An ideal shopping destination, Kolkata is considered to be the best place for shopping in the country. Kolkata is home to numerous shopping malls, retails stores, departmental stores and open markets. A concoction of the modern and traditional, Kolkata offers all kinds of merchandize. If you really want to go out on a shopping spree then its time you visit this city of joy.

A shoppers’ paradise

Shopping areas in Kolkata stretch from Salt Lake City to Esplanade from Howrah to Garia from Ballygunj to Dum Dum. Showrooms concerning both national and international brands are found well-scattered in these areas that provide you with quality goods at reasonable prices. These showrooms sell goods keeping in mind the latest trends and fashion which will without a shadow of a doubt satiate your quest for the best at affordable prices.

Another specialty of shopping areas of Kolkata is that it enables you to bargain to your heart's content. There are a few fixed-price shopping chains where bargaining is not permitted but the rest offer you the liberty to negotiate prices with the shopkeepers to an unlimited extent which makes shopping a bit of a daunting activity and at the same time an absolute delight.

New Market

New Market, also known as Hogg's Market, is Kolkata's oldest and most well known market. It's got over 2,000 stalls and is a bargain hunter's delight. Head to the reconstructed section of the market, which got rebuilt after a fire in 1985, if you want to buy saris. You'll find plenty to choose from there. In the evenings, street vendors come to sell cheap jewellery and eye catching bags out the front of the market. Just be prepared for the crowds!

Dakshinapan Shopping

This open air shopping centre is a little out of the way, but it's an excellent place to buy Indian handicrafts and artefacts. You'll find many Indian state government emporiums there, stocked with fixed price goods from all over the country. It's also the place to buy cheap Indian clothing. Tea enthusiasts must stop by the renowned Dolly's Tea Shop. This small but enticingly decorated boutique tea shop has 20 different fruit flavours of tea to choose from, as well as refreshing fruit infused iced teas. You can even buy attractively packaged gifts.

Dakshinapan Shopping Centre

Chowringhee Road

A huge variety of pavement vendors line Chowringhee Road from Park Street to New Market, selling everything - bizarre to trendy. However, if you look through all the junk, you'll find some wonderful terracotta wares, which are a Kolkata specialty. The decorative terracotta wall plaques are particularly attractive and come in some unique traditional designs.

South City Mall

The largest shopping mall in eastern India, South City mall has been designed after an exhaustive research of the best shopping malls around the world to create one that has it all. Situated on Prince Anwar Shah Road, just opposite Jodhpur Park, is a magnate, drawing everyone just by its sheer presence. Stores are laid out to make browsing easier. Things like clothes, shoes and accessories will be available in one area. It brings together the biggest brands under one roof.

South City Mall

Quest Mall

The first luxury shopping mall in the city, Quest has partially opened its doors to visitors. The mall offers luxury brands such as Breitling, Burberry, Canali, Emporio Armani, Estee Lauder, Furla, Gucci, L'Occitane, Michael Kors, Omega, Paul Smith and Rolex. Most of these global lifestyle and luxury brands made their debut in Kolkata with this mall.

Quest is one of India's few luxury malls, the others being DLF Emporio in New Delhi, Grand Hyatt Plaza in Mumbai and UB City in Bangalore. Quest's ground level will dubbed the Luxury Avenue and will house most of the global brands. Restaurant chains such as Yauatcha, Bombay Brasserie, Irish House, Smoke House Deli, Serafina and Chili's will also set up shop at the mall.

Street shopping

The two oldest shopping areas of Kolkata where one can get things at a much reasonable rate are the Shyambazaar and the Hatibagan markets. Hawkers throng the street with variety of items. You can avail garments, shoes, belts, bags, fashion accessories, food joints and whatever needed, all over in this place. And for the bookworms, a visit to the College Street area is the best. The streets on both sides of the road can be seen over-flown with bookshops. Burrabazar is also a very famous area for shopping.