Avenue and Gariahat Road Crossing. Textiles,
readymade garments, electronic gadgets, and almost every thing can be
found here. Besides the regular shops, are the makeshift shops that
crowd the sidewalks where one gets to purchase something at a bargain
price.
Landmark
The exquisitely designed shopping mall on Lord Sinha Road is a
must-visit spot for book lovers. It showcases the largest book and audio
software selling store in the city, conveniently located near the
British Council Library on Shakespeare Sarani.
Central Kolkata
Metro Plaza
This 20,000 sq m shopping mall on Ho-Chi-Minh, Sarani in the central
business district accommodates 242 shops distributed over three floors
that sell everything and anything you could possibly wish for. A
distinctive feature is Megabowl, a 6,000 sq m entertainment centre with
a bowling alley, pool and a host of indoor games.
New Market
Once called Hogg’s Market, Kolkata’s oldest and most renowned municipal
market on Lindsay Street offers one of the widest ranges of goods.
Recently, a new complex has been added at Bertram Street to rehabilitate
the shops damaged in a devastating fire some years back. A testimony to
an era gone by, the market is a maze of leather goods, fancy silverware,
jewellery, garments, fabrics, confectionery, clothing, dry fruits,
poultry products, fish, meat, flowers etc.
If you'd plunge into the heart of the shopping game, here's the best
place to start bargain hunting in Kolkata. Shiny plastic clips, faux
crystal ware, flowers, fabric, toys, luggage, ready-to-wear clothes,
shoes, crockery, candles, swimwear, uniforms… name it and it's likely to
be there in one of the shops here. The thumb rule at New Market? Bargain
with all your might!
Treasure Island
located in Madge Lane, beside Globe Cinema. Within the New Market
shopping zone, this air-conditioned market is a drop-in point for
regular New Market shoppers, who are not satiated enough…yes it sells
everything and some.
Vaibhav Plaza
On Lee Road is another shopping complex where almost everything under
the sun is available for people frequenting AJC Bose Road and Lee Road.
It has a rooftop cafe.
Vardaan (Vardhan)
This air-conditioned market at Camac Street has branded apparel,
jewellery and cosmetics, knick knacks and novelties.
AC Market
One of the oldest shopping complexes in the city, this outlet at
Shakespeare Sarani is a virtual warehouse of clothes, novelties,
jewellery, electronic gadgets, watches etc.
If you want to get away from the heat on the streets then you can walk
into this market. It used to be the haunt of the upwardly mobile, but
with swanky new shopping complexes opening up over town, AC Market is
now a toned down version of its former snooty self. Don't let the "Fixed
Price" signs scare
you off - this is as good a place as any for great bargains.
Books and Curios
The shops dotting either side of Free School Street, off Park Street,
are a treasure house of curios, old music systems, books, periodicals,
record players and cassettes. Bookworms can also revel in the sight,
smell and sale of old books and new at College Street.
North Kolkata
Bowbazaar Market
Located on B.B. Ganguly Street is known for its jewellery stores besides
other shops dealing in wooden furniture, musical instruments, shoes,
seasonal fruit, fresh vegetables and flesh meat etc.
Burrabazaar Market
This oldest wholesale/retail market of Kolkata on Mahatma Gandhi Road,
is the place to shop for whole sale business of textiles, cereals, food
grains, spices, dry fruits, edible oils, sugar, salt and other
groceries. There are good number of renowned retail shops located in
this market too where the retail buyers sometimes buy products at the
whole sale price.
College Street Market [Book Market]
Trams, buses, people on foot, rickshaws, cows, dogs - and rows and rows
of bookshops, that's College Street. If you're looking for books at a
steal, this is the place to go to. A word of advice though - get to
where College Street begins and undertake the rest of the journey on
foot - this way, you can not only browse to your heart's content, you'll
also not have to worry about parking your vehicle. Most of the Book
shops and Book Publishers have their place of business transaction near
this market. The area is well referred to as BAI PARA (Book Market).
Chandni Market
located off Dharmatala Street, in Central Kolkata near the Esplanade
(popularly knows as Chandni Chawk), is a very old one, known for its
stock of metal products and commodities, hardware, paints, clothes,
steel trunks/suitcases, electronic components, audio/videos,
housing/cabinet etc.
China Bazaar
Old China Bazaar Street houses this market mainly dealing with paper,
paper bindings, foils, envelopes, streamers, stationery, crockery,
glassware, domestic goods, etc.
East Kolkata
Swabhumi
This fun park on the EM Bypass has a shopping complex-cum-entertainment
centre with a food court thrown in as the icing on the cake.
Charnock City
This tall, state-of-the-art market caters to Salt Lake, Kolkata’s
satellite city. On sale are garments, novelties and jewellery, with a
rooftop, multi-cuisine restaurant, overlooking the entire Salt Lake
city, adding to the charm.
City Center
This is the latest addition of swanky malls in Kolkata. Due to its
sprawling area it is convenient place to spend an entire day. There are
multiplexes, KFC, a food court and big designer outlets in this mall. |
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