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 MarketNew
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 Mall, KolkataQuest 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.